Senior Geotechnical Engineer - Dams
Markham or Oakville, Ontario
Play an integral role in Worley Consulting’s Geoscience Practice, helping strengthen our geotechnical and dam engineering capabilities in Ontario while supporting complex mining, tailings and water dam projects across Canada and internationally. You will bring together deep technical expertise, practical construction experience and strong client relationships to help our teams deliver safe, sustainable and technically sound solutions across the full project lifecycle.
Purpose of the role
As a Senior Geotechnical Engineer, P.Eng., you will provide technical and project leadership across dam engineering and geotechnical programs, from early-stage studies and site characterization through detailed design, construction support and dam safety activities.
You will play an important role in growing our Geoscience Service Line, strengthening technical quality and consistency, supporting strategic pursuits and building trusted relationships with clients. Working within multidisciplinary teams, you will help shape geotechnical solutions that balance safety, constructability, regulatory requirements, project risk and long-term asset performance.
This role also provides an opportunity to mentor developing professionals, contribute to technical excellence across the practice and influence the continued growth of Worley Consulting’s capabilities in the dams and mining sectors.
Location(s)
This is a full-time position based in Markham or Oakville, Ontario, within Worley Consulting’s Geoscience Practice.
The role supports national and international dams and mining projects and includes periodic travel and field/site assignments based on project and client requirements.
You will be responsible for:
- Champion a zero-harm culture and reinforce Worley’s expectations for safety, quality, integrity and responsible project delivery.
- Provide senior geotechnical leadership for mining, tailings and water dam projects, including dam design, dam safety, foundation assessments, construction support and owner’s engineering.
- Lead and oversee geotechnical site investigations, geological reconnaissance and site characterization programs involving overburden drilling, rock coring, laboratory testing and interpretation of subsurface conditions.
- Direct and review geotechnical analyses including slope and embankment stability, seepage, seismic and dynamic response, soil and rock engineering parameters, groundwater conditions and dam stability.
- Develop practical engineering recommendations for foundations, earth embankments, reinforced concrete dam structures, site development and other geotechnical aspects of complex infrastructure.
- Support construction-phase engineering, geotechnical QA/QC inspection, testing and technical reporting to help ensure design intent, technical standards and project requirements are achieved.
- Lead client meetings, technical workshops and project presentations, translating complex engineering information into clear recommendations that support informed decision-making.
- Support the development and implementation of Geoscience strategies aligned with regional and Service Line priorities, growth objectives and market opportunities.
- Build and maintain strong client relationships while identifying opportunities to expand Worley’s geotechnical, dam engineering and broader consulting services.
- Contribute technical and commercial leadership to major pursuits and bid teams, including proposal development, presentations, negotiations, scopes of work, project schedules and engineering cost estimates.
- Develop and communicate relevant client, market and industry intelligence to support business planning and growth of the Geoscience Service Line.
- Monitor technical execution and quality on assigned projects, helping ensure geotechnical deliverables are consistent, fit for purpose and aligned with applicable standards and project requirements.
- Collaborate as part of integrated multidisciplinary teams that include engineers, environmental scientists, project delivery professionals and project support teams across Worley Consulting and the wider Worley organization.
- Partner with Geoscience leadership to align staffing and technical resources with project requirements and delivery priorities.
- Mentor and coach junior and intermediate professionals, providing technical guidance and identifying meaningful development opportunities.
- Reinforce consistent application of corporate and Service Line processes for safety, quality, engineering, business development and project delivery.
What you’ll bring to the role:
Required qualifications and experience
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree from an accredited institution in geotechnical engineering, civil engineering or a closely related discipline, supported by appropriate continuing education in geotechnical engineering or equivalent experience.
- Registration as a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) with Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO).
- 10–15 years of relevant geotechnical engineering experience supporting large-scale projects, with significant experience in dams within mining, tailings and/or water infrastructure.
- Extensive dam engineering experience spanning design and construction support, ideally from pre-feasibility and feasibility studies through detailed design and construction.
