Principal Geotechnical Engineer

Mott MacDonald; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 162,000 - 199,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401k

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Short-term disability

Long-term disability

Paid holidays

PTO

Parental leave

Life insurance

Job summary

At Mott MacDonald, we are seeking a Senior Geotechnical Engineer to strengthen our capability across large infrastructure programs in the Pacific Northwest. The role is based in Seattle with a hybrid arrangement, combining client-facing leadership with line management and mentorship, offering a clear path toward Principal level.

You will work on tunnels, underground stations, and complex ground conditions, collaborating across multidisciplinary teams to deliver robust geotechnical design and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil or Geotechnical Engineering; Master's preferred.
• WA/OR professional license or ability to obtain via reciprocity.
• 15+ years of geotechnical engineering experience on major infrastructure projects.
• Geotechnical design for complex infrastructure, including underground works.
• Experience with public sector agencies in WA/OR and local codes.
• Ability to operate in a client-facing or advisory capacity.
• Strong grounding in soil/rock mechanics, geotechnical analysis, and ground-structure interaction.
• Proficiency with PLAXIS, GeoStudio, RS2/RS3, Civil 3D, BIM tools.
• Experience leading technical delivery and risk management.
• Strong communication and leadership, including mentoring.

Responsibilities

• Lead geotechnical analysis and design across all stages of project delivery, including foundations, excavations, retainingsystems, slopes, embankments, ground improvement, and underground works.
• Provide technical leadership on complex geotechnical challenges, ensuring solutions are robust, efficient, and constructible.
• Support owner's advisory services, including oversight of design, construction, and geotechnical risk management.
• Coordinate geotechnical inputs across multidisciplinary teams, aligning with project requirements, standards, and stakeholder expectations.
• Review calculations, reports, and design deliverables to ensure quality and compliance.
• Support the development and interpretation of geotechnical data, including instrumentation and monitoring programs.
• Engage with clients, agencies, and stakeholders to support delivery and strengthen working relationships.
• Contribute to proposals and business development activities across the region.
• Mentor and support junior engineers, fostering technical growth and knowledge sharing.
• Promote a strong health, safety, and engineering culture.

Skills

Geotechnical leadership

Civil/geotechnical engineering

Client-facing

Mentoring

Project delivery

Soil & rock mechanics

Ground improvement

PLAXIS

GeoStudio

RS2/RS3

Civil 3D / BIM tools

Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil or Geotechnical Engineering

Master's degree preferred

Tools

PLAXIS

GeoStudio

RS2/RS3

Civil 3D

BIM tools

Job description

At Mott MacDonald, we trust our brilliant people to do brilliant things in engineering, management, and development services, supporting multisector project work in over 150 countries. As one of the largest employee-owned companies in the world, we pride ourselves on our ability to deliver exceptional outcomes through our network of 20,000+ talented consultants. With sustainability and innovation at the heart of all our sectors in North America, including, Buildings, Energy, Transportation, and Water.

We believe in empowering our people to excel, learn, and grow, offering diverse opportunities to contribute to career-defining work. Join us and be part of a collaborative environment where your ambitions are united with ours, and you can truly shape your story.

If you share that vision, even if you don't meet every requirement listed, we'd still love to hear from you. We value potential and diverse perspectives as much as experience. Let's explore how we can support your growth and help you take the next step in your career, while contributing to an exciting new chapter for Mott MacDonald in North America.

We are looking to appoint a Senior Geotechnical Engineer to strengthen our geotechnical capability across major infrastructure programs in the Pacific Northwest. This role sits within our Ground Engineering team, supporting both design delivery andowner'sadvisory work on complex, large-scaletransportationand civil infrastructure projects.

Based in Seattle (hybrid), this is a senior, client-facing position suited to someone with strong technical depth and established experience delivering across Washington and/or Oregon. The role also includes line management and mentorship responsibilities, with a clear pathway toward progression to Principal level.

The Role

You will playa central rolein delivering major underground and surface infrastructure, spanning both technical design and advisory scopes. This includes working alongside owner organizations as an embedded advisor, supporting the delivery of complex programs involving tunnels, underground stations, elevated structures, and at-grade assets in challenging ground conditions.

Alongside advisory responsibilities, you will contribute to a broader portfolio of geotechnical design work, collaborating across multidisciplinary teams to develop practical, high-quality engineering solutions. The role offers exposure to long-term regional programs and complex, multi-package delivery environments, combining hands‑on technical input with strategic project support.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead geotechnical analysis and design across all stages of project delivery, including foundations, excavations,retainingsystems, slopes, embankments, ground improvement, and underground works.
• Provide technical leadership on complex geotechnical challenges, ensuring solutions are robust, efficient, and constructible.
• Support owner's advisory services, including oversight of design, construction, and geotechnical risk management.
• Coordinate geotechnical inputs across multidisciplinary teams, aligning with project requirements, standards, and stakeholder expectations.
• Review calculations, reports, and design deliverables to ensure quality and compliance.
• Support the development and interpretation of geotechnical data, including instrumentation and monitoring programs.
• Engage with clients, agencies, and stakeholders to support delivery and strengthen working relationships.
• Contribute to proposals and business development activities across the region.
• Mentor and support junior engineers, fostering technical growth and knowledge sharing.
• Promotea stronghealth, safety, and engineering culture.

Candidate Profile

• Bachelor's degree in Civilor Geotechnical Engineering (Master'spreferred).
• WA / ORPE license (or ability to obtainvia reciprocity).
• 15+ years of experience in geotechnical engineering, with a strong track record on major infrastructure projects.
• Proven experience in geotechnical design for complex infrastructure, including underground works andgeostructures.
• Experience working with public sector agencies in Washington and/or Oregon, with asoliddemonstratedunderstanding of local codes and delivery frameworks.
• Ability tooperateina client-facing or advisory capacity within project or program environments.
• Strong technical grounding in soil and rock mechanics, geotechnical analysis, and ground-structure interaction.
• Proficiencywith industry-standard software (e.g., PLAXIS, GeoStudio, RS2/RS3, Civil 3D, BIM tools).
• Experience leading technical delivery, managing risk, and contributing to project outcomes.
• Strong communicationand leadership skills, including mentoring and team development experience.

Benefits & Reward

At Mott MacDonald, our employees have a stake and a voice in our business, providing them with a direct connection to our success through our personal and group performance bonuses. We provide a comprehensive benefit package that includes 401k, medical, dental and vision insurance, short-term/long-term disability, paid holidays, PTO, parental leave, and company paid life insurance.

Individual pay is determined based on several factors such as work location, education, experience, and unique skills.

The expected salary for this position is $162,000 - $199,000

Collaboration at Our Core

At Mott MacDonald, we believe great ideas happen when we're together. Our hybrid approach centers on an in-office culture, with most of your time spent collaborating face-to-face and a minimum of three days per week in the office. We balance flexibility with connection, so you and your manager can choose how to meet client, team, and personal commitments.

Equal opportunity is the law.

We seek to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they have the opportunity to contribute.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, protected veteran status, creed, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship status or disability status.

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