Senior Geotechnical Engineer / Department Leader

Knoxville, Tennessee

Industry: Geotechnical Engineering & Construction Materials Testing
Employment Type: Full-Time
Leadership Level: Senior Engineer / Department Leadership Track
Compensation: $130,000 to $180,000+ (DOE & Business Development Capability)
Benefits: Annual Bonus, ESOP, 401(k), Comprehensive Medical Coverage, PTO, Paid Holidays & More

Lead Projects. Grow a Team. Build a Business.

An established employee-owned engineering consultancy is seeking a Senior Geotechnical Engineer to play a key leadership role in the continued growth of its Knoxville, Tennessee operation.

This position offers a unique opportunity for an experienced geotechnical professional to combine technical excellence, project leadership, mentorship, client development, and strategic growth initiatives within one of the region's most respected multidisciplinary engineering organizations.

The successful candidate will lead complex geotechnical and construction materials testing projects while helping expand the firm's presence throughout Tennessee and the Southeast. For the right individual, this role presents a clear pathway into Geotechnical Department Leadership, Office Leadership, or a Regional Seller-Doer Position.

Whether you are an established business developer bringing strong regional relationships or a technically exceptional geotechnical engineer looking to step into broader leadership responsibilities, this opportunity provides the platform to make a significant impact.

About the Company

Founded more than 70 years ago as a soils testing laboratory, this employee-owned consulting firm has evolved into one of the Southeast's leading multidisciplinary engineering organizations.

Today, the company employs more than 450 employee-owners across multiple offices throughout the Southeast and Texas and has experienced approximately 50% workforce growth since 2023 through a combination of organic expansion, acquisitions, and strategic investments.

The firm provides a comprehensive range of services, including:

• Geotechnical Engineering
• Construction Materials Testing (CMT)
• Geotechnical Drilling
• Laboratory Testing
• Construction Inspection
• Civil Engineering
• Structural Engineering
• Environmental Consulting
• Marine & Coastal Engineering
• Surveying & Geomatics
• Construction Management

Geotechnical engineering remains one of the organization's foundational service lines, supporting projects from initial subsurface investigations through design, construction support, quality assurance, and long-term monitoring.

As an employee-owned company, team members participate directly in the firm's success through an established Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), creating a strong culture of ownership, accountability, and long-term growth.

The Opportunity

The Knoxville office is positioned for continued expansion and requires a senior technical leader capable of overseeing complex geotechnical projects while helping grow the local operation.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to:

• Lead technically challenging geotechnical projects
• Mentor and develop engineers, technicians, and field personnel
• Support and expand CMT operations
• Grow client relationships across Tennessee and the Southeast
• Influence strategic planning and office development
• Participate in major infrastructure, industrial, energy, and federal projects
• Advance toward department leadership or regional management responsibilities

This role offers significantly more than project delivery. It is an opportunity to help shape the future direction of a growing geotechnical practice.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Leadership

• Lead complex geotechnical investigations, analyses, and design efforts.
• Oversee subsurface exploration programs including drilling, sampling, testing, and data collection.
• Developgeotechnical engineering recommendations for:
  • Shallow foundations
  • Deep foundations
  • Earthwork design
  • Settlement evaluations
  • Retaining structures
  • Slope stability
  • Groundwater conditions
  • Pavement systems
• Review and approve engineering reports, technical memoranda, calculations, and design recommendations.
• Provide technical quality control for geotechnical and construction materials testing projects.
• Support projects operating under enhanced quality assurance requirements, including NQA-1 programs where applicable.

Project Management & Delivery

• Manage projects from proposal and scope development through final delivery.
• Direct project planning, staffing, scheduling, and execution.
• Monitor budgets, profitability, and project performance.
• Ensure compliance with company quality standards and client requirements.
• Coordinate with drilling teams, laboratories, inspectors, contractors, and multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Participate in construction support services and field troubleshooting activities.
• Provide practical solutions to complex geotechnical challenges during design and construction.

Construction Materials Testing Oversight

• Collaborate closely with CMT operations and laboratory personnel.
• Review field and laboratory testing results for quality and compliance.
• Support technical integration between geotechnical engineering and construction materials testing services.
• Assist with laboratory operations and quality management initiatives when required.
• Ensure testing programs support engineering recommendations and project objectives.

Team Development & Mentorship

• Mentor junior engineers, project managers, technicians, and field personnel.
• Provide technical guidance to drilling crews and laboratory staff.
• Assist in recruiting, onboarding, and developing future team members.
• Perform technical reviews and support professional growth across the geotechnical group.
• Foster a culture of accountability, technical excellence, safety, and collaboration.

