OPT Geotechnical Engineering Technician Jobs
Geotechnical engineering technician jobs are a strong fit for F-1 OPT students with degrees in civil, geotechnical, or environmental engineering. Most roles involve field and lab work that directly aligns with STEM OPT extension eligibility, giving you up to three years of authorized work experience to build your U.S. career.
Find OPT Geotechnical Engineering Technician JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 245+ Geotechnical Engineering Technician jobs
See all 245+ Geotechnical Engineering Technician Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Geotechnical Engineering Technician roles.
Get Access To All JobsOverview:
Do you want to build an impactful career to change the world for the better?
Geosyntec is seeking an Early Career Civil/Geotechnical Engineer (Dams & Levees) in our Davis, California, office to support dams, levees, and other water infrastructure projects. In this role, you will apply your academic background to real-world dam safety, flood protection, water containment, and heavy civil infrastructure work while learning from experienced civil, geotechnical, and risk-informed-design professionals. You will gain hands-on experience in dam and levee design, field investigations, engineering analysis, construction engineering support, construction observation, and technical reporting. This position provides a strong foundation for a consulting career through practical field experience, technical development, interdisciplinary collaboration, and mentorship on resilient infrastructure solutions.
Geosyntec is an innovative, international engineering and consulting firm serving private and public-sector clients to address new ventures and complex problems involving our environment, natural resources, and civil infrastructure. Our engineers, scientists, and technical professionals serve our clients worldwide. Ranked by ENR as one of the top environmental engineering design firms, Geosyntec is internationally known for its technical leadership, broad experience, and exceptional client service.
We invest in our people. Each employee’s journey at Geosyntec is unique. We offer competitive pay and benefits, and well-being programs to support you and your family.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Support dam and levee design projects.
- Participate in field investigations for dams, levees, embankments, and related water infrastructure, including drilling observation, sampling, logging, and field documentation.
- Assist with site inspections, condition assessments, and engineering evaluations of existing dams, levees, spillways, outlet works, and appurtenant structures.
- Perform basic civil and/or geotechnical calculations and data evaluations with senior guidance, including slope stability, seepage, and settlement.
- Contribute to design and rehabilitation projects involving embankments, foundations, seepage controls, drainage systems, erosion protection, and retaining structures.
- Prepare field notes, data summaries, calculations, reports, drawings, specifications, and other project deliverables.
- Perform construction observation and quality assurance for earthwork, foundation preparation, materials testing, and instrumentation installation.
- Work with multidisciplinary teams to develop practical, constructible solutions for public and private clients.
- Drive personal, company, and rental vehicles to client or company office sites, project sites, and other business locations, as needed.
EDUCATION AND LICENSURE:
- Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, geotechnical engineering, geological engineering, or a closely related engineering discipline. (required)
- Coursework or academic project experience in soil mechanics, foundation engineering, slope stability, seepage, earth structures, or dam/levee engineering. (preferred)
- Engineer-in-Training (EIT) certification. (preferred)
SKILLS, EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS:
- Prior internship or work experience in engineering. (preferred)
- Interest in dams, levees, water infrastructure, earthworks, foundations, and heavy civil construction.
- Familiarity with geotechnical field methods, laboratory testing, soil and rock classification, groundwater observations, and subsurface data interpretation. (preferred)
- Exposure to AutoCAD/Civil 3D or similar tools. (preferred)
- Strong written and oral communication skills, attention to detail, sound engineering judgment, and willingness to learn from senior technical mentors. (required)
- Ability to work in field and office settings, including field work and overnight travel. (required)
- Health & Safety training, medical monitoring, and client-driven drug and background testing. (required)
- Valid U.S. driver’s license and a satisfactory driving record for business travel. (required)
COMPENSATION:
- Minimum: $73,880 /year / Maximum: $92,350/year (Davis, CA)
We offer a comprehensive benefits package including, paid holidays, vacation, sick, and personal paid time off, medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance, 401(k), and other benefits to eligible employees.
Overview:
Do you want to build an impactful career to change the world for the better?
Geosyntec is seeking an Early Career Civil/Geotechnical Engineer (Dams & Levees) in our Davis, California, office to support dams, levees, and other water infrastructure projects. In this role, you will apply your academic background to real-world dam safety, flood protection, water containment, and heavy civil infrastructure work while learning from experienced civil, geotechnical, and risk-informed-design professionals. You will gain hands-on experience in dam and levee design, field investigations, engineering analysis, construction engineering support, construction observation, and technical reporting. This position provides a strong foundation for a consulting career through practical field experience, technical development, interdisciplinary collaboration, and mentorship on resilient infrastructure solutions.
Geosyntec is an innovative, international engineering and consulting firm serving private and public-sector clients to address new ventures and complex problems involving our environment, natural resources, and civil infrastructure. Our engineers, scientists, and technical professionals serve our clients worldwide. Ranked by ENR as one of the top environmental engineering design firms, Geosyntec is internationally known for its technical leadership, broad experience, and exceptional client service.
We invest in our people. Each employee’s journey at Geosyntec is unique. We offer competitive pay and benefits, and well-being programs to support you and your family.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Support dam and levee design projects.
- Participate in field investigations for dams, levees, embankments, and related water infrastructure, including drilling observation, sampling, logging, and field documentation.
- Assist with site inspections, condition assessments, and engineering evaluations of existing dams, levees, spillways, outlet works, and appurtenant structures.
