Geotechnical Engineering Technician Career

GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN CAREERS IN COLORADO

Geotechnical Engineering Technician career paths provide hands-on training and a clear growth path through ongoing certifications to help you kickstart your career and quickly gain valuable experience to grow within the industry

• Entry Level Technicians (no experience required) typically make $20/hr and $50-$60k in their first year of employment.
• Colorado positions available in: Denver, Parker, Englewood, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, Loveland and Gypsum.

What is Geotechnical Engineering?
Geotechnical Engineering is a branch of civil engineering concerned with the engineering behavior of earth materials. It uses the principles of soil mechanics and rock mechanics for the solution of its respective engineering problems.

What is a Geotechnical Engineering Technician?
A Geotechnical Engineering Technician collects and analyzes samples of soil, rock, concrete and other materials to perform quality control and quality assurance before and during construction projects. They create reports that they provide to licensed engineers to help them decide which type and strength of materials need to be used on projects. Geotechnical Engineering Technicians work on a variety of projects ranging from heavy civil (Water Structures, Transportation/DOT, Bridges), residential (Home Foundations, Driveways, Sidewalks), to commercial (Foundations, parking lots, parking garages, vertical structures).

Who can be a Geotechnical Engineering Technician?

If you are eager to work hard and grow in a skilled trade career, have a clean Driving Record, Background Check and can pass a pre-employment drug test, you may be a fit in a Geotechnical Engineering Technician career path. Common educational backgrounds who have had long term careers after getting started in a Geotechnical Engineering Technician job title:

• GED/High School Diploma
• Associate Degree
• Bachelor Degree
  
  • Geotechnical Engineering
  • Geological Engineering
  • Geoscience/Geology
  • Civil Engineering
  • Civil Engineering Technology
  • Construction Management
• Master Degree
  
  • Geotechnical Engineering
  • Civil Engineering

What type of growth can you expect in this career path?

1. Year 1. Entry level positions that require no experience typically start at $20/hr. These are hourly positions that typically work 40-60 hours a week in the summer. In your first year as an Entry Level Engineering Technician you can expect to make $50,000 - $60,000 after overtime pay.
   
   1. During your first 1-2 months in this position you are mentored by an experienced technician and will be performing hands-on tests overseen by your mentor. Once comfortable, you will receive financial support through your employer to sit for multiple certifications. These certifications allow you to quickly grow your skill set to perform different types of tests on Concrete, Asphalt and Soils. Certifications typically come with a $1/hr pay raise.

1. Year 2. By your second year as a Geotechnical Engineering Technician, most successful Technicians have typically obtained an ACI Concrete Field Strength I certification, WAQTC and LabCat (CAPA) certification and are make $22-$25/hr (+ OT pay) depending on certifications obtained, employer and project experience.
   1. By your second year you will be comfortable performing tests, writing reports over your field tests and will have the ability to help mentor new technicians.

1. Year 3. Successful Geotechnical Engineering Technicians will have multiple industry certifications and are typically making $24-$27/hr+ depending on their certifications, company and project experience.

1. Ongoing Job Opportunities: After 3 years as a Geotechnical Engineering Technician (No Degree) individuals are highly sought after in the Geotechnical industry. They have found their niche in the industry and are looking to work on specific types of projects (CDOT, Heavy Civil, Residential, Commercial, Vertical Construction etc).
   
   1. The most natural progression from this position is to continue to grow through obtaining ICC (International Code Council) certifications to become a certified inspector. Inspectors typically make $30-$45/hr depending on their ICC certifications and experience. There are a wide variety (37) of ICC Certifications you can obtain to perform inspection responsibilities on horizontal or vertical construction projects.

COMMON CAREER PATHS

Depending on education, Geotechnical Engineering Technicians can use their experience to grow into a variety of different positions within the industry.

• Staff Geologist (Geologist/Environmental Majors)
• Field Engineer (Civil Engineers Majors)
• Special Inspector (ICC Certifications)
• CDOT Inspector (CDOT Certifications)
• Construction Manager (Construction Management)
• Environmental Technician (Geologist/Environmental Majors)
• Geotechnical Driller (Geology/Geotechnical)
• Lab Technician
• Lab Manager

CERTIFICATIONS

ACI (American Concrete Institution):

• Concrete Field Testing Technician
• Concrete Strength Testing Technician
• Aggregate Testing 1 and 2
• Laboratory Testing Technician Level 2
• Aggregate Base

ACI Concrete Field Testing - Is the most common certification obtained through a practical and written exam. An individual who has demonstrated the knowledge and ability to properly perform and record the results of seven basic field tests on freshly mixed concrete. The ACI also includes 55 multiple-choice questions that lasts 1 hour. Technicians have performed these tests with supervision and work and are typically comfortable with these tests before sitting for the exam.

WAQCT (Western Alliance for Quality Transportation Construction):

• Embankment and Base Testing Technician

This program is for engineering technicians and engineers responsible for sampling, testing and inspections for quality control of soils and aggregate. CDOT qualifies soils and embankment inspectors through WAQTC's Embankment and Base and In-Place Density modules. This portion of the certification program involves written and performance exams on the WAQTC materials. In addition to the WAQTC qualification, CDOT desires to have our inspectors familiar with construction practices, geological conditions, testing procedures and construction specifications that are unique for Colorado.

CAPA (Colorado Asphalt Pavement Association)

• Level nd B
• Level C
• Level E
• Level S
• Level I

Technicians testing for certification must be proficient in each of the field and laboratory tests required for materials acceptance in conjunction with the CDOT QC/QA specifications. The field and laboratory testing is based on the current references to the CDOT Field Materials Manual (FMM), CDOT Laboratory Manual of Test Procedures (CP-L), and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Standard Specifications for Transportation Materials and Methods of Sampling where applicable.

If you are interested in pursuing a Geotechnical Engineering Technician career path, please APPLY TODAY!