Geotechnical Engineer - Soil Stabilization & Product Approvals

About the Role

Substrata is seeking a Geotechnical Engineer to be the technical backbone for our soil stabilization product, Perma-Zyme. This is a new, high-impact role that will sit inside our soil lab and bridge lab testing, field application, and approvals with states, universities, and engineering firms.

You'll split time between hands-on lab work, onsite project support with customers, and technical approval work that helps get Perma-Zyme specified on DOT and major project vendor lists. This person will also support sales and marketing with the technical expertise needed to win larger, more complex projects.

Key Responsibilities

1. On-Site Field Support

• Travel to project sites to oversee the application of Perma-Zyme, ensuring it is applied correctly and in line with project specifications.
• Train and supervise contractors, equipment operators, and internal team members on proper installation and quality standards.
• Log and document onsite activities for quality assurance, including site conditions, application rates, and any issues encountered.
• Log and categorize soil samples collected onsite for further lab analysis.
• Serve as a technical resource onsite, answering geotechnical questions from contractors, clients, and engineers.

2. Oversee Soil Lab Testing & Operations

• Lead and coordinate soil testing and mix design work within the lab, including strength, compaction, and other relevant geotechnical tests.
• Attend soil evaluation / geotechnical meetings and interpret lab results for both internal stakeholders and external partners.
• Work closely with the materials tester and lab technician to ensure Substrata's products meet key performance metrics and testing requirements.
• Help design and refine soil mix designs to meet project- and state-specific performance criteria.
• Support equipment selection, servicing, and optimization to expand the lab's testing capabilities over time.

3. Product Approvals & Specifications (Perma-Zyme)

• Lead efforts to get Perma-Zyme approved on state DOT and other governmental approved product lists (e.g., DOT, BLM, military, counties).
• Coordinate required third-party testing, including university or independent lab studies (e.g., working with institutions like Texas A&M and similar partners).
• Interpret DOT and agency specifications, identify required tests, and create a plan to meet or exceed those criteria.
• Prepare and maintain technical documentation, test reports, and submittal packages for state, municipal, and large private projects.
• Support Substrata in getting Perma-Zyme specified by large geotechnical engineering firms and included as a standard option in their design packages.

4. Technical Sales & Market Development Support

• Partner with the sales team to land larger, more complex projects (e.g., major warehouses, data centers, infrastructure projects) by providing geotechnical expertise.
• Participate in lunch-and-learns, technical presentations, and project meetings with geotechnical engineering firms, owners, and contractors.
• Help identify where Perma-Zyme can replace or supplement traditional methods (e.g., concrete stabilization) and quantify performance / cost benefits.
• Collaborate with marketing to develop technical content: blogs, case studies, white papers, and data summaries that highlight lab and field results.

5. Internal Collaboration & Growth

• Act as a key advisor on how to grow and evolve the soil lab, including recommending new testing equipment, procedures, and standards.
• Work closely with operations, sales, and leadership to shape the technical roadmap for Perma-Zyme and related products.
• No direct reports initially, but this role is expected to grow into a leadership position as the lab expands (e.g., mentoring junior engineers or technicians in the future).

Ideal First-Year Objectives (Example KPI Focus)

While exact goals will be finalized with leadership, typical objectives may include:

• Successfully lead the technical effort to obtain DOT or state-level approval for Perma-Zyme in at least one U.S. state by the end of the second quarter after hire.
• Increase lab testing throughput and capabilities to support new soils, geographies, and project types.
• Take primary technical lead on a set number of onsite projects and large bids, contributing to closing "whale" projects for Substrata.

Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering or related engineering discipline.
• Geotechnical emphasis or experience strongly preferred (e.g., work in a geotechnical engineering firm or geotechnical group).
• Experience with soil testing, foundation/roadway subgrade evaluation, or soil stabilization.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering specifications, test standards, and DOT / agency requirements.
• Strong attention to detail, documentation, and follow-through-comfortable handling detailed approval processes and test submittals.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to speak confidently with engineers, contractors, and government agencies.

Preferred

• Prior experience working at a…