Principal Geotechnical Engineer

Atlas; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 225,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and wellness benefits

Retirement plan

Learning and development programs

Paid time off and parental leave

Job summary

Atlas is seeking a Principal Geotechnical Engineer to lead a variety of infrastructure projects in California. The role requires providing senior technical oversight and managing designs while ensuring compliance with regulations. Ideal candidates should have a strong background in geotechnical engineering, leadership experience, and familiarity with regional practices.

The position offers competitive compensation from $150,000 to $225,000 annually, alongside comprehensive employee benefits to support personal and professional growth.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience in geotechnical engineering, including design and analysis.
• Licensed Geotechnical Engineer in California.
• Knowledge of geotechnical engineering principles, including earthquake engineering.

Responsibilities

• Lead geotechnical design, investigation, and analysis for various projects.
• Provide technical guidance on geotechnical engineering aspects.
• Supervise subsurface explorations and laboratory testing.

Skills

Geotechnical design

Project management

Leadership

Soil and rock mechanics

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering

Master’s degree in Geotechnical Engineering

Tools

Geotechnical software

Job description

Job Description

Atlas is seeking a Principal Geotechnical Engineer to lead and support a wide range of infrastructure and facilities projects across the public and private sectors. This role will be responsible for providing senior-level technical oversight, managing complex geotechnical designs, and guiding teams from planning through design and construction. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in geotechnical engineering, strong leadership capabilities, and experience delivering projects in compliance with local, state, and federal requirements. This position will play a key role in client engagement, technical quality, and strategic growth, particularly in transportation, infrastructure, and federal (including NAVFAC) markets.

Core Responsibilities

• Provide technical guidance on geotechnical engineering aspects of a wide range of projects in public and private sectors, ensuring conformance with local, state, and federal guidelines
• Lead geotechnical design, investigation, and analysis for buildings and infrastructure projects, including residential/commercial buildings, bridges, highways, railways, airports, pipelines, and levees/basins
• Direct and supervise subsurface explorations, laboratory testing, geotechnical data interpretation, and instrumentation monitoring programs to ensure high-quality, timely, and within-budget project delivery
• Lead geotechnical design and analysis for shallow and deep foundations, earthworks, slope stability, seepage, lateral earth pressures, and geotechnical earthquake engineering
• Provide geotechnical support during construction, including foundations, drilled shafts, pile driving, grading, utility trenching, and earthwork operations
• Collaborate with clients, stakeholders, and regulatory agencies to ensure geotechnical concerns are addressed effectively
• Mentor and train junior geotechnical engineers while supporting client relationships and business development efforts

You’ll thrive here if you have

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering required; Master’s degree in Geotechnical Engineering preferred
• 15+ years of experience in geotechnical engineering, including design and analysis, field investigations, and construction supervision
• Licensed Geotechnical Engineer in the state of California required
• Local experience and familiarity with regional engineering practices
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills to support effective team collaboration
• Deep technical knowledge of geotechnical engineering principles, including soil and rock mechanics, earthquake engineering, pavement engineering, and groundwater hydrogeology
• Experience with geotechnical software (e.g., slope stability, pile modeling, site response) and familiarity with industry standards such as DSA/CGS, Caltrans, and DoD UFC/NAVFAC

What you can expect from us

The A-Team Experience is our employee program focused on helping our people thrive professionally, personally and as part of a community. We trust our people to do great work and live fulfilling lives, and we provide resources that care for our people, both at work and in life:

Health & Wellness: We offer medical, dental and vision coverage with multiple plan options, including no-cost employee-only medical coverage.

Time Off & Family Support: We offer vacation time, paid holidays, sick & safety leave (SSL) and paid parental leave

Retirement: We help employees plan for the future with a 401(k) and company match.

Insurance: To provide protection and peace of mind, we offer Life, AD&D (Accidental Death & Dismemberment) and Disability insurance.

Safety Program: We are committed to safety as part of our ‘quality of life’ core value, and we provide approved PPE at no cost and reimbursement for prescription safety glasses and protective footwear.

Learning & Development: We provide clear career paths, learning resources and development programs allowing you to see how you can grow and advance within the company. We offer internal certifications on specific skills and support external credentials through tuition reimbursement.

Belonging: We support Employee Communities (ECs), voluntary, employee-led groups that create connections, belonging and shared purposes.

Flexibility: May vary by project demands and regional workloads, but we are committed to providing reasonable accommodation to help employees manage their personal and professional responsibilities.

About the Job

• Employment Type: Full-time
• Compensation: $150,000 - $225,000 annual salary
  The expected salary range for the position is displayed in accordance with the state’s law. Final agreed upon compensation is based upon individual qualifications and experience.

EEO Statement

Atlas is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all employees and applicants without regard to race (including hairstyles, hair texture, hair type, or hair length commonly or historically associated with race), ethnicity, creed, religion or religious creed, color, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions or requests for pregnancy disability leave and/or family care leave), gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, citizenship or immigration status, primary language, crime victim status, criminal conviction history, uniformed service member or veteran status, marital status, age, genetic information, disability or protected medical condition, genetics, political affiliation or activities, or any other status protected under applicable federal, state, or local laws.