Senior Vice President Geotechnical Engineering

WSP in the U.S.; Tempe (AZ); On-site; USD 250,000 - 350,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits package including medical,/d­

Retirement savings plan

Job summary

WSP USA seeks a Senior Vice President, Geotechnical Engineer for our Tempe geotechnical team. You will lead and grow a broad practice, overseeing field programs and technical delivery across infrastructure, mining, and buildings.

You will mentor staff, engage clients, manage budgets, and drive cross‑disciplinary opportunities while applying advanced geotechnical techniques to complex projects. The role requires leadership and travel as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Geotechnical/Civil with geotechnical focus.
• 15+ years of post-education experience in engineering/geotechnical design.
• Arizona PE license or eligible to obtain in 6 months.
• Proficient with geotechnical engineering principles, practices, process, design/build, and permitting.
• Experience with planning, design, and program/construction management.
• Strong knowledge of construction laws, codes, regulations, and permitting.
• Proficiency with technical writing and design software.
• Ability to lead and manage subcontractors and teams.
• Must pass motor vehicle screening; travel may be required.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and direction for a growing geotechnical practice.
• Develop and retain a client base for high‑level geotechnical services.
• Collaborate across lines to develop opportunities and projects including geotechnical aspects.
• Lead large geotechnical projects with budgets, subtasks, and subcontractors.
• Review permits, designs, and contracts for compliance.
• Mentor staff and support professional development.
• Meet with client representatives to discuss engineering challenges.
• Ensure technical reports explain findings and recommendations.
• Stay current with geotechnical techniques.

Skills

Geotechnical engineering

Leadership

Client engagement

Project management

Technical writing

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Geotechnical Engineering or Civil Engineering with geotechnical focus

Tools

Slide

LPILE

Settle3

Geostudios

PLAXIS

Job description

Job Description

WSP is currently initiating a search for a Senior Vice President, Geotechnical Engineer for our geotechnical team based in Tempe, AZ. Be involved in projects with our Civil, Ground Engineering and Materials; Earth and Environment Team and be a part of a growing organization that meets our client’s objectives and solves their challenges. In this role you will provide leadership and expertise for a geotechnical team executing small to large field programs in transportation, power, property and buildings, and mining. Responsibilities include building our business and teams with client engagement, business development, managing and providing support on large, diverse projects with services that include an emphasis on geohazard identification, field reconnaissance, managing subsurface investigation programs, engineering design, construction support, and geohazard monitoring and geotechnical instrumentation.

Your Impact

• Providing leadership and direction for a growing geotechnical practice
• Develop and retain a client base for providing high level geotechnical engineering services
• Collaborate across business lines to help develop and support opportunities and projects including geotechnical aspects.
• Apply high-level geotechnical engineering techniques and processes to identify improvements for various infrastructure project phases involving engineering work including concept development, preliminary design, final design, procurement, construction, and operation.
• Perform professional geotechnical engineering services and conduct more complex/comprehensive investigations and inspections of proposed and existing site conditions, including subsurface investigations, soil foundation engineering, settlement analysis, geological hazards, slope stability
• Remain current in latest geotechnical engineering techniques and practices.
• Lead larger-scale geotechnical engineering projects, preparing and overseeing relevant project budgets, monitoring external events, tracking hours and expenses, ensuring satisfactory performance, and supervising subcontractors, contract work, and employees.
• Assist with engineering review of permit applications, engineering design plans and specifications, standby plans and engineering contracts, and periodic construction observation/site visits, to ensure that they comply with design requirements.
• Ensure technical reports and presentations explain research, findings, and recommendations to prevent, control, restore, or address design, and/or construction issues or opportunities.
• Meet with client representatives to discuss issues relating to a variety of engineering/construction challenges and programs.
• Mentor staff to support their growth and professional development.
• Perform additional responsibilities as required by business needs

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Geotechnical Engineering, Civil Engineering with geotechnical focus, or closely related discipline.
• 15+ years of relevant post education experience in engineering and geotechnical design.
• Professional Engineering License in Arizona, or ability to become licensed in the state of Arizona in 6 months.
• Proficient with geotechnical engineering principles, practices, process, design/build, and the application to permitting and project work-related issues.
• Experience with planning, design, and program/construction management; including project involvement in a variety of mitigation, new design, and construction projects.
• Strong knowledge of relevant construction laws, codes, regulations, permitting, compliance practices, and record-keeping requirements.
• Proficiency with technical writing, office automation, discipline-specific design software (i.e., Slide, LPILE, Settle3, Geostudios, PLAXIS, etc.), technology, math principles, predictive models, spreadsheets, and tools.
• Experienced with providing critical review for documents and preparing technical deliverables and plans with a high degree of complexity.
• Well-developed critical thinking and problem-solving skills required to apply technical knowledge to reach conclusions from testing results, data collation, computations, statistical analysis and arriving at effective, economical, and logical solutions.
• Demonstrated effectiveness at coordinating and assertively directing subcontractors and others to consistently complete tasks safely and efficiently.
• Proven track record of uplifting workplace safety and ability to abide by WSP’s health, safety and drug/alcohol and harassment policies.
• Must be flexible to a variety of schedules to meet business needs and able to prioritize responsibilities and quickly adapt to change in a pressure work environment.
• Occasional travel will be required depending on project-specific requirements.
• Must successfully complete and pass WSP’s Motor Vehicle screening.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s or Doctorate Degree in Geotechnical Engineering.
• Knowledge and experience in Western U.S. geographies
• Basic First Aid and Adult CPR training desired.

About WSP

WSP USA is the U.S. operating company of WSP, one of the world’s leading engineering and professional services firms. Dedicated to serving local communities, we are engineers, planners, technical experts, strategic advisors and construction management professionals. WSP USA designs lasting solutions in the buildings, transportation, energy, water and environment markets. With more than 15,000 employees in over 300 offices across the U.S., we partner with our clients to help communities prosper.

www.wsp.com

WSP provides a flexible and agile workplace model while meeting client needs. Employees are also afforded a comprehensive suite of benefits including medical, dental, vision, disability, life, and retirement savings focused on providing health and financial stability throughout the employee’s career.

At WSP, we want to give our employees the challenges they seek to grow their careers and knowledge base. Your daily contributions to your team will be essential in meeting client objectives, goals and challenges. Are you ready to get started?

WSP USA (and all of its U.S. companies) is an Equal Opportunity Employer Race/Age/Color/Religion/Sex/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/National Origin/Disability or Protected Veteran Status.

The selected candidate must be authorized to work in the United States.