Principal Geotechnical Engineer - Tailings and Dams

Denver, CO or Phoenix, AZ

Worley Consulting, the specialist consulting business of Worley, provides technical and advisory solutions across the energy, resources and infrastructure sectors. We deliver safe, high-quality work throughout the project lifecycle and seek experienced professionals who share our commitment to technical excellence, client service and sustainable project outcomes.

Purpose of the role

The Principal Geotechnical Engineer - Tailings and Dams will provide senior technical and project leadership for geotechnical engineering associated with mine tailings facilities, earth dams, water-retaining structures and related mining infrastructure. You will influence projects from pre-feasibility and site investigation through detailed design, construction and ongoing engineering support, delivering solutions that balance safety, technical performance, risk, constructability and commercial objectives.

As a senior member of the Geoscience Practice, you will strengthen customer relationships, contribute to regional and global geoscience strategies, identify and secure new opportunities, guide multidisciplinary project teams and develop emerging technical talent.

Location

Denver, Colorado or Phoenix, Arizona

This is a full-time position based in Denver or Phoenix within Worley Consulting's Geoscience Practice. The role will support projects across the U.S. and internationally. National and international travel may be required to support customer engagements, site visits and field investigation programs.

You will be responsible for:

• Lead geotechnical engineering delivery for complex mining, tailings and dam projects, providing technical direction across the project lifecycle.
• Serve as a senior technical authority for tailings facilities, earth dams, water-retaining structures and associated mine infrastructure, providing practical solutions to complex geotechnical challenges.
• Plan and oversee geological and geotechnical investigation programs, including site reconnaissance, drilling, rock coring, advanced laboratory testing, interpretation and site characterization.
• Develop engineering solutions and tailings strategies that balance safety, technical performance, constructability, environmental considerations, project risk and commercial objectives.
• Lead geotechnical projects and technical workstreams, maintaining alignment with scope, schedule, budget, quality and customer expectations.
• Build trusted customer relationships through technical leadership, client meetings, workshops and industry-facing presentations, clearly communicating complex geotechnical risks and recommendations.
• Drive business development and strategic pursuits by identifying opportunities, supporting major bids and leading technical input for proposals, presentations, negotiations, schedules and engineering or capital cost estimates.
• Collaborate with geotechnical, geological, mining, environmental and multidisciplinary engineering professionals across Worley to deliver integrated solutions for complex mining and infrastructure challenges.
• Champion Worley's commitment to zero harm by integrating health, safety and environmental considerations into technical decisions, field programs and project delivery.
• Mentor and develop junior and intermediate professionals while contributing to technical quality, knowledge sharing, practice development and the broader Geoscience strategy.

What you'll bring to the role:

Required qualifications and experience

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering or a closely related engineering discipline from an accredited institution, or equivalent.
• Professional Engineer (P.E.) licensure in the United States, with the ability to obtain registration in additional states as required.
• 15 or more years of progressive geotechnical engineering experience, with substantial experience supporting mining and related infrastructure projects.
• Deep technical expertise in mine tailings facilities, mining geotechnics, mine infrastructure, earth dams and water-retaining structures, including slope and dam stability, seepage, seismic response, liquefaction assessment and geotechnical risk.
• Demonstrated capability to lead and supervise geotechnical engineering across the project lifecycle, from field investigation and interpretation through design, construction support and technical reporting.
• Proven success in business development and winning work, including major pursuits, proposal development, bid support and engineering or capital cost estimates.
• Strong project leadership capabilities, with the ability to manage scope, schedule, budget, resources, technical quality and project risk.
• Established success building customer relationships and communicating complex technical information clearly and professionally.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English, supported by effective organizational and time management capabilities.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, mentor and collaborate effectively within multidisciplinary and geographically distributed teams.

Preferred assets

• Master's degree in Geotechnical Engineering or a closely related discipline.
• Experience serving as a lead on major mining, tailings, dam or multidisciplinary engineering projects.
• Experience supporting international mining or tailings projects across multiple regulatory and geographic environments.
• Working knowledge of industry-standard project planning and cost management systems and ISO 9001-aligned quality management systems.

Compensation

For Colorado applicants:

• Salary Range: $160,324-$235,771

Application of the pay band: Variation in salary is determined by factors such as the candidate's qualifications, relevant years of experience, geographic location, internal pay equity, and prevailing market conditions for the specific role.

Benefits

Feel the energy at Worley with access to a range of benefits including paid time off, holiday pay (usually 8 per year in the US), and eligibility to participate in the medical, life, dental, and vision insurance plans, as well as 401K plan.

Apply today

Bring your expertise in tailings, dams and mining geotechnics to a role where you can influence complex projects, build trusted customer relationships and help develop the next generation of technical talent.

Join Worley Consulting and help deliver practical, high-quality solutions that strengthen the safety, resilience and long-term performance of critical mining and water-retaining infrastructure.

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.

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.

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