Geotechnical Engineer 3

GAI Consultants Inc.; Homestead (Allegheny County); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Medical, vision, dental insurance

401(k) company match

Tuition reimbursement

Paid maternity/paternity/adoption leave

Generous paid time off and holidays

Job summary

GAI Consultants Inc. is seeking a Geotechnical Engineer 3 based in the Pittsburgh area for Power Generation and Infrastructure projects. The role involves performing geotechnical engineering tasks including site inspections, design assignments, and providing construction support services. An ideal candidate will have over 8 years of experience, a Professional Engineer license, and strong communication skills. GAI offers a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, and options for remote or hybrid work.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in geotechnical engineering.
• Professional Engineer (P.E.) License required, reciprocity in multiple states.
• Ability to work effectively in outdoor environments and varying weather conditions.

Responsibilities

• Perform geotechnical engineering assignments including site inspections and design tasks.
• Prepare proposals, budgets, schedules, and reports.
• Provide construction support services and monitor site conditions.

Skills

Geotechnical design

Field inspections

Project management

Communication skills

Education

B.S. or M.S. in Engineering

Job description

GAI Consultants, Inc. is seeking a Geotechnical Engineer 3 to work with the Power Generation Business Sector on Power Generation and Infrastructure projects and, when needed, other regional client projects. GAI Consultants, Inc. offers its employees, upon approval by supervisors, the ability to work remotely or in a hybrid setting. The candidate will be based out of one of GAI's Pittsburgh area offices – Canton, OH; Charleston, WV; Bridgeport, WV; Warrenton, VA; or Richmond, VA. The successful candidate will perform geotechnical design tasks and field work under the supervision of a licensed professional engineer and/or professional geologist.

Essential Duties

• Perform geotechnical engineering assignments involving investigations and designs for a variety of facilities, including foundations for transmission lines, buildings, bridges, retaining walls and other structures; designs for natural gas pipelines and compressor stations; and design of residual waste landfills and impoundments.
• Prepare geotechnical engineering designs involving rock/soil slope stability; cut slope and fill embankment design; landslide stabilization (reinforcement with rock anchors/soil nails, GRS slopes); geotechnical field instrumentation; soil reinforcement and ground improvement techniques (CMCs, compaction grouting, stone columns); sheet pile/retaining walls (gravity walls, soldier pile and lagging walls, MSE walls, T-walls); shallow and deep foundations (spread footings, driven piles, augered cast‑in‑place piles, helical piles, micropiles, drilled shafts).
• Develop subsurface investigations, monitoring programs, and coordinate geologic site characterization for a variety of facilities; install geotechnical field instrumentation; select samples for laboratory testing.
• Prepare proposals, budgets, schedules, calculations, specifications and reports.
• Provide geotechnical investigation and construction support services, including test boring monitoring and logging; site reconnaissance; foundation and retaining structure construction monitoring and inspection. Interpret specifications and construction drawings, evaluate site conditions based on construction excavations, monitor and report on construction activities, and perform field testing of soils.
• Perform site inspections at various power facilities and associated sites. Inspections may be daily, weekly, monthly, or annual.
• Prepare boring logs and geologic cross‑sections.
• Travel for fieldwork, including daily local travel or weekly out‑of‑town travel primarily in the Midwest and Mid‑Atlantic regions of the United States.
• Be able to complete, with assistance or by learning, basic civil site design tasks, including:
• site grading plans
• erosion and sediment control plans
• stormwater management plans
• drainage plans
• utility design and relocation
• permit applications
• construction drawings, specifications, and quality control plans
• construction cost estimates

Physical Requirements

• Ability to work in outdoor environments under varying weather conditions, including extreme heat, cold, rain, and rugged terrain; exposure to active construction sites.
• Capable of walking, hiking, or standing for extended periods during field and site visits.
• Must be able to lift and carry tools, equipment, technical samples, documents, and other materials weighing up to 40-50 pounds.
• Frequent bending, crouching, and climbing may be required during fieldwork and sample collection.
• Ability to safely operate and wear personal protective equipment (PPE) such as helmets, safety glasses, gloves, hearing protection, and boots as required by site safety protocols.
• Visual acuity and manual dexterity to handle technical tools, read maps and instruments, observe site conditions, and document findings accurately.
• Comfortable working in remote or isolated locations, sometimes for extended durations.
• Comfortable working in confined spaces and/or at heights, as required by specific project sites.
• May require driving long distances to field sites and operating vehicles on unpaved or uneven roads.

General Characteristics

• Applies broad knowledge of principles and practices in a specific practice area.
• Independently evaluates, selects, and adapts standard techniques, procedures, and criteria.
• Leads tasks and projects of moderately complex scopes.
• Develops plans, specifications, and other project documents.
• Selects appropriate principles of engineering economics, probability and statistics to analyze risk in a complex engineering problem.

Minimum Years of Experience

8+ Years of Experience

Education

• S. or M.S. Engineering

Certification / Licensure

• Professional Engineer (P.E.) License, reciprocity in multiple states.

Technical Responsibilities

• Develops and reviews complete project documents for conformity and quality assurance.
• Keeps informed of updates to standards, regulations, and best practices.
• Analyzes complex engineering projects to determine design requirements, uncertainties, and constraints.

Project and Task Management

• Assigns tasks to other technical and non‑technical staff.
• Predominantly plans and coordinates detailed aspects of the engineering work.
• Prepares scopes, budgets, and schedules for assignments.
• Assists with proposals to provide professional services or obtain funding for engineering projects.

Management Responsibility

• Provides supervision and guidance relating to overall objectives, critical issues, new concepts, and policy matters.
• Provides direction on unusual conditions and developments.
• Mentors direct reports and other engineers.
• Demonstrates professional attitudes relevant to the practice of engineering, including creativity, curiosity, flexibility, and dependability.

Communication Skills

• Possesses advanced oral and written communication skills, including interpretation of complex technical and contractual language.
• Considers the needs of diverse project stakeholders.
• Leads project meetings and represents the organization in communications pertaining to broad aspects of engineering assignments.
• Analyzes and selects principles of formal communication, effective teamwork, and various pathways to developing leadership.

Benefits to Working at GAI Include

• Competitive salary – GAI is committed to paying market‑based salaries.
• Comprehensive benefits package including medical, vision, dental, company‑paid Long Term Disability, and Short Term Disability (benefits start within 30 days of hire).
• New paid maternity, paternity, and adoption program.
• Generous paid time off and 7 paid holidays.
• 401(k) company match.
• Tuition reimbursement.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities. This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.