Engineering/Scientific Technician

Schnabel is an employee-owned, professional engineering and consulting firm specializing in geotechnical, geostructural, tunnel, and dam engineering. As an ENR Top 500 Design Firm with over 700 employees across 32 U.S. offices, Schnabel is recognized for its high standards in quality, business ethics, and community impact.

About the role

The Columbia, SC office is seeking an Engineering/Scientific Technician to join a growing practice. This role is ideal for motivated candidates with attention to detail, a passion for professional growth, and a desire to be part of a strong team. It offers an excellent opportunity for graduates with science-based majors to enter the consulting engineering field, with consistent working hours, excellent benefits, and overtime pay.

Responsibilities

• Observe and document construction activities, ensuring compliance with plans and specifications.
• Perform testing of construction materials including soil, concrete, asphalt, masonry, and reinforcing steel.
• Provide as-needed support to the environmental department on tasks such as observation well installation, sampling, and reading instrumentation.
• Provide as-needed support to the geotechnical design phase department on tasks such as soil boring layouts using GPS and observation of test borings.
• Provide as-needed support in the soils and concrete laboratory performing laboratory testing.

Requirements

• High School degree.
• Valid US Driver’s License.
• Good oral, written, communication, and organizational skills.
• Able to perform rudimentary mathematic computations.
• Attentive to detail.
• Interest in working outdoors on construction sites.
• Ability to lift 50–75 pounds occasionally and physically navigate construction sites, climb ladders, and work outside.
• Ability to pass a background check (may include criminal history, motor vehicle record, and credit check) and pre-employment screening.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science degree in geology, earth sciences, physics, environmental science, or a related field.
• Prior construction experience or internship experience in the engineering field.

Benefits

• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Flexible spending accounts
• Employee life & ADD insurance (100% company-paid)
• Short-term disability (100% company-paid)
• Long-term disability
• Supplemental life insurance
• 401(k) and profit-sharing plan
• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
• Bonus program
• Paid time off
• 9 paid holidays
• Wellness program
• Professional development and tuition reimbursement

Pay

The compensation range for this position is $18/hour to $28/hour, varying based on geographic location and other factors.