Geotechnical Staff Engineer

Overview

At UES, we’re a team of more than 4,000 engineers, scientists, geologists, inspectors, technicians, and drillers united by a shared purpose - to make a meaningful impact in the communities we serve. As a national leader in geotechnical engineering, environmental consulting, and materials testing and inspection, we collaborate on transformative projects across transportation, energy, water, healthcare, and more. Learn more about the benefits of joining Team UES and our core values at careers.teamues.com.

Position Overview

Start Your Engineering Career with UES! Are you a recent Civil Engineering graduate or early-career engineer looking for an opportunity to get out from behind a desk, gain hands-on experience, and build a strong foundation in geotechnical engineering?

At UES, we're looking for a motivated Geotechnical Staff Engineer to join our St. Louis team.

This isn't a position where you'll spend every day behind a computer. You'll have the opportunity to work in the field, investigate subsurface conditions, collaborate with experienced engineers, and contribute to projects that shape the infrastructure around us.

Whether you're graduating soon, recently earned your degree, or have a few years of experience, we want to hear from you!

What Makes This Opportunity Different? Real Field Experience Get involved in the work that happens before construction begins. You'll help investigate what's beneath the surface and understand how subsurface conditions influence engineering decisions.

Learn from Experienced Professionals Work alongside engineers and project managers who can help you develop your technical knowledge and professional judgment.

A Path for Professional Growth Build the practical experience and technical foundation that can support your development toward EIT, PE licensure, and future project engineering or project management responsibilities.

Variety in Your Work From field investigations and laboratory coordination to engineering analysis and technical reporting, no two projects are exactly alike.

Be Part of a Larger Engineering Team Join UES and collaborate with professionals across geotechnical engineering, environmental services, construction materials testing, and other technical disciplines.

Responsibilities

What You'll Be Doing As a Geotechnical Staff Engineer, you'll gain exposure to both field and office engineering responsibilities while working alongside experienced engineers and project managers.

• Get hands-on in the field: Assist with geotechnical investigations, soil and rock sampling, borehole logging, and field testing.
• Analyze real-world data: Evaluate soil and rock conditions, review laboratory results, and help develop engineering recommendations.
• Contribute to engineering reports: Assist with preparing geotechnical reports, technical documentation, figures, and project recommendations.
• Work alongside experienced engineers: Collaborate with project managers, geotechnical engineers, and multidisciplinary teams.
• Support construction and infrastructure projects: Participate in investigations that inform foundation design, site development, and other engineering decisions.
• Build your technical skills: Gain experience with geotechnical software, engineering calculations, and field and laboratory testing procedures.
• Learn project management fundamentals: Assist with project coordination, cost estimates, proposals, scheduling, and quality control.
• Prioritize safety and quality: Follow established safety procedures and help ensure accurate, reliable project deliverables.

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Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Geological Engineering, Geology, or a related field.
• 0–3 years of relevant experience in geotechnical engineering, field investigations, or construction materials testing (internship or co-op experience welcomed).
• Engineering-in-Training (EIT) certification preferred or ability to obtain within a reasonable timeframe.
• Familiarity with geotechnical concepts, laboratory and field testing methods, and soil/rock behavior.
• Exposure to engineering software such as AutoCAD, Civil 3D, or geotechnical tools (e.g., PLAXIS, GeoStudio, LPILE) is a plus.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for documenting findings and working with project teams.
• Basic understanding of construction methods, site safety, and environmental regulations is helpful.
• Strong analytical and organizational skills with attention to detail.
• Willingness to work in both field and office environments and travel to project sites as needed.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team and demonstrate a proactive, collaborative mindset.

Preferred Qualifications

Bonus points if you have experience with:

• Geotechnical or construction materials testing internships.
• Soil sampling, drilling operations, or subsurface investigations.
• AutoCAD, Civil 3D, PLAXIS, GeoStudio, LPILE, or similar engineering software.
• Technical report writing or engineering data analysis.

Don't have all of this experience yet? That's okay. We're looking for someone with a strong engineering foundation, curiosity, and the motivation to develop their skills.

Travel Requirements

• This position requires extensive travel, approximately up to 70% of the time, in support of business objectives and client engagements. Travel may be both scheduled and on short notice, depending on project needs. Destinations typically include job sites, field locations, or regional offices, where work may be conducted in outdoor or operational environments. Adherence to all company safety protocols and use of PPE is required during travel and on-site work.

Physical Demands & Work Environment

• Work is primarily conducted outdoors with exposure to outdoor conditions, including:
• Sites that may not be accessible by vehicle, requiring travel on foot through wetlands, swamps, grasslands, construction zones, and other uneven or rugged terrain with natural and man-made obstacles such as sand, brush, and debris.
• Moderate to loud noise levels due to lab equipment, field operations, and construction environments.
• Exposure to dirt, dust, chemicals, sun, heat, humidity, and varying weather conditions as part of field sample collection and testing.
• Physical requirements include:
• Ability to lift and carry between 35 and 75 lbs. over distances up to 75 feet, involving regular repetitive motion.
• Ability to stand, walk, drive, and operate laboratory and field equipment for extended periods.
• Ability to bend, twist, reach, stoop, pull, kneel, climb, balance, lift, carry, and push as required for laboratory and fieldwork.
• Ability to use your senses to see (including close, distant, and peripheral vison, depth vision, and ability to focus) smell, hear, touch (use hands to reach climb or balance, crouch, stoop, crawl, kneel and sit).
• Ability to communicate effectively through verbal and written means in a lab and field environment, often requiring the use of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment).

EEO Statement

UES is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is proud to recruit the most qualified candidates. Please see our full EEO Statement at the bottom of the page here