What are the responsibilities and job description for the Mid Level Geotechnical Engineer Transportation position at Adaptive Management and Engineering, LLC?
Mid-Level Geotechnical EngineerDeep Foundations Testing and AnalysisCompany Description
Adaptive Management and Engineering, LLC (AME) provides specialized geotechnical engineering, instrumentation, and construction monitoring services throughout the Gulf Coast states. AME supports industrial, commercial, transportation, coastal protection and restoration, upland disposal, and beneficial use of dredged material projects. AME is known for providing practical, high-quality engineering recommendations that improve constructability, reduce risk, and support efficient, cost-effective project delivery. Our adaptive management approach helps clients optimize designs and construction procedures from initial planning through project execution. This commitment to responsive service and technical excellence has resulted in numerous repeat clients.
Position SummaryAME is seeking a Mid-Level Geotechnical Engineer (5 years experience) to lead and support the firm’s deep foundation testing and analysis program for transportation and infrastructure projects, including highways, bridges, rail corridors, industrial facilities, and related structures. This position combines field-based dynamic pile monitoring with advanced analytical modeling to evaluate the capacity, drivability, structural integrity, and installation performance of driven pile foundations. The selected candidate will serve as a technical resource for:
- Pile Driving Analyzer (PDA) testing
- CAPWAP signal matching
- GRLWEAP driveability analysis
- Shallow and Deep foundation construction support
- Assist engineering manager and principal with other tasks as needed
The engineer will work closely with state Departments of Transportation, general contractors, pile-driving crews, inspectors, structural engineers, geotechnical engineers, and project managers. The role also includes reviewing plans and specifications, supporting instrumentation programs, interpreting field data, preparing technical reports, contributing to proposals, and participating in quality assurance and continuous improvement activities.
Primary ResponsibilitiesPredictive Modeling and Wave Equation Analysis- Perform preconstruction pile driveability studies using GRLWEAP.
- Develop soil resistance models based on subsurface conditions, laboratory data, pile geometry, and anticipated installation methods.
- Evaluate contractor pile-driving equipment submittals, including proposed hammers, cushions, helmets, leads, and pile accessories.
- Assess hammer compatibility, energy transfer, blow counts, penetration rates, and anticipated driving stresses.
- Recommend appropriate hammer energy settings and driving procedures.
- Evaluate pile wall thickness, pile section properties, and installation stresses to reduce the risk of structural damage.
- Assess potential driving hazards, including excessive tensile or compressive stresses, premature refusal, hard driving, pile buckling, and pile damage.
- Develop preliminary acceptance criteria for initial driving and restrike testing.
- Travel to transportation and infrastructure construction sites to perform high-strain dynamic pile testing using the Pile Driving Analyzer.
- Instrument concrete piles, steel pipe piles, H-piles, timber piles, and other driven foundation elements with strain transducers and accelerometers.
- Verify proper sensor installation, calibration, alignment, and data quality.
- Monitor real-time pile response during initial driving, end-of-drive testing, and subsequent restrikes.
- Evaluate hammer performance, transferred energy, pile stresses, pile integrity, and soil resistance during installation.
- Provide preliminary field estimates of pile capacity using the Case Method.
- Identify irregular data, potential pile damage, equipment deficiencies, or installation conditions requiring corrective action.
- Communicate field observations and preliminary findings to contractors, inspectors, project managers, and design teams.
- Maintain complete field records, testing logs, photographs, and supporting documentation.
- Perform CAPWAP analyses using field-recorded force and velocity data.
- Conduct signal matching to estimate ultimate soil resistance, shaft resistance distribution, end-bearing resistance, damping, quake, and pile response.
- Select representative blows for analysis based on data quality and project requirements.
- Simulate static load-test behavior and develop predicted load-settlement relationships.
- Evaluate pile setup, relaxation, time-dependent capacity changes, and restrike behavior.
- Compare CAPWAP results with Case Method estimates, GRLWEAP predictions, design assumptions, and project acceptance criteria.
- Calibrate and refine production pile-driving criteria using CAPWAP results.
