Senior Geotechnical Engineer
Job Description
This Opportunity
WSP is currently initiating a search for a Senior Geotechnical Engineer for our Birmingham, Alabama office.This role provides the opportunity to support a growing portfolio of projects throughout the Southeastern United States, delivering geotechnical engineering services for transportation infrastructure, power and energy facilities, and industrial/commercial developments. The selected candidate will play a key role in project delivery, technical leadership, and client engagement across Alabama and the broader Southeast.
Your Impact
Lead and perform geotechnical engineering analyses and design for:
Transportation projects (roadways, bridges, embankments, slopes)
Power and energy facilities (generation, substations, transmission corridors)
Industrial and commercial site developments
Plan, coordinate, and manage subsurface exploration programs, including drilling, sampling, laboratory testing, and field investigations.
Prepare and oversee geotechnical engineering deliverables, including:
Geotechnical data reports
Interpretive reports
Foundation and earthwork design recommendations
Perform analyses and design for:
Shallow and deep foundations
Slope stability and retaining structures
Settlement and ground improvement solutions
Pavement and subgrade evaluations
Provide construction-phase support, including:
Field observations and inspections
Design reviews and responses to RFIs
Construction recommendations and troubleshooting
Apply sound engineering judgment to evaluate subsurface conditions and develop practical, cost-effective solutions.
Lead and mentor junior engineers and technical staff, ensuring adherence to QA/QC procedures and technical excellence.
Collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams across transportation, civil, environmental, and power sectors.
Support business development, including:
Proposal development
Scope definition and fee estimates
Client communication and relationship management
Manage multiple assignments while maintaining schedule, budget, and quality objectives.
Who You Are
Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering with geotechnical focus (Master’s preferred).
5 to 7+ years of experience in geotechnical engineering.
Licensed Professional Engineer (PE) (Alabama or ability to obtain within 6 months).
Demonstrated experience supporting:
Transportation infrastructure projects
Power/energy or utility projects
Industrial and commercial development projects
Experience with:
Subsurface investigation planning and execution
Geotechnical analysis and design
Preparation of technical reports and contract documents
Working knowledge of applicable industry standards (e.g., AASHTO, ASTM, FHWA).
Ability to work independently and serve as a task or project lead.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience delivering projects in the Southeastern United States, with Alabama experience strongly preferred.
Project management skills with experience leading teams on complex or multi-project programs.
Client focus with experience in client management and effective project/program delivery skills.
Possess strong verbal communication, writing, analytical, and organizational skills combined with a positive attitude and an ability to work both independently and within groups, including with technical peers across the company, client contacts, and subcontractors.
Familiarity with state DOT requirements (e.g., ALDOT, TDOT, GDOT).
Experience supporting power and utility clients or heavy industrial facilities.
Experience with geotechnical software (e.g., SLIDE, LPILE, OpenGround/gINT).
Strong understanding of regional soil and rock conditions across the Southeast.
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.
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.
NOTICE TO THIRD PARTY AGENCIES:
WSP does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters, employment agencies, or other staffing services. Unsolicited resumes include any resume or hiring document sent to WSP in the absence of a signed Service Agreement where WSP has expressly requested recruitment/staffing services specific to the position at hand. Any unsolicited resumes, including those submitted to hiring managers or other business leaders, will become the property of WSP and WSP will have the right to hire that candidate without reservation – no fee or other compensation will be owed or paid to the recruiter, employment agency, or other staffing service.