Soil Technician Job Descriptions, Average Salary, Interview Questions

From construction to agriculture, many industries rely on the expertise of soil technicians to develop recommendations for best practices. Understanding the properties of a site’s soil composition is important to protect the site from the damages of erosion. A soil technician analyzes the soil to make the best recommendations. [Your company name] is looking for skilled soil technicians to join our team. If you have excellent observational, communication, and critical thinking skills, our company could be the perfect fit.

Typical duties and responsibilities

• Test and analyze soil, aggregates, concrete, and other materials
• Document and explain all findings and note any issues or concerns
• Collaborate with contractors, technicians, and project managers
• Compile and present findings and recommendations to decision-makers 

Education and experience

• This position requires an associate degree, preferably with courses in ecology, biology, chemistry, and global environmental issues. Employers often prefer candidates with a bachelor’s degree and certification as an environmental professional.

Required skills and qualifications

• Broad knowledge of federal, state, and local environmental regulations
• Experience with ecological surveying and reporting
• Knowledge of various sampling techniques and equipment
• Critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Robust technical writing, analytical, and communications skills 
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and industry-related software
• Comfortable with fieldwork

Preferred qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in science, agriculture, or related field
• Experience working with the local soil
• Passion for environmental science

As a Soil Technician, you will be responsible for in-the-field testing of concrete, soils, and other construction materials. You will use a company-provided vehicle to travel to job sites in the area. We also provide on-the-job training and future construction materials testing certification possibilities. If you’re reliable, have a good work ethic, and can cooperate with co-workers and clients respectfully, this is the position for you.

Job responsibilities:

• Drive to job sites and conduct soils and other construction materials testing
• Perform visual inspections of soils
• Return samples to the office for laboratory testing
• Report data in an accurate, complete, timely, and understandable fashion in accordance with applicable testing procedures
• Read and accurately interpret construction plans and specifications
• Ensure that all test equipment used is functioning properly, maintained as required by the company and/or manufacturer’s policy and that all calibrated equipment is within its calibration cycle
• Communicate with dispatching and/or field supervisor, advising of current job status and locations as required
• Ensure that project requirements are met and are compliant with project specifications, requirements, and company policies or procedures
• Attend all technician meetings
• Complete daily time and labor reports accurately in accordance with company policy
• Follow all company safety procedures and policies
• Pass required testing certification classes
• Other duties may be assigned

Qualifications:

• Prior experience as field/engineering technician
• American Concrete Institute (ACI) Concrete Field Testing Technician – Grade I preferred
• Required: ICC Soils Special Inspector OR NICET Soils Technician II
• Required: Valid Driver’s License with an acceptable driving record
• Required: Must be at least 18 years old for entry onto job sites, must be able to lift up to 75 pounds repeatedly
• Required: Ability to read and write, ability to use a computer

In this role, the selected candidate will join ABC Company’s New Ag Technology team as a Plant and Soil Science Technician to support the discovery and development of nove, new, and existing plant stress and stimulation products.

Job responsibilities

• Evaluate plant stress and stimulation products, i.e., biostimulants, biofertilizers, nutrients, etc., in the lab, growth chamber and greenhouse for benefits to corn, soybean, sorghum, cotton, peanut, rice, wheat, and other crops
• Plan, coordinate, and carry out all aspects of growth chamber/greenhouse trial experimentation including pot filling, planting, watering, collecting data, validating methods, troubleshooting causes of variability, and analyzing data from all the experiments
• Write protocols/SOPs, and reports, as needed to document methods and results in laboratory notebook
• Report findings to R&D leadership and in team/platform meetings
• Work with OpenAg Center colleagues and green house colleagues to meet safety standards and support global greenhouse trial initiatives

Required education and experience

• Bachelor’s Degree and 4 years experience or Master’s degree and 1 years of relevant experience
• Expertise in plant physiology and phenotyping of North American row crops and other plant species in laboratory, growth chamber, and greenhouse required
• Good computer skills, proficient in Microsoft office

Description

A top provider of technical consulting to the public and private sectors in environmental science, hydrogeology, and geotechnical engineering is actively looking to hire a Soil Field Technician to help run a project in (City, State)!

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to

• Sampling materials for testing
• Logging samples and writing daily reports
• Understanding of sampling methods
• Project transportation will be provided

Skills

• WACEL
• Soil testing
• Microsoft office
• Microsoft word
• Construction
• Construction materials testing
• Concrete testing
• Nuclear density
• Aci
• Soil density
• CMT
• Nuclear gauge
• Soil compaction

Top skills & qualifications

• At least 2+ years of field experience
• WACEL Soils Certification
• Soil sampling and testing
• Ability to communicate well with others