- Provide technically supported recommendations regarding pile acceptance, additional driving, restrike testing, hammer adjustments, or supplemental testing.
- Prepare clear, detailed, and technically defensible engineering reports summarizing PDA, CAPWAP, and GRLWEAP results.
- Prepare reports and technical memoranda in accordance with applicable DOT, FHWA, AREMA, AASHTO, project-specific, and client requirements.
- Develop production pile-driving criteria, including:
- Required blow counts
- Minimum tip elevations
- Maximum allowable driving stresses
- Minimum transferred energy
- Restrike requirements
- Refusal criteria
- Acceptance procedures
- Review structural and geotechnical plans, specifications, subsurface information, and pile schedules.
- Confirm that proposed testing procedures are consistent with design assumptions and project specifications.
- Provide technical support for construction issues such as premature refusal, unexpected pile lengths, low measured resistance, pile damage, excessive stresses, variable soil conditions, and hammer performance concerns.
- Participate in meetings with clients, contractors, inspectors, and design professionals.
- Respond to technical comments and assist with resolving discrepancies between design assumptions and field performance.
- Coordinate testing schedules, site access, equipment requirements, personnel, and field documentation with project managers and construction teams.
- Support the planning and interpretation of instrumentation and construction monitoring programs.
- Contribute technical content, scopes of work, schedules, and fee estimates for project proposals.
- Review calculations, field data, reports, and recommendations prepared by other team members.
- Follow AME’s quality assurance and quality control procedures.
- Assist with the development and improvement of technical procedures, reporting templates, field checklists, and data-management practices.
- Mentor junior engineers and field personnel in deep foundation testing and analysis.
- Maintain testing equipment and coordinate required calibration, verification, and maintenance activities.
- Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from an ABET-accredited engineering program.
- Master’s degree with a concentration in geotechnical engineering, structural engineering, or geo-structural engineering is preferred.
- Two to five or more years of relevant geotechnical or structural engineering experience.
- Demonstrated experience with deep foundations, driven piles, pile installation monitoring, or dynamic pile testing.
- Experience supporting transportation, bridge, rail, industrial, or heavy civil construction projects is preferred.
- Engineer Intern or Engineer-in-Training certification is required.
- Professional Engineer licensure is preferred.
- Ability and willingness to pursue professional licensure within an appropriate timeframe.
- A High-Strain Dynamic Pile Testing Proficiency Certificate at the Intermediate level or higher through an applicable industry-recognized program is strongly preferred.
- Applicable safety training, including OSHA construction safety certification, is preferred.
- Proficiency with CAPWAP, GRLWEAP, and Pile Driving Analyzer software.
- Understanding of wave mechanics, stress-wave propagation, soil mechanics, foundation engineering, and pile-driving dynamics.
- Knowledge of driven pile design, pile setup, relaxation, drivability, structural stresses, and resistance determination.
- Familiarity with LRFD principles for deep foundation design and construction acceptance.
- Familiarity with applicable AASHTO, ASTM, FHWA, DOT, and project-specific testing requirements.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Word, and related engineering documentation tools.
- Experience with geotechnical analysis, data-management, or instrumentation software is beneficial.
- Ability to work outdoors in variable weather conditions.
- Ability to work safely on active construction sites, including highway, bridge, rail, marine, and industrial sites.
- Ability to work around pile-driving equipment, cranes, drilling equipment, heavy machinery, and high-noise operations.
- Ability to carry, install, and operate field-testing equipment.
- Ability to climb, bend, kneel, stand, and walk over uneven terrain as required for field assignments.
- Willingness to work outside normal business hours when pile-driving schedules or restrike testing require early-morning, nighttime, or weekend work.
- Willingness to travel regionally, occasionally requiring overnight stays.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to collaborate effectively with engineers, contractors, inspectors, crane operators, pile-driving crews, and project managers.
- Ability to make timely field decisions while maintaining professional and technical standards.
- Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple assignments.
- Commitment to workplace safety, engineering ethics, quality assurance, and continuous improvement.
- Ability to work independently in the field while remaining connected with the project and engineering teams.