- Perform basic civil and/or geotechnical calculations and data evaluations with senior guidance, including slope stability, seepage, and settlement.
- Contribute to design and rehabilitation projects involving embankments, foundations, seepage controls, drainage systems, erosion protection, and retaining structures.
- Prepare field notes, data summaries, calculations, reports, drawings, specifications, and other project deliverables.
- Perform construction observation and quality assurance for earthwork, foundation preparation, materials testing, and instrumentation installation.
- Work with multidisciplinary teams to develop practical, constructible solutions for public and private clients.
- Drive personal, company, and rental vehicles to client or company office sites, project sites, and other business locations, as needed.
EDUCATION AND LICENSURE:
- Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, geotechnical engineering, geological engineering, or a closely related engineering discipline. (required)
- Coursework or academic project experience in soil mechanics, foundation engineering, slope stability, seepage, earth structures, or dam/levee engineering. (preferred)
- Engineer-in-Training (EIT) certification. (preferred)
SKILLS, EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS:
- Prior internship or work experience in engineering. (preferred)
- Interest in dams, levees, water infrastructure, earthworks, foundations, and heavy civil construction.
- Familiarity with geotechnical field methods, laboratory testing, soil and rock classification, groundwater observations, and subsurface data interpretation. (preferred)
- Exposure to AutoCAD/Civil 3D or similar tools. (preferred)
- Strong written and oral communication skills, attention to detail, sound engineering judgment, and willingness to learn from senior technical mentors. (required)
- Ability to work in field and office settings, including field work and overnight travel. (required)
- Health & Safety training, medical monitoring, and client-driven drug and background testing. (required)
- Valid U.S. driver’s license and a satisfactory driving record for business travel. (required)
COMPENSATION:
- Minimum: $73,880 /year / Maximum: $92,350/year (Davis, CA)
We offer a comprehensive benefits package including, paid holidays, vacation, sick, and personal paid time off, medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance, 401(k), and other benefits to eligible employees.
See all 245+ OPT Geotechnical Engineering Technician Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Geotechnical Engineering Technician Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Geotechnical Engineering Technician
Target STEM-designated degree programs
Geotechnical technician roles typically qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension if your degree is in civil, environmental, or geological engineering. Confirm your program's CIP code with your DSO before applying to maximize your authorized work window.
Prioritize firms with established OPT hiring histories
Engineering consultancies and geotechnical testing firms that regularly hire entry-level technicians are most likely to understand OPT authorization. Look for employers who already have experience with EAD-based employment rather than those encountering it for the first time.
Clarify your authorization timeline upfront
Be ready to explain your OPT end date, STEM extension eligibility, and E-Verify requirements clearly. Many geotechnical firms are small to mid-size and may not have HR teams familiar with OPT, so a concise one-paragraph summary in your cover letter helps.
Emphasize field and lab skills that are hard to source locally
Highlight specific technical skills like soil classification, Atterberg limits testing, SPT logging, or geophysical survey experience. Concrete technical qualifications reduce employer hesitation around work authorization because you're demonstrating hard-to-replace expertise.
Apply early relative to your OPT start date
Many geotechnical roles require background checks and onboarding steps that take two to four weeks. Starting your job search at least 60 days before your OPT begins gives employers enough runway to complete hiring without worrying about your authorization gap.
Use your university's geotechnical lab connections
Faculty research partnerships with geotechnical firms and state DOT agencies are common pathways to OPT-eligible positions. Professors supervising field research or consulting projects often have direct relationships with hiring managers who are already comfortable with student work authorization.
Geotechnical Engineering Technician OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Do geotechnical engineering technician jobs qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Most geotechnical engineering technician roles qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension if your degree is in civil, environmental, geological, or geotechnical engineering and carries a qualifying CIP code. Your DSO at your university can confirm whether your specific program qualifies. The extension brings your total OPT period to 36 months, which significantly increases your value to employers considering longer-term hiring.
Do employers in this field understand OPT work authorization?
Familiarity varies significantly. Large geotechnical consulting firms like those supporting infrastructure or environmental remediation projects tend to have HR processes in place for OPT hires. Smaller regional firms often do not. When applying, briefly explaining your EAD, your authorized work period, and the STEM extension option in your cover letter reduces friction and prevents misunderstandings that can delay or kill an offer.
Where can I find geotechnical engineering technician jobs that are open to OPT students?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT and international students and filters jobs by visa sponsorship and work authorization compatibility. Searching on Migrate Mate saves time compared to manually screening general job boards where OPT eligibility is rarely disclosed upfront. You can browse geotechnical technician openings and see which employers are likely to support your authorization status.
Can I work as a geotechnical engineering technician on pre-completion OPT?
Yes, pre-completion OPT allows you to work part-time (up to 20 hours per week) while school is in session and full-time during breaks. Geotechnical technician roles that involve field testing, lab analysis, or site investigation work can qualify as long as the position is directly related to your degree program. Your DSO must authorize pre-completion OPT before you begin, and the work must clearly tie to your field of study.
What happens to my OPT authorization if I change employers in this field?
OPT is not tied to a single employer, so you can change geotechnical employers without reapplying for authorization, provided your new role remains directly related to your degree. You must report the change to your DSO within 10 days through your university's SEVIS reporting portal. If you're on STEM OPT, your new employer must also be enrolled in E-Verify and you'll need to file an updated Form I-983 training plan.