Senior / Principal Geotechnical Engineer / Project Manager

Kleinfelder; San Diego, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 133,000 - 228,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

medical

dental

vision

life insurance

401(k) plan

paid holidays

Job summary

Kleinfelder seeks a Senior/Principal Geotechnical Engineer / Project Manager to lead geotechnical projects from our San Diego office. The role combines leadership, technical depth, client engagement, and business development across civil and geotechnical disciplines.

The ideal candidate has 12+ years of geotechnical consulting experience, a CA PE license, and a master’s degree or higher. Hybrid work with field opportunities is available in the San Diego area.

Qualifications

• CA PE license required; GE license or ability to obtain within 1 year strongly desired.
• Approximately 12+ years geotechnical engineering with project management experience.
• Proven leadership, management, and client-facing skills in a multi-disciplinary setting.
• Strong written and oral communication; able to mentor junior staff.
• Proficiency with MS Office; VBA in Excel a plus; able to manage budgets and schedules.
• Experience with field exploration, design, and construction oversight activities.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate with and lead multidiscipline teams to prepare proposals and execute projects.
• Safely manage field exploration programs and construction oversight activities.
• Perform analyses: soil/rock classification, shallow/deep foundations, settlement, slope stability, seismic hazard.
• Prepare Geotechnical reports, memos, proposals, specs, and related deliverables.
• Engage with clients and generate new business; participate in pursuits.
• Develop scope, budgets, work breakdowns, and schedules; mentor junior staff.
• Lead geotechnical team members and manage project deliverables and finances.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Mentoring

Client relationships

Communication skills

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in civil/geotechnical/geological engineering

Master’s degree in Geotechnical/geological engineering

Professional Engineer (PE) license in California

Geotechnical Engineer license or ability to obtain within 1 year

Tools

LPile

APile

SHAFT

GROUP

GEO STUDIO (Slope/W, Seep/W, Sigma/W)

SLIDE

Settle3

MSEW

Job description

Job Description

Take Your Design Career to the Next Level

Kleinfelder, a Forbes' Top Employer for Engineers in North America, is committed to a people-first culture, technical excellence, and creating opportunities where employees can thrive!

Are you ready to be challenged, make a difference, and experience professional growth in your career? Kleinfelder’s Design team is looking for you! From bridge and structural engineering to civil, electrical, mechanical, and process engineering, Kleinfelder’s collaborative Design Services create synergy across multiple disciplines.

Step into Your New Role

Kleinfelder is seeking a Senior / Principal Geotechnical Engineer / Project Manager reporting to our Corporate Headquarters office in San Diego, California. The role will be hybrid with remote, in-office, and occasional field work opportunities. This is a great opportunity for someone looking for a role where they can manage and execute challenging projects, partner with junior and senior geotechnical engineers, provide mentorship to junior staff, collaborate with multidiscipline teams, engage with clients, and participate in business development and pursuits.

Our team works on challenging and interesting projects within a design center that includes bridge, structural, civil, and water resources engineers, environmental professionals, and laboratory and construction oversight personnel. We work on a large variety of both public and private infrastructure systems ranging from small to large-scale bridges, transit systems, roadways, water and storm water systems, tunnels and HDD installations, commercial structures, deep excavations, and more, all while managing complexities of dense urban sites or difficult mountainous terrain.

The candidate should have a minimum of a Bachelor's degree in Civil, Geotechnical, or Geological Engineering and about 12 or more years of experience in geotechnical engineering consulting with project management experience. Ideally, the candidate will also possess a Master’s degree in Geotechnical or Geological Engineering as well. Candidates with a Master's Degree and at least 10 years of experience will be considered as well.

A California P.E. license is required and a California G.E. license, or the ability to obtain one within one year of hire, is strongly desired. We are looking for someone with the capability to provide leadership, management, technical expertise, and support for complex technical and field projects. Job responsibilities would include the following:

• Coordinate with and lead multidiscipline teams to prepare proposals and execute projects
• Safely manage and execute field exploration programs and construction oversight activities
• Perform, delegate, and oversee a variety of geotechnical engineering analyses including: soil and rock classification, shallow and deep foundation design, immediate and consolidation settlement, slope stability, seismic hazard evaluation (including ground motions, liquefaction, and lateral spreading), and earth retention systems
• Prepare Geotechnical Engineering reports, memorandums, proposals, specifications, and other related deliverables
• Be actively involved during the construction phase of projects including RFI and submittal reviews and oversight of construction observation activities
• Positively interact with client representatives and generate business with new and existing clients
• Development of scope of work, project budgets, work breakdown structures, and schedules
• Manage project teams, budgets, schedules, delegate project tasks and mentor junior staff
• Manage and mentor geotechnical team members

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in civil/geotechnical/geological engineering; Master’s degree strongly preferred
• Professional Engineer (PE) license in California is required. GE license, or ability to obtain one within one year of hire is strongly desired
• Approximately 12 or moreyears of geotechnical engineeringexperience with project management experience
• Positive work attitude and ability to work safely and efficiently when managing multiple tasks
• Ability to work independently and with a team in a multi-disciplinary environment
• Ability to lead and manage project deliverables, budgets, and schedules while mentoring junior staff
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Ability to work with external clients and maintain positive client relationships
• Working knowledge of standard business software including Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Experience using VBA in Excel a plus.
• Experience with various geotechnical software packages such as LPile, APile, SHAFT, GROUP, GEO STUDIO (Slope/W, Seep/W, Sigma/W), SLIDE, Settle3, and MSEW
• Clean driving record and the ability to pass a drug test required
• Ability to commute to the office, external client meetings, andproject sites within and in the vicinity of San Diego
• Management experience of technical staff a plus

Following an offer, candidates will be required to satisfactorily complete employment reference checks, verification of professional licensure and/or educational credentials, a motor vehicle report (MVR), and a comprehensive background check.

Move Forward with Kleinfelder:

Kleinfelder and its’ subsidiaries and affiliates, has been connecting great people to the best work since 1961. We are engineers, scientists, and construction professionals providing solutions that improve our clients’ transportation, water, energy, and other private infrastructure. As a responsive, cross-disciplinary team of bright, curious, and innovative problem-solvers, we are dedicated to doing the right thing, every day, on every project from over 110 offices in the US, Canada, and Australia.Connecting great people to the best work is our purpose – together, we deliver.

Progress with an Employer that Values You

Kleinfelder, and its’ subsidiaries and affiliates, is an inclusive organization free from discrimination. We are a stronger organization when we are a diverse workforce and believe that through diversity, equity, and inclusion comes creativity, innovation, and unity. We are proud to offer the following:

Benefits

Kleinfelder, and its’ subsidiaries and affiliates, offers an excellent compensation and benefits package, including:

• medical
• dental
• vision
• life insurance
• 401(k) plan
• paid holidays

California: The expected salary range for the position is displayed in accordance with the California Pay Transparency Law. Final agreed upon compensation is based upon individual qualifications and experience. Salary Range:$133,494 - $227,531.

Career Development

We are committed to investing in the professional development of our staff, offering each employee every opportunity to grow, develop, and take control of their career paths. We support these efforts through reimbursements for continuing education as well as many of the expenses associated with trainings and certifications, and opportunities for career development through our internal Mentoring Program.

Equal Opportunity

Kleinfelder, and its’ subsidiaries and affiliates, is an Equal Opportunity Employer – Minorities/Women/Disabled/Veterans. (Compliant with the new VEVRAA and Section 503 rules)