Engineering Technician

Actalent; Des Moines (IA); On-site; USD 28,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company vehicle provided

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) plan

HSA

Job summary

Actalent in Des Moines, IA is seeking an Engineering Technician to conduct material testing on aggregates, soils, asphalt, concrete and steel across central Iowa. You will visit multiple job sites daily, collect soil and concrete samples, and ensure compliance with shop drawings while maintaining detailed logs.

The role is contract-to-hire with a fully onsite schedule, typically 40-60 hours per week, with occasional longer weeks.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of experience in construction testing related to earth, dirt work, concrete, or steel.
• Proficiency in soil sampling and non‑destructive testing.
• Knowledge of materials testing, geoscience, geology, and environmental science.

Responsibilities

• Conduct material testing for aggregate, soil, asphalt, concrete, and steel.
• Visit multiple job sites daily across central Iowa.
• Interact with contractors and project owners.
• Collect samples of soil and concrete for testing.
• Perform foundation testing and ensure compliance with shop drawings.
• Maintain logs and track data from testing machines.

Skills

2+ years exp

Soil sampling

Non-destructive testing

Materials testing

Geoscience

Geology

Environmental science

Education

Bachelor's degree in Geology or Environmental Science

Job description

Job Description

As an Engineering Technician, you will be responsible for conducting material testing for aggregate, soil, asphalt, concrete, and steel using non-destructive testing methods. Your role will involve visiting multiple job sites daily across central Iowa, interacting with contractors and project owners, and collecting samples of soil and concrete. You will conduct foundation testing and ensure reinforcing steel complies with shop drawings. Additionally, you will maintain logs and track data from concrete and soil testing machines.

Responsibilities

• Conduct material testing for aggregate, soil, asphalt, concrete, and steel.
• Visit multiple job sites daily across central Iowa.
• Interact with contractors and project owners.
• Collect samples of soil and concrete for testing.
• Perform foundation testing and ensure compliance with shop drawings.
• Maintain logs and track data from testing machines.

Essential Skills

• 2+ years of experience in construction testing related to earth, dirt work, concrete, or steel.
• Proficiency in soil sampling and non‑destructive testing.
• Knowledge of materials testing, geoscience, geology, and environmental science.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Geology, Environmental Sciences, or a similar field is preferred.

Work Environment

Work primarily consists of 40-60 hours per week, occasionally extending to 6 days a week. Start times vary between 7am-8am, and work continues until the job is completed. Overnight stays are rare, occurring approximately 10 times a year. The company is family‑owned, fostering a close‑knit, supportive atmosphere, with an emphasis on investing in employees' education and professional growth. A company vehicle is provided for site visits. There are 20 field technicians and 8 office staff, with a mix of administrative, project management, and engineering roles. The company is flexible with time off and encourages a balance between work and personal life. Most clients are based in the Midwest, including locations in Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Des Moines, IA.

Pay And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $20.00 - $28.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job‑related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Pre‑tax and Roth post‑tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long‑term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Des Moines,IA.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 13, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.