Cora Johnson

Cora is an experienced geotechnical engineer specializing in large transportation projects, and a key leader in our Seattle office and national geotechnical team. Throughout her career, Cora has focused on complex geotechnical design and analysis, including slope stability, deep foundations, retaining structures, liquefaction mitigation, and lightweight fill embankments. Cora plays a role in many of GeoEngineers’ major linear highway and multidisciplinary fish passage projects, collaborating closely with clients like WSDOT, SDOT, and Sound Transit.

Cora is especially drawn to multidisciplinary projects where geotechnical work integrates with other technical services. She enjoys participating in project task force meetings, where specialists from across the firm come together to shape the vision for a new bridge, highway, or fish passage structure.

“I love it because I’ve gotten to do more than just geotechnical engineering,” Cora says. “By managing these large, multidisciplinary projects I get to learn what our stream specialists and environmental compliance managers do and how it all integrates together to make a successful project.”

In addition to her technical work, Cora is a principal and assistant leader of GeoEngineers’ national geotechnical discipline. She manages staffing, workload balancing, training, and project delivery while fostering collaboration across offices and specialties.

“I love the people part of my job,” she says. “I help bring people together in a way that allows individuals to shine and work together to solve problems in a beautiful way.”

Cora’s leadership and passion for people also extend to her involvement with organizations like WTS, a professional organization that focuses on advancing women in the transportation industry. Cora has been involved with WTS Puget Sound since 2018 in various capacities, and in 2024 she became Vice President of the WTS Puget Sound Executive Board. Through WTS, Cora helps support her colleagues in the transportation industry and gives opportunities to the next generation of young women entering the field.

Outside of work, Cora embraces city life around her home in downtown Seattle. She enjoys an active, outdoor lifestyle—running marathons, biking, and taking lots of urban hikes with her husband and two dogs!