Geotechnical Engineering Intern / Engineer Trainee

Quartet ENG; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Quartet Engineering in Houston, Texas, seeks a Geotechnical Engineering Intern / Engineer Trainee to support the field, laboratory, and office teams. You will log borings, run soil tests in our lab, build boring logs and lab summaries, and assist licensed engineers with analyses and report preparation.

Interns gain exposure to the full project lifecycle, and full-time trainees follow a structured path toward their EIT and Texas PE under the direct mentorship of licensed engineers.

Qualifications

• Enrollment in ABET-accredited Civil Engineering program with soil mechanics coursework.
• Minimum GPA of 3.0.
• Willingness to travel to project sites across Texas.
• Authorization to work in the United States.
• Valid Texas driver's license.

Responsibilities

• Observe and log geotechnical borings in the field: classify soils by visual-manual methods, record data, and coordinate with the drill crew.
• Perform laboratory tests including moisture content, Atterberg limits, sieve and hydrometer analysis, unit weight, unconfined compression, swell, and Proctor.
• Prepare boring logs, laboratory summary tables, and site plans in gINT, AutoCAD or Civil 3D, and Excel.
• Assist engineers with bearing capacity, settlement, slope stability, lateral pile, and pavement analyses using LPILE, Slide or SLOPE/W, Settle3, and TxDOT FPS.
• Draft sections of geotechnical reports and technical memoranda for review by the project engineer.
• Research and compile site data: geologic maps, historical aerials, USDA soil surveys, FEMA flood maps, and prior reports.
• Support construction-phase geotechnical observation, including pier and footing bearing verification and fill placement observation.
• Follow the company health and safety program and ISO/IEC 17025 quality procedures.

Skills

Excel

Microsoft Office

AutoCAD

Civil 3D

gINT

Education

ABET-accredited Civil Engineering program

Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering

Master's degree with geotechnical concentration

Tools

gINT

AutoCAD

Civil 3D

LPILE

Slide

SLOPE/W

Settle3

Job description

Houston, Texas

1+

Apply by 29 Nov 2026

About This Role

The Geotechnical Engineering Intern / Engineer Trainee supports Quartet's geotechnical team in the field, laboratory, and office. You will log borings alongside our drill crews, run soil tests in our A2LA-accredited laboratory, build boring logs and lab summaries, and assist licensed engineers with analyses and report preparation. Interns gain exposure to the full project lifecycle, and full-time trainees follow a structured path toward their EIT and Texas PE under the direct mentorship of licensed engineers.

Responsibilities

• Observe and log geotechnical borings in the field: classify soils by visual-manual methods (ASTM D2488), record sampling, blow counts, groundwater, and Texas Cone Penetrometer data, and coordinate with the drill crew.
• Perform laboratory tests including moisture content, Atterberg limits, sieve and hydrometer analysis, unit weight, unconfined compression, swell, and Proctor under the supervision of lab staff.
• Prepare boring logs, laboratory summary tables, and site plans in gINT, AutoCAD or Civil 3D, and Excel.
• Assist engineers with bearing capacity, settlement, slope stability, lateral pile, and pavement analyses using LPILE, Slide or SLOPE/W, Settle3, and TxDOT FPS.
• Draft sections of geotechnical reports and technical memoranda for review by the project engineer.
• Research and compile site data: geologic maps, historical aerials, USDA soil surveys, FEMA flood maps, and prior reports.
• Support construction-phase geotechnical observation, including pier and footing bearing verification and fill placement observation.
• Follow the company health and safety program and ISO/IEC 17025 quality procedures.

Requirements

Required qualifications

• Interns: currently enrolled in a bachelor's or master's program in Civil Engineering at an ABET-accredited university, with completed or in-progress coursework in soil mechanics or geotechnical engineering, junior standing or above.
• Trainees: Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from an ABET-accredited program completed within the past 2 years. A master's degree with a geotechnical concentration is preferred.
• Minimum GPA of 3.0.
• Working knowledge of Excel and Microsoft Office; familiarity with AutoCAD or Civil 3D.
• Willingness to work outdoors on drilling and construction sites in all weather and to travel to project sites across Texas.
• Valid Texas driver's license with a clean driving record.
• Authorization to work in the United States.

Preferred qualifications

• Engineer in Training (EIT) certification or FE exam passed, or scheduled to take the FE within 6 months.
• Coursework or research in foundation engineering, expansive soils, pavement design, or geotechnical earthquake engineering.
• Exposure to gINT, LPILE, Slide, SLOPE/W, or Settle3.
• OSHA 10-Hour Construction, ACI Concrete Field Testing Technician Grade I, or Nuclear Gauge Safety certification.
• Prior internship or co-op with a geotechnical, CMT, or civil engineering firm.
• Bilingual English and Spanish.

What you will gain

• Direct mentorship from licensed professional engineers, with documented experience toward Texas PE licensure.
• Paid FE exam fee and study materials for full-time trainees, plus paid ACI, nuclear gauge, and OSHA certifications.
• Rotation through field, laboratory, and office work on transportation, public works, industrial, and residential projects.
• A clear advancement path from Engineer Trainee to Staff Engineer to Project Engineer.

Physical requirements and work environment

Split between the Houston office, laboratory, and active drilling and construction sites in all weather. Must be able to lift 50 pounds, walk uneven terrain, and wear person