Geotechnical Engineering Practice Leader
Posted Jul 13, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026
Likely interview questions for this role
Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.
About your past
How would you grow the geotechnical department in Milwaukee over the next few years?
What they are checking: Whether they have a real plan for hiring, winning work and building capability.
How do you mentor a young geotechnical engineer to become a confident designer?
What they are checking: Whether they invest in developing staff, which is central to this role.
Tell me about a time a project ran over budget on geotechnical work. What did you do?
What they are checking: Whether they manage scope and budget, not just technical quality.
What would you do
Two projects need your best geotechnical engineer the same week. How do you decide?
What they are checking: Whether they can balance staffing across projects based on risk and client needs.
What role would you play in marketing and winning new work?
What they are checking: Whether they see business development as part of a practice leader's job.
How do you recruit good geotechnical engineers in a tight market?
What they are checking: Whether they have practical ideas for attracting talent to grow the team.
A project team wants to cut the boring program to save money. How do you respond?
What they are checking: Whether they can explain risk clearly and stand firm when cutting corners is unsafe.
About the work
HNTB is a top design partner with WisDOT. What experience do you have with WisDOT geotechnical standards and processes?
What they are checking: Whether they know the client's requirements well enough to lead work for them right away.
Tell me about a complex geotechnical problem you solved, like poor soils under a bridge foundation.
What they are checking: Whether they have deep technical judgment the team can rely on for unusual problems.
How do you decide on foundation types for a bridge when the boring data is limited?
What they are checking: Whether they can make sound calls with uncertainty and know when to get more data.
How do you do an independent technical review of someone else's geotechnical report?
What they are checking: Whether they have a disciplined review approach that catches risk before it reaches construction.
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Practice this out loudThe full job description
As published by HNTB.