Transforming Unknow Sites into Engineered Solutions

Meet Ryan Walters, PE | Geographic Discipline Leader Geotechnical

With over 15 years of specialized experience spanning geotechnical construction, pavement, and site development engineering, Ryan Walters brings deep-rooted industry knowledge to his role as Geographic Discipline Leader for Geotechnical Engineering. His comprehensive expertise encompasses multi-family, retail, mixed-use, commercial, higher education, and industrial projects, with technical capabilities extending across the complete project lifecycle—from programming geotechnical field explorations to quality assurance oversight during construction phases. His specialized expertise includes ground improvement techniques, slope stability assessments, retaining wall design, pavement engineering, sinkhole remediation, and geosynthetics applications.

Ryan’s path into geotechnical engineering began with family roots in construction. “I grew up working in the industry with my family’s site contracting business, so pursuing my license in Geotechnical Engineering was a natural evolution for my career,” he said. “The geotechnical field provided an opportunity to be involved throughout each stage of a project—from due diligence through construction—and allowed me to be on job sites regularly.” This hands-on foundation continues to inform his practical approach to engineering challenges, driven by his passion for the variability and detective work inherent in geotechnical consulting. “Every site is different, bringing unique challenges that require fundamental understanding of geotechnical engineering principles to develop practical, cost-effective solutions. I also enjoy discovering the history behind each site—each site has a story to tell.”

A particularly memorable project exemplifies Ryan’s approach: a unique industrial development exceeding 1,000 acres shaped by a partially collapsed subsurface mine extending over 2,000 feet deep, a reservoir, and a tailings dam exceeding 100 feet in height. “Understanding the site history and access constraints were critical aspects of programming and successfully executing the field exploration,” Ryan noted. “Due to the project complexity, our team recommended a variety of cost-effective geo-techniques including reinforced slopes, site walls, ground improvement, and soil modification to satisfy the project requirements.”

For emerging geotechnical engineers, Ryan emphasizes field experience: “Spend as much time in the field as you can—whether on construction sites or behind the drill rig. Gain a fundamental understanding of how projects get built from the ground up so you can better understand potential pitfalls. Be curious and never be afraid to ask questions.” Ready to uncover the stories beneath every site? Click here to explore current opportunities.