Geotechnical Engineer

Location BC Hydro Vernon Annex (Primary)

3100 – 35th Avenue, 2nd Floor
Vernon, BC V1T 2T1
Work Assignment Engineer will develop input for Geographic Information System (GIS) models of two
Overview existing earthfill dams. This input will consist of 3d CAD layers and supporting
metadata for various features within the foundation, dam, drainage works,
spillway, and appurtenant structures.
Hours per day 8
Notes from MSP Resource must be located or willing to relocate to Vernon, BC for the duration of
to Supplier the work assignment. This will be a minimum one year assignment with strong
possibility of extension.

The resource will work onsite in BC Hydro’s Vernon office as part of a team of team
of 5 for a Civil Design Engineering group, Monday to Friday, 8.30am-4.30pm.

Must have:
- Undergraduate Degree or higher in Geotechnical or Geological Engineering
- 6 years of relevant work experience
- Professional Engineer registered with EGBC
- Valid Class 5 Driver’s License
- Working knowledge or exposure to GIS Systems such as ESRI ArcGIS
- Excellent writing skills

Nice to have
- Dam safety review experience is an asset, but not required.
- Experience with GIS data tables and data formats is an asset, but not
required.
Role Profile Role Title: Engineer – E3
General Description
• The E3 – Project Engineer is a fully qualified and accredited engineering
professional who applies theoretical and practical knowledge to provide
engineering design, estimating, planning, and quality management services for low
to medium complexity projects and/or operations safely, with quality, within
budget, and on time.

Experience and Role Accountabilities

• A minimum four (4) years of in a relevant engineering field or equivalent.
• Develop safe engineering solutions by using initiative and judgement to perform
activities such as developing designs, analyzing and resolving problems, and
interpreting engineering specifications on low to medium complexity assignments
for projects and/or operations.
• Assist project or operations management to meet safety, cost, quality, and time
objectives by performing activities such as proposing changes in plans and
estimated costs, recommending payment for work completed by contractors,

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 preparing progress reports, coordinating work schedules and other similar tasks.
• Participate in BC Hydro’s engineering practice by conducting independent studies
and analysis, exercising judgment in selecting and interpreting information,
recommending safe engineering designs, and making typical decisions related to
standard methods and designs so that BC Hydro’s engineering standards are
maintained.
• Perform periodic tasks independently which may include on-site construction
quality control and monitoring to ensure design compliance.
• Engage with BC Hydro’s senior engineering team where engineering problems
are difficult, complex, or unusual to support BC Hydro’s management of
engineering risk.

Education and Skills

• University graduate in applied science or engineering
• Registered Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) or Professional Geoscientist (P.Geo.)
with Engineers & Geoscientists BC or with another jurisdiction and eligible for
registration as such with Engineers & Geoscientists BC
• Familiarity with CAD systems and drawing standards
• Ability to use standard industry design/analysis software
• Intermediate MS Office skills (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint)
• • Intermediate English skills for professional environment, written
and spoken
Role Speciality Role Specialty – Geotechnical Generation Stations

Additional Experience and Role Accountabilities

• Prepare project documentation and deliverables in accordance with
BC Hydro project and Engineering Design Practices (i.e. evaluation
reports, technical specifications, proposals, estimates, design basis',
calculations, hazard logs, test plans).
• Plan and coordinate projects including preparation of project plans,
design basis, field reviews and project reports, and specifications.
• Prepare signed/sealed engineering deliverables as Professional of
Record (PoR) in accordance with EGBC and BC Hydro Design
Practices.
• Provide technical assistance and construction support in the field,
and undertake field reviews as required by EGBC.
• Prepare engineering analysis and design deliverables in accordance
with BC Hydro Design Practices.
• Provide technical assistance and construction field support and
undertake field reviews.
• Site investigation planning, supervision and inspection for stations
and dams including: layout of drill holes, test pits, specification of
test requirements, preparation and implementation of interim dam

