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Geotechnical Engineer 5

CDM Smith

Sacramento, CA

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JOB DETAILS
SKILLS
Analysis Skills, Background Investigation, Best Practices, Communication Skills, Construction, Construction Design, Construction Engineering, Construction Inspection, Construction Projects, Construction Support, Cross-Functional, Documentation, Engineering Management, Excavation, Exploration Drilling, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Geological Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, Geotechnical Investigation, Hydraulic Engineering, Identify Issues, Instrumentation, Insurance, Laboratory Testing, Mentoring, Mining Engineering, Mining Geology/Geoscience, Needs Assessment, People Management, Performance Reviews, Presentation/Verbal Skills, Problem Solving Skills, Professional Engineer, Project Estimates, Project Lifecycle, Project/Program Coordination, Proposal Writing, Public Safety, Quality Assurance, Quality Control, Quantitative Risk Assessment (QRA), Regulations, Request for Proposals (RFP), Risk, Risk Analysis, Risk Management, Safety/Work Safety, Sales Proposals, Sales/Support Engineering (SE), Seismic Analysis, Site Reconnaissance, Spreadsheets, Staff Development, Statutory Laws, Surveillance, Team Player, Technical Leadership, Technical Publications, Technical Writing, Technical/Engineering Design, Technology White Papers, Test Lab, Water Treatment, Willing to Travel, Writing Skills
LOCATION
Sacramento, CA
POSTED
4 days ago
**Company Overview** Check out this video and find out why our team loves to work here! (https://www.cdmsmith.com/resources/videos/meet-cdm-smith) **Join Us! CDM Smith – where amazing career journeys unfold.** Imagine a place committed to offering an unmatched employee experience. Where you work on projects that are meaningful to you. Where you play an active part in shaping your career journey. Where your co-workers are invested in you and your success. Where you are encouraged and supported to do your very best and given the tools and resources to do so. Where it’s a priority that the company takes good care of you and your family. Our employees are the heart of our company. As an employer of choice, our goal is to provide a challenging, progressive and inclusive work environment which fosters personal leadership, career growth and development for every employee. We value passionate individuals who challenge the norm, deliver world-class solutions and bring diverse perspectives. Join our team, and together we will make a difference and change the world. **Job Description** With general direction, performs and leads engineering for dams, levees, embankments, spillways, outlet works, and critical water infrastructure across the western United States. This role is centered on dam safety, flood-risk reduction, and delivery of complex, meaningful projects with direct public-safety impact. You will join a supportive, multidisciplinary team within a nationally recognized dams and levees practice, with opportunities for technical leadership, project delivery responsibility, and long-term career growth in an employee-owned firm. Primary responsibilities include: • Performs issue identification and preliminary evaluations for existing dams and levees through inspection, condition assessment, instrumentation review, performance history, and surveillance data. Ensures that firm policies and practices are followed on all designs. • Supports needs definition and basis-of-design development for new dam, levee, and water infrastructure projects. • Plans and performs geologic and geotechnical field investigations, including explorations, drilling, sampling, in-situ testing, laboratory testing, and site reconnaissance. • Develops geotechnical and geologic characterization models to support alternatives analysis, design criteria, and risk assessment. • Perform or supports site-specific seismic hazard assessments (SSHA), including probabilistic and deterministic analyses, site response modeling, and development of seismic loading parameters. • Performs conceptual and feasibility-level alternatives analyses for dams, levees, spillways, foundations, and appurtenant structures, integrating geotechnical performance, constructability, cost, schedule, and risk considerations. • Develops risk-reduction measures and improvement alternatives consistent with FEMA, FERC, and state dam safety guidelines. • Performs and reviews stability, seepage, settlement, liquefaction, and deformation analyses for dams and levees using numerical modeling and spreadsheet methods to assess internal erosion susceptibility, seepage gradients, allowable deformations, seismic loading effects, and overall embankment performance. • Provides construction-phase engineering support including RFI evaluation, submittal review, field engineering, contractor coordination, and technical issue resolution. • Performs and supports risk assessments through PFMA development, potential failure mode characterization, likelihood/consequence evaluations, geotechnical fragility curve development, and integrates findings into risk assessment reports. • Implements risk informed decision making throughout the project lifecycle by incorporating decisions at key project milestones (alternatives selection, design advancement, construction change evaluation). • Provides geotechnical engineering support for water and wastewater treatment facilities, conveyance infrastructure, transportation projects, and building/structural projects, including foundations, excavation support, slopes, pavements, and geoenvironmental evaluations. • Contributes to firm's Technical Knowledge Portal by developing white papers and technical design documentation of new or special case designs, studies, etc. • Submits technical papers and designs for publishing to technical journals. • Engages with dam owners, water agencies, and municipalities to understand facility needs, develop project scopes, and deliver solutions-oriented dam and levee safety