Geotechnical Engineer

Actalent; Urbandale (IA); On-site; USD 63,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision benefits

401(k) retirement plan

Paid time off

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a Senior Geotechnical Engineer to lead and deliver geotechnical projects from proposal through final reports. The role includes advanced analyses, field/lab oversight, client liaison, and mentorship of junior staff.

The position is fully onsite in Urbandale, IA, with potential travel to project sites. A PE license and 8+ years in geotechnical engineering are preferred; Master’s degree is a plus. Contract to hire with competitive pay and benefits.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of geotechnical engineering experience.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license required.
• Bachelor's degree in Civil/Geotechnical Eng; master's preferred.
• Strong leadership and mentoring capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead geotechnical projects from proposal to delivery.
• Prepare technical and cost proposals for complex projects.
• Develop scopes, schedules, budgets, and resources.
• Perform advanced geotechnical analyses using industry tools.
• Prepare reports, calculations, and recommendations.
• Coordinate cross-disciplinary teams and client liaison.
• Oversee field exploration and laboratory testing.
• Mentor junior engineers and staff.

Skills

Geotechnical engineering

Project leadership

Technical report writing

Mentoring/education

Communication skills

Driver's license

Education

Bachelor's in Civil or Geotechnical Eng

Master's in Geotechnical/Structural Eng

Tools

Geotechnical software

Job description

Job Title: Senior Geotechnical EngineerJob Description

We are seeking an experienced Senior Geotechnical Engineer to join a growing engineering consulting team. This individual will play a key role in the technical execution, management, and delivery of complex geotechnical engineering projects while serving as a mentor to junior engineers and technical staff. This position offers the opportunity to lead projects from proposal development through final deliverables, perform advanced engineering analyses, oversee field and laboratory investigations, and contribute to business development efforts across a diverse portfolio of infrastructure, commercial, industrial, and transportation projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage geotechnical engineering projects from proposal development through project completion.

• Prepare technical and cost proposals for moderate to highly complex projects.

• Develop project scopes, schedules, budgets, and resource plans.

• Perform advanced geotechnical engineering analyses and evaluations using industry-standard methodologies and software.

• Prepare and review geotechnical engineering reports, recommendations, specifications, and design calculations.

• Review engineering work products prepared by other engineers and technical staff for quality and accuracy.

• Interpret subsurface investigation data and provide foundation, earthwork, slope stability, retaining wall, and pavement recommendations.

• Coordinate project assignments with engineers, technicians, and field personnel across multiple disciplines.

• Serve as the primary client contact and develop strong relationships through effective communication and project delivery.

• Review plans and drawings prepared by clients, contractors, architects, and vendors and recommend necessary modifications.

• Identify project risks, technical challenges, and opportunities while developing practical engineering solutions.

• Provide leadership, mentorship, and professional development support to junior engineers and technical staff.

• Oversee field exploration activities and evaluate field and laboratory testing results.

• Prepare field reports documenting construction activities, testing procedures, observations, and engineering conclusions.

• Ensure projects are completed safely, efficiently, on schedule, and within budget.

• Support business development initiatives and promote company services to existing and prospective clients.

• Maintain compliance with company policies, quality standards, and health and safety requirements.

• Complete required safety and professional development training.

Essential Skills

• Organizational and leadership skills

• Project engineering and geotechnical engineering expertise

• Technical report writing proficiency

• 8+ years of experience in geotechnical engineering

• Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering or Geotechnical Engineering

• Professional Engineer (PE) license

• Experience managing multiple geotechnical projects simultaneously

• Strong understanding of geotechnical investigation methods, subsurface exploration, engineering analysis, and report preparation

• Experience reviewing engineering calculations, technical reports, and construction documents

• Proven ability to lead project teams and mentor junior staff

• Strong written and verbal communication skills

• Valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Master's Degree in Geotechnical Engineering or Structural Engineering

• Experience with transportation, commercial, industrial, energy, or infrastructure projects

• Advanced knowledge of geotechnical modeling and engineering software

• Demonstrated success in client development and business growth initiatives

Work Environment

This role includes a combination of office and field-based work. The position requires occasional travel to project sites where employees may be exposed to varying weather conditions and construction environments. The company offers competitive pay based on experience, education, licensure, and geographic location. Benefits include medical, dental, vision, 401(k), paid time off, career development opportunities, and additional employee benefits.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Urbandale, IA.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $46.00 - $69.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Urbandale,IA.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 28, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.