Associate Geological Specialist

Description

GAI Consultants, Inc. is seeking an Associate Geological Specialist under the direction of an Engineering Geology Manager for the Geotechnical Engineering Group in Pittsburgh or Philadelphia, PA, Canton, OH, Bridgeport or Charleston, WV, and Richmond, VA areas. This individual will provide geological support for projects in the Energy, Transportation, and Community Development business units. The position will require travel and fieldwork generally located in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Virginia.

This position is eligible for a sign‑on bonus. This position requires travel regionally.

• Perform engineering geology assignments involving subsurface investigations and geologic site characterization for a variety of facilities including, but not limited to: design of embankments and cut slopes for roadways and other developments, foundations for roadways, bridges, dams, retaining walls, transmission lines, buildings, and other structures; designs for natural gas pipelines and compressor stations; design of waste landfills and impoundments; and development of geotechnical monitoring and laboratory testing programs.
  
  Typical work tasks will include, but are not limited to: monitoring and logging of test borings; site reconnaissance; installation and monitoring of geotechnical field instrumentation; selection of samples for laboratory testing.
• Perform earthwork construction monitoring and foundation inspection. The individual will be responsible for interpreting specifications and construction drawings, evaluating site conditions based on construction excavations, monitoring and reporting on construction activities, and performing field testing of soils.
• Prepare boring logs and geologic cross sections; assist with proposals, budgets, schedules, specifications, and reports.
• Assist with geotechnical engineering designs involving rock/soil slope stability; cut slope and fill embankment design; shallow and deep foundation recommendations, and landslide remediation.
• Travel can be expected in the form of fieldwork, which can be daily local travel or weekly out‑of‑town travel.

• Attention to detail; ability to acquire basic skills for geological/geotechnical investigations and construction monitoring; follows GAI procedures; learns record‑keeping protocols, learns data collection, recording and interpretation; learns technical literature research basics; available for frequent travel and fieldwork.

• Ability to work in outdoor environments under varying weather conditions, including extreme heat, cold, rain, and rugged terrain. Exposure to active construction sites.
• Capable of walking, hiking, or standing for extended periods during field and site visits.
• Must be able to lift and carry tools, equipment, technical samples, documents, and other materials weighing up to 40–50 pounds.
• Frequent bending, crouching, and climbing may be required during fieldwork and sample collection.
• Ability to safely operate and wear personal protective equipment (PPE), such as helmets, safety glasses, gloves, hearing protection, and boots as required by site safety protocols.
• Visual acuity and manual dexterity to handle technical tools, read maps and instruments, observe site conditions, and document findings accurately.
• Comfortable working in remote or isolated locations, sometimes for extended durations.
• Comfortable working in confined spaces and/or at heights, as required by specific project sites.
• May require driving long distances to field sites and operating vehicles on unpaved or uneven roads.

• 0+ Years of Experience

• B.S. or M.S. in Geology or Engineering Geology

• Valid Driver’s License (with no significant motor vehicle record blemishes).
• Working towards Geologist In Training (GIT).
• Has the ability to obtain Professional Geologist (PG) license.

• Field tasks include collecting geotechnical and environmental samples (soil, sediment, groundwater, soil vapor, stormwater), logging soil borings, installing monitoring wells, performing site inspections, performing compliance monitoring during…