Principal Geotechnical Engineer, Construction Materials Testing (CMT)

Engineering Consulting Service; Cranberry Township (Butler County); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

ECS Group of Companies (ECS) is seeking a Principal Engineer to provide technical leadership in geotechnical engineering and construction materials testing across the Pittsburgh market. The role emphasizes final technical review, risk reduction, staff mentorship, laboratory oversight, and client-facing consulting on a portfolio of public and private sector projects.

The position targets senior engineers with extensive experience, capable of guiding projects from exploration through reporting and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Engineering/Management, Materials Science Engineering, Architectural Engineering, Geology, or related field.
• Active Professional Engineer (P.E.) or Professional Geologist (P.G.) license.
• 12+ years of experience in geotechnical engineering and construction materials testing environments.
• Experience serving as a final reviewer for technical reports and deliverables including calculations.
• Proven ability to lead teams, mentor staff, and work with clients in a consulting setting.

Responsibilities

• Serve as final technical reviewer and Engineer-of-Record for geotechnical reports, CMT reports, and calculations.
• Provide senior oversight on subsurface exploration programs (borings, test pits, sampling, field documentation).
• Review and guide geotechnical reports, foundation recommendations, pavement evaluations, earthwork/site grading, and construction observation docs.
• Lead technical guidance for CMT operations, including test interpretation and recommendations per standards and project requirements.
• Support lab management and quality systems, including procedures, calibration awareness, documentation and corrective actions.
• Partner with project managers to evaluate scope, assumptions and risks during proposal development and execution.
• Mentor and develop engineering staff through coaching and training across field, lab, and reporting workflows.
• Participate in client meetings to provide technical solutions and resolve project issues.
• Contribute to local business development by supporting client relationships and ECS service lines.

Skills

Team leadership

Client interaction

Mentoring

Technical reviews

Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil/Geotechnical field

PE or PG license

Tools

ACI/NICET/ICC certifications

Job description

Responsibilities

ECS is hiring a Principal Engineer to provide technical leadership across geotechnical engineering and construction materials testing (CMT) work in the Pittsburgh market. This is a senior technical and strategic role focused on final technical review, risk reduction, staff mentorship, laboratory oversight, and client-facing consulting across a portfolio of public and private sector projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as final technical reviewer and eventually Engineer-of-Record for geotechnical reports, CMT reports, and supporting calculations, maintaining clear defensible recommendations.
• Provide senior oversight on subsurface exploration programs, including borings, test pits, sampling, and field documentation as needed to support report conclusions.
• Review and guide technical deliverables such as geotechnical engineering reports, foundation recommendations, pavement evaluations, earthwork and site grading recommendations, and construction observation documentation.
• Lead technical guidance for CMT operations, including interpretation of test results and recommendations tied to specifications, ASTM/AASHTO standards, and project requirements.
• Support laboratory management and quality systems, including procedures, calibration awareness, documentation practices, and corrective actions tied to CMT testing programs.
• Partner with project managers to evaluate technical scope, assumptions, and risks during proposal development and project execution.
• Mentor and develop engineering staff through technical coaching, review feedback, and structured training tied to field, lab, and reporting workflows.
• Participate in client meetings to provide technical solutions, communicate recommendations, and support project issue resolution.
• Contribute to local business development by supporting key client relationships and identifying opportunities aligned with ECS service lines.

Qualifications

Basic qualifications

• Bachelor’'s degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Engineering/Management, Materials Science Engineering, Architectural Engineering, Geology, or a closely related field.
• Active Professional Engineer (P.E.) or Professional Geologist (P.G.) license.
• 12+ years of experience in a similar engineering consulting environment supporting geotechnical engineering and/or construction materials testing.
• Demonstrated experience serving as a final reviewer for technical reports and deliverables (including review of supporting calculations).
• Proven ability to lead teams, mentor technical staff, and work directly with clients in a consulting setting.

Preferred qualifications

• Professional certifications such as ACI, NICET, and/or ICC.
• Experience supporting business development, including marketing of services to agencies, owners, contractors, developers, or similar client groups.
• Familiarity with local market conditions, typical construction practices, and regional geotechnical considerations in Western Pennsylvania.

About Us

ECS Group of Companies (ECS) was founded in 1988 with the goal to raise the standards of professional engineering consulting. Today, we are a leader in geotechnical, construction materials, environmental and facilities consulting services. We are employee-owned with more than 3,000 employees in 100+ offices and testing facilities coast to coast. ECS is currently ranked #60 in Engineering News-Record’s Top 500 Design Firms (April 2026), #148 in Engineering News-Record’s Top 200 Environmental Firms (October 2025) and #50 in Zweig Group’s Hot Firm List (May 2025). For additional information about ECS, visit: www.ecslimited.com.

ECS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.