Engineer I - Geotechnical

Engineer I - Geotechnical

Salary

$58.20 - $70.74 Hourly

Location

1900 Building, 1900 SW 4th Ave, OR

Job Type

Regular

Job Number

2026-00737

Bureau

Portland Permitting & Development

Opening Date

08/10/2026

Closing Date

8/31/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

The Position

Job Appointment: Full time, Regular.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8am-5pm. Work hours will vary to meet business needs.

Work Location: Hybrid; Employees are expected work on site at least 50% of the time. Remote work must be performed within Oregon or Washington In-person work to be conducted at The 1900 Building, 1900 SW 4th Avenue.

Union Representation: PROTEC-17. To view current labor agreements, click here.

Starting Pay: The City of Portland follows the Oregon Equal Pay Act. Your salary is determined based on the experience listed in your resume that is directly related and equivalent to the position for which you are applying.

Position Summary:

The City of Portland's Permitting & Development team is seeking a skilled Geotechnical Engineer to join the Site Development Section of the Building Code Review Division. In this role, you will be responsible for the review of proposed developments including construction plans, specifications and engineering calculations for structures, grading and other aspects for conformance with construction codes, regulations, and engineering standards of practice. A significant portion of the work involves: reviewing complex civil and/or geotechnical engineering features of development including steep slope hazards; flood, earthquake and erosion hazards; deep foundations; retaining walls, and excavation shoring.

This work also includes:

• reviewing geotechnical engineering, engineering geology and site-specific seismic hazard reports;
• performing reconnaissance level investigations of proposed development properties; and
• analyzing site conditions and performing engineering calculations.

You will exercise independent judgment, while also working collaboratively with architects, engineers, contractors, developers and residents to resolve development issues, and assist in the development of policies, standards and codes related to the civil and/or geotechnical aspects of development. All Portland Permitting & Development staff will also meet the Bureaus expectations of providing excellent customer service in an equitable manner to meet the needs of the City of Portlands community.

Virtual Meet & Greet Opportunity

Meet the hiring manager and the senior recruiter to learn more about this position, how to apply, and what its like to work with the City of Portland.

Date: Wednesday, August 19, 2026

Time: 5:30 PM Pacific Time

Registration Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/nqHrP5EWSDSsrr54qh5rYQ

(Note: Al Notetaking apps are not permitted. If you need ADA accommodations, please contact the recruiter below.)

To Qualify

The following minimum qualifications are required:

• Knowledge of civil and geotechnical engineering principles, materials, construction methods, industry best practices, and relevant City, State, and Federal regulations.
• Knowledge of the geotechnical aspects of construction as they relate to the design, and construction of development and structures and the associated building and development codes and professional standards of practice.
• Knowledge of soil mechanics and geotechnical practices used in earthquake engineering.
• Ability to review and interpret complex engineering plans, reports, and calculations; research technical issues; analyze problems; compare alternatives; and recommend effective solutions.
• Ability to clearly communicate technical information to non-technical audiences, including policymakers and community members.
• Ability to engage in collaborative problem-solving and conflict resolution; to represent the City; and to partner effectively with residents, community groups, and development professionals.

Applicants must also possess:

• Certificate of registration as a Professional Engineer; and must possess an Oregon PE license within six months of hire.
• A valid state drivers license and an acceptable driving record.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Erosion and Sediment Control and/or Floodplain Development

The Recruitment Process

How to Apply:

• Submit your resume and responses to supplemental questions by the closing date.
• (Optional) Submit Veterans' Preference documents, if applicable.

If this is your first time applying with the City of Portland, or if you haven't requested veteran preference before (and would like to now), please attach your DD214-Member 4 and/or VA Benefit Letter to your application. Once we verify your eligibility, we'll record your veteran preference in our system, so it automatically applies to your future applications.

• Click here for application tips for resume, supplemental question response and/or cover letter.

What to Expect:

• Application Review - (Week of August 31): Well review your application materials to ensure you meet the minimum qualifications listed above.
• Notice/Feedback - (Week of September 7): You will receive an email when the minimum qualification review is complete. If you disagree with your evaluation results, you may request a review within 14 days of the email notice, per City Administrative Rule 3.01.
• Selection Process - (Mid-September): The hiring bureau will review interested and qualified applications, conduct interviews, and check references.
• Conditional Job Offer - (Late September): Final candidates may undergo a background or driving record check.

