Step into Your New Role

Kleinfelder is seeking a Senior Geotechnical Engineer / Project Manager (Transportation Focus) to join our Southern California team in either Laguna Hills or Los Angeles. This hybrid role blends remote work, in‑office collaboration, and occasional field engagement to lead and manage large transportation infrastructure and other types of projects. It is an excellent opportunity for a technical leader who thrives on managing and delivering complex projects, guiding multidisciplinary teams, mentoring junior engineers, engaging with clients, and contributing to strategic business development efforts.

Our team supports a diverse portfolio of challenging and high‑visibility projects within a design center that includes geotechnical, bridge, structural, civil, and water resources engineers, geologists, environmental professionals, and laboratory and construction oversight personnel. We work across a wide range of public and private infrastructure systems—including bridges, transit systems, roadways, water, stormwater, wastewater, and power systems, dams, tunnels and HDD installations, wet and dry above and below-ground utility infrastructure, commercial and high-rise structures, and deep excavations—often in dense urban environments or difficult terrain. This role requires a strong ability to plan, manage, coordinate, and execute projects with technical rigor and operational discipline as well as positioning for competitive pursuits and engaging with clients for development of business, contributing to the success of the Southern California area.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will have a minimum of a Bachelor's degree in Civil, Geotechnical, or Geological Engineering. This role leads geotechnical projects from proposing and concept through closeout, combining project‑management capability with a deep, progressively responsible background in geotechnical engineering. Ideally, the candidate has a minimum of 7-8 years of experience managing multidisciplinary teams, guiding technical decision‑making, and ensuring that geotechnical considerations are fully integrated into project strategy, risk management, and client communication. The candidate should also have a minimum of 5 years pursuing RFPs/RFQs, managing client accounts, and tracking the profitability and performance of their project/client portfolios. A Master’s degree in Geotechnical or Geological Engineering is strongly preferred. A California P.E. license is required. A California G.E. license, or the ability to obtain one within one year of hire, is highly desirable. This position will be managing large, complex, multi-disciplinary transportation infrastructure projects, along with other types of projects. Therefore, a minimum of 5 years of transportation-related project experience and management is strongly preferred.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate multidisciplinary teams in the development of proposals, project execution plans, and technical deliverables.
• Provide leadership, project oversight, and strategic direction for complex technical and field assignments.
• Plan, manage, and oversee field exploration programs and construction oversight activities with a strong emphasis on safety, quality, and schedule adherence.
• Perform, delegate, and review a wide range of geotechnical analyses, including soil and rock classification, foundation design, settlement analysis, slope stability, seismic hazard evaluation (ground motions, liquefaction, lateral spreading), and earth retention systems.
• Develop and deliver high‑quality technical documents, including geotechnical engineering reports, memorandums, proposals, specifications, and related deliverables.
• Maintain active involvement during the construction phase to support design intent, troubleshoot field issues, and ensure alignment with project requirements.
• Cultivate strong client relationships through proactive communication, responsiveness, and technical excellence.
• Develop scopes of work, project budgets, work breakdown structures, and schedules, ensuring alignment with client expectations and internal standards.
• Manage project teams, monitor budgets and schedules, delegate tasks effectively, and mentor junior staff to support their technical and professional growth.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in civil, geotechnical, or geological engineering; Master’s degree strongly preferred.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license in California required; GE license or ability to obtain one within one year of hire is strongly preferred.
• Transportation-related project and management experience including for bridges, roadways, railways, tunnels, etc.
• Progressive geotechnical engineering experience demonstrating increasing responsibility in subsurface investigations, geotechnical analysis, foundation design, earth retention systems, slope stability, ground improvement, or related areas.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple concurrent projects while maintaining high standards of quality and safety. PMP Certification is a plus.
• Proven ability to lead project delivery, manage budgets and schedules, and mentor junior staff.
• Proficiency with standard business software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project)
• Experience with geotechnical software such as LPile, APile, SHAFT, GROUP, BoreDM, GEO STUDIO (Slope/W, Seep/W, Sigma/W), SLIDE, Settle3, and MSEW.
• Clean driving record and ability to pass a drug test.
• Ability to commute to the office, client meetings, and project sites in and around Southern California.

Following an offer, candidates will be required to satisfactorily complete employment reference checks, verification of professional licensure and/or educational credentials, a motor vehicle report (MVR), and a comprehensive background check.