Geotechnical Operations Engineer

Wake County, North Carolina, United States

Jul 29, 2026

$63,927 - $111,871/year

Agency

Dept of Transportation

Division

State Hwy Administrator - Div of Hwys

Job Classification Title

Position Number

Grade

NC18

About Us

It’s the mission of the NC Department of Transportation to connect people, products and places safely and efficiently with customer focus, accountability, and environmental sensitivity to enhance the economy and vitality of North Carolina. We encourage you to consider joining NCDOT where our work not only serves the citizens of North Carolina but has an impact on our world through all modes of transportation.

Description of Work

Please note that all positions close at 12:00 AM on the posted closing date. You must apply by 11:59 PM prior to the posted closing date.

This is a repost. Previous applicants must reapply to be considered.

The Eastern Operations Section of the Geotechnical Engineering Unit supports Highway Divisions 1 - 7 with project construction and maintenance activities. We are seeking a Geotechnical Engineer with a strong interest in infrastructure construction to join our team.

In this role you will:

• perform analysis and develop recommendations for temporary shoring, retaining walls, slope stability, settlement, surcharges, axial pile capacity, lateral pile capacity, shallow foundations, undercut, soil improvement, groundwater mitigation, and other geotechnical design aspects related to road and bridge construction.
• assist in managing, reviewing, and evaluating contractor and consultant submittals.
• interpret subsurface conditions in the region and apply that knowledge to roadway and bridge construction and maintenance.
• use engineering judgment and available resources to solve geotechnical problems that arise during construction and maintenance activities.
• prepare clear recommendations and communicate findings to stakeholders.
• develop construction details and provisions to implement geotechnical recommendations.
• conduct site visits to observe existing conditions, foundation construction, vibration monitoring, blasting, and field instrumentation.
• review consultant analyses and recommendations for accuracy, constructability, and feasibility.
• represent the unit at technical meetings and contribute to decisions affecting geotechnical design on alternative delivery, construction and maintenance projects.
• work semi-independently in a mix of field and office environments.
• travel overnight occasionally.

Applicant must be able to legally operate a State-owned vehicle to visit sites.

Knowledge

Skills and Abilities

/Management Preferences

Salary Grade and Salary Range: NC18 $ 63,927-$111,871

Management prefers applicants with the following:

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of geotechnical engineering to resolve geotechnical challenges related to foundations, vibration, slope stability, walls, roadway subgrades, soft soils, and settlement.
• Experience performing geotechnical analysis using engineering software and spreadsheets.
• Demonstrated ability speaking and writing clearly and concisely to convey engineering design intent and contract plan details.
• Demonstrated ability reviewing work done by others in accordance with applicable codes, design manuals, policy, and procedures (including Contractor submittals pertaining to MSE walls, soil nail walls, soldier pile walls, overhead and cantilevered sign foundations, sound wall foundations, temporary shoring/walls, hammer driving systems, drilled pier installation, pile driving criteria, dynamic pile testing, cross-hole sonic logging, and specialized geotechnical instrumentation).

Minimum Education and Experience

Some state job postings say you can qualify by an “equivalent combination of education and experience.” If that language appears below, then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience, OR a combination of both. See the Education and Experience Equivalency Guide for details.

Bachelor’s degree in an applicable field of engineering from an appropriately accredited institution and three (3) years of progressively responsible experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Necessary…