Client Development & Business Growth

• Build and strengthen relationships with public and private-sector clients.
• Identify opportunities for new projects and expanded services.
• Support proposal preparation, scope development, and fee estimation.
• Participate in client meetings, industry events, networking, and professional organizations.
• Develop strategic partnerships throughout Tennessee and the broader Southeast region.
• Contribute to revenue growth and long-term business development initiatives.

For established seller-doers, the role offers significant opportunity to leverage existing relationships and expand market share.

Leadership & Strategic Planning

• Participate in office leadership discussions and growth initiatives.
• Help shape the future direction of geotechnical and CMT operations in Knoxville.
• Support staffing forecasts, operational improvements, and market expansion plans.
• Contribute to strategic decisions regarding service offerings, personnel development, and business growth.
• Assist in establishing best practices and improving overall operational efficiency.

Project Exposure

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to support a diverse range of high-profile projects, including:

• Federal Facilities
• Department of Energy Projects
• Nuclear Research Facilities
• Small Modular Reactor (SMR) Programs
• Energy and Power Generation Infrastructure
• Transportation & Highway Projects
• Heavy Civil Construction
• Industrial Facilities
• Municipal Infrastructure
• Utilities
• Commercial Development
• Waterfront & Marine Facilities
• Complex Foundation Systems
• Large Earthwork Programs
• Environmental & Resiliency Projects

The firm's integrated service model allows engineers to remain involved throughout the entire project lifecycle, from investigation and laboratory testing through engineering design, construction support, inspection, and quality assurance.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Active Professional Engineer (PE) License.
• Strong experience in geotechnical engineering project execution and technical leadership.
• Demonstrated experience managing projects, budgets, schedules, and technical deliverables.
• Experience planning and overseeing subsurface investigations and testing programs.
• Strong understanding of geotechnical laboratory testing and interpretation of results.
• Working knowledge of Construction Materials Testing operations.
• Experience preparing and reviewing technical reports and engineering recommendations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational and leadership abilities.
• Ability to work from or relocate to Knoxville, Tennessee.
• U.S. Citizenship required due to the nature of certain federal and nuclear-related projects.

Preferred Qualifications

The firm is particularly interested in candidates who bring one or more of the following:

• Existing professional network within Knoxville or the Tennessee market.
• Business development and client relationship management experience.
• Previous department management or team leadership experience.
• Experience working with state, local, or federal agencies.
• NQA-1 quality assurance experience.
• Nuclear industry project experience.
• Experience supporting Department of Energy or federal research facilities.
• Experience with Small Modular Reactor (SMR) programs.
• Experience working with nuclear-accredited laboratories.
• Oversight of geotechnical drilling, laboratory testing, or field operations.
• Experience on major infrastructure, heavy civil, industrial, or energy projects.

While NQA-1 and nuclear experience are highly desirable, they are not required. The company is equally interested in strong technical leaders and high-performing seller-doers.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is a well-rounded geotechnical professional who can successfully combine:

• Strong technical expertise
• Effective project leadership
• Team development
• Client management
• Commercial awareness

You are comfortable reviewing complex geotechnical analyses, managing multidisciplinary teams, overseeing budgets, and serving as a trusted advisor to clients.

You may already be generating work and maintaining strong industry relationships, or you may be a technically exceptional engineer ready to expand your client-facing responsibilities and leadership influence.

Most importantly, you are interested in helping build a successful team while contributing to the continued growth of an employee-owned organization.

Compensation & Benefits

The company offers a highly competitive compensation package designed to reward technical leadership, project success, and business development contributions.

Compensation

• Base Salary: $130,000 - $180,000+
• Performance-Based Bonus Program
• Additional opportunities for experienced seller-doers with proven revenue generation capabilities

Benefits

• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Medical Insurance
• Prescription Coverage
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Life Insurance
• Accidental Death & Dismemberment Coverage
• Short-Term Disability
• Long-Term Disability
• Paid Time Off
• Paid Company Holidays
• Tuition Assistance Program
• Fitness Club Membership Assistance

Why Join?

This is an opportunity to join a rapidly growing, employee-owned engineering firm at a pivotal stage in its expansion.

You'll gain exposure to some of the region's most technically challenging geotechnical, nuclear, industrial, infrastructure, and federal projects while helping shape the future of a growing Knoxville operation.

Beyond project work, you'll have a genuine opportunity to influence strategy, strengthen client relationships, mentor engineers, and build long-term value through employee ownership.

For professionals seeking a path toward department management, office leadership, or regional responsibilities, few opportunities offer the same combination of technical challenge, growth potential, business exposure, and financial participation.

Join a Team Where Ownership Matters

If you're a Senior Geotechnical Engineer, Geotechnical Project Manager, Department Manager, or Seller-Doer looking for a leadership opportunity with significant growth potential, we'd welcome the opportunity to speak with you.

Apply today to learn more about this confidential Senior Geotechnical Engineer / Department Leader opportunity in Knoxville, Tennessee.