Associate Geotechnical Engineer

WSP in the U.S.; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 81,000 - 102,000; Full time

Job summary

WSP USA is seeking an Associate Geotechnical Engineer for the Southern California region (Irvine, San Diego, Los Angeles). The entry-level role involves tasks with supervision and may guide junior staff; requires 1–3 years post‑Bachelor's experience and familiarity with field investigations.

Responsibilities include planning subsurface explorations, coordinating with drillers and surveyors, preparing geotechnical reports, and supporting construction-phase services.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Geotechnical Engineering or related field.
• 1–3 years of relevant post-education experience.
• Experience with MS Office, AutoCAD, and MS Project.
• Hands-on knowledge of field equipment.

Responsibilities

• Plan and support subsurface explorations and coordinate with drillers and surveyors.
• Prepare geotechnical reports, figures, and tables clearly communicating findings.
• Coordinate laboratory testing programs and review results for completeness.
• Perform bearing capacity, settlement, lateral earth pressures, slope stability, and seismic site analyses.
• Peer-review junior staff work and ensure deliverables are accurate.

Skills

Field equipment handling

Written and verbal communication

Independent work style

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Geotechnical Engineering

Master’s Degree in Geotechnical Engineering

Engineer in Training Certification

Professional Engineer licensure

Tools

MS Office

AutoCAD

MS Project

Job description

Job Description

WSP is seeking an Associate Geotechnical Engineer to work out of our Southern California region (Irvine, San Diego and Los Angeles). The entry level position would involve assignments of limited scope and complexity; work supervised in detail; may give guidance to junior professionals or more junior technician staff; generally more than two years experience post Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combinations of graduate level degree and experience. Candidate is expected to have basic orientation, training and experience in the nature of the consulting business, i.e., how to be a consultant, how to write proposals, reports, client correspondence and internal documents, and how to gain familiarity with the standard procedures and practices associated with their discipline. Typical project assignments include collecting or compiling data, either in the field or from published and unpublished materials, entering data into and extracting data from standard computer programs, and researching the more complex regulatory or technical requirements. Candidate will be required to travel occasionally to field assignments. All work performed by the candidate will be under the supervision of the project manager or senior staff member.

Your Impact

• Plan and support subsurface explorations (e.g., borings, test pits, CPTs) and coordinate with drillers, surveyors, and utility locators as needed.
• Identifying ways to improve our field data collection or reporting templates to make our team more efficient and competitive.
• Log soil and rock in the field; document groundwater, sampling, and drilling conditions; and maintain organized field notes and photo records.
• Coordinate laboratory testing programs (index, strength, consolidation, corrosion, etc.) and review results for completeness and reasonableness.
• Perform engineering calculations and analyses (e.g., bearing capacity, settlement, lateral earth pressures, slope stability screening, and seismic site considerations) using accepted methods and software tools.
• Peer-reviewing the work of junior staff and technicians to ensure our deliverables are error‑free and professionally presented.
• Develop preliminary and final geotechnical recommendations for foundations, slabs, earthwork, excavations, temporary support, and earth retention systems, as applicable to the project.
• Prepare geotechnical reports, memoranda, figures, and tables that clearly communicate findings, assumptions, and recommendations.
• Support construction‑phase services such as grading/excavation observations, footing subgrade evaluations, pile installation monitoring support, and documentation of nonconformance and corrective actions.
• Apply QA/QC practices to calculations and deliverables; follow internal standards, checklists, and peer review processes.
• Communicate with project managers, design team members, contractors, and clients to address technical questions and field issues in a timely manner.
• Follow health, safety, and environmental requirements; help identify hazards and implement appropriate controls during field activities.
• Track assigned tasks, budgets, and schedules; provide status updates and proactively raise risks or scope changes.

Who You Are

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Geotechnical Engineering, or closely related discipline (or equivalent experience).
• 1 to 3 years of relevant post education experience.
• Experience with desktop and industry‑specific software (e.g., MSOffice, AutoCAD, and MSProject) required.
• Hands on knowledge on the use of field equipment.
• Must have strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to establish effective internal and external working relationships.
• Ability to communicate clearly with on‑site contractors, supervisor or project manager regarding work assignments required.
• Proficient self‑leadership with attention to detail, multi‑tasking, and prioritization of responsibilities in a dynamic work environment.
• Ability to work independently under general supervision, as well as part of a team to meet business objectives.
• Proven track record of upholding workplace safety and ability to abide by WSP’s health, safety and drug/alcohol and harassment policies.
• Ability to work schedules conducive to project‑specific requirements that may extend beyond the typical workweek.
• Frequent local travel and occasional out‑of‑town travel may be required depending on project‑specific requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in Geotechnical Engineering.
• Engineer in Training Certification.
• Professional Engineer licensure.
• A member of and/or actively participate in local professional practice organizations.

WSP Benefits

WSP provides a comprehensive suite of benefits focused on a providing health and financial stability throughout the employee’s career. These benefits include coverage related to medical, dental, vision, disability, and life; retirement savings; paid sick leave; paid vacation (or other personal time); paid parental leave; and paid time off for purposes of bereavement, voting, and/or attendance at naturalization proceedings.

Compensation

Expected Salary (all locations): $81,000 - $101,500

About WSP

WSP USA is the U.S. operating company of WSP, one of the world's leading engineering and professional services firms. Dedicated to serving local communities, we are engineers, planners, technical experts, strategic advisors and construction management professionals. WSP USA designs lasting solutions in the buildings, transportation, energy, water and environment markets. With more than 15,000 employees in over 300 offices across the U.S., we partner with our clients to help communities prosper.

www.wsp.com

WSP provides a flexible and agile workplace model while meeting client needs. Employees are also afforded a comprehensive suite of benefits including medical, dental, vision, disability, life, and retirement savings focused on providing health and financial stability throughout the employee’s career.

At WSP, we want to give our employees the challenges they seek to grow their careers and knowledge base. Your daily contributions to your team will be essential in meeting client objectives, goals and challenges. Are you ready to get started?

WSP USA (and all of its U.S. companies) is an Equal Opportunity Employer Race/Age/Color/Religion/Sex/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/National Origin/Disability or Protected Veteran Status.

The selected candidate must be authorized to work in the United States.

Notice To Third Party Agencies

WSP does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters, employment agencies, or other staffing services. Unsolicited resumes include any resume or hiring document sent to WSP in the absence of a signed Service Agreement where WSP has expressly requested recruitment/staffing services specific to the position at hand. Any unsolicited resumes, including those submitted to hiring managers or other business leaders, will become the property of WSP and WSP will have the right to hire that candidate without reservation – no fee or other compensation will be owed or paid to the recruiter, employment agency, or other staffing service.