Geotechnical Engineer

Interior Dams is a small fast-growing specialized engineering firm located in Lake Country, BC. We are seeking a person to join our team that can fulfill the role of Intermediate Geotechnical Engineer. The successful applicant will be working on a wide variety of dam-related geotechnical work ranging from site investigation/characterization to stability analysis to remedial design. You will report to and be supported by the lead geotechnical engineer in the firm and will be supported by various in-house specializations (engineers) and world class third party reviewers who will provide necessary input and support to your role.

Compensation:

Starting rate of $40-50/hr (starting rate is negotiable and will depend entirely on education, experience, capabilities, etc). Vehicle and travel allowance provided. Company benefit plans are available. Opportunity for early wage reviews, promotions, and raises.

Place and time of work:

At home, in-office/remote, in-field, and possibly in-laboratory (the professional services office is located in downtown Lake Country, BC, the geotechnical laboratory is located in Lake Country, BC near Carrs Landing, BC). In general, you will be able to set your own work schedule.

More about Interior Dams:

Interior Dams Incorporated is a growing, employee-owned engineering company that specializes in dam safety, dike management, hazard mitigation (flood, mud/debris flows, etcetera) and water resources. Presently, our team consists of seven staff members (6 full-time engineers, one technologist, and one part-time admin staff) and an established network of specialized professionals who provide niche expert services in various disciplines. Our firm provides the highest level of service. As a result, almost all of our clients are repeat clients. Our clientele consists mostly of Federal, Provincial, First Nation, municipal, and district dam and dike owners; however, our firm also provides niche specialized services to private industry, including mines, and ranches.

We welcome anyone to apply who meets the below criteria and believes this role fits your life and career goals. Please review the information below to assess your qualifications for this job listing:

Job role and responsibilities:

The role will be approximately 60-80% in the office (including home office) and 20-40% in the field. You will be required to complete the following tasks:

• Plan and conduct geotechnical site investigations, including field testing and soil sampling through supervision and monitoring of boreholes, in situ tests, piezocone soundings, test pitting, and instrumentation installation;
• Assess and evaluate geotechnical issues such as slope stability, internal erosion susceptibility, settlement, liquefaction potential, slope stabilization, excavation and backfilling procedures, etc.;
• Participate in Dam Safety Reviews in accordance with the Canadian Dam Association Guidelines;
• Complete formal annual inspections of dikes and dams ranging from Low to Extreme Consequence;
• Support miscellaneous construction work such as soil embankment construction, soil compaction assessment, installation of geosynthetics, and general construction supervision;
• Conduct resident engineering (field engineering under direct supervision);
• Be willing to conduct in-field geotechnical testing as may be required and be able to support or conduct quality assurance/control work (may require setup of a temporary on-site geotechnical testing facility);
• Be willing to conduct field surveys, inspections, and general data collection (training will be provided to learn how to conduct CCTV pipe inspections, drone surveys, bathymetric data surveys, underwater ROV operations, etc.);
• Provide other general engineering work that may be related to the work above.

Requirements:

• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in civil/geotechnical engineering or geological science;
• Strong technical and analytical skills;
• Eligible to be registered as a Professional Engineer with EGBC;
• A minimum of four (4) years of relevant experience as a Geotechnical Engineer, Geomechanics Engineer, or related position;
• Knowledge of standard geotechnical software such as GeoStudio, Rocscience, or other similar software suites;
• Knowledge of common soil laboratory and field testing testing procedures;
• Ability to work on multiple projects concurrently;
• Must have demonstrated on-site civil construction or resident engineering (field review) experience;
• Be willing to travel and work on-site (typically up to 5 days per month in the summer and possibly more in the fall, all other days in the office, lab or at home);
• Be physically capable and able to hike or carry equipment as may be required;
• Have strong communication skills and be comfortable/able to liaison with clients, contractors, and local, provincial, and federal government;
• Have a BC Class 5 driver’s license and a vehicle

Preference for:

• Someone who is seeking to establish a long-term career in our fast-growing company
• Hydrological/hydrotechnical background
• Familiarity with CDA, ICOLD, USDSO, USACE, FERC, etc. guidelines
• Familiarity with the BC Dam Safety Regulation and the BC 
• Knowledge of Water Sustainability Act, experience with instream projects
• Experience with survey equipment, drones, bathymetric surveys, LiDAR, and photogrammetry
• Experience with QGIS and Civil3D
• Mechanically inclined
• Be able to self-teach from textbooks, online resources, technical bulletins, etcetera

Our philosophy:

Our office is different. Interior Dams believes that “life should not serve our work; rather, work should serve our life.” What this means is that work should be flexible to support the life and lifestyle we want to live. As such, the members of Interior Dams encourage flexibility with responsibility. This means that you are able to select your own schedule provided that all your responsibilities are met (for example, if there is no scheduled field construction or office meetings that conflict, you can trade your Tuesday for a Sunday so you can hit the slopes on a “powder day,” or you could decide to work four 10-hour days so you can plan a three-day weekend getaway). In the same way that Interior Dams prioritizes life and lifestyle choices, Interior Dams believes that work is a healthy part of life. We believe it is important that all members of the Interior Dams team are able to find joy, accomplishment, and satisfaction in their work. This requires self-motivation, time-management skills, accountability, and a genuine interest in the work you do.

What kind of work do we do:

Project work typically consists of a mix of fieldwork and in-office/in-lab work for most of the summer, with desktop work in the winter and early spring. Fall is typically our busiest field season, with several construction projects on the go between August and November. Spring often consists of some emergency work and a mixed bag of project start-ups and winter project wrap-ups.

Please understand:

Only a small number of applicants will be selected for interviews or follow-ups. Should you inquire or apply, we thank you in advance for your patience and your consideration of our posting. If we do not respond to your inquiry or application, we wish you the best in whatever endeavors you may pursue