Senior Geophysicist

SYSTRA Canada; Montreal (administrative region); On-site; CAD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Mobility across Ontario & Quebec

Diversity & inclusion

Job summary

SYSTRA Canada is seeking a senior geophysicist to lead geophysical studies in support of transport infrastructure design, supervise an internal team, and manage subcontractors. This is a high-value engineering role with deep integration into GIS/BIM models and design reviews.

You will coordinate multi-method campaigns, deliver processing and inversions, and communicate with bilingual clients in French and English while ensuring safety and regulatory compliance.

Qualifications

• M.Sc. or Ph.D. in Geophysics or related field with 12-15+ years (M.Sc. track).
• Ph.D. track 8-12+ years in multiparameter modeling/inversion and design decisions.
• Professional registration with OIQ/OGQ/APGO/PEGNL; P.Geo. preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead multi-method geophysical campaigns (GPR, seismic, ERT/IP, EM etc.).
• Integrate data and models into GIS/BIM deliverables with full traceability.
• Deliver design value: processing, inversions, and maps with actionable recommendations.
• Manage 1-3 technicians/engineers and oversee subcontractors end-to-end.
• Ensure regulatory compliance and present at design reviews; 30-40% field presence.

Skills

Leadership

Bilingual FR/EN

Project management

Autonomy & organization

Communication skills

Education

M.Sc. or Ph.D. in Geophysics

P.Geo. preferred

Job description

SYSTRA Canada is part of the SYSTRA group, an international consulting and engineering group, a world leader in the design of transport infrastructures. SYSTRA Canada is an engineering and consulting firm whose primary focus is to offer transportation solutions, whether for passengers or goods: feasibility studies of building a new railway line, increasing the capacity of the existing infrastructure, privatization of a railway.

Context

SYSTRA Canada is seeking a senior geophysicist to lead geophysical studies in support of transport infrastructure design, supervise an internal team, and manage subcontractors. This is a high-value engineering role with deep integration into GIS/BIM models and design reviews.

Missions/Main Duties

• Lead multi-method geophysical campaigns (GPR, seismic refraction/MASW, ERT/IP, EM, gravity, magnetics; crosshole/downhole) aligned with engineering/environmental objectives, balancing risk-cost-schedule.
• Integrate data and models into GIS/BIM deliverables with full traceability, metadata, and reproducibility.
• Deliver design value: tailor acquisition schemes, execute processing and 2D/3D inversions (Vs/Vp, resistivity, density, permittivity), and produce maps/anomalies, isopachs, hazard zoning and actionable recommendations.
• Manage 1-3 technicians/engineers and oversee subcontractors end-to-end (specs, HSE, QA/QC, permits/coactivity, field audits, validation and acceptance against KPIs).
• Ensure regulatory compliance and proactive FR/EN stakeholder communication; present at design reviews; maintain 30-40% field presence.

Profile/Skills

Education: M.Sc. or Ph.D. in Geophysics, Geosciences, Geological Engineering, or a related discipline.

Registration or eligibility with a professional order (OIQ/OGQ/APGO/PEGNL); P.Geo. preferred.

Years of Experience: M.Sc. track: 12-15+ years in applied geophysics (civil/mining/geotechnical), leading complex field campaigns, GIS/BIM integration, and subcontractor oversight. Ph.D. track: 8-12+ years with proven expertise in 2D/3D multiparameter modeling/inversion and translating results into design decisions.

Technical Competencies

• Proficiency in methods: GPR, seismic refraction/MASW, ERT/IP, EM, gravity, magnetics; crosshole/downhole testing.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills in French and English.
• Reason for bilingual requirement: You will collaborate with a diverse client base, including French- and English-speaking organizations. Bilingualism is essential to build strong client relationships, understand specific needs, and communicate effectively in their preferred language.

Personal And Soft Skills

• Leadership and mentorship.
• Autonomy and organization.
• Rigor and innovation mindset.
• Multi-project and priority management.

Practical Requirements

Mobility across Ontario and Quebec initially, with potential assignments on other corridors in Canada. Valid driver's license. Familiarity with railway safety and work within active rail rights-of-way (an asset).

SYSTRA Canada is committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer that values applications from all and offers employment equity based on the merits and abilities of candidates and personnel.

Note: In this description, the masculine gender is used for easy reading purposes and includes the feminine.

We use AI-enabled tools in our recruitment platform (iCIMS) for tasks like resume parsing and candidate matching. These tools do not make hiring decisions; all applications are reviewed by a human recruiter, and final decisions are made by our hiring team.

For questions about our hiring process or AI tools, please contact [email protected].