Geotechnical Engineer, Data Center Design
Location: Austin TX / New York NY / San Francisco CA / Seattle WA (hybrid)
Salary: $200,000 to $250,000 per year, plus equity
Type: Full-time
The role
One of the most active hyperscale data center developers in the US is hiring a Geotechnical Engineer to own the subsurface workstream across a multi-site, multi-state campus portfolio. This is an owner/developer position. You will be making the foundation and ground improvement calls on difficult sites, directing external geotechnical consultants, and catching fatal flaws before they reach signing or schedule.
The pipeline is measured in gigawatts. The pace is real. If you have owned geotechnical engineering on large-scale site development and want to do it at a scale very few engineers will ever see, this is worth a conversation.
What you will be doing
- Own the geotechnical workstream from early site screening through foundation design and construction support across a growing multi-site portfolio
- Scope and direct subsurface investigation programmes: write geotechnical RFPs, manage boring and CPT campaigns and lab testing, and drive external consultants from scope through final report
- Interpret subsurface data into design parameters and assign foundation systems working directly with Structural on bearing capacity, settlement, expansive and collapsible soils, liquefaction, seismic site class, shallow versus deep foundations, and ground improvement
- Set site earthwork and grading strategy with Civil covering cut and fill balance, deep-fill and differential-settlement risk, and the call between regrade, preload, and ground improvement
- Run geotechnical fatal-flaw screening during site selection and due diligence, catching karst, mine subsidence, abandoned wells, uncontrolled fill, high groundwater, and expansive clay before they reach signing
- Coordinate with Environmental on groundwater, contamination, and Phase II findings that drive subsurface and foundation decisions
- Manage geotechnical deliverables to protect IFC and construction dates
What we need from you
Proven experience owning geotechnical engineering on large-scale site development, scoping boring programmes and turning subsurface data into foundation design parameters
Demonstrated ability to make the foundation and ground improvement call on difficult sites including deep fill, expansive clay, high groundwater, and liquefaction
Experience directing external geotechnical consultants and labs from RFP through final report
Ability to screen sites for fatal flaws during due diligence and challenge consultant recommendations rather than rubber-stamp them
Comfortable working shoulder to shoulder with structural, civil, and environmental engineers
Good to have
- PE or GE license, or active pursuit
- Data center, industrial, or heavy-civil site development background
- Deep foundation and ground improvement design experience
- Seismic site response
- Multi-state experience
Compensation and benefits
$200,000 to $250,000 per year DOE, plus equity
Health, dental, and vision insurance
Retirement plan
Generous PTO
For more information please contact: matthew.holden@clear-er.com
I place across the full range of data center design, development, and construction roles. If this one is not the right fit but you work in this space, message me directly.
