Geotechnical Engineer 7239

$118,577 to $173,345; $128,829 to $188,337; and $139,394 to $203,767

NOTES:

1. Annual salary is at the start of the pay range. The current salary range is subject to change. Please confirm the starting salary with the hiring department before accepting a job offer.
2. Candidates from the eligible list are normally appointed only to vacancies in the lower pay grade positions.

DUTIES

A Geotechnical Engineer directs and assists a geotechnical engineering unit; reviews comprehensive and complex geotechnical reports submitted by private consultants; prepares comprehensive and complex geotechnical reports; may coordinate the review of geotechnical and geological reports with Engineering Geologists; performs geotechnical investigations; advises management and other public officials on problem projects; applies sound supervisory principles and techniques in building and maintaining an effective work group; and fulfills equal employment opportunity responsibilities.

1. A valid license as a Civil Engineer issued by the California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists; and
2. Four years of full-time paid professional engineering experience working under the direct supervision of a Geotechnical Engineer.

PROCESS NOTES

1. Applicants who lack six months or less of the required experience at the time of filing may file for this examination. However, they cannot be appointed until the full experience requirement is met.
2. As a condition of employment, a valid Class C driver’s license issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is required. Applicants will be disqualified and candidates will not be eligible for hire if their DMV record within the last 36 months reflects three or more moving violations and/or at-fault accidents, or a conviction of a major moving violation such as DUI or DWI in any state jurisdiction. Notice of disqualification or ineligibility for hire may be issued by the City of Los Angeles at any time before a final job offer is extended.
3. For Internal Use Only: Licensing verification will occur at the time of appointment.
4. Applicants must list their Civil Engineering License number and expiration date in the Supplemental Questions Section of the on-line application at the time of filing. Applicants who fail to provide this information on their application will not be considered further in this examination and their applications will not be processed.
5. Authority to use the title “Geotechnical Engineer” approved by the California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists is required at the time of appointment.
6. For qualifying work experience in Requirement # 2, the term “professional engineering experience” applies to positions that require possession of a Civil Engineering license in order to obtain that position. Therefore, to be considered “professional,” qualifying experience must be gained in positions requiring a Civil Engineering license.

Applications will only be accepted on-line. When you are viewing the on-line job bulletin of your choice, simply scroll to the top of the page and select the “Apply” icon. On-line job bulletins are also available at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/lacity.

NOTE:

Applicants are urged to apply early to ensure you have time to resolve any technical issues you may encounter.

Applications must be received by THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2026.

In accordance with Civil Service Rule 4.2, all applicants who apply may not be tested in this examination. To meet anticipated hiring needs, only a limited number of qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the selection process in the following order: 1) Los Angeles City Promotional applicants who meet the minimum requirements. You must have received a regular appointment to a City position or be on a reserve list to apply for this examination as a promotional candidate; 2) Applicants currently employed by the City of Los Angeles on a part-time or exempt basis who meet the minimum requirements; 3) Remaining applicants who meet the minimum requirements in sufficient numbers to meet hiring needs based on a random sampling of those qualified candidates. Applications submitted during the filing period may be kept on file in the event that additional applicants need to be tested to meet hiring needs.

Examination Weight:  

