Intermediate Geotechnical Engineer

About McElhanney

Based in Western Canada for over 110 years, McElhanney offers innovative and practical engineering, surveying, mapping, planning, landscape architecture, and environmental services. As a 100% employee-owned and operated firm, with over 1,500 staff members in 31 locations, we are proud to offer qualified staff with shareholding options in our company. At McElhanney, we work in teams to build strong connections with our staff, clients, and local communities. Our employees enjoy working here because of our varied projects, high levels of autonomy, opportunities for career development, excellent total compensation and benefits package, and collaborating with a team of great professionals.

The Opportunity

Looking for more variety in your geotechnical work, more ownership of your projects, and the opportunity to work with a multidisciplinary team?

McElhanney is looking for an Intermediate Geotechnical Engineer to join our growing Cranbrook team.

Located in the heart of the East Kootenay, our Cranbrook office is a multidisciplinary team supporting clients and communities throughout the Kootenay region. You’ll work alongside professionals in engineering, municipal infrastructure, land development, structural engineering, survey/geomatics, and geotechnical services, while also collaborating with McElhanney teams across Western Canada.

This is an opportunity to apply your existing technical experience while continuing to build your project management, client relationship, and consulting skills. You’ll have opportunities to contribute to technical decisions, work directly with clients and contractors, support junior team members, and progressively take on greater ownership of projects.

If you enjoy solving practical geotechnical challenges and want to build your career in a team where your work has a direct connection to the communities and projects around you, we’d like to hear from you.

The successful candidate will be based in Cranbrook, BC. Relocation assistance is available for candidates who are open to relocating to Cranbrook.

This role is designated as a safety-sensitive position.

The Projects

Our Cranbrook team works on a diverse range of projects across the Kootenay and East Kootenay regions, including:

• Transportation and highway infrastructure

• Municipal infrastructure and land development

• Resource and industrial projects

• Foundation and earthworks design

• Slope stability, geohazard, and terrain assessments

• Construction support and field services

You’ll work on projects that bring a mix of technical challenges, varied site conditions, and opportunities to see your work through from investigation and design to construction.

McElhanney’s regional work includes projects such as the Highway 3 Bridge Replacements at Big Sand Creek & Jaffray Overhead and the Cold Spring Creek Debris Flow Mitigation project in Fairmont Hot Springs, demonstrating the range of transportation, infrastructure, and geohazard work undertaken in the region.

What You’ll Be Doing

As a Technical Professional, you will:

• Work on a variety of geotechnical projects across transportation, municipal infrastructure, land development, oil and gas, and other resource sectors.

• Support geotechnical investigations from planning and fieldwork through analysis, design, reporting, and construction support.

• Perform geotechnical analysis and design related to foundations, slopes, utilities, roadways, terrain conditions, and other site-specific challenges.

• Coordinate and participate in field programs, including drilling, sampling, site investigations, construction inspections, and geotechnical monitoring.

• Prepare clear, practical geotechnical reports, recommendations, and technical documentation.

• Use geotechnical engineering software and modelling tools to support analysis and design.

• Work directly with clients, contractors, and other consultants to understand project needs and provide practical technical solutions.

• Collaborate with engineering, surveying, environmental, planning, and other technical teams to deliver integrated project solutions.

• Support project coordination, including scopes, schedules, budgets, and fee estimates, with guidance from senior team members.

• Apply sound engineering judgment and contribute to quality control, risk management, and safe project delivery.

• Provide technical guidance and support to junior team members while continuing to develop your own technical and consulting skills.

As you grow in the role, you will:

• Take increasing ownership of technical assignments and project deliverables.

• Build your experience with client communication, project coordination, and project management.

• Participate in proposals and business development activities alongside experienced team members.

• Develop your ability to manage projects from initial investigation through to design and construction.

• Build relationships with clients, contractors, and other project stakeholders throughout the Kootenay region.

• Continue developing your technical and leadership skills within McElhanney’s Cranbrook team and broader Western Canadian geotechnical network.

What You’ll Bring

• University degree in Geotechnical, Geological, or Civil Engineering, with a geotechnical emphasis.

• 5-15 years of progressive experience in relevant geotechnical engineering and consulting.

• Experience with:

  • Geotechnical engineering analysis, design, and consulting.

  • Geotechnical investigations, field programs, and technical reporting.

  • Foundation engineering and/or piling analysis and design.

  • Seismic engineering and modelling is an asset.

  • Slope stability and geohazard assessments are an asset.

  • Computer modelling programs used to develop designs; knowledge of Rocscience, GeoStudio, and AutoCAD is an asset.

• Registered as a P.Eng. in British Columbia and/or Alberta.

• Strong technical, oral, and written communication skills.

• Strong project management skills, including budgeting and project financial monitoring.

• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with multidisciplinary teams in various locations.

• A curious, collaborative, and solutions-focused approach to technical challenges.

What Can We Offer You?

The salary range for this position is $105,000 to $145,000 per annum. McElhanney offers fair compensation that is commensurate with the individual’s education, experience, skills, and professional qualifications. The posted base salary/wage range is representative of the required level of qualifications and experience for the position as noted in the job posting. The salary offered will be based on the experience and qualifications of the successful candidate.

In addition to a competitive salary, we also offer:

• Flexible Work: Flexible work hours and arrangements to help you balance your work and personal life.

• Compensation & Ownership: Competitive salary, generous performance bonus plan, and the opportunity to participate in McElhanney’s employee share ownership program.

• Health & Wellness: Extended health and dental coverage, healthcare spending account, and RRSP matching.

• Family Support: Maternity leave top-up, parental leave, and an Employee & Family Assistance Program with 24/7 support.

• Professional Growth: Professional development reimbursement, mentorship, and ongoing opportunities to expand your technical and leadership skills.

• Relocation Assistance: Financial assistance is available for relocation, as applicable.

• Culture & Community: Be part of a respectful, inclusive, and collaborative workplace where people are encouraged to contribute and grow.

• Career Opportunities: Build your career within a multidisciplinary organization with opportunities to work across different projects, teams, and locations.

Our Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

At McElhanney, our unwavering commitment lies in cultivating a culture that aligns with our core values and fosters diversity, equity, and inclusion. We celebrate the collective achievements of a team rich in expertise, experiences, and perspectives, and welcome applications from individuals of diverse ethnicities, religions, backgrounds, genders, sexual orientations, gender identities, aboriginal statuses, various age groups, and those with disabilities. Requests for accommodations can be made at any stage of the selection process. If this job description resonates with you, we encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet all of the requirements outlined. We’re interested in getting to know you and explore the unique contributions you can bring to McElhanney!

If this is the opportunity for you, apply now or visit www.mcelhanney.com/careers to learn more. We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Learn more about our recognition here: McElhanney Requalifies as a Gold Standard Best Managed Company!

Visit us on Glassdoor to learn more about our employee experience.

Our Purpose: Amaze our clients. Care for our communities. Empower our people.

McElhanney is aware of activities where individuals have received fraudulent job offers. Please be advised that McElhanney will not ask applicants for any form of monetary exchange at any point in the recruitment process. To learn more visit: www.mcelhanney.com/careers/fraud-warning. The disclosure of your information in accordance with this Policy and applicable law, including to third party service providers may result in your personal information being transferred outside of Canada, including to the United States. Such transferred personal information may be subject to the laws of these other countries and the laws of other countries regarding the collection, use, and disclosure of personal information may be different from the laws of Canada.