Field Geotechnical Engineer

Talascend is currently seeking a Field Geotechnical Engineer for a contract opportunity located in Port Arthur, TX.

Overview: 

This role is primarily field-based; the majority of the work involves on-site supervision of pile installation and testing, ground improvement (including prefabricated vertical/wick drains and surcharge), geotechnical instrumentation and settlement monitoring, and earthwork and backfill quality control. The position is part of the Geotechnical & Hydraulic Engineering Services (G&HES) group. The successful candidate will report to and receive technical supervision and functional oversight from the G&HES Group Supervisor / Geotechnical Engineering Manager or their designee, and is expected to work independently in the field while coordinating closely with Construction, CSAOM, ES&H, piling and marine subcontractors, the site-investigation contractor, and the project management team. The role is site-based at the Port Arthur LNG project for an extended duration, with potential transition to another project or permanent office thereafter, and may require travel to other client sites and client offices within the U.S. Excellent verbal and written communication skills and a commitment to diversity & inclusion, leadership, quality, and safety values are required.

Responsibilities:
This field-based role provides on-site engineering support and supervision for geotechnical construction on the Port Arthur LNG project, in accordance with applicable procedures, codes, standards, and contract requirements. Specific tasks will include (but are not limited to):

• Site Investigation & Geotechnical Instrumentation:
  • Coordinate and oversee field investigation and in-situ testing performed by the geotechnical site-investigation contractor — soil borings, cone penetration tests (CPT/CPTu), and sampling — and review the resulting data.
  • Install, monitor, and interpret geotechnical instrumentation — settlement plates/gauges, piezometers, and inclinometers — and maintain settlement-monitoring records for construction control.
• Deep Foundations Works:
  • Provide on-site supervision of driven-pile installation (steel pipe and H-piles), verifying pile location, alignment, plumbness, embedment, and driving criteria against approved drawings and specifications.
  • Witness dynamic pile testing (PDA/CAPWAP) and static load tests, verify driveability against wave-equation criteria (e.g., GRLWEAP), and review pile driving records for capacity and refusal.
  • Support installation of steel sheet piles and helical piles where used, including verification of tolerances and installation records.
• Ground Improvement & Settlement Mitigation:
  • Provide on-site supervision of ground improvement of compressible soils — prefabricated vertical (wick) drains, surcharge/preload placement, and soil stabilization (cement/lime treatment) — and verify installation against specification.
  • Monitor consolidation and settlement during surcharge, interpret instrumentation trends, and coordinate surcharge-removal timing with home-office engineering.
• Earthwork, Underground Utilities & Site Civil:
  • Inspect and approve subgrade preparation, structural fill placement, moisture conditioning, lift thickness, and compaction, including proof-rolling of exposed subgrade.
  • Oversee excavation, bedding, and backfill compaction for underground utilities (including gravity sewers), and coordinate dewatering and excavation support as required.
  • Review field and laboratory test results (density, gradation, moisture) and coordinate remediation of non-conforming areas with engineering and Construction.
• General Field Engineering:
  • Identify construction issues or deviations early and coordinate corrective actions with Construction, subcontractors, and home-office engineering.
  • Maintain field documentation, including daily reports, inspection records, nonconformance reports (NCRs), and quality records.
  • Prepare daily geotechnical reports documenting field observations, testing results, and instrumentation readings for construction quality control and project documentation.
  • Ensure all construction activities are carried out in full accordance with project specifications, engineering drawings, and applicable codes, standards, and regulations.

Requirements:

• An M.S. degree in Geotechnical Engineering from an accredited university with a minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience, or a Ph.D. in Geotechnical Engineering with a minimum of 3 years of relevant work experience. Engineer-in-Training (EIT) certification.
• Demonstrated field experience supporting or supervising deep foundation (driven pile) construction and ground improvement of soft/compressible soils.
• Field experience with pile driving observation and testing (PDA/CAPWAP and/or static load tests) and pile driveability evaluation.
• Working knowledge of ground improvement (prefabricated vertical/wick drains, surcharge/preloading, and soil stabilization), geotechnical instrumentation, and settlement monitoring.
• Knowledge of foundation construction quality control, load testing, and field documentation (daily reports, NCRs).
• Familiarity with earthwork, subgrade preparation, compaction control, and underground-utility backfill, together with the associated field and laboratory testing.
• Ability to read and interpret geotechnical drawings and specifications; familiarity with soil characterization for soft-ground / Gulf Coast conditions.
• Familiarity with geotechnical software such as gINT, GRLWEAP, LPILE, APILE, Settle3, and SLOPE/W, as well as Microsoft Office programs.
• Strong coordination and communication skills (verbal and written), with the ability to work effectively in an active construction environment.
• Willing and able to travel to and remain at the Port Arthur LNG jobsite in Texas, and other jobsites in the U.S., on short- and long-term assignments.
• Authorized to work legally in the U.S. without sponsorship.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Professional Engineer (PE) registration, or demonstrable progress toward PE.
• Experience on large LNG, energy, petrochemical, or heavy-industrial projects, preferably on the U.S. Gulf Coast.
• Prior involvement in driven-pile or marine-piling programs and dynamic/static load testing.
• Hands-on experience with soft-ground improvement (wick drains, surcharge/preloading) and geotechnical instrumentation / settlement monitoring.
• Experience adhering to established procedures in compliance with quality assurance protocols and occupational health and safety standards.