Principal Geotechnical Engineer
Senior geotechnical leader anchoring and growing our Vancouver and Calgary offices
LOCATION Vancouver, BC or Calgary, AB
REPORTS TO Chief Technical Officer
TYPE Full-time · Principal / Senior leadership
About the opportunity
PRI is seeking a Principal Geotechnical Engineer to anchor and grow either our Vancouver or Calgary office. This is a senior leadership role for an established geotechnical engineer with a strong market reputation, deep client relationships, and a track record of leading a regional office or practice. You will be the senior face of PRI's geotechnical work in the Vancouver or Calgary markets, combining senior technical authority with client leadership and business development to build the office and its client base.
This is a role for someone who has already done it: run an office or a regional practice, carried client relationships that generate repeat work, and earned the kind of reputation that clients follow. You will bring and grow relationships, win and lead significant geotechnical work, provide senior technical direction and professional oversight on the region's most important projects, and build and mentor the Vancouver or Calgary geotechnical teams. It is equal parts commercial leadership, technical authority, and office building.
PRI is a national multidisciplinary engineering and natural sciences firm, and Geotechnical is our largest and most established practice, supported by in-house materials-testing laboratories. The Vancouver and Calgary office serves developers, public agencies and municipalities, infrastructure and transportation owners, and industrial and resource clients. This role reports to the CTO and works in close partnership with the firm's Geotechnical Practice Lead on technical standards and with the firm's commercial leaders on sector growth.
What you'll own
Client relationships and business development
- Bring, hold, and grow senior client relationships in the Vancouver/Lower Mainland or Calgary geotechnical market, generating repeat work over time.
-
Lead business development for the office, identifying and winning significant geotechnical pursuits and opening new clients and markets.
-
Serve as the senior, trusted geotechnical advisor to key clients, and represent PRI in the market and in industry associations.
-
Set win strategy and pricing on major pursuits, and protect commercial discipline and margin on the work you bring in.
Office and regional leadership
- Anchor and grow the Vancouver or Calgary geotechnical office, building its reputation, capacity, and client base.
-
Provide leadership and direction to the local team, setting a high standard for quality, service, and professional conduct.
-
Plan resourcing and workload for the office in coordination with the Geotechnical Practice Lead and firm leadership.
-
Contribute to the firm's regional strategy and represent the Vancouver office within firm leadership.
Senior technical authority
- Provide senior technical direction, review, and professional oversight on the region's most significant and complex geotechnical projects.
-
Serve as a senior technical authority the team turns to on challenging assignments, applying deep geotechnical judgment on high-consequence work.
-
Take professional responsibility for stamping significant geotechnical work, upholding the firm's quality and life-safety standards.
-
Coordinate with the firm-wide Geotechnical Practice Lead to ensure the office's work aligns with the practice's technical standards and quality systems.
Team building and mentorship
- Recruit, build, and lead the Vancouver geotechnical team, from engineers and technologists to emerging professionals.
-
Mentor and develop staff, growing the next generation of geotechnical engineers and technical leaders.
-
Support engineers toward P.Eng. registration and technologists toward their designations.
-
Foster a collaborative, accountable, high-performing office culture aligned with PRI's values.
Who we're looking for
We are looking for an established senior geotechnical leader who combines a strong technical reputation, a genuine book of client relationships, and proven experience leading an office or regional practice. You are as comfortable winning and growing work as you are directing complex geotechnical engineering, and you want to build something.
Required
- Registration as a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) with EGBC or APEGA, or immediate eligibility for registration in BC or AB.
-
Bachelor's degree in Civil or Geological Engineering with a geotechnical specialization; graduate degree in geotechnical engineering an asset.
-
Minimum 15 years of geotechnical engineering experience, with a strong record of stamping significant and complex work.
-
Demonstrated experience leading an office, region, or practice, including responsibility for people, quality, and commercial performance.
-
An established book of client relationships in the BC or AB geotechnical market, and a strong professional reputation.
-
A proven track record of business development, winning and growing work and building client relationships that generate repeat business.
-
Deep expertise across geotechnical practice, including foundations, slope stability, retaining structures, earthworks, and geohazard assessment.
-
Strong leadership, mentoring, and communication skills, with the presence to represent the firm to senior clients and the market.
-
Sound professional judgment and a genuine commitment to technical excellence, safety, and client service.
Preferred
- Established relationships with BC or AB developers, public agencies, municipalities, infrastructure owners, or industrial and resource clients.
-
Experience with geohazard and seismic assessment in the BC or AB context.
-
Experience overseeing or working closely with materials-testing / construction materials engineering laboratories.
-
Experience working collaboratively with First Nations and supporting Indigenous engagement initiatives.
-
A track record of building or scaling a geotechnical office or practice.
-
Interest in applying new tools and technologies, including AI-enabled approaches, to geotechnical work.
Why PRI
At PRI, we believe exceptional consulting begins with exceptional people. We empower our senior leaders with meaningful ownership, the support of a national multidisciplinary firm, and the opportunity to build something of their own.
As Principal Geotechnical Engineer, you'll find:
- The opportunity to anchor and grow a geotechnical office, with real ownership and the backing of the firm's largest practice.
-
In-house materials-testing laboratories and a national multidisciplinary platform to bring to your clients.
-
A seat among the firm's senior leaders, with genuine influence over regional strategy.
-
A collaborative environment working alongside geotechnical, civil, structural, hydrotechnical, and environmental colleagues.
-
A firm that is actively investing in growth and innovation, including AI-enabled tools and modern ways of working.
-
Competitive compensation with meaningful performance-based upside, comprehensive benefits, and support for ongoing professional development.
PRI is a multidisciplinary engineering and natural sciences consulting firm with offices across British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario. We are an equal-opportunity employer committed to building a diverse and inclusive team. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates, and we particularly encourage applications from Indigenous professionals.
