Summer Engineering Technician / Construction Materials Testing

Terracon; Des Moines (IA); Hybrid; USD 21,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

Terracon in Des Moines, IA invites engineering students for a summer internship to gain hands-on experience in field and lab testing of soils, aggregates, concrete, asphalt and steel.

Work May–August, with Co-Ops available through December. You’ll learn safety procedures, assist with data collection, reporting, and equipment maintenance while collaborating with project teams.

Qualifications

• Pursuing BS or MS in civil or construction engineering.

Responsibilities

• Assist on tasks under supervision and perform basic testing and observations.
• Document findings clearly and prepare data for submittal to Project Manager.
• Communicate results to Project Manager and discuss data accuracy.
• Maintain and clean equipment, vehicles, and work areas.
• May assist with scheduling and dispatch of Technicians to project sites.
• Adhere to strict safety standards throughout projects.
• Work independently with limited supervision and meet quality expectations.
• Collaborate with teams across locations to achieve project goals.

Skills

Communication skills

Independent work

Team collaboration

Safety mindset

Education

Pursuing BS/MS in civil/construction engineering

Job description

General Responsibilities:

Join Terracon's Des Moines, IA for the summer and gain valuable engineering experience! We are looking for engineering students interested in summer work. Work from May - August and Co-Ops are also available if you want to work to December. In the role you will:

Perform field and/or laboratory testing, observation, and inspection of construction materials (e.g. soils, aggregates, concrete, asphalt, and steel). Communicate with project manager, engineering technicians, client representative, contractor’s representative and others as applicable regarding the construction site, project requirements, and testing, observation, and inspection requirements and results. Transport material samples with associated identifying documentation to the laboratory for further testing and analysis. Tabulate, prepare, and submit data and observation in the form of written and digital reports as work is performed for daily transmittal to the Terracon Project Manager. Maintain and clean equipment, vehicles and work areas. May assist with scheduling and dispatch of Technicians to project sites. Adhere to strict safety standards.

Essential Roles and Responsibilities:

• Under close supervision of higher level technicians or staff professionals, assist on tasks and perform basic testing and observations duties.
• Provides clear documentation of findings and results.
• Communicates information to Project Manager and discusses accuracy of data in preparation for submittal.
• Submits documentation and communicates results as directed by the Project Manager
• Will be placed in a progressively increased role of training and responsibility in work assignments.
• Maintains assigned equipment.
• Follow safety rules and practices and other safety requirements for all projects. Perform pre-task planning prior to executing work. Report any safety issues or concerns to management.
• Be responsible for maintaining quality standards on all projects.
• Proven ability to work independently with limited supervision, exercising sound judgment, accountability, and initiative while consistently meeting quality and productivity expectations.
• Equally effective in collaborative team environments, integrating into new teams, contributing constructively to shared objectives and working across a variety of geographic locations and work environments to achieve project goals.
• Ability to adapt to changing project environments, jobsite conditions, and diverse team structures.
• Strong safety mindset with the ability to proactively identify site-specific hazards, assess changing field conditions, follow established safety procedures, and take appropriate action to mitigate risk.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to quickly build productive working relationships with peers, supervisors, clients, and field personnel while fostering a strong culture of safety and collaboration.

Requirements:

• High school diploma or equivalent and pursuing a BS or Master's degree in civil or construction engineering
• Flexibility to work varying schedules, including overtime, weekends, and extended shifts as project demands require.
• A valid driver’s license with acceptable violation history may be required.