Geotechnical Engineer

Onterris; Oakville; Hybrid; CAD 130,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Onterris is seeking an experienced geotechnical engineer to lead investigations for major infrastructure projects. You will plan subsurface exploration, supervise field activities and interpret complex data to deliver practical recommendations.

Required are a Civil Engineering degree (P.Eng. preferred) and 10+ years in geotechnical consulting with strong writing and client-facing skills. Hybrid work available in Oakville or Guelph, Ontario.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in civil engineering; master preferred.
• P.Eng. designation in good standing.
• 10+ years geotechnical consulting experience focusing on infrastructure projects.
• Strong report writing and presentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead geotechnical investigations for infrastructure projects.
• Plan subsurface exploration programs, direct field activities and interpret conditions.
• Review laboratory testing, interpret data quality and generate recommendations.
• Prepare geotechnical investigation reports, design basis reports and memos.
• Provide geotechnical design recommendations for foundations, earthworks and retaining structures.

Skills

Geotechnical leadership

Project management

Technical writing

Client engagement

Data interpretation

Numerical modelling

Safety culture

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's in Civil Engineering

Master's in Geotechnical Engineering preferred

P.Eng. designation

Tools

PLAXIS

GeoStudio

FLAC

Rocscience

Settle3D

LPile

Geotechnical software

Job description

About Us

At Onterris, we build careers grounded in purpose, responsibility and real-world impact.

At Onterris, we build careers grounded in purpose, responsibility and real-world impact. “For Planet and Progress” is our north star that guides everything we do. We believe environmental responsibility and human progress are interconnected, interwoven and international. Our scientists, engineers, field teams, consultants and professionals collaborate across disciplines and geographies, guiding industries and governments, ensuring that communities and environments thrive. When you join us, you’re not just forging a career, you’re joining a movement. A movement for better thinking, smarter solutions and lasting impact. Together, we will advance our way of life and protect the integrity of our environment every step of the way.

A Day in the Life

This position is hybrid and requires a minimum of 3 days a week in either our Oakville, ON or Guelph, ON office. The compensation range for this role is $130,000 - $160,000, commensurate with experience, skills, and geographic location. To thrive in this role, you’ll be comfortable taking ownership of the following responsibilities:

Safety

• Champion and model a strong safety culture.
• Partner with H&S to ensure compliance with company safety standards and employee engagement.

Technical Excellence & Key Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee geotechnical investigations for infrastructure projects, including planning subsurface exploration programs, directing field activities, and interpreting geological and geotechnical conditions.
• Develop investigation scopes, supervise drilling and in-situ testing programs, review laboratory testing results, and assess data quality.
• Perform detailed geotechnical assessments related to foundation design, earthworks, settlement, slope stability, retaining structures, embankments, excavations, ground improvement, and construction staging.
• Conduct advanced numerical analyses and modelling using industry-standard software (e.g., PLAXIS, GeoStudio, FLAC, Rocscience Suite, Settle3D, LPile, Group, or equivalent) to evaluate complex soil-structure interaction, groundwater, settlement, stability, and deformation behaviour.
• Interpret and integrate field, laboratory, geological, hydrogeological, and instrumentation data to develop practical engineering recommendations.
• Prepare, review, and sign-off on geotechnical investigation reports, interpretive reports, design basis reports, geotechnical data reports, and technical memoranda.
• Provide geotechnical design recommendations for shallow foundations, deep foundations, retaining structures, embankments, tunnels, utilities, bridges, and other critical infrastructure assets.

Your Expertise And Skills

These requirements reflect the knowledge, skills and abilities that help you do your best work here.

• Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering; master’s degree specializing in Geotechnical Engineering preferred.
• Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) designation in good standing.
• Minimum 10 years of geotechnical consulting experience with a strong focus on infrastructure projects.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex geotechnical investigations and preparing comprehensive interpretive reports for transportation, transit, municipal, water, energy, and heavy civil infrastructure projects.
• Strong expertise in subsurface characterization, soil and rock mechanics, foundation engineering, earthworks, slope stability, groundwater assessment, and construction geotechnics.
• Proven experience conducting advanced numerical modelling and interpretation of geotechnical behaviour using finite element and limit equilibrium software.
• Strong technical writing skills with experience preparing clear, concise, and defensible geotechnical reports and design recommendations.
• Excellent communication and client-facing skills, with the ability to explain complex technical issues to technical and non-technical stakeholders.

This posting reflects a current vacancy that the company is actively seeking to fill. As a note, we are not accepting third-party agency applicants at this time.

Onterris is a leading global environmental solutions company partnering with organizations to solve complex challenges where environmental pressures, regulatory expectations and operational risks intersect. Guided by our mission to advance the way of life without compromising the integrity of our environment, we believe environmental responsibility and human progress are fundamentally connected. Our scientists, engineers, field teams and consultants apply systems thinking that unites science, data and practical expertise to deliver solutions that strengthen our clients’ resilience, mitigate risk and protect the air, water and soil that sustain communities, while uncovering responsible paths forward for planet and progress. For more information, visit www.onterris.com.

We are an equal opportunity employer and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We acknowledge that these experiences and perspectives help to enrich our teams and contribute to our ongoing success. We are committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in our employment for all applicants. For US residents, click here to learn more.