The Geotechnical Engineer will support the Kuna Engineering and its clients throughout Alaska, including Red Dog Mine.  The individual will provide support for geotechnical design activities for infrastructure projects to include buildings, utilities, and roads.  The individual will also lead necessary geotechnical evaluations and field investigations.  Stability analyses, seismic analyses, and other support for various building or other infrastructure projects will be a key element of the individual’s responsibilities.  The individual may also support various environmental projects as time permits, including site investigations and permitting.  The Geotechnical Engineer shall work with the Environmental Director to plan schedules and other activities related to projects as assigned.

• Technical planning and execution of geotechnical projects, including document authoring and completion
• Performing geotechnical analyses for infrastructure and building projects.
• Preparation of design specifications and drawings for geotechnical portions of larger design projects.
• Performing stability, seismic, and related geotechnical calculations and evaluations in support of design and other evaluation-type projects.
• Oversee geotechnical investigation projects, to include planning and performing drilling and sample collection and leadership of other Kuna employees and/or subcontractors.
• Management of health and safety for field programs as assigned.
• Periodic client interaction with emphasis on drilling programs and geotechnical investigations or design elements.
• Assistance and technical expertise for geology or geotechnical aspects of environmental permitting projects.
• Understand geotechnical engineering standards and codes.
• Research and explain regulations, policies, or procedures.

• Degree in civil engineering with a focus on geotechnical engineering or a geotechnical engineering degree.
• Must be licensed as a geotechnical engineer or civil engineer.
• At least 5 years of directly related experience, including experience with geotechnical design and analyses.
• Ability to understand and plan geotechnical investigations and sample collection to inform geotechnical design activities.
• Experience leading drilling with a variety of drilling methods and rigs
• Experience performing field work, developing project work plans, and subsequent reports.
• Experience with geotechnical analyses for infrastructure design projects, including ground and slope stability considerations.
• Experience with environmental regulations and performing environmental field sampling is a plus.
• Ability to adapt to and maintain a safety conscious work environment.
• Ability to demonstrate, conduct, and conform to a set of values and accepted standards, such as honesty, integrity, reliability, and accountability.
• Ability to pay attention to the minute details of a project or task and perform work accurately and thoroughly.
• High degree of organization skills and ability to follow a systematic method of performing a task.
• Ability to effectively work within a team environment to accomplish work activities, exhibiting a professional demeanor toward co-workers and customers.
• Ability to communicate professionally, clearly and concisely with others using both the spoken and written word, as well as the ability to actively listen and comprehend communication from others.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements

Weather:  Indoors/outdoors

Noise level:  The noise level in the indoor work environment is usually that of a standard office atmosphere.  Field investigations will be outside typically involving drill rigs of various sizes with noise and potential hearing protection requirements.

Description of environment:  Office building with standard office environment. Will also be on project sites outside.

Physical requirements:  Employee is required to occasionally lift and/or move up to 25-50 lbs. Frequently required to sit, stand, walk, use hands/fingers to handle or feel, climb, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl, talk/hear, see, taste/smell, and carry weight/lift.

Travel:  May travel up to 25 percent of the time, with likely field work at project sites in Alaska; field work may be one to two weeks in duration.  Employee will travel to remote areas and may be required to use alternative modes of transportation, including but not limited to snow machines, helicopters, boats, small airplanes and ATVs.

Travel may require an employee or contractor to pass a TSA security checkpoint. If the employee or contractor does not have valid identification, they will not be able to travel until valid identification is obtained and verified.  For this reason all employees and contractors must have valid identification when traveling to and from the work site destination, for a list of TSA approved valid identification visit https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/identification . 

Competencies

• Professional, highly self-motivated, passionate, energetic, creative and strategic thinker.
• Dedicated to meeting the expectations and requirements of internal and external customers.
• Mines first-hand customer information, using it to determine how to best maximize the opportunity for Kuna and its clients. 
• Always acts with customers in mind, knows how to establish and maintain effective relationships with customers/prospects and gains their trust and respect. Ability to read engineering plans and drawings and provide interpretations and information necessary to supplement the design process with geologic/geotechnical information.
• Proficiency with AutoCAD, gINT, or other geotechnical analyses software to support geotechnical design is a plus.
• Proficiency with hydrogeologic evaluations and aquifer testing is a plus.
• Proficiency with geophysical survey methods and evaluations is a plus.
• Proficiency with methods and requirements for the proper management of waste rock and tailings from mining operations is a plus.