Geotechnical Earthquake Engineer

WSP • Oakland, CA

12d • $81,000 - $101,000

About The Position

WSP is seeking a Geotechnical Earthquake Engineer for our seismic team in any of our California offices: San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles, Sacramento! Come be a part of a fantastic team and grow your career with us! This role provides geotechnical earthquake engineering support to technical staff, engineers, and project managers for remediation, permitting, improvement, and construction of infrastructure projects and systems in the public and private sector. Tasks may include basic assistance with the research, design, analysis, concept development, and construction of roads, buildings, tunnels, bridges, dams, and nuclear facilities. Generates accurate reports and documentation regarding assigned engineering analysis tasks. Ensures that responsibilities are delivered and adhered to with a level of quality that meets or exceeds acceptable industry standards for design, safety, and functionality. Your Impact Perform basic professional geotechnical engineering and earthquake engineering work relating to conducting research and evaluation of site conditions for static and dynamic analyses, including subsurface investigations, soil foundation engineering, settlement analysis, soil erosion, lateral earth pressures, geological hazards, underground water, and slope stability for commercial, industrial, building, nuclear, infrastructure, and transportation projects. Assist with performing geotechnical earthquake engineering work such as probabilistic seismic hazard analysis, seismic-site response analysis, time history development, liquefaction and consequences assessment, seismic slope stability assessment, and estimation of slope’s lateral displacement and lateral earth pressure of earth retaining systems. With minimal supervision, assist with collecting, compiling, and analyzing data from the physical work site, soil/water/sludge/rock samples, surveys, blueprints, GIS data, subsurface information, maps, geotechnical data, and other matrices for project development, design, and construction. Maintain quality control standards and procedures for accurate and precise measurements and statistical analysis of rock and soil environmental data. Assist with the development of technologies, modeling techniques, design requirements, and operating strategies to account for the safety and functionality of end-users, transportation systems, structures, and the incorporation of future-ready solutions with geotechnical engineering design standards. Assist with verifying the characteristics of a site and providing technical assistance on various environmental, design, and construction issues involving rock and soil mechanics, and investigating subsurface and geological conditions to design and build foundations, and earth structures. Write technical reports summarizing research with findings and conclusions, generating complete, accurate, and concise documentation using sketches, calculations, electronic systems, spreadsheets, and software. Assist technical staff and project managers with risk identification and assessment, offering input and analysis with design concepts, construction, mitigation and improvement activities, and remediation projects. Work with cross-functional teams in executing project work. Complete training on assigned tasks. Work collaboratively with other engineers and planners on projects with infrastructure authorities on Federal, State, regional, and locally funded improvement, and development projects. 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.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Civil/Geotechnical Engineering.
• 1 to 3 years of relevant post education experience.
• Knowledge of geotechnical earthquake engineering principles, practices, process, design/build, and the application to permitting and project work-related issues.
• Familiarity with components of probabilistic seismic hazard analysis.
• Highly familiar with seismic site response analysis.
• Analytical mindset with an ability to exercise sound judgement in evaluating situations and making decisions.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills when interacting with others, expressing ideas effectively and professionally to an engineering and non-engineering audience.
• Capable self-leadership with attention to detail, accuracy, multi-tasking, and prioritization of responsibilities in a dynamic work environment, under stringent quality assurance requirements.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, as well as part of a team to meet business objectives.
• Basic proficiency with technical writing, office automation, software, technology, math principles, predictive models, spreadsheets, and tools.
• Experience with discipline-specific design software (e.g., DEEPSOIL/RSSeismic, ArcGIS, Slide, and SLOPE/W).
• Experience with engineering programming (e.g., Python and Matlab).
• 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.
• Occasional travel may be required depending on project-specific requirements.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s or Doctorate degree.
• Prior experience with seismic site response analysis.
• A member of and/or actively participate in local professional practice organizations.

Responsibilities

• Perform basic professional geotechnical engineering and earthquake engineering work relating to conducting research and evaluation of site conditions for static and dynamic analyses, including subsurface investigations, soil foundation engineering, settlement analysis, soil erosion, lateral earth pressures, geological hazards, underground water, and slope stability for commercial, industrial, building, nuclear, infrastructure, and transportation projects.
• Assist with performing geotechnical earthquake engineering work such as probabilistic seismic hazard analysis, seismic-site response analysis, time history development, liquefaction and consequences assessment, seismic slope stability assessment, and estimation of slope’s lateral displacement and lateral earth pressure of earth retaining systems.
• With minimal supervision, assist with collecting, compiling, and analyzing data from the physical work site, soil/water/sludge/rock samples, surveys, blueprints, GIS data, subsurface information, maps, geotechnical data, and other matrices for project development, design, and construction.
• Maintain quality control standards and procedures for accurate and precise measurements and statistical analysis of rock and soil environmental data.
• Assist with the development of technologies, modeling techniques, design requirements, and operating strategies to account for the safety and functionality of end-users, transportation systems, structures, and the incorporation of future-ready solutions with geotechnical engineering design standards.
• Assist with verifying the characteristics of a site and providing technical assistance on various environmental, design, and construction issues involving rock and soil mechanics, and investigating subsurface and geological conditions to design and build foundations, and earth structures.
• Write technical reports summarizing research with findings and conclusions, generating complete, accurate, and concise documentation using sketches, calculations, electronic systems, spreadsheets, and software.
• Assist technical staff and project managers with risk identification and assessment, offering input and analysis with design concepts, construction, mitigation and improvement activities, and remediation projects.
• Work with cross-functional teams in executing project work.
• Complete training on assigned tasks.
• Work collaboratively with other engineers and planners on projects with infrastructure authorities on Federal, State, regional, and locally funded improvement, and development projects.
• 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.

Benefits

• WSP provides a comprehensive suite of benefits focused on a providing health and financial stability throughout the employee’s career. These benefits include coverage related to medical, dental, vision, disability, and life; retirement savings; paid sick leave; paid vacation (or other personal time); paid parental leave; and paid time off for purposes of bereavement, voting, and/or attendance at naturalization proceedings.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level