Geotechnical/Structural Engineer

Role Summary
AIL is seeking a Geotechnical/Structural Engineer to lead the design and delivery of complex, higher-risk geostructural projects for Canadian and international markets. Reporting to the Engineering Manager and supported by Technical Leads, this role focuses on buried bridges, retaining walls and abutments, sound barrier walls, and related infrastructure applications.

This technical role is ideal for an engineer with strong structural and geotechnical judgment, including soil-structure interaction experience, who can guide projects from inquiry through design, fabrication, and construction. The successful candidate will help manage technical risk, solve complex field and fabrication issues, mentor engineers and designers, and contribute to AIL’s culture of collaboration, curiosity, resilience, leadership, and accountability.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Leadership and Design

• Lead the design of higher-risk geostructural projects, providing technical direction, design oversight, and engineering judgment throughout the project lifecycle.
• Apply soil-structure interaction principles and select appropriate analysis methods, from established design equations to refined numerical analysis.
• Deliver designs that are code-compliant, constructible, cost-conscious, and aligned with project requirements.
• Review and validate assumptions, inputs, modelling approaches, calculations, and design outputs.

Risk Management and Issue Resolution

• Identify technical risks early and document key assumptions, decisions, constraints, and design limits.
• Resolve complex technical issues during inquiry, design, fabrication, and construction stages.
• Work cross-functionally with Engineering, Technical Sales, Production, and project stakeholders to close technical gaps quickly and responsibly.
• Support practical, field-ready solutions that balance safety, performance, constructability, schedule, and cost.

Standards, Methods, and Continuous Improvement

• Own and maintain standard analysis and design methods for a major product line or application area.
• Lead initiatives that improve engineering quality and departmental performance, including rework reduction, NCR reduction, cycle-time improvement, design standardization, and workflow efficiency.
• Identify and lead project value-add opportunities, including cost optimization, constructability improvements, schedule support, and performance enhancements.

Research and Development

• Lead moderate- and high-risk R&D initiatives related to geostructural products, analysis methods, design tools, standards, or applications.
• Drive validation, documentation, implementation, and training so new methods can be used consistently across the team.

Mentorship and Collaboration

• Mentor engineers and designers through coaching, technical reviews, and capability development.
• Support a strong technical culture by sharing knowledge, asking strong questions, and helping others build sound engineering judgment.
• Communicate clearly with internal teams, external clients, consultants, and other stakeholders.

Industry Participation

• Participate in relevant industry forums and bring back learnings that improve AIL’s practices.
• Help educate the marketplace through technical participation, presentations, papers, or other industry-facing contributions.
• Participate in national standards development where appropriate to support product integration and mitigate performance risk.

Required Qualifications

• Licensed Professional Engineer, P.Eng.
• Active OIQ licence, or ability to meet OIQ requirements, including passing the OQLF language exam if required.
• Degree in engineering with strong knowledge of structural and geotechnical engineering.
• 7+ years of engineering experience, including exposure to soil-structure interaction.
• Experience with refined analysis or finite element methods in geotechnical and/or structural engineering.
• Strong technical judgment, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead technical work, manage priorities, and support multiple project demands.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with Technical Sales, internal engineering teams, clients, and external stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a relevant field, especially with a focus on soil-structure interaction, structural engineering, or geotechnical engineering.
• Experience with PLAXIS or equivalent finite element analysis tools.
• Bilingual communication skills in English and French.

Why This Role Matters
This role is central to the successful delivery of AIL’s most technically complex geostructural work. The Senior Geostructural Engineer helps ensure projects are safe, practical, efficient, and well-supported from concept through construction, while also strengthening the tools, standards, and technical capability of the broader engineering team.