Senior Geotechnical Engineer / Office Lead (PE Required)

Actalent; Orange (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

401(k) and Profit Sharing

Relocation Opportunities

Educational Advancement Opportunities

Pleasant Work Environment

Team Atmosphere

Job summary

Actalent seeks a Senior Geotechnical Engineer (PE) to lead geotechnical reporting in Orange County, CA. You will sign reports, develop foundation recommendations, and guide junior staff while coordinating with field teams on a diverse mix of commercial, hospitality, and transportation projects.

This role emphasizes rigorous technical writing, client interaction, and project leadership within a fast-paced consulting environment. It is a permanent onsite opportunity in Southern California.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in civil engineering or equivalent.
• Active California Professional Engineer license (PE).
• 5+ years geotechnical engineering experience.
• Strong geotechnical report writing experience.
• Experience reviewing soils investigations and foundation recommendations.
• Experience working directly with clients.
• Excellent technical writing and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Prepare, review, and approve geotechnical reports.
• Perform geotechnical analysis and develop foundation recommendations.
• Sign and seal technical reports as required.
• Review boring logs, lab results, and subsurface investigations.
• Coordinate with field personnel and labs during projects.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to staff.
• Manage multiple active projects concurrently.
• Maintain direct communication with clients on status and findings.
• Support proposals, budgeting, and project planning.
• Engage in meetings and relationship-building within the engineering community.
• Collaborate with leadership to grow Southern California operations.

Skills

Geotechnical analysis

Report writing

Client liaison

Mentorship

Project management

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering

Active California PE License

Master's Degree in Geotechnical Engineering

Job description

Senior Geotechnical Engineer | PE Required

Orange County, CA | Full-Time | Direct Hire

Are you a licensed Professional Engineer who is tired of spending years on a single project?

What if you could step into a highly visible technical role where your expertise directly impacts real estate transactions, commercial developments, and major construction decisions every week?

Our client is a well-established Southern California engineering consulting firm seeking a Senior Geotechnical Engineer to serve as a technical leader within a growing geotechnical practice. This individual will play a critical role in preparing, reviewing, and signing geotechnical reports while supporting a diverse mix of projects ranging from commercial developments and hospitality projects to retail, transportation, and multi-story structures. The role places heavy emphasis on technical report writing, engineering judgment, and client interaction. Report-writing and signing authority are considered the most important functions of the position.

Why This Opportunity Stands Out

• Direct impact on projects that drive property acquisition and development decisions

• Opportunity to become a key technical resource within the organization

• Diverse project portfolio ranging from retail and hospitality projects to large-scale developments

• Fast-paced environment with meaningful responsibility and visibility

• Opportunity to mentor junior engineers and influence technical direction

• Established company with long-term growth plans in Southern California

• Competitive compensation with advancement opportunities

What You'll Do

• Prepare, review, and approve geotechnical engineering reports

• Perform geotechnical analysis and develop foundation recommendations

• Sign and seal technical reports as required

• Review boring logs, laboratory results, and subsurface investigations

• Coordinate with field personnel and laboratory teams throughout project execution

• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior engineers and staff

• Manage multiple active projects simultaneously

• Maintain direct communication with clients regarding project status, findings, and recommendations

• Support proposal preparation, budgeting, and project planning efforts

• Participate in meetings, networking activities, and relationship-building efforts within the engineering community

• Work closely with leadership to help support continued growth of the Southern California operation

RequirementsRequired

• Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering

• Active California Professional Engineer (PE) License

• 5+ years of geotechnical engineering experience

• Strong geotechnical report writing experience

• Experience reviewing soils investigations and foundation recommendations

• Experience working directly with clients

• Excellent technical writing and communication skills

Preferred

• California Geotechnical Engineer (GE) License

• Master's Degree in Geotechnical Engineering

• Experience signing and sealing reports

• Proposal writing experience

• Project management experience

• Experience mentoring junior staff

• Experience with commercial, retail, hospitality, transportation, or land development projects

Ideal Background

Successful candidates often come from consulting environments focused on:

• Geotechnical Engineering

• Foundation Design

• Land Development

• Commercial Site Development

• Transportation Infrastructure

• Public Works

• Construction Materials Testing & Geotechnical Consulting

What We're Looking For

This role is ideal for an engineer who enjoys technical ownership, thrives in a fast-paced consulting environment, and wants a position where report writing, engineering judgment, and client interaction are valued as highly as project management.

If you've built a reputation for producing high-quality geotechnical reports, can confidently communicate technical recommendations to clients, and are looking for a long-term opportunity with growth potential, we'd like to connect.

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Orange, CA.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $140000.00 - $170000.00/yr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Competitive Salary Health Insurance 401(k) and Profit Sharing Advancement / Relocation Opportunities Educational Advancement Opportunities Pleasant Work Environment Team Atmosphere

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Orange,CA.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 8, 2026.

About Actalent

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.