Geotechnical Engineer - Airfield Construction

Parsons; Riyadh; On-site; SAR 223,000 - 335,000; Full time

Job summary

Parsons is seeking a Geotechnical Engineer for airfield construction in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The role focuses on site-based geotechnical engineering, earthworks supervision, soil testing, and continuous coordination with QA/QC teams to ensure pavement performance and project schedules.

The ideal candidate brings a strong background in geotechnical design and field problem solving, with airport/airfield experience considered highly valuable.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering or geotechnical field required.
• Minimum 10 years of relevant professional experience, with site-based geotechnical supervision.
• Experience in airports/airfields is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Provide daily geotechnical support to construction teams on site.
• Review investigations, data, drawings, and specs before work begins.
• Inspect earthworks, compaction, and soil improvement operations.
• Coordinate soil testing and QA/QC with laboratories.
• Prepare technical reports and respond to RFIs and TQs.
• Monitor settlement and ground movement and advise mitigation.

Skills

Geotechnical engineering

Soil mechanics

Airfield construction

Runway earthworks

Soil stabilization

Ground improvement

Dewatering

CBR testing

Field density testing

Proctor testing

Plate load testing

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering

Tools

Geotechnical laboratories coordination

CBR testing

Field density testing

Proctor testing

Plate load testing

Job description

Job Snapshot

Role: Geotechnical Engineer - Airfield Construction
Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Industry: Civil Engineering
Function: Geo-technical
Experience: Minimum 10 years
Job Type: Full-time

Job Details

Country: Saudi Arabia
City: Riyadh
Industry: Civil Engineering
Function: Geo-technical
Salary: 20000-30000 Estimated salary range based on similar jobs in the job city; please confirm the final offer with the employer.
Gender: Any Candidate Nationality: Any
Job Type: Full-time

Role Context

The Geotechnical Engineer will act as a key technical resource between geotechnical design requirements and actual construction conditions encountered in the field. The position requires continuous assessment of soils, excavation, engineered fill, compaction, groundwater, formation levels, and pavement subgrades so that ground-related problems are identified before they affect subsequent works. By combining site inspection, testing interpretation, technical coordination, and rapid problem resolution, the engineer will help protect pavement performance, foundation reliability, construction quality, and project schedules.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide daily geotechnical engineering support to construction teams and respond promptly to ground-related technical issues encountered on site.
• Review geotechnical investigation reports, soil data, drawings, specifications, design criteria, and construction requirements before relevant activities commence.
• Inspect excavation, grading, embankment, backfilling, compaction, engineered fill, and soil improvement operations against approved requirements.
• Assess existing soils and proposed fill materials for suitability and identify weak strata, unsuitable material, groundwater, buried obstructions, soft spots, and unexpected ground conditions.
• Recommend excavation, replacement, stabilization, treatment, dewatering, or ground improvement measures where site materials fail to meet acceptance requirements.
• Review Method Statements, Inspection and Test Plans, Risk Assessments, Work Inspection Requests, technical submissions, and geotechnical construction procedures.
• Coordinate with QA and QC personnel and approved laboratories for field density tests, CBR testing, Proctor tests, plate load testing, soil classification, moisture testing, and other required investigations.
• Evaluate laboratory and field test results against specifications, design parameters, and established acceptance criteria.
• Monitor compaction activities to confirm specified density and moisture requirements are consistently achieved.
• Verify that testing locations and frequencies provide adequate coverage and that supporting records are complete and traceable.
• Inspect formation levels, prepared subgrades, capping layers, selected fill, engineered fill, and sub-base before subsequent construction proceeds.
• Provide engineering input for soil stabilization, excavation support, groundwater control, dewatering, and other ground treatment requirements.
• Compare actual field conditions with geotechnical investigation findings and design assumptions and elevate significant deviations.
• Prepare and resolve Technical Queries, Requests for Information, geotechnical NCRs, and other site engineering issues.
• Investigate failed earthworks, rejected testing, unsuitable ground, and recurring geotechnical non‑conformances and recommend corrective and preventive measures.
• Coordinate with Survey teams to confirm excavation depths, formation elevations, embankment profiles, slopes, and final grading.
• Monitor settlement, ground movement, slope stability, and other geotechnical performance indicators where required.
• Support temporary and permanent excavation works and assess geotechnical requirements associated with trenches, utility corridors, bedding, backfilling, and reinstatement.
• Verify foundation bearing strata and exposed ground conditions before concrete placement or progression of foundation construction.
• Coordinate below‑ground requirements with civil and structural teams working on foundations, retaining structures, drainage structures, culverts, and associated infrastructure.
• Assess field-driven changes and recommend constructible technical solutions that remain consistent with engineering requirements.
• Identify geotechnical constraints and emerging risks that could affect construction sequencing, productivity, cost, or schedule.
• Coordinate specialist geotechnical subcontractors and verify that their work complies with approved procedures and technical requirements.
• Maintain inspection records, test summaries, field observations, site condition documentation, and geotechnical progress information.
• Prepare technical reports and provide geotechnical input during Client, Consultant, construction, progress, and coordination meetings.
• Support construction of runways, taxiways, aprons, roads, drainage systems, utilities, and external infrastructure.
• Monitor airfield pavement subgrade preparation and earthworks against approved specifications and applicable aviation requirements.
• Verify suitability and compaction of airfield subgrade, capping, selected fill, sub-base, and engineered fill layers.
• Investigate pavement subgrade failures, settlement, excessive moisture, weak areas, and other ground‑related problems affecting airfield construction.
• Provide early technical warnings where adverse ground conditions could delay critical construction activities and recommend practical recovery measures.