     Essay  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Advisory

     Interview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100%

The examination will consist of an on-line advisory essay and an interview. In the interview, emphasis may be placed on the candidate's experience, training, and professional development as they provide the knowledge of: soils classification, soils testing, soil mechanics, physical properties of soils and their behavior; theory and applications of soil mechanics; physical properties of soils and their behavior under varying conditions; various analyses needed for the design of excavations, buttresses, shoring and slope stability, and geotechnical field explorations; means of conducting geotechnical field explorations; problems of landslides, expansive earth material, and their mitigation measures; dynamic behavior of earth material during earthquakes, including liquefaction; groundwater behavior; shoring methods, slope stability, shallow and deep foundations; geotechnical construction monitoring and construction techniques; Equal Employment Opportunity policy; supervisory principles and techniques including planning, assigning, delegating, controlling, training, and evaluating the work of subordinates; counseling, disciplining and motivating subordinates; and the ability to: apply the principles of soils mechanics; interpret geological and engineering data; interpret topographic and geological maps, aerial photos, grading plans, and building plans; read and interpret comprehensive material such as technical reports, legislations, rules regulations, and Building Codes; read and interpret designs and plans; deal tactfully and effectively with other City employees, private consultants, and the public; communicate orally and in writing in a clear, concise and effective manner; and other necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Prior to the interview, applicants will be required to prepare some written material related to the duties and responsibilities of a Geotechnical Engineer. This essay material will not be separately scored, but will be presented to the interview board for review and  consideration, which may include discussion, in the overall evaluation of the candidate. Those who do not complete the advisory essay will not be invited to the interview and will be considered to have failed the entire examination. To be considered complete, the advisory essay must include a substantive response for each question or problem included in the advisory essay for which a candidate is required to provide an answer. Please note that applicants must complete the advisory essay and meet minimum qualifications as stated on this bulletin in order to be considered further in the examination process.

The advisory essay will be administered on-line. Applicants invited to participate in the examination will receive an e-mail from the City of Los Angeles outlining the specific steps needed to complete the on-line advisory essay. Applicants will be required to complete the on-line advisory essay between TUESDAY, MAY 26, 2026 and TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 2026. Additional instructions will be sent via e-mail. Applicants who fail to complete the advisory essay as instructed may be disqualified.

Candidates will be notified by e-mail of the date, time, and location of the interviews which will be held in Los Angeles or online. It is anticipated that interviews will begin during the period of MONDAY JUNE 15, 2026 TO FRIDAY JUNE 26, 2026.

NOTES:

1. This examination is based on a validation study.
2. As a covered entity under the Fair Employment and Housing Act and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of disability and upon request, will provide reasonable accommodations to ensure equal access to its programs, services, and activities. To request a disability accommodation, please complete the Disability Accommodation Form within 14 calendar days of the submittal of the City application. The Disability Accommodation Form can be obtained at http://per.lacity.org/exams/verify_disability.pdf.
3. Applications are accepted subject to review to ensure that minimum qualifications are met. Candidates may be disqualified at any time if it is determined that they do not possess the minimum qualifications stated on this bulletin.
4. A final average score of 70% is required to be placed on the eligible list.
5. In conjunction with Civil Service Rules, applications who are current eligible City employees or are on a reserve list will be considered Promotional candidates while all other applicants will be considered Open candidates.
6. The promotional list will ordinarily be used ahead of the open competitive list. However, if open competitive candidates receive a higher score, without military credits, than the highest available promotional candidate, after adding 0.25 of a point seniority credit for each year of service, the Civil Service Commission, upon request of the appointing authority, may approve certification of such open competitive candidates ahead of the promotional candidates.
7. If in accordance with the Rule of Three Whole Scores all applicants are eligible for appointment consideration, the examination will consist entirely of an evaluation of the candidates’ City applications by Personnel Department staff to ensure that the minimum qualifications have been met.
8. In accordance with Civil Service Rule, Sec. 4.24, review periods may be combined. Candidates in the examination process may file protests as provided in Sec. 4.20, 4.22 and 4.23 as applicable and within the required time frame; however, the Personnel Department may respond to and resolve protests prior to the establishment of the eligible list.

Notice:

If you receive and accept an offer of employment to a regular position with the City of Los Angeles, your employee benefit coverage (including health and dental coverage as well as life insurance) will commence approximately six weeks after your original regular appointment. Not all positions in the City receive benefit coverage; you should inquire regarding the availability of employee benefits prior to accepting a position. All City employees are required to be Disaster Service Workers.

THIS EXAMINATION IS TO BE GIVEN BOTH ON AN

INTERDEPARTMENTAL PROMOTIONAL AND AN OPEN COMPETITIVE BASIS

The City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, creed, color, ancestry, medical condition (cancer), or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.