Senior Geotechnical Engineer - Closure & Tailings Leader

Alcoa; Alcoa (TN); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Alcoa is seeking a Senior Geotechnical Engineer to join the Transformation group in the United States. You will lead geotechnical support for impoundment operations, closure planning, and related risk management, ensuring compliance with GISTM and Alcoa's IMS. The role requires 5+ years in industrial geotechnical projects, experience with tailings closure, and strong communication.

Travel up to 15%. PE or PG is preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Geotechnical Engineering or related field.
• Master’s degree preferred in Geotechnical/Geological Engineering or equivalent.
• PE or PG license preferred.
• Minimum 5 years’ progressive geotechnical engineering experience in industrial/mining/environment.
• Strong knowledge of tailings management standards (ICMM, ANCOLD, MAC/CDA, GISTM).
• Experience in closure planning, slope stability, and long-term performance of impoundments.
• Excellent communication and project management skills; travel up to 15%.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic technical input for global policies, standards, and guidelines for closure solutions.
• Perform gap assessments of site closure plans and cost estimates and support closure planning.
• Recommend optimization of geotechnical designs, construction, and monitoring of closure strategies.
• Conduct risk assessments and readiness reviews for closure execution.
• Review geotechnical studies, investigations, and QA/QC documents.
• Guide locations on investigations, stability analyses, closure work, and monitoring activities.
• Interpret monitoring data and suggest program improvements.
• Visit sites to support closure plan development and O&M optimization.

Skills

Geotechnical engineering

Tailings management

Risk assessment

Leadership

Technical communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Geotechnical Engineering

Master’s degree preferred

PE or PG license preferred

Job description

Alcoa is seeking a Senior Geotechnical Engineer to join the Transformation group in the United States. You will lead geotechnical support for impoundment operations, closure planning, and related risk management, ensuring compliance with GISTM and Alcoa's IMS. The role requires 5+ years in industrial geotechnical projects, experience with tailings closure, and strong communication.

Travel up to 15%. PE or PG is preferred.