Associate Geotechnical Engineer

WSP•Irvine, CA

10h•Hybrid

About The Position

WSP is seeking an Associate Geotechnical Engineer to work out of our Irvine, CA office. This entry-level position involves assignments of limited scope and complexity, with work supervised in detail. The role may involve providing guidance to junior professionals or technicians and generally requires more than two years of experience post-Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combinations of graduate-level degree and experience. The candidate is expected to have basic orientation, training, and experience in the consulting business, including proposal writing, report generation, client correspondence, and familiarity with standard procedures and practices within their discipline. Typical project assignments include data collection and compilation (field or published materials), data entry and extraction from computer programs, and research of complex regulatory or technical requirements. Occasional travel to field assignments will be required. All work will be performed under the supervision of a project manager or senior staff member.

Requirements

Master’s Degree in Geotechnical Engineering
1 to 3 years of relevant post education experience.
Experience with desktop and industry-specific software (e.g., MSOffice, AutoCAD, and MSProject) required.
Hands on knowledge on the use of field equipment.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to establish effective internal and external working relationships.
Ability to communicate clearly with on-site contractors, supervisor or project manager regarding work assignments.
Proficient self-leadership with attention to detail, multi-tasking, and prioritization of responsibilities in a dynamic work environment.
Ability to work independently under general supervision, as well as part of a team to meet business objectives.
Proven track record of upholding workplace safety and ability to abide by WSP’s health, safety and drug/alcohol and harassment policies.
Ability to work schedules conducive to project-specific requirements that may extend beyond the typical workweek.
Frequent local travel and occasional out-of-town travel may be required depending on project-specific requirements.

Nice To Haves

Engineer in Training Certification.
Professional Engineer licensure.
A member of and/or actively participate in local professional practice organizations.

Responsibilities

Plan and support subsurface explorations (e.g., borings, test pits, CPTs) and coordinate with drillers, surveyors, and utility locators as needed.
Identify ways to improve field data collection or reporting templates to enhance team efficiency and competitiveness.
Log soil and rock in the field; document groundwater, sampling, and drilling conditions; and maintain organized field notes and photo records.
Coordinate laboratory testing programs (index, strength, consolidation, corrosion, etc.) and review results for completeness and reasonableness.
Perform engineering calculations and analyses (e.g., bearing capacity, settlement, lateral earth pressures, slope stability screening, and seismic site considerations) using accepted methods and software tools.
Peer-review the work of junior staff and technicians to ensure deliverables are error-free and professionally presented.
Develop preliminary and final geotechnical recommendations for foundations, slabs, earthwork, excavations, temporary support, and earth retention systems, as applicable to the project.
Prepare geotechnical reports, memoranda, figures, and tables that clearly communicate findings, assumptions, and recommendations.
Support construction-phase services such as grading/excavation observations, footing subgrade evaluations, pile installation monitoring support, and documentation of nonconformance and corrective actions.
Apply QA/QC practices to calculations and deliverables; follow internal standards, checklists, and peer review processes.
Communicate with project managers, design team members, contractors, and clients to address technical questions and field issues in a timely manner.
Follow health, safety, and environmental requirements; help identify hazards and implement appropriate controls during field activities.
Track assigned tasks, budgets, and schedules; provide status updates and proactively raise risks or scope changes.

Benefits

Medical insurance
Dental insurance
Vision insurance
Disability insurance
Life insurance
Retirement savings
Paid sick leave
Paid vacation (or other personal time)
Paid parental leave
Paid time off for purposes of bereavement, voting, and/or attendance at naturalization proceedings.