Geotechnical Engineer
Senior Geotechnical Engineer / Future Office Lead
Location: South Plainfield, NJ (Hybrid)
The Opportunity
An established, fast-growing mid-sized engineering consultancy is seeking a Senior Geotechnical Engineer (PE) to step into a high-impact leadership role within its New Jersey operation.
This position exists for one simple reason: the work is already there.
The current Principal is exceptionally strong at winning and maintaining client relationships and has created a sustained backlog of private-sector work across the region. As the office continues to grow, there is a clear need for a senior technical leader to run day-to-day operations, manage staff, and build a scalable team-with a defined path to eventually taking over leadership of the office as the Principal replicates this success in other markets.
This is an ideal role for someone who wants to grow into a top leadership position, build a team their way, and have real influence-without the constant pressure of having to chase work to justify their seat.
What You'll Be Doing
- Lead and manage geotechnical projects for private-sector clients
- Oversee and mentor engineers, field staff, and technicians as the office scales
- Review and prepare geotechnical reports, calculations, and recommendations
- Serve as a technical authority and client-facing leader within the office
- Coordinate closely with materials testing and inspection teams
- Help shape the future structure and culture of the growing NJ operation
What We're Looking For
- Professional Engineer (PE) licensed in New Jersey
- 10+ years of geotechnical consulting experience
- Strong background on the private-sector side (commercial, industrial, development-driven work)
- Experience managing projects and people-not just technical execution
- Familiarity with NJ codes, subsurface exploration practices, and local permitting realities
- Comfortable being in the office regularly to mentor and build a team (hybrid, not remote-only) Can move more remotely as office grows.
- Someone motivated to grow into a senior leadership role over the next phase of their career
Why This Role Is Different
- Succession-oriented hire: This is not a dead-end senior role. The expectation is long-term leadership progression.
- Work is established: The Principal continues to win and retain work-this role focuses on delivery, leadership, and growth.
- Employee-owned (ESOP): The firm is 100% employee-owned, allowing it to reinvest capital back into the business rather thanprioritizing outside shareholders. This structure supports:
- Long-term stability
- Strong bonuses
- Investment in people, tools, and growth
- A genuine ownership mindset at senior levels
- Hybrid flexibility: Enough in-office presence to lead effectively, with flexibility built around seniority and trust.
- Build without burnout: Grow a team and an office without the constant stress of aggressive sales quotas or corporate bureaucracy.
Compensation & Benefits
- Competitive senior-level salary
- Bonus potential tied to office and company performance (can be anywhere between 20% - 30% of base salary)
- Comprehensive benefits package (medical, dental, vision, 401k match, disability, PTO, holidays)
- ESOP ownership that grows in value as the company grows
Who This Is Perfect For
- A senior geotechnical engineer who feels capped under layers of leadership
- A PE who wants to run an office eventually, not just projects
- Someone who enjoys mentoring and building teams
- A private-sector geotechnical engineer tired of endless BD pressure but still wants leadership responsibility
FAQs
Congratulations, we understand that taking the time to apply is a big step. When you apply, your details go directly to the consultant who is sourcing talent. Due to demand, we may not get back to all applicants that have applied. However, we always keep your CV and details on file so when we see similar roles or see skillsets that drive growth in organisations, we will always reach out to discuss opportunities.
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