support. • Collaborates with sales staff to create proposals in response to current and potential client requests for proposal (RFPs). Reviews draft proposals prepared by others for adherence to firm, industry, state, local and federal requirements and best practices. • Provides technical review, mentorship, and development of junior staff and may supervise junior engineers on project assignments. Participates in professional review of junior staff. • Maintains professional registration, etc. to improve the visibility of the firm's products and services. **Qualifications** - Bachelor's degree in Geotechnical, Civil, Mining or Geologic Engineering or related discipline. - Professional engineering (PE) license. - 7 years of related experience. - Domestic and/or international travel may be required. The frequency of travel is contingent on specific duties, responsibilities, and the essential functions of the position, which may vary depending on workload and project demands. - Equivalent additional directly related experience will be considered in lieu of a degree. **Preferred Qualifications** • Master's Degree in Geotechnical Engineering • Experience planning and performing geotechnical investigations for dam and levee evaluation, rehabilitation, or construction projects. • Demonstrated experience preparing plans, specifications, and estimates (PS&E) for embankment dams, levees, spillways, or water infrastructure projects. • Experience providing construction-phase engineering support, construction inspection, or field engineering for embankment, foundation, seepage-control, or hydraulic-structure projects. • Experience applying FERC Engineering Guidelines, USACE Engineering Regulations (ER/EM), U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) Dam Safety Program guidance, California DSOD regulations, and FEMA dam safety and levee accreditation requirements. • Experience with levee design, construction, or rehabilitation under USACE jurisdiction, including familiarity with design documentation, review processes, and construction QA/QC expectations. • Experience supporting levee evaluations and improvements for FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) mapping, certification, or accreditation. • Prior involvement in dam or levee risk analyses, PFMA development, SQRA/QRA, fragility assessments, or risk-informed alternatives analysis. • Prior experience working with water agencies, irrigation districts, flood control districts, or hydropower operators on dam safety or levee improvement projects. **Skills & Abilities** • Strong ability to develop and evaluate geotechnical inputs that support dam and levee design, understanding how foundation, embankment, seepage, and seismic characteristics influence structural, hydraulic, and risk-related decisions. • Ability to apply practical engineering judgment to balance technical rigor, constructability, and field conditions during analyses, design development, and construction support. • Effective written and verbal communication skills, including preparation of clear, defensible technical documentation for design teams, clients, and regulators. • Ability to work collaboratively within project teams and coordinate geotechnical information with other engineering disciplines as design progresses. • Strong technical communication skills, including preparation of design reports, engineering memoranda, and regulatory submittals. • Proficiency with geotechnical and dam safety modeling tools (e.g., GeoStudio, PLAXIS, FLAC, Rocscience, or equivalent). **Amount of Travel Required** 20% - 40% **EEO Statement** We attract the best people in the industry, supporting their efforts to learn and grow. We strive to create a challenging and progressive work environment. We provide career opportunities that span a variety of disciplines and geographic locations, with projects that our employees plan, design, build and operate as diverse as the needs of our clients. CDM Smith Inc. and its divisions and subsidiaries are an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, pregnancy related conditions, childbirth and related medical conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression), national origin, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, veteran status, citizenship status, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. **Background Check and Drug Testing Information** CDM Smith Inc. and its divisions and subsidiaries (hereafter collectively referred to as “CDM Smith”) reserves the right to require background checks including criminal, employment, education, licensure, etc. as well as credit and motor vehicle when applicable for certain positions. In addition, CDM Smith may conduct drug testing for designated positions. Background checks are conducted after an offer of employment has been made in the United States. The timing of when background checks will be conducted on candidates for positions outside the United States will vary based on country statutory law but in no case, will the background check precede an interview. CDM Smith will conduct interviews of qualified individuals prior to requesting a criminal background check, and no job application submitted prior to such interview shall inquire into an applicant's criminal history. If this position is subject to a background check for any convictions related to its responsibilities and requirements, employment will be contingent upon successful completion of a background investigation including criminal history. Criminal history will not automatically disqualify a candidate. In addition, during employment individuals may be required by CDM Smith or a CDM Smith client to successfully complete additional background checks, including motor vehicle record as well as drug testing. **Pay Range Min** USD $104,562.00 **Pay Range Max** USD $182,978.00 **Visa Sponsorship Available** No-We will not support sponsorship in the United States, i.e. H-1B or TN Visas for this position

About the Company

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CDM Smith