Construction Materials Testing Specialist

Office of the County Engineer; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, vision, and dental insurance

457 deferred compensation plans

Transportation assistance

Job summary

Harris County is seeking a Construction Materials Testing (CMT) Specialist to oversee testing services on county projects, ensuring quality, compliance, and consistency with ASTM, AASHTO, TxDOT, ISO, and county specifications. You will coordinate with testing firms and lead investigations into material failures while supporting project teams and inspectors.

The role requires a minimum of five years in CMT, strong analytical skills, and the ability to interpret plans and testing requirements.

Qualifications

• Minimum five years of experience in construction materials testing.
• Knowledge of ASTM, TxDOT testing methods for soils, aggregates, concrete, asphalt, and reinforcing steel.
• Ability to read and interpret plans and specifications.
• Strong organizational and analytical skills.

Responsibilities

• Review and evaluate CMT field and laboratory reports for accuracy, completeness, and compliance with applicable standards.
• Monitor project budgets, prepare budget tracking reports, and ensure testing services remain within established allocations.
• Review and validate invoices for accuracy and adherence to Harris County fee schedules and governing specifications.
• Coordinate with CMT firms regarding scheduling, performance expectations, and billing discrepancies.
• Perform field and laboratory evaluations of CMT technicians to ensure adherence to testing procedures and quality standards.
• Assist in training Harris County inspectors on ASTM, TxDOT, and related testing procedures.
• Support or lead material failure investigations, including documentation and coordination with relevant stakeholders.
• Attend project meetings and provide input on materials testing, quality concerns, and compliance issues.
• Maintain documentation and tracking of testing activities to support reporting and audit readiness.
• Provide general support to project teams and leadership as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Materials testing

Field testing

Laboratory testing

Budget tracking

Quality compliance

Communication

Education

High school diploma

Bachelor’s degree preferred

Job description

The Construction Materials Testing (CMT) Specialist supports Harris County construction projects by coordinating and overseeing construction materials testing services to ensure quality, compliance, and consistency. This role ensures that all CMT work complies with project specifications, ASTM, AASHTO, TxDOT, ISO standards, and Harris County requirements. The position plays a key role in maintaining the integrity of construction materials and supporting safe, reliable infrastructure delivery.

Job Duties:

• Review and evaluate CMT field and laboratory reports for accuracy, completeness, and compliance with applicable standards.
• Monitor project budgets, prepare budget tracking reports, and ensure testing services remain within established allocations.
• Review and validate invoices for accuracy and adherence to Harris County fee schedules and governing specifications.
• Coordinate with CMT firms regarding scheduling, performance expectations, and billing discrepancies
• Perform field and laboratory evaluations of CMT technicians to ensure adherence to testing procedures and quality standards
• Assist in training Harris County inspectors on ASTM, TxDOT, and related testing procedures
• Support or lead material failure investigations, including documentation and coordination with relevant stakeholders
• Attend project meetings and provide input on materials testing, quality concerns, and compliance issues
• Maintain documentation and tracking of testing activities to support reporting and audit readiness
• Provide general support to project teams and leadership as needed
• Perform other duties as assigned

Requirements:

Education:

• High school diploma or GED equivalent.

Experience:

• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in construction materials testing, including field and/or laboratory work.

Licensure:

• Valid Texas Driver's License upon hire and a good driving record
• Working knowledge of ASTM and TxDOT test methods for soils, aggregates, concrete, asphalt, and reinforcing steel.
• Ability to interpret construction plans, specifications, and testing requirements.
• Strong understanding of materials testing procedures in both field and laboratory environments.
• Proficiency in standard math calculations used in construction materials testing.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills with the ability to coordinate across internal teams and external vendors.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Emergency Deployment & Continuity of Operations Requirement:

• In accordance with Harris County’s Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) Policy, this position is subject to emergency response and deployment protocols. The employee may be designated as supporting a Mission Essential Function (MEF) and must:
• Participate in the classification process of departmental staff based on MEF responsibilities.
• Be available for temporary deployment to an alternative work location, role, or telework assignment during emergency events.
• Confirm work assignments with their supervisor prior to reporting to any worksite during such events.
• Remain flexible in assuming alternative duties as directed to support County operations continuity.

Preferences:

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in construction management, engineering, or a related field (experience may be substituted)

Experience:

• Experience in estimating testing services for road and bridge projects
• Familiarity with Harris County testing specifications
• Prior experience in a lead or mentoring capacity
• Hands-on experience performing field testing procedures
• Experience supporting quality assurance and compliance efforts across multiple projects

Certifications:

• National Institute of Engineering Technologies (NICET)
• Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)
• American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)
• United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
• American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA)

General Information:

Position Type and Typical Hours of Work:

Full-Time | Regular | 40 hours per week.

Subject to early mornings, late evenings, weekends, and holidays at times, depending upon the project or workload.

Salary: Commensurate with experience, based on 26 pay periods.

Physical Demands and Environmental Exposure:

Most assignments will be performed in an office, meeting, or operations command center environment, but some field work may be required. May be required to work extended work hours during activation of disaster recovery operations for an unspecified length of time (varies based on the extent of the event).

This position requires bending, stooping, and lifting up to 25 lbs., as well as frequent walking, standing, sitting, reaching, and ascending/descending stairs. The physical demands described here are representative of those that an employee must meet to perform the essential functions of this job successfully.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

FEATURED BENEFITS:

Medical, vision, and dental insurance.

Flexible spending accounts.

457 deferred compensation plans.

Transportation assistance (Metro Ride Sponsor Program).

Disability and life insurance.

Harris County is a Qualified Employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF).