Geotechnical Lead - Airport Infrastructure

Parsons; Riyadh; On-site; SAR 391,000 - 558,000; Full time

Job summary

Parsons is seeking a Geotechnical Lead for an airport infrastructure project in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. You will lead ground-related analyses, integrate investigation data with design decisions, and guide earthworks and foundation strategies to ensure reliable ground performance.

Ideal candidates bring extensive experience in geotechnical engineering for major infrastructure, deep foundation solutions, and pavement support.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Geotechnical Engineering, Civil Engineering, or related field.
• Minimum 15 years of geotechnical experience in design review, investigation management, and construction support.
• Master's degree in Geotechnical Engineering or Soil Mechanics preferred.

Responsibilities

• Establish geotechnical strategies, design criteria, and governance requirements.
• Review borehole investigations, lab tests, and geophysical data.
• Assess soil profiles, groundwater, and lab results for design adequacy.
• Identify subsurface risks that could impact safety, cost, or schedule.
• Coordinate geotechnical interfaces with Civil, Structural, Pavement, and Utilities teams.

Skills

Geotechnical engineering

Ground investigation

Soil mechanics

Pavement subgrade

Earthworks

Foundation engineering

Geotechnical risk management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Geotechnical/Civil Engineering

Master's degree in Geotechnical Engineering or Soil Mechanics

Tools

PLAXIS

GeoStudio

SLOPE-W

Settle3D

Job description

Job Snapshot

Role: Geotechnical Lead - Airport Infrastructure

Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Industry: Civil Engineering

Function: Geo-technical

Experience: Minimum 15 years

Job Type: Full-time

Job Details

Country: Saudi Arabia

City: Riyadh

Industry: Civil Engineering

Function: Geo-technical

Salary: 35000-50000

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 Lead will provide specialist engineering leadership for ground-related risks and design decisions across a large-scale aviation development. The position will connect investigation data, soil behavior, foundation requirements, pavement performance, earthworks, and construction methodology to ensure infrastructure is developed on technically reliable ground solutions. The role will influence both design quality and construction efficiency. Accurate interpretation of subsurface conditions, early identification of geotechnical risks, and practical mitigation strategies will help reduce settlement concerns, foundation failures, earthworks delays, pavement deterioration, and unexpected site conditions during construction.

Key Responsibilities

• Establish geotechnical strategies, technical review procedures, design criteria, and engineering governance requirements.
• Provide specialist guidance to geotechnical engineers, consultants, contractors, designers, and project leadership.
• Review borehole investigations, trial pits, laboratory testing, in-situ testing, and geophysical survey information.
• Assess geotechnical investigation reports, soil profiles, groundwater conditions, laboratory results, and engineering recommendations.
• Confirm that ground investigation coverage and characterization are adequate for planned design and construction activities.
• Identify subsurface risks that could affect safety, cost, schedule, constructability, or long-term performance.
• Review geotechnical parameters used for foundations, pavement systems, earthworks, retaining structures, and underground infrastructure.
• Assess ground conditions affecting passenger terminals, cargo facilities, runways, taxiways, aircraft aprons, and parking stands.
• Provide geotechnical input for roads, utility corridors, bridges, culverts, retaining structures, and below-ground facilities.
• Review shallow foundation, deep foundation, piling, and ground improvement solutions.
• Evaluate bearing capacity, total and differential settlement, consolidation, groundwater effects, and long-term ground behavior.
• Assess seismic and soil-related design considerations where applicable to project requirements.
• Review cut and fill strategies, excavation plans, embankment construction, compaction requirements, and slope stability measures.
• Evaluate soil stabilization, geosynthetics, deep soil mixing, stone columns, preloading, and consolidation techniques.
• Support optimization of earthworks quantities while maintaining specified engineering performance.
• Review material suitability for reuse, fill placement, compaction, and infrastructure construction.
• Provide specialist support for runway, taxiway, apron, and aircraft stand pavement foundations.
• Review pavement subgrade conditions, CBR values, soil strength, and ground improvement requirements.
• Coordinate with pavement engineers to establish suitable subgrade parameters and foundation treatments.
• Assess ground-related risks that may influence pavement durability, deformation, or operational reliability.
• Review contractor method statements, earthworks proposals, technical reports, material submissions, and RFIs.
• Evaluate field testing results including density testing, compaction verification, material testing, and ground improvement performance.
• Conduct technical site inspections and assess unexpected soil, groundwater, or excavation conditions.
• Provide practical engineering solutions when site conditions differ from investigation assumptions.
• Coordinate geotechnical interfaces with Civil, Structural, Pavement, Utilities, Airfield, MEP, and construction disciplines.
• Participate in multidisciplinary design reviews, technical workshops, and coordination sessions.
• Ensure foundation and ground requirements are incorporated into broader infrastructure and building designs.
• Support BIM and digital engineering coordination where geotechnical information affects models or construction planning.
• Lead geotechnical risk assessments and maintain visibility of significant ground-related project risks.
• Develop mitigation measures for settlement, weak ground, groundwater, excavation stability, and unsuitable materials.
• Review design modifications where changes could affect foundations, earthworks, pavement support, or ground behavior.
• Support technical assurance audits and quality reviews for geotechnical works.
• Verify compliance with project specifications, approved geotechnical criteria, and regulatory requirements.
• Prepare geotechnical assessments, design review comments, engineering reports, and technical recommendations.
• Maintain records of technical approvals, investigation findings, engineering decisions, site observations, and risk actions.
• Provide project management with regular updates covering geotechnical progress, emerging risks, technical constraints, and required decisions.
• Support preparation of final geotechnical records, completion documentation, asset information, and project handover packages.

