Technical Director, Heap Leach Design Engineer

WSP USA; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

WSP USA is seeking a Technical Director, Civil/Geotechnical Engineer specializing in heap leach facility design to lead our Mine Waste Management Team. This role can be based in Reno, NV or Tucson, AZ, and involves overseeing geotechnical field work, design, and multi‑disciplinary collaboration on challenging mining projects.

The candidate will manage complex analyses, mentor engineers, support proposals, and ensure safety and QA/QC across projects, with travel as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil or Geological Engineering required.
• 14+ years of post‑degree experience in consulting engineering or mining.
• Engineering license (multi‑state preferred).
• Experience with tailings management and heap leach facility design in mining.
• Strong analytical and technical computation skills.
• Ability to lead mid‑ to senior‑level team members and QA/QC adherence.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and client liaison skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage and execute mine waste geotechnical projects, investigations, and data interpretation.
• Lead civil design of mine waste containment facilities, layouts, and design drawings.
• Oversee complex geotechnical analyses: soil mechanics, stability, seepage, thermal models, deposition models.
• Independently manage projects per client scope and deliver reports on time and within budget.
• Lead multi‑disciplinary project teams and contribute to technical proposals.
• Mentor junior engineers and promote a safety‑first culture.
• Collaborate with professionals to provide trusted, future ready solutions for clients.

Skills

Civil/Geotech Eng

Mine Waste Eng

Leadership

Project Mgmt

Stability Analysis

Client Liaison

Technical Writing

QA/QC

Education

Civil/Geological Eng

Professional Engineer (PE)

Job description

This Opportunity

WSP USA Inc. is seeking a Technical Director, Civil/Geotechnical Engineer with an expertise in Heap Leach Facility Design to join our Mine Waste Management Team. This role can be based in any of the following WSP offices: Reno, Nevada or Tucson, Arizona. In this role you will have the opportunity to work as a part of a regional team on challenging mining, heavy civil, and geotechnical projects.

Your Impact

• Managing and executing a wide variety of mine waste geotechnical engineering projects, including managing geotechnical field investigations, laboratory testing programs, data interpretation, and geotechnical analysis.
• Leading the civil design of mine waste containment facilities including initial layout and design, site selection and facility layout, geotechnical and hydrologic analyses, and preparation of design drawings and technical specifications for construction.
• Scoping, directing, and reviewing complex geotechnical analyses with a focus on soil mechanics, including stability, seepage, thermal modelling; deposition modeling; and run out analyses for mine waste or water embankment dams and waste rock spoils.
• Independently managing projects according to client-approved scopes of work and delivering high quality reports on time and within budget subject to senior review and oversight.
• Working with and leading multi-disciplinary project teams.
• Supporting technical proposals and design work package in response to client needs.
• Managing the work of junior engineers.
• Participating in and promoting a safety-first culture.
• Collaborate with professionals from a variety of disciplines to provide “trusted advisor” service and future ready solutions for clients.
• Exercise responsible and ethical decision-making regarding company funds, resources and conduct, and adhere to WSP’s Code of Conduct and related policies and procedures.
• Perform additional responsibilities as required by business needs.

Who You Are

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Civil or Geological Engineering
• 14+ years of relevant (post-degree) experience working in a consulting engineering or mining industry environment
• Engineer license required (multi-state preferred).
• Demonstrated experience working on projects related to tailings management and heap leach facility design in the mining industry, and experience in commonly used software packages
• Advanced proficiency with making technical computations and calculations involving the application of engineering principles, understanding plans and specifications and making factual comparisons to the appropriate regulations.
• Works independently and provides guidance and leadership to mid-level to senior level team or project members, with strict adherence to QA/QC.
• Excellent leadership and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to effectively, persuasively, and tactfully interact with employees at all levels of the organization.
• Tactical lateral thinking and strong analytical skills with attention to detail and prioritization of responsibilities in a pressure work environment.
• Ability to elicit cooperation from a wide variety of sources, including senior management, clients, regulators, and company-wide staff, including those with whom no formal hierarchical relationship exits.
• Sound knowledge in soil mechanics and geotechnical engineering
• Project management skills commensurate with years of experience
• Demonstrated client liaison and business development skills
• Strong technical writing skills, with the ability to think critically and problem solve
• Ability to effectively delegate work and lead project teams
• Proven track record of upholding workplace safety and ability to abide by WSP’s health, safety and drug/alcohol and harassment policies.
• Strong ability to quickly adapt to change and demonstrate flexibility to a variety of schedules and hours to meet business needs.
• Occasional travel may be required depending on project-specific requirements.

Preferred

• Master’s Degree preferred
• Spanish language skills (verbal and written) would be an asset
• Project management skills

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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.