Geotechnical Engineer- Senior to Associate

NV5; Ventura (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, life insurance

PTO and paid holidays

401(k) plan

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

NV5 is seeking a Geotechnical Engineer in Ventura, CA, open from Senior Project Engineer to Associate Engineer level (10–15 years). You will lead geotechnical investigations, analyses, and construction observation across a broad range of markets, coordinating with subconsultants and clients to deliver high-quality reports and designs.

Candidates should have CA PE/GE licensure, strong writing and communication skills, and readiness to travel regionally.

Qualifications

• 10–15 years geotechnical engineering experience
• California PE license required
• California GE license preferred
• Experience in geotechnical site investigations and construction observation
• Strong report writing and communication skills
• Willingness to travel regionally
• Ability to lead and mentor staff

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 deliverables
• Maintain health and safety standards and company QA/QC practices

Skills

Geotechnical investigations

Slope stability

Field data collection

Construction observation

Instrumentation monitoring

Technical report writing

Project management

Mentoring

Client communication

AI in workflows

Education

BS in Civil Engineering

MS in Geotechnical Engineering

Tools

Slide2 (Rocscience)

Slope/W (GeoStudio)

RS2 (Rocscience)

FLAC (Itasca)

PLAXIS

RSWall

MSEW+

SnailPlus

RSPile

GRLWEAP

CHA-W

PDI Tomo

Settle3D

LiquefyPro

Cliq

Geoliqu

MS Office

AI tools integration

Job description

Position Summary

NV5 is seeking a motivated and skilled Geotechnical Engineer to join our growing team in Ventura, California. This position is open to candidates ranging from Senior Project Engineer to Associate Engineer level — a range spanning 10 to 15 years of professional experience. You will contribute to small to large, technically challenging and rewarding geotechnical projects for both public and private sector clients across a wide range of markets. We are building a team of entrepreneurial, kind, and solutions-oriented professionals with genuine can-do attitudes — people who take ownership of their work, support their colleagues, and bring creativity and integrity to every project.

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)
• Peer Review Engineering Services
• Land development and residential buildings
• 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 deliverables
• Maintain health and safety standards and company QA/QC practices

Qualifications

• 10 to 15 years of professional experience in geotechnical engineering (Senior Project Engineer to Associate Engineer level). Master and/or PhD degree in Geotechnical Engineering respectively account for 1.5 and 3 years of work experience.
• Hands-on experience in both geotechnical site investigation and construction observation and testing; 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 or Engineering in Geotechnical Engineering from an accredited university.

Licensure

• Professional Engineer (PE) license in California required.
• Geotechnical Engineer (GE) license in California required.

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: Settle3D, LiquefyPro, Cliq, Geoliqu
• Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Experience integrating AI tools into technical workflows is a plus

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.