Senior Geotechnical Engineer — Foundations, Slope Stability & Liquefaction (Hourly, Remote)

ABOUT THE ROLE We are an engineering firm based in Santiago, Chile. We are looking for a civil engineer specialized in geotechnics to support us on concrete, well-defined technical assignments, under an hourly contract through Upwork. This is not a full-time position or a staff job. It is a continuous, task-based collaboration: each assignment is agreed in advance with a defined scope, deliverable and hour estimate before we begin. We pay for technical judgment, not for the cheapest proposal. HOW WE WORK (important — please read before applying) - The contract is hourly within Upwork, with time logged through the Upwork Time Tracker (Work Diary). We do not work outside the platform. - Before each assignment we agree in writing on: scope, deliverable, input information and an estimated hour cap. If the work exceeds the estimate, it is discussed and approved before continuing. - All communication, sharing of background information and delivery of results happens through Upwork's channels. - We start with a first paid assignment of 5 to 8 hours so we can get to know each other technically. It is real work, paid from the very first hour. We do not request free tests. - If the result is good, we move to a continuous flow of assignments with stable weekly hours. - A brief coordination video call at the start of each assignment, held within the platform. TECHNICAL SCOPE OF ASSIGNMENTS You will work on one or more of these fronts, depending on the project: - Shallow and deep foundations: bearing capacity, elastic and consolidation settlements, sizing of footings, mat foundations, piles and drilled shafts; lateral-load analysis and p-y curves. - Slope stability: limit-equilibrium and strength-reduction analysis, static and pseudo-static conditions, sensitivity analysis and back-analysis of failures. - Liquefaction potential: assessment by simplified SPT- and CPT-based methods, post-liquefaction settlements, lateral spreading and evaluation of mitigation measures. - Site response and seismic parameters: seismic soil classification, Vs30 determination, one-dimensional equivalent-linear or nonlinear response analysis, generation of site-specific spectra. - Retaining structures and excavations: retaining walls, underpinning piles, anchored shoring, earth pressures, induced deformations and settlement control in urban environments. - Underground works and tunnels: estimation of convergences, surface subsidence, preliminary support and face-stability verification. - Applied hydrogeology: flow and seepage analysis, dewatering, pore pressures and their effect on stability. - Interpretation of geotechnical investigation: SPT, CPT/CPTu, laboratory testing (triaxial, oedometer, direct shear), geophysics (downhole, MASW), and definition of design parameters with sound, well-supported judgment. - Preparation and review of calculation reports with declared assumptions, justified parameters and conclusions defensible under external review. MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS - Civil Engineering degree with demonstrable specialization in geotechnics (master's, postgraduate diploma or a dedicated career track). - At least 5 years of experience on real geotechnical projects. - Advanced command of at least two of these tools: PLAXIS 2D or 3D; Rocscience (Slide2, RS2, Settle3); GeoStudio (SLOPE/W, SEEP/W, SIGMA/W); LPILE / GROUP; DEEPSOIL, STRATA or equivalent for site response. - Ability to write professional, self-contained and traceable calculation reports in Spanish. - Judgment to define geotechnical parameters from incomplete information, stating assumptions explicitly. - Minimum availability of 10 hours per week and response within 24 business hours. - Willingness to work with Upwork time tracking active. Note: fluent written Spanish is required. Our reports and coordination are in Spanish. DESIRABLE - Experience with Chilean codes: NCh433, DS61, DS60, NCh3171, NCh1508 and the MOP Road Manual (Volume 3). - Experience with international codes: Eurocode 7, AASHTO LRFD, FHWA, ACI 318. - Projects in areas of high seismicity. - Experience in mining, port, road or metro works. - Automation and post-processing with Python. - Technical reading English. MODE AND BUDGET - 100% remote, hourly contract on Upwork. - We prefer time-zone overlap with Chile (UTC-3/-4), but we are flexible if communication is fluid. - Hourly rate according to proven specialization. State your real rate. HOW TO APPLY We discard generic proposals. In your application, within Upwork, include: 1. A paragraph about the most difficult geotechnical problem you have solved: what information you had, what critical assumption you made and how you justified it. 2. Your software and real level of command in each, with years of use. 3. Your specific experience in liquefaction, site response or slope stability, if you have it. 4. Your hourly rate in USD and the weekly hours you can truly commit. 5. An example of work you can legally share: material from your Upwork portfolio, your own academic or research work, or an example produced by you. Do not send us confidential documents belonging to other clients or information you are required to protect. 6. Begin your proposal with the word GEOTECNIA to confirm you read the full posting. We reply to every application that meets these six points.