Senior Geotechnical Field Engineer

Job Summary:

This position is dedicated to the Fairfield Energy Center, a power generation facility in Fairfield County, Ohio, that includes gas turbine, reciprocating engine, compressor, tank, and balance-of-plant foundations supported on ground improvement and deep foundations. Client is seeking a Senior Field Geotechnical Engineer to lead on-site geotechnical supervision of aggregate pier and auger cast-in-place (ACIP) pile installation, including quality assurance and quality control of specialty contractor work and verification of load and integrity testing.

The position is part of the Geotechnical & Hydraulic Engineering Services (G&HES) group. The successful candidate will report to and receive technical supervision and functional oversight from the G&HES Group Supervisor / Geotechnical Engineering Manager or their designee, and will serve as the key link between the jobsite and the home-office geotechnical team, working closely with Construction, Field Engineering, CSA design, ES&H, the project management team, and specialty foundation subcontractors. The role is site-based for an extended duration, with potential transition to another project or permanent office thereafter, and may require travel to other client offices within the U.S. Excellent verbal and written communication skills and a commitment to leadership, quality, and safety values are required.


Major Responsibilities:

This field-based role provides senior on-site geotechnical supervision for ground improvement and deep foundation construction. Specific duties include (but are not limited to):

• Serve as the senior on-site geotechnical representative for ground improvement and deep foundation installation, supervising specialty foundation subcontractors.
• Supervise installation of aggregate piers (aggregate piers and/or stone columns), verifying pier layout, diameter, length and termination depth, lift thickness, tamping/densification energy, aggregate gradation, and casing use where seepage or caving occurs.
• Witness and evaluate aggregate pier modulus (load) tests and uplift tests prior to production installation, compare results against design-build assumptions, and recommend adjustments to pier length or spacing by subsurface zone.
• Supervise auger cast-in-place (ACIP/CFA) pile installation, verifying pile layout, diameter, tip elevation, reinforcement placement, auger penetration and withdrawal rates, and grout pumping pressure.
• Review automated monitoring equipment (AME) records for each ACIP pile, comparing grout volume against theoretical volume, and identify under-volume, necking, or out-of-sequence installation for engineering disposition.
• Observe and document grout and concrete operations, including mix verification, flow/slump, temperature, and test specimen preparation, and track strength results.
• Oversee pile load testing programs (static compression, tension, and lateral) and non-destructive integrity testing such as Pile Integrity Testing (PIT), including verification of equipment calibration and preliminary review of results.
• Develop and implement the Inspection and Test Plans (ITPs) and hold points for aggregate pier and ACIP pile work, and verify subcontractor quality control (QC) records against project specifications and the design-build submittals.
• Perform quality assurance (QA) surveillance of specialty contractor work, prepare and track nonconformance reports (NCRs), and verify corrective actions are closed with home-office concurrence.
• Compare encountered subsurface conditions (drilling resistance, crowd/torque, spoil, groundwater, obstructions) with boring and CPT data, and flag differing conditions to the home office promptly.
• Act as the primary interface between the jobsite and home-office geotechnical engineering, transmitting field data, requests for information, and proposed field changes, and implementing engineering direction in the field.
• Coordinate daily with Construction, Field Engineering, CSA design, ES&H, and the specialty subcontractors on sequencing, access, working platforms, spoil handling, and look-ahead schedules for foundation work.
• Verify working platform and subgrade conditions, fill placement, and compaction in ground improvement and pile areas, including site-prepared fill turned over by others.
• Support settlement monitoring of fills and foundations, including settlement plates and survey data, and report trends to the home office.
• Prepare daily geotechnical reports, installation summaries, as-built pier and pile records, and final turnover documentation packages.
• Mentor junior field engineers and inspectors, and ensure all work complies with project specifications, engineering drawings, procedures, and applicable codes and regulations.

Education and Experience Requirements:

An M.S. degree in Geotechnical Engineering or other related engineering discipline from an accredited university with a minimum of 8 years of progressive relevant work experience, or a Ph.D. in Geotechnical Engineering with a minimum of 6 years of progressive relevant work experience. Engineer-in-Training (EIT) certification required; Professional Engineer (PE) registration preferred.


Required Knowledge and Skills:

Minimum Qualifications

• Demonstrated field experience supervising aggregate pier (aggregate pier or stone column) and auger cast-in-place (ACIP/CFA) pile installation on industrial, power, or infrastructure projects.
• Working knowledge of ground improvement and deep foundation quality assurance and quality control, including installation monitoring, automated monitoring equipment records, load testing, and integrity testing.
• Ability to read and interpret geotechnical reports, design-build submittals, foundation drawings, and specifications, and to compare field conditions against design assumptions.
• Experience developing Inspection and Test Plans, managing hold points, and preparing nonconformance reports and field documentation.
• Working knowledge of earthwork, fill placement, compaction control, and working platform requirements as they relate to ground improvement and pile installation.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate with home-office engineering, construction management, and specialty subcontractors, and to resolve field issues independently.
• Familiarity with geotechnical software such as gINT, LPILE, APILE, and Settle3, as well as Microsoft Office programs.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to lead and work effectively in an active construction environment.
• Willing and able to be based at the project jobsite in Ohio, and to travel to other jobsites in the U.S. on short- and long-term assignments.
• Authorized to work legally in the U.S. without sponsorship.

Preferred Qualifications

• Professional Engineer (PE) registration.
• Experience on power generation, energy, or large industrial projects, including foundations for rotating or dynamically loaded equipment.
• Prior involvement in aggregate pier modulus testing and ACIP/CFA pile load testing programs.
• Experience with glacial till and soft or wet clay conditions, and with lime or lime kiln dust stabilization of subgrades.
• Experience supervising or mentoring field engineers and inspectors.
• OSHA 30-Hour Construction certification.
• Experience adhering to established procedures in compliance with quality assurance protocols and occupational health and safety standards.