Geotechnical Engineer 5

CDM Smith•Sacramento, CA

34d

About The Position

With general direction, performs and leads engineering for dams, levees, embankments, spillways, outlet works, and critical water infrastructure across the western United States. This role is centered on dam safety, flood-risk reduction, and delivery of complex, meaningful projects with direct public-safety impact. You will join a supportive, multidisciplinary team within a nationally recognized dams and levees practice, with opportunities for technical leadership, project delivery responsibility, and long-term career growth in an employee-owned firm. Primary responsibilities include: Performs issue identification and preliminary evaluations for existing dams and levees through inspection, condition assessment, instrumentation review, performance history, and surveillance data. Ensures that firm policies and practices are followed on all designs. Supports needs definition and basis-of-design development for new dam, levee, and water infrastructure projects. Plans and performs geologic and geotechnical field investigations, including explorations, drilling, sampling, in-situ testing, laboratory testing, and site reconnaissance. Develops geotechnical and geologic characterization models to support alternatives analysis, design criteria, and risk assessment. Perform or supports site-specific seismic hazard assessments (SSHA), including probabilistic and deterministic analyses, site response modeling, and development of seismic loading parameters. Performs conceptual and feasibility-level alternatives analyses for dams, levees, spillways, foundations, and appurtenant structures, integrating geotechnical performance, constructability, cost, schedule, and risk considerations. Develops risk-reduction measures and improvement alternatives consistent with FEMA, FERC, and state dam safety guidelines. Performs and reviews stability, seepage, settlement, liquefaction, and deformation analyses for dams and levees using numerical modeling and spreadsheet methods to assess internal erosion susceptibility, seepage gradients, allowable deformations, seismic loading effects, and overall embankment performance. Provides construction-phase engineering support including RFI evaluation, submittal review, field engineering, contractor coordination, and technical issue resolution. Performs and supports risk assessments through PFMA development, potential failure mode characterization, likelihood/consequence evaluations, geotechnical fragility curve development, and integrates findings into risk assessment reports. Implements risk informed decision making throughout the project lifecycle by incorporating decisions at key project milestones (alternatives selection, design advancement, construction change evaluation). Provides geotechnical engineering support for water and wastewater treatment facilities, conveyance infrastructure, transportation projects, and building/structural projects, including foundations, excavation support, slopes, pavements, and geoenvironmental evaluations. Contributes to firm's Technical Knowledge Portal by developing white papers and technical design documentation of new or special case designs, studies, etc. Submits technical papers and designs for publishing to technical journals. Engages with dam owners, water agencies, and municipalities to understand facility needs, develop project scopes, and deliver solutions-oriented dam and levee safety support. Collaborates with sales staff to create proposals in response to current and potential client requests for proposal (RFPs). Reviews draft proposals prepared by others for adherence to firm, industry, state, local and federal requirements and best practices. Provides technical review, mentorship, and development of junior staff and may supervise junior engineers on project assignments. Participates in professional review of junior staff. Maintains professional registration, etc. to improve the visibility of the firm's products and services.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Geotechnical, Civil, Mining or Geologic Engineering or related discipline.
Professional engineering (PE) license.
7 years of related experience.
Domestic and/or international travel may be required. The frequency of travel is contingent on specific duties, responsibilities, and the essential functions of the position, which may vary depending on workload and project demands.
Equivalent additional directly related experience will be considered in lieu of a degree.

Nice To Haves

Master's Degree in Geotechnical Engineering
Experience planning and performing geotechnical investigations for dam and levee evaluation, rehabilitation, or construction projects.
Demonstrated experience preparing plans, specifications, and estimates (PS&E) for embankment dams, levees, spillways, or water infrastructure projects.
Experience providing construction-phase engineering support, construction inspection, or field engineering for embankment, foundation, seepage-control, or hydraulic-structure projects.
Experience applying FERC Engineering Guidelines, USACE Engineering Regulations (ER/EM), U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) Dam Safety Program guidance, California DSOD regulations, and FEMA dam safety and levee accreditation requirements.
Experience with levee design, construction, or rehabilitation under USACE jurisdiction, including familiarity with design documentation, review processes, and construction QA/QC expectations.
Experience supporting levee evaluations and improvements for FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) mapping, certification, or accreditation.
Prior involvement in dam or levee risk analyses, PFMA development, SQRA/QRA, fragility assessments, or risk-informed alternatives analysis.
Prior experience working with water agencies, irrigation districts, flood control districts, or hydropower operators on dam safety or levee improvement projects.

Responsibilities

Performs issue identification and preliminary evaluations for existing dams and levees through inspection, condition assessment, instrumentation review, performance history, and surveillance data. Ensures that firm policies and practices are followed on all designs.
Supports needs definition and basis-of-design development for new dam, levee, and water infrastructure projects.
Plans and performs geologic and geotechnical field investigations, including explorations, drilling, sampling, in-situ testing, laboratory testing, and site reconnaissance.
Develops geotechnical and geologic characterization models to support alternatives analysis, design criteria, and risk assessment.
Perform or supports site-specific seismic hazard assessments (SSHA), including probabilistic and deterministic analyses, site response modeling, and development of seismic loading parameters.
Performs conceptual and feasibility-level alternatives analyses for dams, levees, spillways, foundations, and appurtenant structures, integrating geotechnical performance, constructability, cost, schedule, and risk considerations.
Develops risk-reduction measures and improvement alternatives consistent with FEMA, FERC, and state dam safety guidelines.
Performs and reviews stability, seepage, settlement, liquefaction, and deformation analyses for dams and levees using numerical modeling and spreadsheet methods to assess internal erosion susceptibility, seepage gradients, allowable deformations, seismic loading effects, and overall embankment performance.
Provides construction-phase engineering support including RFI evaluation, submittal review, field engineering, contractor coordination, and technical issue resolution.
Performs and supports risk assessments through PFMA development, potential failure mode characterization, likelihood/consequence evaluations, geotechnical fragility curve development, and integrates findings into risk assessment reports.
Implements risk informed decision making throughout the project lifecycle by incorporating decisions at key project milestones (alternatives selection, design advancement, construction change evaluation).
Provides geotechnical engineering support for water and wastewater treatment facilities, conveyance infrastructure, transportation projects, and building/structural projects, including foundations, excavation support, slopes, pavements, and geoenvironmental evaluations.
Contributes to firm's Technical Knowledge Portal by developing white papers and technical design documentation of new or special case designs, studies, etc.
Submits technical papers and designs for publishing to technical journals.
Engages with dam owners, water agencies, and municipalities to understand facility needs, develop project scopes, and deliver solutions-oriented dam and levee safety support.
Collaborates with sales staff to create proposals in response to current and potential client requests for proposal (RFPs). Reviews draft proposals prepared by others for adherence to firm, industry, state, local and federal requirements and best practices.
Provides technical review, mentorship, and development of junior staff and may supervise junior engineers on project assignments. Participates in professional review of junior staff.
Maintains professional registration, etc. to improve the visibility of the firm's products and services.