Geotechnical Engineer-Senior to Principal

NV5; Vancouver (WA); On-site; USD 115,000 - 185,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Medical, dental, and life insurance

401(k) plan

Paid holidays

Paid time off

Employee assistance program

Life & AD&D insurance

Disability insurance

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

NV5 seeks a Senior to Associate-Geotechnical Engineer to join the Pacific Northwest team in Wilsonville, OR or Vancouver, WA. You will lead investigations, manage projects, mentor staff, and grow NV5's geotechnical presence in the region.

You will work on transportation, infrastructure, energy, and environmental projects, applying advanced analyses and AI-enabled workflows to improve outcomes. Travel regionally is expected.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of geotechnical engineering experience.
• PE license in OR and/or WA or ability to obtain by comity within 6 months.
• Experience leading geotechnical investigations and project teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead geotechnical investigations: planning, drilling oversight, sampling, data collection.
• Perform and review analyses: slope stability, bearing capacity, earth pressure, liquefaction, seepage.
• Provide construction monitoring and reports; document field activities.
• Install and interpret geotechnical instrumentation (inclinometers, piezometers).
• Prepare investigation reports, memos, computations and specs.
• Manage projects: scope, schedule, budget; coordinate with subconsultants/clients.
• Collaborate with multi-disciplinary NV5 teams; mentor staff.

Skills

Geotechnical engineering

Project management

Team leadership

Business development

Technical report writing

Communication skills

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering

Master of Science in Geotechnical Engineering

Tools

Slide2 (Rocscience)

Slope/W (GeoStudio)

RS2 (Rocscience)

FLAC (Itasca)

PLAXIS

RSPile

GRLWEAP

Settle3

MS Office

Job description

Position Summary

NV5 is seeking a Senior 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

• Developing business plans and identifying market opportunities, managing staff, and growing the geotechnical practice and PNW market share.
• 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+ years of professional experience in geotechnical engineering (Senior Engineer to Associate Engineer level)
• Building and managing teams and business development efforts within the PNW region.
• 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.