Engineering Manager- Geotechnical

NV5; Bakersfield (CA); On-site; USD 155,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, life insurance

401(k) plan

Paid holidays

Paid time off

Job summary

NV5 is seeking an Engineering Manager- Senior Geotechnical/Civil/Materials Engineer in Bakersfield, CA. You will lead design and construction testing projects, and serve as a project manager for construction materials testing and inspection services focusing on school and public infrastructure.

The role requires a California-registered Civil Engineer with extensive experience in DSA/Caltrans environments, leading multidisciplinary teams, and delivering on-time, on-budget results.

Qualifications

• Professional Civil Engineer registration in California.
• Experience with DSA and Caltrans is preferred.
• Strong leadership and collaboration across multidisciplinary teams.
• Ability to manage laboratories, inspectors, and staff.
• Experience reviewing technical specs and field/lab reports.

Responsibilities

• Oversee laboratory testing and special inspection services on DSA/Caltrans projects.
• Lead and review work of inspectors, technicians, and support staff for quality and timeliness.
• Manage geotechnical projects from inception to completion, ensuring client satisfaction and budgets.
• Develop proposals, deliverables, and risk assessments with the Operations Manager.
• Lead safety initiatives and ensure compliance with policies and guidelines.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Problem solving

Team collaboration

Verbal and written communication

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Education

BS in Civil Engineering

MS in Geotechnical Engineering

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Position Summary

NV5 has an immediate opening for an Engineering Manager- Senior Geotechnical/Civil/Materials Engineer in our Bakersfield, CA office. The successful candidate will serve as Engineering Manager for both design and construction inspection and testing projects. The candidate will also serve as Project Manager in the delivery of construction materials testing and inspection services focused primarily on school and public infrastructure construction.

The successful candidate should be a registered Professional Civil Engineer in the State of California. Experience with the CA Division of State Architect (DSA) and Caltrans projects is preferred. Success in this position requires focus on both technical excellence and business success. As an engineering project manager, you will work with a variety of personalities on a multidisciplinary team. The person must possess skills in problem-solving and critical thinking and maintain high productivity in a fast-paced environment. The person needs to be an effective leader and collaborator with the ability to manage multiple soil/concrete technicians, ICC Inspectors, and laboratory staff.

Responsibilities

Lab Operations Oversight:

• Engineering Manager of laboratory testing and special inspection services on DSA/HCAI, Caltrans, and local jurisdiction having authority (JHA) projects.
• Plans, assigns, prioritizes, evaluates, and reviews the work of special inspectors and technicians, and support staff for consistency, accuracy, timeliness, conformance to guidelines, and technical merit.
• Review field and laboratory reports
• Review plans and specifications

Geotechnical Engineering and Construction Project Oversight:

• Project Management: Manage projects from inception through completion and have primary responsibility for managing client expectations and ensuring that delivery meets expectations.
• Manage projects to meet client expectations for technical excellence, budget, and schedule
• With support from the Operations Manager, plan for and execute the recruitment, selection, training, mentoring, and development of all employees in the department.
• Conduct annual performance reviews. Monitor and assess progress toward performance goals
• Develops and review technical and cost proposals, technical deliverables, and other documents.
• With support from the Operations Manager, perform business and client development activities.
• Assists in establishing policies and technical procedures and assists in developing new markets in professional services.
• Develop an understanding of and be aware of project-related risk. Be familiar with what could go wrong on a project and how to protect the Company. Be familiar with company risk policies.
• Lead safety efforts for the team and ensure the team follows safety rules and guidelines. Responsible for creating and modeling a safe

Requirements

• BS in Civil Engineering
• MS in Geotechnical Engineering is highly desired
• Registered PE in California
• 8+ years in a senior engineering leadership geotechnical project construction role
• 5+ years of experience in testing and inspection of construction materials
• 2+ years of experience in special inspections or supervision of special inspection services.
• Experience with DSA/HCAI and Caltrans special inspection and materials testing requirements is preferred.
• Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team, think creatively, and problem-solve
• Demonstrated experience with reviewing technical specifications and field/laboratory reports
• Extensive knowledge of building codes and construction industry standards. DSA, HCAI experience is preferred
• Experience with Caltrans, AASHTO, and ASTM test methods pertaining to construction materials, including HMA, aggregate, soils, steel, masonry, and concrete
• Experience reviewing concrete/asphalt mix designs
• Experience overseeing materials testing and inspections
• Thorough understanding of accreditation policies for all relevant agencies, including Caltrans, DSA, AMRL, CCRL, IAS, etc.
• Proficiency in computer applications, including MS Office
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Preferred qualifications include a strong background and experience in geotechnical engineering

The pay range for this California position is $155,000- $200,000 per year; however, base pay offered may be higher or lower depending on the job-related knowledge, skills, and experience of the candidate.

Benefits

NV5 offers a competitive compensation and benefits package including medical, dental, life insurance, PTO, 401(k) and professional development/advancement opportunities.

• Competitive Salary
• Medical, dental, and supplemental insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Company paid Life & AD&D
• Company paid Disability
• 401K Plan
• Paid Holidays
• Paid Time Off

Company Overview

NV5 delivers technology-enabled engineering, consulting, and geospatial solutions that help clients plan, design, and optimize infrastructure, buildings, utilities, and environmental systems. We bring together technical expertise, data, and innovative thinking to create resilient, high-performance assets. As part of TiC Solutions, alongside Acuren, we share a purpose: to shape and strengthen the physical world.

Our work starts with our people. We invest in their growth and never compromise on safety. We work as one team across disciplines and geographies, bringing diverse perspectives and a shared purpose to complex challenges.

At NV5, we take pride in high-quality work that creates lasting value for our clients. We challenge the status quo, continuously improve, and turn insight into smarter designs, plans, and solutions. Join us to contribute your expertise and collaborate with our teams to help shape the infrastructure and systems the world relies on.