Staff Geotechnical Engineer
About The Position
AECOM is seeking an Staff Geotechnical Engineer in Oakland, California to support dam, levee, and hydropower infrastructure projects as part of our industry-leading Pacific Dams / Hydro practice. This role offers an excellent opportunity for a motivated early-career engineer to build a strong technical foundation while contributing to projects that enhance the safety, resilience, and long-term performance of critical infrastructure systems throughout Northern California and the western United States. This position is expected to begin in June or July 2026. The successful candidate will work closely with senior geotechnical engineers and technical specialists to support field investigations, engineering analyses, and design efforts for a wide range of dam and water resources facilities. This position provides hands-on experience across multiple phases of project development, including planning, analysis, design, construction support, and regulatory coordination, with strong mentorship and clear pathways for professional growth.
Requirements
- Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering or a related field + None or demonstrated equivalency of experience and/or education.
- Valid U.S. Driver’s License required to visit project sites, clients, and other AECOM offices.
Nice To Haves
- Master's Degree, or pursuing a Master's Degree in Civil Engineering or a related field
- Engineer-in-Training (EIT) certification or ability to obtain within 6–12 months.
- 2 years of experience supporting geotechnical investigations or design projects.
- Coursework or academic research in soil mechanics, foundation engineering, slope stability, or geotechnical earthquake engineering.
- Experience with dam, levee, embankment, or water resources projects (academic or internship experience acceptable).
- Familiarity with geotechnical software such as GeoStudio, PLAXIS, Settle3D, LPILE, or similar analysis tools.
- Experience with data management tools such as gINT, Excel, or other geotechnical logging software.
- Exposure to seismic hazard analysis, liquefaction evaluation, or dynamic slope stability.
- Field experience supporting drilling programs, CPTs, or construction observation.
- Strong technical writing skills with experience preparing reports or technical memoranda.
- Experience using AutoCAD or similar drafting software.
Responsibilities
- Support subsurface investigations, including drilling borings and advancing CPTs.
- Log soils and rock and assign samples for laboratory testing.
- Assist with construction inspection to verify conformance with plans and specifications.
- Perform geotechnical analyses (slope stability, seepage, settlement, foundations, liquefaction).
- Assemble and document geotechnical data using Excel, Word, gINT, and AutoCAD.
- Prepare geotechnical reports and engineering recommendations.
- Support development of designs, specifications, and construction documents.
- Review applicable regulations and standards for design and permitting.
- Apply QA/QC procedures to ensure accuracy and quality of work products.
Benefits
- AECOM benefits may include medical, dental, vision, life, AD&D, disability benefits, paid time off, leaves of absences, voluntary benefits, perks, flexible work options, well-being resources, employee assistance program, business travel insurance, service recognition awards, retirement savings plan, and employee stock purchase plan.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
