Geotechnical Design Engineer/Ground Improvement

LVI Associates; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

LVI Associates is seeking a PE-licensed Geotechnical Design Engineer to join its Houston office. This role focuses on designing and delivering advanced ground improvement solutions for complex soil and foundation challenges across major infrastructure, industrial, and energy projects.

The position sits at the intersection of geotechnical design, construction support, and client-facing technical leadership, developing innovative ground improvement designs from concept through execution.

Qualifications

• Professional engineer license (PE) is required.
• Degree in Civil or Geotechnical Engineering.
• Strong background in ground improvement or specialty geotechnical construction.
• Experience with large-scale infrastructure, industrial, port, energy, or transportation projects.

Responsibilities

• Perform geotechnical analyses and develop design calculations for ground improvement solutions.
• Produce design reports, drawings, and technical proposals.
• Collaborate with construction teams to ensure constructability and performance.
• Support business development through technical input and client presentations.
• Interface directly with owners, consultants, and contractors.
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to technical excellence within the team.

Skills

PE License

Geotechnical design

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Civil/Geotechnical Eng.

Job description

A global ground‑engineering specialist is seeking a PE‑licensed Geotechnical Design Engineer to join its Houston office. This role is focused on the design and delivery of advanced ground improvement solutions for complex soil and foundation challenges across major infrastructure, industrial, and energy projects.

Role Overview

This position sits at the intersection of geotechnical design, construction support, and client‑facing technical leadership. The successful candidate will be responsible for developing innovative ground improvement designs and supporting projects from concept through execution.

Core Technical Focus Areas

The role requires deep experience (or strong exposure) to the same specialist techniques delivered by the firm, including:

• Ground improvement systems, such as:
• Rigid inclusions / controlled modulus columns
• Dynamic compaction
• Wick drains and surcharge preloading
• Settlement analysis and soil‑structure interaction
• Bearing capacity improvement and liquefaction mitigation
• Design of shallow and deep ground improvement solutions for challenging subsurface conditions
• Interpretation of geotechnical investigations and laboratory data
• Construction‑phase engineering support and performance verification

Key Responsibilities

• Perform geotechnical analyses and develop design calculations for ground improvement solutions
• Produce design reports, drawings, and technical proposals
• Collaborate closely with construction teams to ensure constructability and performance
• Support business development through technical input and client presentations
• Interface directly with owners, consultants, and contractors
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to technical excellence within the team

Required Qualifications

• Professional Engineer (PE) license - required
• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Civil or Geotechnical Engineering
• Strong background in ground improvement or specialty geotechnical construction
• Experience supporting large‑scale infrastructure, industrial, port, energy, or transportation projects

Why Engineers Join This Firm

• Global technical leader in specialist ground engineering, not a generalist consultancy
• Exposure to iconic, technically complex projects that most geotechnical engineers never touch
• Strong backing from international R&D and proprietary design methods
• Close collaboration between design and field execution - engineers see their designs built
• Flat structure with clear visibility to senior technical leadership
• Excellent long‑term stability and continued growth in the Texas market

Opportunity for Growth

This role offers a clear pathway for engineers who want to develop beyond traditional consulting boundaries. As the Houston operation continues to expand, there are strong opportunities to:

• Progress into Senior, Lead, or Technical Expert roles
• Become a recognized subject‑matter specialist in ground improvement technologies
• Play a key role in shaping design standards and best practices
• Increase involvement in major pursuits, client strategy, and technically led business development
• Gain exposure to international collaboration and knowledge transfer on marquee projects

Engineers who thrive here are those who want their technical expertise to directly influence how projects are built, not just designed.

Company identity will be shared confidentially during initial discussions.

This is an excellent opportunity for a PE‑licensed Geotechnical Engineer seeking to work at the cutting edge of ground engineering, with the platform, project exposure, and support to accelerate both technical mastery and career progression.