Graduate Geotechnical Engineer- 2027

Mott MacDonald; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Mott MacDonald in the United States is offering a structured three‑year graduate program, Blueprint, to develop the next generation of leaders in geotechnical engineering. You’ll work with mentors across geotechnical engineering, geology, and numerical modelling to tackle diverse technical challenges and deliver impactful projects.

As a participant, you’ll log soil borings, observe surveys, coordinate site access, monitor instrumentation, and contribute to reports and subsurface analyses under

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering.

Responsibilities

• Log soil borings per ASTM D2488/USCS and Caltrans logging conventions.
• Observe CPT soundings, test pits, and geophysical surveys; coordinate with drilling and CPT subcontractors.
• Coordinate USA/DigAlert clearances, encroachment permits, and site access ahead of fieldwork.
• Monitor instrumentation (inclinometers, settlement plates, piezometers, vibration monitors) and reduce readings.
• Maintain daily field reports, photo logs, and quantity tracking for drilling and construction activities.
• Assist with the assignment and tracking of geotechnical laboratory tests and review results.
• Prepare boring logs in OpenGround; develop subsurface profiles and cross sections.
• Perform or assist with geotechnical analyses under the direction of a Geotechnical Engineer.
• Draft sections of geotechnical investigation reports and design memoranda.
• Assist with the preparation of figures, site plans, and boring location maps.

Skills

Geotechnical engineering

Soil logging

Field coordination

Instrumentation monitoring

Report drafting

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering

Tools

OpenGround

PLAXIS 2D/3D

FLAC

LS-DYNA

Job description

At Mott MacDonald, we believe that engineering is about more than solving problems, it’s about shaping a future that’s inclusive, resilient, and sustainable. As we expand our operations across the US and Canada, we’re inviting passionate individuals to join us in a journey that’s driven by purpose and powered by brilliant people. We’re trusted consultants, partnering with clients to solve complex challenges and deliver lasting impact.

From the moment you join our team, you’ll be surrounded by experienced engineering consultants, project managers, and subject matter experts who are committed to excellence and innovation. You’ll work side‑by‑side with mentors and peers who specialize in geotechnical engineering, engineering geology, and advanced numerical modeling, allowing you to not just apply your engineering skills, but to also experience and understand the wide variety technical challenges we face, and the interdisciplinary collaboration that it takes to solve them.

Together, we’ll tackle complex challenges, deliver sustainable solutions, and create positive change for our clients and the communities they serve. You’ll be trusted to contribute, encouraged to grow, and supported every step of the way.

As a participant in our graduate program, Blueprint, you’ll embark on a structured three‑year development journey designed in partnership with an award‑winning learning provider. The program blends immersive learning experiences with mandatory development sessions to build the professional, commercial, and personal effectiveness skills graduates need to thrive and grow into future leaders within our business.

Your responsibilities may include:

• Log soil borings (hollow‑stem auger, mud rotary, sonic) per ASTM D2488/USCS and Caltrans logging conventions; document soil and sampling activities
• Observe CPT soundings, test pits, and geophysical surveys; coordinate with drilling and CPT subcontractors
• Coordinate USA/DigAlert clearances, encroachment permits, and site access ahead of fieldwork
• Monitor instrumentation (inclinometers, settlement plates, piezometers, vibration monitors) and reduce readings
• Maintain daily field reports, photo logs, and quantity tracking for drilling and construction activities
• Assist with the assignment and tracking of geotechnical laboratory tests (moisture/density, Atterberg limits, gradation, direct shear, consolidation, triaxial, R‑value, expansion index, corrosivity) and reviewing the results for consistency with the field logs
• Prepare boring logs in OpenGround; develop subsurface profiles and cross sections
• Perform or assist with geotechnical analyses under the direction of a Geotechnical Engineer, including shallow foundations, deep foundations, slope stability, seepage, liquefaction triggering, seismic settlement, lateral spreading evaluation, and pavement design
• Perform or assist with soil‑structure interaction (SSI) and site response analyses, including numerical modeling in PLAXIS 2D/3D, FLAC, LS‑DYA, or similar applications
• Draft sections of geotechnical investigation reports, foundation reports (Caltrans FR format), and geotechnical design memoranda
• Assist with the preparation of figures, site plans, and boring location maps

To be considered for this opportunity, here’s what you’ll need:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering