Associate Geotechnical Engineer
WSP · Tempe
This Opportunity
WSP is currently initiating a search for an Associate Geotechnical Engineer for our Tempe, Arizona office. The successful candidate will provide support to WSP’s project managers and technical teams responsible for delivering mining, energy, transportation, infrastructure, and development projects. This is a great opportunity to work with an established consulting firm that values technical curiosity, field experience, collaboration, and high-quality work.
The ideal candidate will have an educational background in civil engineering, geological engineering, geotechnical engineering, engineering geology, geophysics, or a closely related discipline, with an interest in applying geotechnical and geophysical methods to characterize subsurface conditions. The role will include a combination of office and field-based work, including geotechnical investigations, geophysical surveys, construction observation, data analysis, technical reporting, and collaboration with multidisciplinary project teams. The existing requisition identifies the P2 role as an Associate Geotechnical Engineer position based in Tempe, AZ, supporting WSP project managers on geotechnical engineering projects, with an ideal candidate background in engineering fundamentals and geotechnical/geological engineering.
Your Impact
- Perform geotechnical field investigations and construction oversight, including coordination with drillers, subcontractors, site personnel, and project teams.
- Assist with setting up geotechnical investigations, including driller acquisition, traffic control, permitting, utility locates, field planning, site access coordination, and health and safety preparation.
- Participate in geophysical investigations to support geotechnical and infrastructure projects, including seismic refraction, ReMi, MASW, electrical resistivity, and electromagnetic surveys.
- Install, operate, and retrieve geophysical field equipment, including geophone arrays, resistivity electrodes, seismic recording systems, resistivity meters, GPS equipment, field computers, cables, sensors, and related data acquisition equipment.
- Collect high-quality geotechnical and geophysical field data in diverse project environments, including active industrial sites, mining facilities, transportation corridors, renewable energy developments, undeveloped terrain, and construction sites.
- Assist with collecting, compiling, and analyzing data from physical work sites, soil, water, sludge, rock samples, surveys, GIS data, subsurface information, maps, geotechnical data, geophysical data, and other project-related information.
- Maintain quality control standards and procedures for accurate and precise measurements, field documentation, data collection, and technical deliverables.
- Perform basic engineering computations under the guidance of a senior engineer, including quantity calculations, foundation design support, slope stability support, settlement evaluations, and related geotechnical analyses.
- Support processing, analysis, and interpretation of geophysical datasets using specialized geophysical software, including seismic and electrical resistivity data.
- Assist with developing subsurface velocity models, resistivity profiles, interpreted geologic cross-sections, figures, GIS-based exhibits, and technical memoranda.
- Support interpretation of subsurface conditions, including depth to bedrock, overburden thickness, material stiffness, potential groundwater influences, moisture-related variability, clay-rich zones, and lateral variability.
- Integrate geophysical results with drilling, CPT, laboratory testing, geologic mapping, and other geotechnical information to support subsurface characterization and engineering recommendations.
- Prepare geotechnical design reports, geophysical summary reports, technical memoranda, figures, calculations, sketches, and other project deliverables under the guidance of senior staff.
- Work with cross-functional teams, including geotechnical engineers, geologists, geophysicists, planners, environmental professionals, construction personnel, and client representatives.
- Assist with work plan preparation, field/site work coordination, permitting support, proposal development, project planning, and client presentation materials.
- Complete training on assigned tasks and develop knowledge of engineering geophysics principles, geotechnical engineering fundamentals, field methods, data processing, and interpretation workflows through project experience, mentoring, and on-the-job training.
- 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.
- Travel to project sites in Arizona and possibly the western United States. The existing requisition notes that the role may include up to approximately 50% field work, with a portion of field work requiring travel outside the Phoenix metro area.
Who You Are
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Geological Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, Engineering Geology, Geophysics, or a closely related discipline.
- 1 to 3 years of relevant post-education experience, including geotechnical engineering, field investigations, construction observation, geophysical field work, subsurface characterization, or related project experience.
- Engineer in Training certification, or ability to obtain EIT certification within 1 year of hire.
- Interest in geotechnical engineering, engineering geology, and geophysics, with willingness to develop technical skills through field assignments, mentoring, and project work.
- Ability to perform field work safely and effectively in accordance with WSP, project, and client health and safety requirements.
- Ability to support field activities in varied environments, including uneven ground, construction sites, industrial facilities, mining sites, transportation corridors, and outdoor weather conditions.
- Ability to drive to project sites, transport equipment, set up, and operate field equipment, including geotechnical and geophysical equipment, sensors, cables, geophones, electrodes, field computers, GPS equipment, and related tools.
- Ability to occasionally lift and carry field equipment and materials weighing up to approximately 30 – 50 pounds.
- Research skills with an analytical mindset.
- Competent interpersonal and communication skills when interacting with others and expressing ideas effectively and professionally to engineering and non-engineering audiences.
- Proficient self-leadership with attention to detail, multitasking, 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.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Word and Excel.
- Ability to work well in a team environment.
- Ability to walking over uneven ground and active construction, mine, and industrial sites.
- Ability to work outdoors in various weather conditions.
- Proven track record of upholding workplace safety and ability to abide by WSP’s health, safety, drug/alcohol, and harassment policies.
- Ability to work schedules conducive to project-specific requirements that may extend beyond the typical workday and/or workweek.
- Occasional travel, including some overnight assignments, may be required depending on project needs.
- Must successfully complete and pass WSP’s Motor Vehicle screening, if required for the role.
Preferred Qualifications
- Engineer in Training certification.
- Prior internship or work experience related to civil engineering, geological engineering, geotechnical engineering, engineering geology, geophysics, or a related discipline.
- Exposure to geotechnical field investigations, drilling observation, construction materials testing, laboratory testing, geotechnical instrumentation, or construction observation.
- Exposure to geophysical field methods such as seismic refraction, MASW, ReMi, electrical resistivity, electromagnetic surveys, or related near-surface geophysical methods.
- Experience or coursework involving geotechnical engineering, soil mechanics, rock mechanics, engineering geology, geophysics, GIS, data visualization, or subsurface characterization.
- Exposure to AutoCAD, Civil 3D, GIS, geotechnical software, geophysical processing software, or other technical software used for field data processing, analysis, figures, or reporting.
- Interest in supporting projects in mining, energy, transportation, infrastructure, industrial, and development sectors.
- Basic First Aid and Adult CPR training desired.
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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.