Ideal Profile

This position is intended for a highly experienced geotechnical professional who combines advanced soil mechanics knowledge with practical understanding of major infrastructure construction.

• Bachelor 's degree in Geotechnical Engineering, Civil Engineering, or another relevant engineering discipline.
• Minimum 15 years of experience in geotechnical engineering, design review, investigation management, and construction support.
• Master 's degree in Geotechnical Engineering or Soil Mechanics is preferred.
• Proven experience with airports, airfield developments, transportation infrastructure, or large civil engineering programs.
• Strong background in ground investigations, soil characterization, foundations, earthworks, and ground improvement.
• Extensive experience assessing pavement subgrades and geotechnical conditions affecting heavy infrastructure.
• Advanced knowledge of soil mechanics, foundation engineering, settlement behavior, and ground-structure interaction.
• Ability to interpret borehole records, laboratory results, field testing, groundwater information, and geotechnical models.
• Strong understanding of shallow foundations, piled foundations, retaining structures, excavation support, and embankments.
• Experience reviewing geotechnical calculations, investigation reports, construction methodologies, and technical submissions.
• Knowledge of ASTM, BS-EN, Eurocodes, AASHTO, and applicable local geotechnical requirements.
• Proficiency with PLAXIS, GeoStudio, SLOPE-W, Settle3D, or equivalent geotechnical analysis tools.
• Practical experience with earthworks specifications, compaction control, field testing, and construction quality requirements.
• Strong analytical ability when addressing complex or uncertain ground conditions.
• Capable of coordinating consultants, contractors, project teams, and specialist geotechnical organizations.
• Professional Engineer, Chartered Engineer, or equivalent professional registration is advantageous.
• Experience on international airport expansion or greenfield aviation projects is highly desirable.
• Knowledge of ICAO Annex 14 and relevant FAA pavement and airport infrastructure requirements is beneficial.
• Familiarity with FIDIC and Design-Build, EPC, PMC, or Delivery Partner environments is preferred.

Skills Set

• Geotechnical engineering
• Ground investigation
• Borehole investigation
• Trial pit assessment
• In-situ testing
• Laboratory soil testing
• Geophysical surveys
• Soil characterization
• Groundwater assessment
• Soil mechanics
• Foundation engineering
• Shallow foundations
• Deep foundations
• Pile foundations
• Bearing capacity analysis
• Settlement analysis
• Consolidation analysis
• Earthworks engineering
• Cut and fill
• Embankment construction
• Compaction control
• Slope stability
• Ground improvement
• Soil stabilization
• Geosynthetics
• Deep soil mixing
• Stone columns
• Preloading
• Pavement subgrade assessment
• CBR evaluation
• Airfield pavement support
• Runway geotechnical engineering
• Taxiway geotechnical engineering
• Apron subgrade assessment
• Excavation support
• Retaining structures
• Geotechnical risk management
• PLAXIS
• GeoStudio
• SLOPE-W
• Settle3D
• ASTM standards
• BS-EN standards
• Eurocodes
• AASHTO
• Construction testing
• Material suitability assessment
• Geotechnical site inspections
• Multidisciplinary coordination
• Technical assurance
• Design review
• Construction support

Why Join Us

This position offers the opportunity to lead geotechnical engineering across a major aviation and infrastructure development where ground performance directly influences terminal structures, airfield pavements, utilities, transportation systems, and construction sequencing. The scale and technical diversity of the program provide substantial exposure to advanced investigation methods, foundation engineering, ground improvement, and complex construction challenges. For an experienced geotechnical specialist, the role provides a strong platform to expand technical leadership while contributing to major infrastructure growth in Riyadh. The combination of airfield engineering, large-scale earthworks, foundation design, pavement support, and multidisciplinary project delivery offers valuable experience for future senior engineering and technical management positions.

About the Company

Parsons Corporation delivers engineering, infrastructure, aviation, construction management, and technology solutions for major programs worldwide. Its multidisciplinary teams support complex airport, transportation, and civil infrastructure developments through specialist engineering, technical assurance, construction coordination, and integrated project delivery.