Senior Geotechnical Engineer

About the Company

DLZ is a nationally recognized, award-winning multidisciplinary engineering and architectural consulting firm providing engineering design, construction management, surveying, right-of-way acquisition, materials testing, and environmental services throughout the Midwest.

With a strong reputation across transportation, water resources, public infrastructure, and civil engineering projects, DLZ offers engineers the opportunity to work on some of the region's most technically challenging projects while gaining exposure to multidisciplinary expertise, senior leadership, and a collaborative team environment. The firm is known for empowering engineers to take ownership of projects, build lasting client relationships, and play a meaningful role in shaping communities through infrastructure.

This position is ideal for a technically strong geotechnical engineer who enjoys staying involved in design, contributing to major infrastructure projects, mentoring engineers, and helping expand a growing geotechnical practice.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

• Work on High-Impact Infrastructure Projects involving bridges, dams, levees, structures, transportation, and public-sector programs.

• Lead Complex Geotechnical Challenges from investigation and analysis through design and construction support.

• Expand Your Technical Expertise across bridge foundations, dams, levees, earthworks, slope stability, and major infrastructure development.

• Play a Key Leadership Role by mentoring junior engineers and providing technical oversight on significant geotechnical projects.

• Gain Greater Client Exposure through direct interaction with public agencies, contractors, and project stakeholders.

• Support Business Growth through proposal development, client engagement, and strategic project pursuits.

• Join a Collaborative Multidisciplinary Team working alongside transportation, structural, environmental, and construction professionals.

• Build a Long-Term Career with a respected Midwest engineering firm offering clear advancement opportunities and leadership potential.

Position Overview

This opportunity is ideal for an experienced Geotechnical Engineer seeking a highly visible leadership position within a growing geotechnical practice.

You will play a key role leading geotechnical investigations, performing advanced engineering analyses, supporting major infrastructure projects, mentoring technical staff, building client relationships, and contributing to the continued growth of the geotechnical group.

The position combines technical leadership, project delivery, client interaction, mentorship, and business development exposure, creating an excellent platform for long-term career advancement.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead geotechnical engineering projects from proposal development through construction and project completion.

• Perform and oversee geotechnical design and analysis for bridges, structures, dams, levees, and major infrastructure projects.

• Direct field investigations, subsurface exploration programs, inspections, and construction support activities.

• Prepare and review geotechnical reports, analyses, specifications, technical recommendations, and engineering deliverables.

• Provide technical leadership, quality control, and peer review for geotechnical projects.

• Manage project scope, schedules, budgets, resource allocation, and project execution.

• Collaborate with clients, contractors, regulatory agencies, and multidisciplinary project teams.

• Mentor, coach, and develop junior engineers and technical staff.

• Support proposal preparation, project pursuits, and business development initiatives.

• Promote a strong culture of safety, professionalism, and technical excellence.

What Makes This Role Different?

Many geotechnical positions focus primarily on project execution.

This role offers the opportunity to develop the broader skills required for future leadership positions, including:

• Technical leadership.
• Client relationship management.
• Project financial oversight.
• Business development exposure.
• Team leadership and mentorship.
• Strategic project planning.
• Multidisciplinary project collaboration.

For engineers with ambitions of becoming a Principal, Discipline Leader, Regional Manager, or Practice Leader, this role provides the visibility, responsibility, and project exposure needed to accelerate that progression.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering or Geological Engineering.
• Master's Degree preferred.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license required.
• Ohio PE preferred.
• Minimum 10 years of geotechnical engineering experience.
• Strong experience supporting dams, levees, bridges, and major infrastructure projects.
• Experience leading geotechnical investigations and construction support programs.
• ODOT and/or U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project experience highly desirable.
• Strong client communication and relationship management skills.
• Proven ability to mentor and support junior engineering staff.
• Excellent technical writing, problem-solving, and communication abilities.
• Ability and willingness to travel occasionally as required.

Desired Skills & Experience

• Geotechnical Engineering
• Geotechnical Project Management
• Dam Engineering
• Levee Engineering
• Bridge Foundations
• Deep Foundations
• Earthworks
• Slope Stability Analysis
• Geotechnical Investigations
• Construction Observation
• Construction Inspection
• Infrastructure Engineering
• Technical Report Writing
• Proposal Development
• Client Relationship Management
• Team Leadership & Mentoring
• Public Sector Projects
• ODOT Projects
• USACE Projects
• Business Development

Ideal Background

We would particularly like to speak with engineers who have experience in:

• Bridges & Transportation Infrastructure
• Dams & Levees
• Water Resource Projects
• Public Infrastructure Programs
• ODOT Projects
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Projects
• Large Civil Engineering Programs
• Foundation Engineering
• Earthworks & Embankments
• Slope Stability Projects

Who This Role Appeals To

This opportunity is ideal for a geotechnical engineer who:

• Wants to lead technically challenging infrastructure projects.
• Wants greater influence over project delivery and technical decisions.
• Enjoys solving complex geotechnical engineering challenges.
• Is passionate about mentoring and developing engineers.
• Wants more exposure to clients and project stakeholders.
• Is interested in supporting business growth and project pursuits.
• Sees their long-term future in senior technical leadership or practice leadership.

Compensation & Rewards

• Competitive compensation package with performance-based incentives.
• Bonus opportunities aligned with project and business performance.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and Health Savings Account (HSA) options.
• Traditional and Roth 401(k) retirement plans.
• Paid parental leave.
• Life and AD&D insurance.
• Short-term and long-term disability coverage.
• Employee wellness program with reimbursement benefits.
• Company-supported professional development and continuing education.
• Long-term career advancement opportunities within a nationally recognized engineering organization.

Why This Opportunity

This role offers a unique blend of technical leadership, infrastructure expertise, client interaction, and business-building responsibility.

You will have the opportunity to:

• Work on high-profile bridge, dam, levee, and infrastructure projects.
• Be part of a respected multidisciplinary engineering organization with a strong regional presence.
• Collaborate with experienced technical leaders across multiple disciplines.
• Influence the growth and direction of an expanding geotechnical practice.
• Build long-term relationships with DOTs, public agencies, and infrastructure clients.
• Progress into Principal, Practice Leadership, or Regional Leadership positions while remaining technically involved.

Unlike larger, highly layered organizations, this environment offers engineers the opportunity to make a direct impact on projects, clients, teams, and the long-term success of the business.