BENEFITS OF JOINING THE TEAM
1. Purpose-Driven Work
At BEAR, you work for a company with a real purpose: helping property owners make better, more informed decisions. The company was founded to provide independent, unbiased, objective guidance, and our client reviews and results speak for themselves. BEAR is driven by values, purpose, and the belief that our work genuinely improves people’s lives.
2. Maximum Autonomy
Once you are trained and working independently, you have a high level of autonomy. You are trusted to manage your work, make decisions in the field, and take ownership of your responsibilities. You need to be a self-starter, but you are not alone. Resources and support are available when needed. This level of independence is rare in an early-career civil engineering role.
3. Superior Income Potential
If you work hard, operate efficiently, and use the systems well, your income potential at BEAR can exceed what is typically available in any other civil engineering job at this stage of your career. The work is challenging, but the earning potential is real. For those who want to work hard and earn more, BEAR offers an opportunity that is difficult to match.
4. Soft Skill Development
Many civil engineering jobs involve working behind a desk for one company that serves another company, with limited direct human interaction. At BEAR, you work directly with people. You interact with homeowners, buyers, agents, contractors, and other professionals. You develop communication skills, social skills, and judgment in real-world situations. These soft skills are valuable no matter where your career goes, and BEAR gives you an unusually strong opportunity to build them.
5. Flexible Work-Life Balance Option
BEAR offers a level of flexibility that is extremely rare in civil engineering. Depending on your role and tier, you may have the ability to take significant time off, work harder during certain periods, or reduce your workload during others. You cannot have maximum time off and maximum pay at the same time, but you can have unusual flexibility in how much you work. That flexibility is one of the unique benefits of this company.
6. Unlimited Growth Potential
BEAR is a leading company in the Bay Area with significant expansion potential across the United States. We are still early in our broader product roadmap, and our sister technology company, Domalytx, also has major growth potential. As the company grows, new roles and career paths will continue to open up. We believe BEAR offers more long-term opportunity than a typical civil engineering company. Here is a list of various career path options -- LINK
7. Get Outdoors & Explore the Bay Area
There is no office requirement, no unnecessary desk work, and no corporate office politics. You are in the field, outside, seeing different parts of the Bay Area every day. You visit a wide variety of properties, from modest homes to high-end estates, and you meet people from many different backgrounds. Instead of being stuck at a desk or moving from one commercial job site to another, you get to see real homes, real communities, and interesting locations throughout the region.
8. You Are Not Just a Number
BEAR is still a small company, and every team member matters. You are a valued part of the team, not just another employee in a large corporate structure. You have the opportunity to work directly with the co-founders as needed. We care about your growth, your development, and your future, whether you choose to build your long-term career here or eventually move on.
9. Support Toward Your P.E. License
BEAR strongly supports employees who want to earn their PE license. Our work experience is relevant to the PE path, and we help employees prioritize the steps needed to move forward. We encourage you to obtain your EIT as early as possible, pursue the PE track, and continue developing professionally. We also support recommendations, exam planning, and the steps needed to advance your engineering career.
10. Strong Corporate Basics in a Small Company Environment:
BEAR gives you many of the fundamentals you would expect from a much larger corporation, while still maintaining the direct access, flexibility, and team environment of a smaller company. Training and Mentorship - we have an excellent training program and an excellent mentorship program. Benefits and Employee Platform - our benefits package is administered through a larger organization, giving employees access to a strong benefits platform and support system that rivals what you would expect at a much larger company and the company also pays for excellent benefits. Developed Internal Systems - we have refined systems for onboarding, scheduling, training, and career development, these systems have been built and customized from the ground up for BEAR, and they are designed to support employees as they grow.
A FEW REASONS WE MIGHT NOT BE THE RIGHT FIT
Physically Demanding Work
The work is physically demanding. You are not hammering nails or pouring concrete, but you are often crawling through tight, dirty, hot, cold, or uncomfortable spaces. You need to be in good physical shape when you start and then remain that way while here. This job requires energy, resilience, and a willingness to work in challenging environments. Let's just say that if you don't have a highly adventurous side to you then you probably will not find it enjoyable.
Comfort With Uncertainty
You need to be comfortable with uncertainty. Every property is different. You are often walking into a new situation, with new people, new problems, and incomplete information. You need to think like a detective, piece together clues, make judgments, and then explain your findings clearly to clients and agents. Because these issues can have significant financial implications, the work can be mentally stressful at times. Many people find that challenge rewarding, but it is important to understand that it is not a low stress job from the standpoint of personal performance on a daily basis.
High Ownership Expectations
We do not hold your hand. You will be trained, supported, and given strong resources, but you are expected to take ownership of your training, knowledge development, skill development, and deadlines. You need to ramp up quickly and keep learning and improving every day.
Focused Inspection Scope (vs. Design)
The work is focused on a specific area of engineering. We do not do design work, and we are not trying to be a cutting-edge structural design firm. Our scope is focused on residential foundations, drainage, seismic issues, retaining walls, soils, and related property conditions. Within that scope, the work is broad and challenging, but it may not be the right fit for someone looking for a traditional design role.