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 safety risk management plans, in-situ testing, logging of soils and
rock, collecting samples, and the installation of instrumentation etc.
• Collection, analysis and interpretation of data obtained from site
investigations and other published sources, including survey data,
LiDAR, satellite imagery, GIS, soil maps, papers, reports, etc.
• Characterize soil sites into units and estimates engineering
parameters for design based on the geologic history, site
investigation data, and other published sources.
• Perform stability and seepage analyses of embankments, slopes and
excavations
• Perform embankment dam design and performance assessment,
filter compatibility, internal erosion, potential failure modes
identification, rip rap and erosion protection, dam characterization,
dam construction, dam surveillance and emergency response.
• Design of geotechnical instrumentation and field installation.
Knowledge of both conventional and remote sensing techniques
including: weirs, inclinometers and earth pressure cells, fibre optic
sensors, Automatic Data Acquisition Systems, downhole and
crosshole seismic, SP, distributed temperature monitoring, etc.
• Design of ground improvement and grouting programs. Knowledge
of grouting techniques for improvement of soil properties and
permeability reduction including: grout mix design, tremie grouting,
compaction grouting, jet grouting, grout curtains, cut off walls, void
filling, dam foundation grouting, grout monitoring and control
techniques.
• Design of shallow foundations, retaining walls and soil anchors.
• Understanding of geotechnical earthquake engineering and seismic
hazard, liquefaction potential, seismic and deformation analysis of
embankment dams, slopes, retaining structures, foundations etc.
• Site supervision of earthwork construction.
• Spatial analysis and assessment of geotechnical data in GIS.
• Other miscellaneous services of a geotechnical engineering nature.
• Document review for the development of 3D CADD and GIS models.
• Additional Education and Skills
• Degree in Geotechnical, Geological or Civil Engineering.
• Valid British Columbia Class 5 driver’s license.
• Currently registered as a Professional Engineer with the Engineers
and Geoscientists BC (EGBC).
• Knowledge and experience in geotechnical engineering including:
• Soil mechanics
• Site investigation
• In-situ testing and lab testing
• Deformation and seepage analyses
• Dam engineering, design and analysis

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 • Dam performance assessment
• Dam surveillance
• Geotechnical instrumentation and monitoring
• Grouting and ground improvement
• Seismic hazard, and geotechnical earthquake engineering.
• Foundation design
• Retaining wall design
• Seepage and groundwater transport
• Slope stability, design foundations,
• Design of drainage and dewatering systems, etc.
• Working knowledge of relevant software, including Rocscience
products (RS2, RocFall. Dips, etc., Geoslope (Slope/w, Seep/w, etc.),
FLAC, PLAXIS,VERSAT, FEFLOW, MODFLOW, etc.
• Ability to work independently, exercising judgment and initiative
with limited supervision.
• Ability to analyze and resolve challenging and unusual engineering
problems by incorporating innovative design and/or analysis
methods.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills and
the ability to work in a team environment.
• Strong proficiency of both written and oral communication in English
and be able to prepare well-written technical reports and clearly
present work to an audience.
• Ability to provide technical directions to junior engineers
• Ability to manage design tasks including scope, schedule and cost
• Ability to find engineering solutions that add value and to reach
consensus
• Ability to communicate efficiently including verbal and technical
writing in the English language, analytical, interpersonal
communications and presentation skills
• • Experience in project management including estimating, cost
control, and project administration
Work Assignment - The Engineer will review historical design, construction and
Requirements operational documents including but not limited to memoranda,
reports and drawings and will compile input for each CAD layer from
these sources. Inconsistencies in the available information will be
succinctly summarized for efficient review and resolution with the
Project Engineer. The data collection process is expected to include
occasional work at BC Hydro’s Edmonds facility (located in Burnaby,
BC) and could include occasional site visits and/or field work.
- The Engineer will work collaboratively with an external drafting
services provider located in Vernon to develop each CAD layer. The
Engineer will prepare and issue a memorandum for each CAD layer

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 providing a detailed description of the information sources
reviewed, the information selected for inclusion in the model, the
manner in which any inconsistencies were resolved and supporting
tables of metadata. The Engineer will consult with BC Hydro GIS
resources regularly during this process to ensure the end product
will be suitable for inclusion in the final GIS model.
- In addition to the above, the Engineer may be assigned Engineering
service tasks in support of other Vernon Civil Design project work.