Geotechnical Engineer

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title: Geotechnical Engineer

Job Description

This Geotechnical Engineer role focuses on delivering high-quality engineering and consulting services for public and private sector projects across residential, educational, healthcare, municipal, and solid waste infrastructure markets. You will support a growing Northern California practice in the Truckee/Tahoe/Reno region, helping clients plan, design, build, test, certify, and operate projects that improve local communities. Working under the supervision of a Engineer, you will manage and oversee geotechnical projects, contribute to technical solutions, and play an active role in shaping the built environment through thoughtful engineering and client collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Manage and oversee geotechnical projects in the Truckee/Tahoe area and into the Reno, NV basin under the supervision of a Engineer.
• Develop project objectives by reviewing project proposals, plans, and client requirements.
• Determine project scope by understanding client needs, reviewing regulatory standards, and preparing detailed cost estimates.
• Establish project schedules, coordinate resources, and monitor and control project budgets to ensure timely and cost-effective delivery.
• Supervise and assist with field work, including subsurface investigations, construction observation, and materials testing, and analyze test results.
• Ensure projects are completed in accordance with contractual requirements, technical specifications, and agreed-upon schedules.
• Maintain overall quality of work by applying appropriate testing methodologies, engineering standards, and quality control procedures.
• Coordinate the collection, interpretation, and dissemination of technical information within the company and to clients.
• Maintain strong client relationships through regular communication, proactive expectation management, and responsive service.
• Prepare, review, and interpret technical documents, geotechnical reports, engineering calculations, and design recommendations.
• Accurately document and report field observations and test results through clear, concise verbal and written communications.
• Apply current regulatory requirements, industry standards, and standard engineering techniques to geotechnical and environmental projects.
• Lead and mentor staff professionals and engineering technicians, providing guidance on field investigations, testing, and reporting.
• Develop proposals and technical reports that clearly define project approach, scope, schedule, and budget.
• Support and perform geotechnical investigations for a wide variety of projects including residential developments, schools, hospitals, municipal facilities, and solid waste infrastructure improvements.
• Contribute to environmental engineering, materials testing, and special inspection services as part of integrated project delivery.
• Participate in professional and technical organizations by attending meetings, workshops, and conferences, and presenting when appropriate.
• Use AutoCAD, Civil 3D, and other software tools to support drafting, design, and technical evaluations.
• Perform basic geotechnical design tasks such as shallow and deep foundation recommendations, retaining wall design support, and earthwork and grading recommendations.
• Conduct and interpret geotechnical field investigations including drilling, logging, sampling, and field testing.
• Carry out basic slope stability, settlement, bearing capacity, and liquefaction analyses as part of project evaluations.
• Support public works and infrastructure projects with geotechnical analysis, reporting, and design input.
• Ensure safe and compliant vehicle use for site visits and field work, maintaining a valid drivers license and insurable driving record.

Essential Skills

• Bachelors degree in civil engineering with an emphasis in geotechnical engineering, or equivalent education.
• Professional Engineer (PE) registration in California or the ability to obtain California licensure within a 6 to 12-month testing cycle.
• 35+ years of experience in engineering and/or geology, including work on commercial, public works, resort structural, or DSA/HCAI projects.
• Knowledge of standard engineering techniques and procedures and the professional judgment to modify and apply them to complex problems.
• Demonstrated experience in geotechnical engineering, including geotechnical investigations and analysis.
• Experience in project management, including scope development, scheduling, resource coordination, and budget monitoring.
• Ability to perform and interpret environmental testing and support environmental management aspects of projects.
• Experience with materials testing and special inspection services for soils, concrete, asphalt, or related construction materials.
• Proven ability to develop proposals and technical reports that clearly communicate project approach and findings.
• Strong technical with experience in geotechnical engineering, environmental engineering, and materials testing.
• Effective interpersonal communication skills for working with clients, contractors, and colleagues.
• Demonstrated teamwork and problem-solving skills in multidisciplinary project environments.
• Proficiency with testing methodologies and related equipment used in geotechnical and materials investigations.
• Strong technical writing skills and the ability to produce clear, concise, and accurate documentation.
• Valid drivers license and an insurable driving record to support field and site visit requirements.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Registration as a California Geotechnical Engineer or the ability to obtain this registration is preferred.
• PE with approximately 14 years of relevant geotechnical or civil engineering experience in a field-heavy, early-career role.
• Experience with standard geotechnical design, including shallow and deep foundations, retaining walls, and earthwork and grading recommendations.
• Hands-on geotechnical investigation experience, including drilling oversight, borehole logging, sampling, and in-situ field testing.
• Exposure to soils, concrete, asphalt, or construction materials testing (CMT) and special inspection activities.
• Experience preparing geotechnical reports and performing engineering calculations related to foundations, slopes, and settlement.
• Proficiency with AutoCAD and Civil 3D for drafting and design support, along with strong skills in Excel and Word.
• Familiarity with GIS tools for mapping and spatial analysis is beneficial.
• Ability to perform basic slope stability, settlement, bearing capacity, and liquefaction analyses using appropriate methods and software.
• Experience with public works and infrastructure projects, including municipal and transportation-related facilities.
• Strong technical communication skills, including the ability to present findings to clients and project teams.
• Familiarity with California building codes, geotechnical standards, and the regulatory environment.
• Local ties to Sacramento, Placer, or Nevada County, or willingness to work in Nevada City or the broader Northern California region.
• Interest in developing expertise with specialized geotechnical software such as OpenGround, LPile, and GeoStudio/SlopeW as experience grows.
• Active participation or interest in joining professional and technical organizations, and attending industry meetings and workshops.

Work Environment

This role supports a growing geotechnical practice in the Truckee/Tahoe/Reno region, offering a blend of field and office work in a vibrant community positioned for significant growth over the next two decades. At the staff level, you can expect approximately a 50/50 split between field and office work, with roughly 1015% of your time focused on design tasks. Field work includes subsurface investigations, soil classification, earthwork observation, foundation and retaining wall evaluations, grading oversight, construction observation, and materials testing. Office work involves geotechnical calculations, design support, drafting, report preparation, proposals, and technical evaluations. The environment combines the resources and project pipeline of a large, established organization with a small-business feel, where teams operate collaboratively and individuals have visibility and autonomy. You will use tools such as AutoCAD, Civil 3D, Excel, Word, and GIS, with opportunities to gain exposure to specialized geotechnical programs like OpenGround, LPile, and GeoStudio/SlopeW as your career progresses. The role offers hybrid flexibility, with the ability to work remotely 12 days per week depending on project needs, while still requiring regular site visits and field presence. The culture emphasizes professional growth, internal development, and advancement, encourages participation in professional organizations, and supports a close-knit, engaged team environment where your work has a direct impact on the communities served.

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Truckee, CA.

The pay range for this position is $52.89 - $62.50/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: Medical, dental & vision Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) Short and long-term disability Health Spending Account (HSA) Transportation benefits Employee Assistance Program Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Truckee, CA.

This position is anticipated to close on Nov 19, 2026.

This is a hybrid position in Truckee,CA.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email View email address on ziprecruiter.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.