Additional Information

Learn More About:

• How to Apply Videos and Workshops
• City of Portland Core Values
• HRAR-3.01 - Recruitment Processes
• Veteran Preference Information
• Total Compensation and Benefits
• Language Pay Differential Eligibility

We're committed to providing a fair, inclusive, and accessible hiring process. If you need assistance with your application or would like to request a reasonable accommodation due to a disability, pregnancy, or religious belief, please contact the recruiter listed below.

Questions? Were here to help!

If you have questions about this recruitment or need assistance, contact:

Tamela Ressler, Senior Recruiter

Tamela.Ressler@portlandoregon.gov

Bureau of Human Resources

A Career with the City of Portland offers many Employee Benefits

We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including but not limited to

• Health Care (Medical, Vision and Dental)
• Carrot Fertility
• Wellness Benefits
• Life Insurance
• Long-term disability
• Employee Assistance Plan
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Retirement
• Oregon Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), including contributions to the PERS IAP plan paid by employer
• Family Medical Leave
• City Paid Parental Leave

AND SO MANY MORE!

Benefits may vary depending on bargaining unit and employment status. Click here to review the many different benefits the City of Portland offers.

01

Thank you for considering joining the City of Portland. We sincerely value your time and hope to make your application experience as positive as possible.

The following supplemental questions are an important step in the examination and selection process to assist us in determining if you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities to succeed in the posted vacancy.

A lack of a complete and thorough response to each of the supplemental questions in the space provided may result in disqualification from the examination. In addition, the selections you make and responses you provide in the questionnaire must accurately reflect what is documented in your resume.

Have you read and understood the information listed above?

• Yes
• No - If you have any questions, please contact the recruiter on the announcement.

02

Where did you first learn about this job opportunity? (If on a website or job board, please specify which one)

03

The City of Portland sometimes gets requests for public records. Please choose the response that best fits your preference:

(Your choice will not affect your application process.)

• I want my application to stay private. I understand that the City of Portland will keep my information confidential unless required to share it by law.
• I allow my application to be shared. I understand that by choosing this option, my information is no longer private.

04

Are you a certified Professional Engineer (PE) with the ability to obtain a PE in the State of Oregon within 6 months of hire?

• Yes
• No

05

Minimum Qualification 1: Describe where you obtained your knowledge of civil and geotechnical engineering principles, materials, construction methods, industry best practices, and relevant City, State, and Federal regulations. Include an example that demonstrates how you applied this knowledge to support a project or resolve a technical issue. (Please limit to 1-2 paragraphs)

06

Minimum Qualification 2: Provide an example of a project where you were responsible for geotechnical design and were involved in construction. How did you ensure your work aligned with current building and development codes and professional engineering standards? (Please limit your response to 1-2 paragraphs).

07

Minimum Qualification 3: Describe a project or situation where you applied soil mechanics and geotechnical principles in earthquake engineering associated with development or building design and construction. (Please limit your response to 1-2 paragraphs).

08

Minimum Qualification 4: Describe a time when you reviewed complex engineering plans, reports, or calculations. What was the situation, what challenges did you encounter, and how did you analyze the issues and determine an effective solution? (Please limit your response to 1-2 paragraphs)

09

Minimum Qualification 5: Provide an example of when you had to explain a technical or scientific concept to a non-technical audience (such as policymakers, community members, or the general public). How did you make the information clear and accessible? (Please limit your response to 1-2 paragraphs)

10

Minimum Qualification 6: Describe a situation in which you were responsible for resolving a problem or conflict involving multiple stakeholders (such as residents, community groups, development professionals, or partner agencies). What steps did you take and how did you ensure productive collaboration? (Please limit your response to 1-2 paragraphs)

11

Preferred Qualifications: Although not required for this position, please provide details for any of the following preferred qualifications:

• Experience with Erosion and Sediment Control and/or Floodplain Development

Required Question

Employer City of Portland

Address 1120 SW 5th Ave, Room 987

Portland, Oregon, 97204

Website http://www.portland.gov/jobs