RESPEC is seeking a motivated, talented professional for an entry-level geomechanical engineer position in our Geomechanics group located at our Rapid City, South Dakota, office.
Founded in 1969, RESPEC is a global, 100 percent employee-owned consulting and services company dedicated to delivering innovative solutions to complex challenges for private and public clients. Operating in 14 U.S. states and 2 Canadian provinces, with influence extending to 50 countries worldwide, RESPEC is a leader in water, mining, energy, natural resources, and infrastructure services. Our six market sectors—Mining & Energy, Water, Facilities, Transportation, Development Services, and Data & Technology—reflect our expertise and commitment to excellence. At RESPEC, we thrive on collaboration and partnership, applying advanced technology to achieve sustainable solutions and drive our projects forward. We are deeply invested in our employees’ success and well-being, fostering a supportive and innovative work environment where everyone can grow and contribute meaningfully. Our commitment to excellence is evident in our contributions to local communities and strategic alliances worldwide, ensuring that we continue to inspire and innovate in rapidly evolving technical environments.
Job DescriptionRESPEC is seeking a motivated, talented professional for an entry-level geomechanical engineer position in our Geomechanics group located at our Rapid City, South Dakota, office.
The primary focus of this position will be performing geomechanical evaluations of solution-mined caverns in subsurface salt deposits. Projects include structural, hydrogeological, and thermal analyses of underground excavations, analysis of lab or field measurement data, ground subsidence analyses, and other conventional geotechnical analyses.
The geomechanical engineer will also produce professional, high-quality, technical documents as deliverable work products to our clients. The breadth and complexity of our projects require using computer-aided engineering (CAE) tools and high-performance computing (HPC) systems for extensive numerical simulations. Successfully completing project work will require strong technical aptitude, well-developed interpersonal communication skills, familiarity with modern engineering software programs, and the willingness to seek guidance when appropriate.
The successful candidate will work under the direct supervision of an experienced geomechanical engineering staff in these areas.
We do not accept unsolicited resumes from third-party recruiters.
QualificationsCandidates must have the following:
- A bachelor of science or master of science degree in mechanical, civil, geological/geotechnical, or mining engineering from an Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) institution
- 0-5 years of engineering work experience
- Base-level knowledge in finite element analysis, numerical modeling, and solid mechanics.
- Working knowledge in modern software programs for professional office activities (e.g., Microsoft Office suite and spreadsheet calculations)
Additional preferred qualifications include the following:
- Experience in well log interpretation
- Knowledge of mechanical behavior of geological materials
- Experience in materials testing and constitutive model development
- Experience in computer programming with C/C++, FORTRAN, Python, or another language
- Base-level knowledge of CAE software programs for engineering applications
- Numerical modeling with Abaqus, Ansys, or FLAC3D
- Excellent interpersonal skills and technical communication skills (both written and oral) and fluent in English.
Compensation: Salary depends on experience and expertise. Compensation includes a comprehensive fringe-benefits package. RESPEC is a 100% employee-owned company and employees are eligible for participation in the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) after a qualifying period.
Featured benefits include:
• Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance Plans
• Paid Maternity and Paternity Leave
• Holidays & Paid Time Off
• 401(k) & ESOP with company match up to 4%
• Professional Development & Training
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Employee Assistance & Wellness Programs
All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.
RESPEC Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about RESPEC and has not been reviewed or approved by RESPEC.
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Retirement Support — - Retirement Support: Retirement benefits are positioned as a meaningful part of total rewards through the combination of an ESOP and a 401(k). Long-term wealth-building potential is emphasized as a differentiator versus base-salary-only comparisons.
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Healthcare Strength — - Healthcare Strength: Core medical, dental, and vision coverage is presented as a standard, comprehensive foundation. Additional protection coverage (life and disability) is also included, strengthening the overall benefits stack.
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Fair & Transparent Compensation — - Fair & Transparent Compensation: Pay is characterized as generally fair-to-good when viewed across roles and in combination with total rewards. Clear salary ranges appearing in some job postings further support expectations-setting for certain positions.
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What We Do
In a world where one superhero can handle almost any problem, our entire team of award-winning technology experts is on a mission to make your business better. With extra vision to see solutions that others can’t and vast knowledge to bridge the gaps that others don’t, we’re transformers with the know-how to solve the world’s hardest problems. At RESPEC, we thrive on technology and making our clients successful. This is why we do what we do. From the depths of a cavern to the heights of a volcano, from an antiquated computer system to a business in dire need of re-engineering, our technical and business experts find solutions for extreme situations... like the time we cleansed and migrated 100 million rows of legacy data or the time we protected Mt. Rushmore. Know-How is Everything. We use our resourcefulness and vast experience to solve problems. It’s called know-how. And when you have it, problems aren’t problems at all. Know-how defines the core of who we are. It is how our clients see us. Know-how speaks to ingenuity, aptitude, and skill—it is not merely knowledge; it is knowledge on how to get things done. Imagine having access to a think tank with hundreds of diversely talented engineers, scientists, programmers, and developers under one roof—that’s RESPEC. Each team member is highly trained and skilled in understanding and applying the laws of a specific universe to solve any kind of problem. That’s why we have to talk about our team in terms of superheroes.
