Geotechnical Project Manager - Transportation

Overview Take Your Delivery Management Career to the Next Level. Kleinfelder, a Forbes' Top Employer for Engineers in North America, is committed to a people-first culture, technical excellence, and creating opportunities where employees can thrive. This role involves managing budgets, meeting deadlines, and exceeding client expectations through delivery management from initiation and planning to execution, monitoring, and closeout. Step into Your New Role: Kleinfelder is seeking a Senior Geotechnical Engineer / Project Manager (Transportation Focus) to join our Southern California team in either Laguna Hills or Los Angeles. This hybrid role blends remote work, in-office collaboration, and occasional field engagement to lead and manage large transportation infrastructure and other projects. It is an opportunity for a technical leader who thrives on managing complex projects, guiding multidisciplinary teams, mentoring junior engineers, engaging with clients, and contributing to business development. Our team supports a diverse portfolio of projects within a design center that includes geotechnical, bridge, structural, civil, and water resources engineers, geologists, environmental professionals, and laboratory and construction oversight personnel. Projects span bridges, transit systems, roadways, water, wastewater, and other infrastructure, often in dense urban environments or challenging terrain. This role requires the ability to plan, manage, coordinate, and execute projects with technical rigor and operational discipline, while positioning for competitive pursuits and engaging with clients to develop business in the Southern California area. Key Responsibilities Lead and coordinate multidisciplinary teams in the development of proposals, project execution plans, and technical deliverables. Provide leadership, project oversight, and strategic direction for complex technical and field assignments. Plan, manage, and oversee field exploration programs and construction oversight activities with emphasis on safety, quality, and schedule adherence. Perform, delegate, and review geotechnical analyses, including soil/rock classification, foundation design, settlement analysis, slope stability, seismic hazard evaluation, and earth retention systems. Develop and deliver high-quality technical documents, including geotechnical reports, memorandums, proposals, specifications, and related deliverables. Maintain active involvement during construction to support design intent, troubleshoot field issues, and ensure alignment with project requirements. Cultivate client relationships through proactive communication, responsiveness, and technical excellence. Develop scopes of work, project budgets, work breakdown structures, and schedules, ensuring alignment with client expectations and internal standards. Manage project teams, monitor budgets and schedules, delegate tasks, and mentor junior staff to support technical and professional growth. Required Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in civil, geotechnical, or geological engineering; Master’s degree strongly preferred. Professional Engineer (PE) license in California required; GE license or ability to obtain within one year of hire strongly preferred. Transportation-related project and management experience including bridges, roadways, railways, tunnels, etc. Progressive geotechnical engineering experience with increasing responsibility in subsurface investigations, geotechnical analysis, foundation design, earth retention systems, slope stability, or related areas. Experience pursuing RFPs/RFQs and managing client accounts, with track record of profitability and performance monitoring. Strong organizational skills; ability to manage multiple projects; PMP certification is a plus. Proficiency with standard business software and geotechnical software such as LPile, APile, SHAFT, GROUP, BoreDM, GEO STUDIO, SLIDE, Settle3, MSEW. California-based work eligibility and ability to commute to offices, meetings, and project sites in Southern California. Notes : This position may require completion of reference checks, licensure verification, background checks, and driving record review after an offer. Equal Opportunity and Notice Kleinfelder is an Equal Opportunity Employer – Minorities/Women/Disabled/Veterans. We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. See company notices regarding third-party agencies and recruitment policies as applicable. #J-18808-Ljbffr Kleinfelder