Geotechnical Engineer-Project to Associate

Acuren; Vancouver (WA); On-site; USD 115,000 - 185,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive Salary

Medical, dental, and life insurance

401K Plan

Paid Holidays

Paid Time Off

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

NV5 is seeking a Project to Associate-Level Geotechnical Engineer to join our Pacific Northwest team in Wilsonville, OR, or Vancouver, WA. The role offers growth opportunities across transportation, infrastructure, and building projects with a collaborative, multidisciplinary culture.

You will lead field investigations, perform analyses, monitor construction, and mentor junior staff while contributing to proposals and client relationships. Travel regionally is expected as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering required.
• PE licensure in Oregon and/or Washington or ability to obtain by comity within 6 months.
• 6–15 years geotechnical experience at project/associate level.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support geotechnical investigations, including planning and data collection.
• Perform analyses like slope stability, bearing capacity, and settlement.
• Provide construction monitoring and document field activities.
• Install and interpret geotechnical instrumentation.
• Prepare investigation reports, memos, and design documents.
• Manage projects, scope, schedule, and budget; coordinate with subconsultants.
• Mentor staff and contribute to business development activities.

Skills

Geotechnical investigations

Geotechnical analysis

Field data collection

Project coordination

Technical report writing

Team mentoring

Travel to project sites

Education

Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering

Master of Science in Geotechnical Engineering

Tools

Slide2/Rocscience

Slope/W GeoStudio

RS2

FLAC

PLAXIS

RSPile

GRLWEAP

RSWall

MSEW+

SnailPlus

PDI Tomo

Settle3

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

NV5 is seeking a Project to Associate-Level Geotechnical Engineer to join our expanding Pacific Northwest team in Wilsonville, OR, or Vancouver, WA. Whether you're looking to grow your technical expertise, lead challenging projects, mentor staff, or expand client relationships, this role offers the opportunity to build the career you want.

You'll work on a wide variety of rewarding geotechnical projects across transportation, public infrastructure, commercial development, utilities, and environmental markets. Our engineers tackle complex challenges every day while collaborating with multidisciplinary teams that value innovation, technical excellence, and practical solutions.

We are looking for professionals who bring curiosity, accountability, and a genuine desire to help clients and teammates succeed. At NV5, you'll find the support of a national firm with the agility, entrepreneurial spirit, and close-knit culture of a local team.

Markets & Project Types

Candidates will work on projects across a broad range of public and private sector markets, including but not limited to:

• Transportation infrastructure (roads, bridges, highways, rail)
• Power (transmission, generation, substations)
• Oil & gas and midstream infrastructure
• Water and wastewater infrastructure
• K-12 and higher education (schools, universities)
• Multifamily residential
• Industrial facilities
• Biotech and life sciences
• Data centers

Responsibilities

• Lead and support geotechnical investigations, including planning, drilling oversight, soil and rock sampling, and field data collection
• Perform and review geotechnical analyses, including slope stability, settlement, bearing capacity, earth pressure, liquefaction, and seepage
• Provide construction monitoring and observation services, including earthwork, foundation installation, retaining wall construction, and deep foundation systems; document field activities and produce field reports
• Install, monitor, and interpret geotechnical instrumentation including inclinometers, piezometers, settlement monitors, and load cells
• Prepare geotechnical investigation reports, technical memoranda, computation packages, design reports, and specifications
• Manage projects and tasks, including scope, schedule, and budget; coordinate with subconsultants and clients
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary project teams and internal practice groups across NV5
• Mentor and support less experienced staff; foster a culture of learning, quality, and professional growth
• Participate in proposal preparation, client presentations, and business development activities
• Apply and integrate AI tools into geotechnical workflows to improve efficiency and quality of deliverablesMaintain health and safety standards and company QA/QC practices

Requirements

Qualifications

• 6 to 15 years of professional experience in geotechnical engineering (Project Engineer to Associate Engineer level)
• Hands-on experience in both geotechnical site investigation and construction monitoring/observation; instrumentation installation and monitoring experience required
• Strong technical skills in geotechnical analysis and design, including slope stability, retaining systems, foundations, earthwork, and subsurface characterization
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to produce clear, well-organized technical reports and deliverables
• Team-oriented with strong interpersonal skills; ability to work independently and collaboratively on multiple projects simultaneously
• Entrepreneurial mindset with a can-do attitude and commitment to quality and client service
• Willingness and ability to travel to project sites regionally and occasionally beyond

Education

• Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from an accredited university, with coursework focused on geotechnical engineering
• Master of Science in Geotechnical Engineering preferred

Licensure

• Professional Engineer (PE) license in Oregon and/or Washington required, or demonstrated ability to obtain licensure by comity within 6 months of hire

Software & Tools

Familiarity with some or all of the following software is valued; candidates are not expected to be proficient in every tool listed:

• Slope stability: Slide2 (Rocscience) and/or Slope/W (GeoStudio)
• Numerical modeling: RS2 (Rocscience), FLAC (Itasca), and/or PLAXIS
• Retaining wall design: RSWall, MSEW+, SnailPlus
• Drilled shaft/pile analysis: RSPile, GRLWEAP, CHA-W, PDI Tomo
• Settlement analysis: Settle3
• Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Experience integrating AI tools into technical workflows is a plus

The pay range for this position in Oregon or Washington is $115,000 to $185,000 per year. Base pay offered may be higher or lower depending on job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and location 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.