Staff Engineer

Actalent; Des Moines (IA); On-site; USD 34,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) retirement plan

Life Insurance

Short & long-term disability

Health Spending Account

Job summary

Actalent in Des Moines, IA, seeks a Staff Engineer with a geotechnical focus to support investigations, materials testing, and analysis for infrastructure projects. The role blends field and office work and offers hands-on site experience, laboratory testing, client interaction, and technical report preparation.

Ideal candidates are early-career engineers aiming to obtain a PE license, with a Bachelor’s in Civil/Geotechnical Engineering, strong writing and communication skills, and willingness

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil/Geotechnical Engineering or related field.
• Valid driver's license with acceptable driving record.
• Experience performing field testing, construction materials testing, or geotechnical investigations.
• Strong technical writing and report preparation skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication abilities.
• Ability to work independently and within a team environment.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds regularly and up to 75 pounds occasionally.
• Willingness to perform field‑related work at least 50% of the time.
• Ability to travel up to 25% as required for project needs.

Responsibilities

• Perform field and laboratory testing related to geotechnical engineering and construction materials.
• Conduct site observations and monitor construction activities to ensure compliance with project specifications.
• Collect, document, and analyze field data and testing results.
• Assist with the preparation of geotechnical engineering reports, recommendations, and technical documentation.
• Develop engineering solutions and make project recommendations for review by senior engineers.
• Prepare proposals and cost estimates for geotechnical investigations and materials testing projects.
• Manage small-scale geotechnical and construction materials testing projects from initiation through completion.
• Maintain regular communication with clients and support ongoing business relationships.
• Collaborate with engineers and project teams on larger, more complex projects while independently managing assigned tasks.
• Support professional development efforts, including experience requirements toward Professional Engineer (PE) licensure.

Skills

Geotechnical field testing

Technical writing

Communication skills

Teamwork

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil/Geotechnical Engineering

Engineer-in-Training (EIT) or licensure progress

Job description

Job Title: Staff Engineer

Job Description

We are seeking a motivated Geotechnical Engineer to join our growing engineering consulting team. This individual will support geotechnical investigations, construction materials testing, and engineering analysis for a variety of infrastructure and construction projects. The role offers a mix of field and office responsibilities, providing hands‑on experience with site investigations, laboratory testing, client interaction, and technical report preparation. This position is ideal for an early‑career engineer looking to expand their geotechnical expertise, gain project management experience, and work toward obtaining their Professional Engineer (PE) license.

Responsibilities

• Perform field and laboratory testing related to geotechnical engineering and construction materials.
• Conduct site observations and monitor construction activities to ensure compliance with project specifications.
• Collect, document, and analyze field data and testing results.
• Assist with the preparation of geotechnical engineering reports, recommendations, and technical documentation.
• Develop engineering solutions and make project recommendations for review by senior engineers.
• Prepare proposals and cost estimates for geotechnical investigations and materials testing projects.
• Manage small-scale geotechnical and construction materials testing projects from initiation through completion.
• Maintain regular communication with clients and support ongoing business relationships.
• Collaborate with engineers and project teams on larger, more complex projects while independently managing assigned tasks.
• Support professional development efforts, including experience requirements toward Professional Engineer (PE) licensure.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, Construction Engineering, Materials Engineering, or a related field.
• Valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record.
• Experience performing field testing, construction materials testing, or geotechnical investigations.
• Strong technical writing and report preparation skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication abilities.
• Ability to work independently and within a team environment.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds regularly and up to 75 pounds occasionally.
• Willingness to perform field‑related work at least 50% of the time.
• Ability to travel up to 25% as required for project needs.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Prior engineering consulting experience (0-4 years).
• Geotechnical engineering experience.
• Experience with construction materials testing and field inspection services.
• Engineer-in-Training (EIT) certification or progress toward obtaining licensure.
• Experience preparing technical reports and engineering recommendations.

Work Environment

This role offers a combination of office, laboratory, and field work. Employees should expect to spend approximately 50% or more of their time performing field services at project sites, with travel throughout the local region as needed. The company supports a robust environment for geotechnical work in Iowa.

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 $25.00 - $33.00/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 Sep 30, 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.