Chief Engineer
Chief Engineer - Geotechnical
Location: Charlotte, North Carolina
Sector: Geotechnical Engineering & Ground Improvement
The Opportunity
An established and growing geotechnical engineering organization is seeking a Chief Engineer to serve as its most senior technical authority. This role will provide strategic leadership, technical governance, and mentorship across all geotechnical engineering and construction activities within the business.
The Chief Engineer will shape engineering strategy, uphold technical excellence, manage risk on complex projects, and support commercial success through trusted technical leadership and client engagement.
Key Responsibilities
- Serve as the organization's highest-level technical authority for geotechnical engineering and ground improvement systems
- Provide strategic guidance and mentorship to engineering leadership, technical specialists, and project teams
- Establish, maintain, and continuously improve engineering standards, methodologies, and governance frameworks
- Review and advise on complex or non-standard geotechnical designs, construction methodologies, and execution strategies
- Ensure engineering quality, consistency, and regulatory compliance across regions and markets
- Lead technical risk identification, assessment, and mitigation for high-impact or high-profile projects
- Support innovation and continuous improvement in design approaches, analytical tools, and ground improvement technologies
- Provide technical leadership in major pursuits, proposals, and key client discussions
- Act as a senior technical representative with clients, external stakeholders, regulatory bodies, and professional organizations
Experience & Technical Requirements
- Minimum 15 years' experience in geotechnical engineering, ground improvement, foundation engineering, or geotechnical construction
- At least 10 years in senior or executive-level technical leadership, managing experienced engineers or technical teams
- Deep expertise in:
- Ground improvement techniques
- Foundation and soil-structure interaction systems
- Geotechnical design, construction, and risk management
- Demonstrated ability to lead engineering teams through growth, organizational change, and increasing technical complexity
- Strong engineering judgment with a proven ability to balance technical rigor with constructability, cost, and schedule
- Proven track record influencing business outcomes within technically driven or matrixed organizations
- Ability to develop and promote value-driven engineering solutions and systems
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills, capable of operating as a trusted advisor to senior leadership and clients
- Self-directed, strategic thinker comfortable managing competing priorities
- Engagement with professional or industry associations
- Willingness to travel approximately 10%
Education & Professional Credentials
- Master's degree in Civil Engineering,Geotechnical Engineering, or a closely related discipline (required)
- Preference for advanced expertise in geotechnics, numerical modeling, or applied geotechnical analysis
- Doctorate (PhD) strongly preferred
- Professional Engineer (PE) license required
Why This Role
This position offers a rare opportunity to operate at the highest technical level within a respected geotechnical engineering organization, with the ability to influence engineering direction, mentor senior professionals, and shape the delivery of complex ground engineering solutions on a national platform.
FAQs
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