Geotechnical Engineer | 20+ Years

Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc.; Falls Church (VA); On-site; USD 132,000 - 221,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health plans and benefits

401(k) matching

Job summary

Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. (WJE) seeks an industry-leading Associate Principal or Principal Geotechnical Engineer to expand and develop our geotechnical engineering practice companywide.

This role may be based in any WJE office across the continental United States, with opportunities for leadership in forensic geotechnical projects. If you are excited to mentor the next generation of forensic geotechnical engineers, apply your engineering judgment beyond codes, and drive complex

Qualifications

• Licensed Geotechnical Engineer in relevant state(s).
• Master's degree or PhD in geotechnical engineering or related field.
• Minimum of 20 years of relevant industry experience (25+ preferred).
• Dedicated self-starter with problem-solving approach.
• Excellent technical, graphical, written, and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Project management and client development for geotechnical projects across WJE.
• Technical leadership across interdisciplinary teams and mentoring staff.
• Contributing to practice development and client engagement company-wide.
• Hands-on field work, investigations, and delivering high-quality client deliverables.

Skills

Licensed Geotechnical Engineer

Self-starter

Communication skills

Education

Master's degree or PhD in geotechnical engineering

Job description

Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. (WJE) is seeking an industry-leading, Associate Principal or Principal Geotechnical Engineer to be an integral part of expanding and developing our geotechnical engineering practice companywide.

If you are enthusiastic about investigating and solving problems, applying your engineering judgment beyond the strict application of the codes, and mentoring the next generation of forensic geotechnical engineers - we want you on our team!

This opportunity may be based in any WJE office across the continental United States: www.wje.com/offices.

Responsibilities:

• Project management, including client development, project scoping, assembling and managing appropriate project teams, maintaining project schedules and budgets, and managing client expectations and deliverables
• Technical leadership, including applying sound engineering judgment and a deep understanding of governing codes, design guidelines, and industry practices; collaborating with interdisciplinary project teams across WJE as the geotechnical engineering subject-matter expert (SME); leveraging your expertise for a variety of geotechnical engineering projects, including forensics, problem-solving, and remediation challenges related to buildings and/or infrastructure; preparing technically excellent client deliverables; providing high-quality reviews and oversight of work by others; and performing and training others in hands‑on field work
• Mentorship, including exemplifying WJE's culture of shared destiny and knowledge sharing to better the team around you: locally and company-wide, formally and informally, on-and-off projects, for technical topics and overall career development of staff
• Contributions to geotechnical engineering practice and company-wide objectives, including participating in the attraction, development, and engagement new and existing clients; collaborating with other WJE practice leaders for in-house knowledge-sharing and training initiatives; and engaging in meaningful involvement in industry-related professional organizations, conferences, and technical committees

Qualifications:

• Licensed Geotechnical Engineerin relevant state(s)
• Master's degree or PhDin geotechnical engineering or related field
• Minimum of 20 years of relevant industry experience (25+ preferred), including demonstrated expertise in geotechnical engineering applications across various soil conditions, including but not limited to: design and performance evaluation of foundations for various structure types (including deep foundations); hands‑on investigation and testing methods to diagnose distressed conditions; underpinning, ground improvement, and other remedial measures for distressed buildings and other structures; slope stability and earth retention; and settlement issues
• Dedicated self-starter, motivated to build a new consulting practice based on a "principles first" problem‑solving approach
• Excellent technical, graphical, written, and verbal communication skills

Physical Requirements:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job, with or without a reasonable accommodation. This position requires visual acuity and listening ability. Individuals must have the dexterity to be able to operate office and field equipment. Requirements may also include:

• Ability to travel and attend meetings at various office, field, and construction sites
• Ability to perform field observations and take soil samples and data measurements (e.g., log borings, piezometers, inclinometers, etc.)
• Ability to safely work at heights, in confined spaces, and in a variety of occupationally hazardous locations, including outdoors with exposure to temperature extremes
• Ability to safely use and/or operate ladders, scaffolds, lifts, and other access equipment
• Ability to lift and carry materials, tools, and other heavy equipment up to 50 lbs.
• Medically fit to utilize respiratory protection devices and other forms of Personal Protective Equipment
• Ability to drive and safely operate a motor vehicle

Culture, Compensation, and Benefits:

Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. (WJE) is a global firm of engineers, architects, and materials scientists. Clients worldwide seek our expertise to solve the most significant, interesting, and challenging problems in the built world. Our applied experience from more than 175,000 projects combined with unparalleled laboratory and testing capabilities have made WJE a leader in providing innovative yet practical solutions to the clients we serve.

Working at WJE is a team endeavor characterized by a culture of trust and personal responsibility. We encourage open communication, continuous learning, innovative thinking, ongoing mentoring, and free-flowing collaboration. We seek highly talented and hard‑working individuals who want to be challenged, who want hands‑on work, who want to set a higher standard, and who want to be mentored by the industry's most accomplished experts. People with outstanding character, unwavering commitment to our core and culture, strong expertise, and genuine enthusiasm for their work.

Learn more about the Extraordinary People we hire at WJE at www.wje.com/careers.

WJE offers a robust, total compensation structure composed of base salary, incentive pay, and industry-leading benefits:

• Base salary is determined through consideration of a candidate's qualifications, skills, competencies, and proficiency for the role while remaining mindful of our commitment to internal equity.
• Employees receive variable compensation based on personal and company performance, typically resulting in above-market total compensation.

A good faith estimate of the annual starting base salary (gross) is in the following range:

$132,380.00 - $220,630.00

WJE's industry-leading, total rewards package enables our employees to grow and thrive with comprehensive health and financial benefits, including:

• Robust and affordable health plans for employees and their families, including HSA as well as low and high‑deductible PPO options
• Generous 401(k) matching of 110% for the first 6% of eligible pay, vesting immediately
• Time off to care for yourself and others
• Investments in employees' educational assistance and professional development

Learn more about WJE's total rewards package here.

WJE is an Equal Opportunity Employer as to all protected groups, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

WJE will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of Fair Chance Ordinances.