JOB OPENINGS
Foundation & Drainage Inspector / Engineer (On-Site in the Greater Bay Area, CA)
BEAR Engineering provides independent, objective & data driven foundation, drainage, seismic & retaining wall inspections for homeowners, buyers & sellers, both onsite & remote.
Working at BEAR Engineering is a unique engineering opportunity. Our clients are a mix of people who are in the process of purchasing a home and they need an expert evaluation of the foundation & drainage in a tight timeframe or homeowners who are observing troubling signs of issues and need the expert, independent & objective guidance. The wide variety of construction styles and ages, combined with the variety of challenging soil conditions (hillsides, reclaimed land, expansive soils, seismic hazards) mean that you will see something new and interesting on every inspection. It is not unusual for homeowners to have past geotechnical reports, design drawings, structural calculations, and other inspection reports for their properties.
Combined with BEAR Engineering’s archive of reports and open source geotechnical and geological data, you will need to make on the ground observations and apply engineering judgement to determine possible causes of the client’s problem, possible safety hazards and risks, and possible solutions based on each client’s budget and priorities. It really is an interesting and unique practice of engineering judgement. You are working with limited data points and need to build a picture of what is going on through the course of the inspection. Many clients have no idea how foundations are designed or function.
Every house is different in some way. You get to interact with different people (both agents, homeowners, buyers & sellers) daily from all walks of life that is common in the Bay Area. It’s very rewarding to know you are helping people out with one of their most valuable assets.
Minimum Requirements
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Civil Engineering Degree (or equivalent)
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EIT (or ability to obtain it within 2 months of starting) or PE
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Personable and communicates well with a wide variety of personalities
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Adventurous - ability to enter crawlspaces below homes, work hard & get dirty
Benefits
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Full Health, Dental & Vision Insurance (administered through TriNet)
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401K (1% matching)
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Mileage reimbursement ($.35/mile)
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5 weeks total combined time off (vacation, holidays & sick days)
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100% field work (no office to come into)
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Compensation
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Ranges from $75K / year to $140K+ / year depending on level of experience, ability, work ethic, efficiency & ambition
Company Core Values
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Integrity - first & foremost, strive to do the right thing
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Empathy - treat others how we want to be treated
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Excellence - strive for a personal best on every job
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Attitude - maintain a positive and caring attitude
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Priority Areas For Next Hires
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Santa Cruz / Aptos
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Petaluma / Santa Rosa
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​Tracy / Stockton
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Fairfield / Vallejo
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Gilroy / Salinas
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To Apply
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Email Cover Letter, Resume & LinkedIn Profile to Nathan@BearEng.com
READ EMPLOYEE REVIEWS:
INSIGHTS FROM OUR INSPECTORS:
FROM KURT:
What do you enjoy most about the inspections?
Explaining engineering & geologic concepts to clients in a way that is understandable & informative, seeing structures & foundation types of different ages/locations, visiting different cities or towns all across the Bay Area.
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What attracted you to BEAR and this role?
Using my experience & degrees to help educate clients and to see unique homes & foundation types of different ages across the Bay Area.​​
FROM ROHITH:
What do you enjoy most about the inspections?
Clients often come to us with many questions and concerns. After completing the inspection and answering their questions, seeing that they feel relieved and satisfied motivates me to work harder.
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What attracted you to BEAR and this role?
I previously worked as a project engineer doing both office and field work. I found that I enjoy field work much more than office work. The foundation inspector role attracted me because it is field-based and unique compared to many civil engineering roles.​​​
FROM DAVID:
What do you enjoy most about the inspections?
Each foundation inspection feels like a puzzle, and I like being the one to figure out how all of the pieces fit together.
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What attracted you to BEAR and this role?
I value BEAR’s commitment to educating homeowners, and I enjoy getting to use my engineering knowledge in a practical, direct way that genuinely helps people.​
FROM MO:
What do you enjoy most about the inspections?
I enjoy completing all essential inspection procedures—especially floor elevation surveys and crawlspace inspections and providing clients with honest, professional debriefs. My goal is to help them understand how to protect, maintain, and repair the foundation of their home, which is the structural backbone of their property and often one of their family’s largest investments.
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What attracted you to BEAR and this role?
I enjoy the team atmosphere and the highly educated and supportive colleagues I work with.​
FROM CAROLINE:
What do you enjoy most about the inspections?
I love the opportunity to speak with homeowners about the role complex Bay Area geology plays in the livability and enjoyment of their homes.
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What attracted you to BEAR and this role?
I love a hands-on role where I get to meet new people everyday.
FROM HALUK:
What do you enjoy most about the inspections?
I enjoy identifying how a structure behaves and understanding the root cause behind foundation movement. Every home tells a unique story, and translating those observations into clear, actionable guidance for homeowners is genuinely rewarding. Helping people make informed decisions with confidence is what I find most fulfilling.
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What attracted you to BEAR and this role?
The opportunity to combine field investigation, engineering judgment, and homeowner education is exactly the type of work that energizes me. BEAR’s commitment to high-quality assessments, clear communication, and integrity aligns perfectly with my own values and background in civil engineering and construction management.​