Ideal Profile

The position requires a Bachelor 's Degree in Civil Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline, supported by at least 10 years of relevant professional experience. A substantial portion of that experience should involve site-based geotechnical engineering, construction supervision, earthworks inspection, soil testing, and resolution of field problems on major infrastructure projects. Previous exposure to airports, airfields, roads, utilities, or other large‑scale civil construction is particularly valuable. Candidates should possess strong knowledge of soil mechanics, foundations, excavation, earthworks, ground improvement, compaction, construction materials, and subgrade behavior. Practical experience working with geotechnical laboratories and interpreting CBR, field density, Proctor, plate load, soil classification, and related test results is essential. The role also requires familiarity with Method Statements, ITPs, WIRs, RFIs, TQs, NCRs, international geotechnical standards, and project specifications. Previous airport or airfield construction experience is highly desirable.

Skills Set

• Geotechnical engineering
• Soil mechanics
• Airfield construction
• Airport infrastructure
• Runway earthworks
• Taxiway construction
• Apron construction
• Pavement subgrade preparation
• Earthworks supervision
• Excavation engineering
• Engineered fill
• Soil compaction
• Soil stabilization
• Ground improvement
• Dewatering
• Excavation support
• Foundation bearing verification
• Slope stability
• Settlement monitoring
• Soil classification
• CBR testing
• Field density testing
• Proctor testing
• Plate load testing
• Moisture content control
• Geotechnical laboratory coordination
• Inspection and Test Plans
• Method Statements
• Work Inspection Requests
• Requests for Information
• Technical Queries
• NCR investigation
• Root cause analysis
• Material testing
• Subgrade assessment
• Utility trenching and backfilling
• Survey coordination
• Geotechnical risk assessment
• Construction technical reporting

Why Join Us

Riyadh 's expanding aviation and infrastructure development pipeline creates strong demand for geotechnical engineers who understand how design assumptions translate into real ground conditions during construction. This position offers substantial field exposure across airfield pavements, earthworks, utilities, foundations, drainage, and major infrastructure while providing the opportunity to solve technical issues that directly influence construction progress and long‑term asset performance. Parsons ' multidisciplinary environment also provides scope to strengthen expertise across geotechnical engineering, construction quality, and complex infrastructure delivery.

About the Company

Parsons Corporation delivers engineering, construction management, infrastructure, and program management services for major developments in Saudi Arabia and international markets. Its multidisciplinary teams support complex transportation and infrastructure projects by combining technical engineering expertise with practical construction oversight, quality assurance, and coordinated project delivery.