- Demonstrated experience with geotechnical site investigations, dam foundation assessments, seepage and stability evaluations and construction-phase engineering.
- Strong working knowledge of Canadian dam projects and relevant dam safety and design requirements, including the Canadian Dam Association Dam Safety Guidelines, International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD) guidance and the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM).
- Experience supporting dam safety reviews, assessing reinforced concrete dam structures and completing earth embankment stability assessments.
- Strong technical capability in soil and rock mechanics, seismic and dynamic analysis, geotechnical characterization, foundation engineering and dam safety.
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively in fast-paced, multidisciplinary project environments while coordinating technical staff and competing priorities.
- Strong client engagement and relationship-management capabilities, with the confidence to lead technical discussions and communicate recommendations to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, with the ability to present complex technical information clearly, concisely and professionally.
- Strong organizational and time-management skills, combined with a collaborative, flexible and self-directed approach.
- Ability and willingness to undertake periodic travel and field/site work as project needs require.
Preferred experience and capabilities
- Experience with limestone/dolostone and shale bedrock conditions.
- Knowledge of grout curtain design and construction.
- Understanding of spillway design, hydraulic structures and water balance considerations as they relate to dam engineering and safety.
- Experience with instrumentation data and trend analysis.
- Participation in dam risk assessments and failure mode analyses.
- Knowledge of filter design and riprap design.
- Experience evaluating groundwater conditions and their influence on dam performance and safety.
- Experience authoring dam safety reviews.
- Demonstrated ability to lead geotechnical engineering from field investigation and characterization through analysis, design and construction support.
- Experience supervising, training, mentoring and developing junior and intermediate technical professionals.
- Experience supporting geotechnical projects in adjacent sectors such as upstream or downstream oil and gas, industrial development, roads, rail, power or pipelines.
- Demonstrated business development experience, including supporting major bid teams, preparing proposals and developing engineering and capital cost estimates.
- Working knowledge of project planning tools, cost-management systems and ISO 9001-based quality management systems.
This role is well suited to an experienced geotechnical professional who combines technical credibility with sound commercial judgement, collaborative leadership and a genuine interest in developing people and client relationships. You will have the opportunity to influence technically challenging projects while helping grow Worley Consulting’s geotechnical and dam engineering practice.
Apply today
If you are looking to take a leading role in technically complex dam and geotechnical projects while helping shape the growth of a collaborative global consulting practice, we encourage you to apply. Join Worley and contribute your expertise to projects where engineering quality, safety, sustainability and lasting client value matter.
About Us
Worley is a global company of energy, chemicals and resources experts headquartered in Australia. We partner with our customers to deliver projects and create value across the life of their assets. We specialize in consulting, engineering, procurement and construction across the project lifecycle, with services extending through to operations and decommissioning. Leveraging extensive experience and AI-enabled delivery, we support customers in navigating complexity as they meet today’s needs and transition to more sustainable solutions. Join us and help drive innovation and sustainability in our projects.
Worley is committed to providing a fair and equitable hiring process for all applicants. As part of this commitment, Worley will ensure that people with disabilities are provided with reasonable accommodation for the hiring process. If you require any accommodations or assistance, please contact us at: TA.AMERICAS@worley.com.
Moving forward together
We want our people to be energized and empowered to drive sustainable impact. So, our focus is on a values-inspired culture that unlocks brilliance through belonging, connection and innovation. We’re building a diverse, inclusive and respectful workplace. Creating a space where everyone feels they belong, can be themselves, and are heard.
And we’re not just talking about it; we’re doing it. We’re reskilling our people, leveraging transferable skills, and supporting the transition of our workforce to become experts in today’s low carbon energy infrastructure and technology. Whatever your ambition, there’s a path for you here. And there’s no barrier to your potential career success. Join us to broaden your horizons, explore diverse opportunities, and be part of delivering sustainable change.
