Lab Scientist 1/ Geologist 1/ Engineer 1

Salary Range: 60000 to 65000 (Currency: USD) (Pay period: per-year-salary)

You'll join the ANS geotechnical laboratory in South Plainfield, NJ: a small, close-knit team that is part of ANS, an award-winning engineering firm with over 400+ professionals across 20+ offices. Your test results go straight to our engineers and into real renewable energy and infrastructure projects, and you'll learn a wider range of soil and rock tests than most entry-level lab roles offer.

Every foundation, solar array and wind turbine starts with one question: what is the ground actually doing? In this role, you'll help answer it. The data you produce shapes how our engineers design foundations and sites for solar, wind, battery storage and infrastructure projects across the country.

You'll learn how soil and rock behave, why each test matters and how results turn into design decisions, working alongside experienced engineers and geologists. It's the kind of hands-on technical foundation that most graduates never get, and it will serve you for your whole career in geotechnical engineering, geology or environmental science.

No prior lab experience? That's fine. We train you on every test we run. What we can't teach is curiosity and drive: we're looking for people who ask why, take ownership and want to get better every day. And because our lab is a small team growing fast, serious, coachable people grow into leadership here in a fraction of the time it takes elsewhere.

SOIL TESTING AND ANALYSIS

• Perform soil and rock tests per ASTM and AASHTO standards, from classification (moisture content, sieve and hydrometer analysis, Atterberg limits) to performance testing (Proctor compaction, California Bearing Ratio, direct shear, thermal resistivity, rock strength).
• Review your results for quality and reasonableness; and learn what they mean for design.
• Prepare clear, accurate data sheets and lab records; help develop and improve them.
• Work with project engineers and geologists to understand what each project needs from the lab.
• Please flag anything that appears unusual, including unexpected results, damaged samples, or labeling discrepancies, as soon as possible.

LAB OPERATIONS

• Help maintain and calibrate lab equipment so every result is reliable.
• Manage samples from receipt to storage: logging, tracking and chain of custody, plus moving samples (often in 5-gallon pails) through the lab.
• Coordinate sample shipping and local pickups from project sites.
• Keep your workstation and shared areas clean, organized and safe; track supplies and place orders as directed.
• Help improve how the lab works, from procedures to workflows.

SAFETY AND LEADERSHIP

• Follow lab safety practices and look out for your teammates' safety as much as your own.
• As you grow, train and mentor interns and new team members.

What you bring

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor's degree (complete or completed by start date) in Geology, Civil/Geotechnical Engineering, Environmental Science, Earth Science or a related field.
• Valid driver's license, clean driving record and reliable transportation to South Plainfield, NJ.
• Strong attention to detail and care with numbers and records.
• Excel proficiency and experience with data entry
• Genuine interest in how soil and rock behave and how data drives engineering decisions.
• Clear communicator, in person and in writing.
• Proactive: you see what needs doing and do it.
• Coachable: you take feedback well and apply it quickly.

NICE TO HAVE

• Lab or field internship, especially in geotechnical, materials or construction testing.
• Coursework in soil mechanics, geotechnical engineering or sedimentology, or hands-on exposure to ASTM/AASHTO tests.
• Certifications such as OSHA 10 (we can help you earn these).
• Genuine interest in how soil and rock behave and how data drives engineering decisions.
• Clear communicator, in person and in writing.
• Proactive: you see what needs doing and do it.
• Coachable: you take feedback well and apply it quickly.

The work environment

Please read: this is a hands-on technical role, and we want you to know exactly what that means.

• It gets messy. You'll be working with soil every day. Expect dirt and mud on your clothes, hands and hair by the end of most days. Wear work clothes.
• It's physical. You'll be on your feet most of the day, regularly lifting and carrying 5-gallon pails and equipment of 50+ lbs, and bending, squatting and reaching as needed.
• It's indoors and outdoors. Some tasks happen outside the lab and at local sites, in heat, cold and rain.
• It's fast-paced. Priorities shift with project deadlines. We need people who stay calm, move quickly and keep quality high.
• Hours: 40 hours/week minimum, 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM. Some days run longer to finish the work, and busy seasons may require weekend hours. We plan these together and stay flexible with you.
• On-site only. No remote work; this role is based at our South Plainfield, NJ lab.
• Safety gear required: safety-toe boots, safety glasses, gloves and other PPE as needed.

Reasonable accommodations are available for qualified individuals with disabilities.

The work environment

Please read: this is a hands-on technical role, and we want you to know exactly what that means.

• It gets messy. You'll be working with soil every day. Expect dirt and mud on your clothes, hands and hair by the end of most days. Wear work clothes.
• It's physical. You'll be on your feet most of the day, regularly lifting and carrying 5-gallon pails and equipment of 50+ lbs, and bending, squatting and reaching as needed.
• It's indoors and outdoors. Some tasks happen outside the lab and at local sites, in heat, cold and rain.
• It's fast-paced. Priorities shift with project deadlines. We need people who stay calm, move quickly and keep quality high.
• Hours: 40 hours/week minimum, 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM. Some days run longer to finish the work, and busy seasons may require weekend hours. We plan these together and stay flexible with you.
• On-site only. No remote work; this role is based at our South Plainfield, NJ lab.
• Safety gear required: safety-toe boots, safety glasses, gloves and other PPE as needed.
• Reasonable accommodations are available for qualified individuals with disabilities.

Schedule

Monday to Friday
9:00 AM to 5:30 PM
40+ hrs/week
occasional extended days and seasonal weekends

Our four core values guide how we work every day, in the lab and across the company:

• We work with each other, not for each other. We're kind, we help each other and we share credit. Several lab teammates have been together 3 to 4 years.
• We take ownership. We follow through on commitments, own our mistakes and learn from them.
• We prioritize safety and personal well-being. We speak up for safety and look out for one another.
• We champion our future and our people. We mentor, celebrate wins big and small, and invest in people who invest in themselves.