Senior Soil Taxonomist/Mapper - Lakewood, CO
The Opportunity:
Tetra Tech invites you to consider a rewarding opportunity within our Lakewood, Colorado offices as a part-time Senior Consultant / Soil Scientist. This position requires the candidate to work in the office and field and allows a flexible hybrid work setting and schedule to be worked out with your supervisor. This arrangement is subject to review and may change at the company’s discretion.
In this role the successful candidate will work primarily with our mine reclamation and environmental management team, supporting development of soil surveys and taxonomy/mapping training modules in support of mine reclamation and closure plans. An expert-level knowledge and proven ability to describe and taxonomically classify soil profiles and map soils to an Order 2 level in complex terrain and geology is a must.
Any candidates interested in this opportunity should apply by the March 31, 2026 deadline.
Why Tetra Tech:
At Tetra Tech, we are Leading with Science to solve the world’s most complex challenges. Our industry-leading experts in engineering and consulting are committed to driving positive change in communities around the world. For over 50 years, we have been at the forefront of innovation and sustainability. Today we stand as a market leader, offering cutting-edge solutions in water, environment, energy, and international development. Our work has improved more than 625 million lives around the world.
Your Impact:
Join Tetra Tech to make a real difference. Our work leverages cutting-edge technologies, advanced analytics, and the expertise of world-class scientists and engineers to create meaningful change around the world. Discover your full potential – join us to advance your career while leaving a lasting legacy.
Essential Job Functions:
We are seeking a seasoned professional interested in pursuing and supporting the execution of soil surveys, delineation and sampling of the lateral and vertical extent of suitable growth media for reclamation, and soil salvage oversight and documentations. The successful candidate will work closely with project managers and train and mentor junior soil scientists, biologists and engineers on a variety of mining projects.
Duties will include desktop and field-based mapping, description, taxonomic classification, and sampling of Great Basin, Middle and Northern Rockies, Pacific Northwest, and Colorado Plateau soils for mined land reclamation, development, and land use planning project for the mining industry, private landowners, the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service NPS, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and Land Grant Colleges.
The successful candidate will also be expected to teach the basic principles of soil taxonomy and soil landscape model development and provide assistance with soil survey report preparation and technical support. Field work will include travel in-state and out-of-state and safely performance of work in physically demanding and remote locations, including backcountry navigation, ATV/UTV operation, hiking and hand-excavation of soil pits in mountainous terrain under challenging geographic and weather conditions.
Required Qualifications:
Graduate of a 4-year accredited university in soil science or related environmental science.
30 years of relevant experience.
Education and career interests should be related to environmental aspects of the mining industry and land management and development.
Must be computer and have knowledge of MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Adobe Acrobat.
Strong soil taxonomy and mapping skills.
Ability to learn about the pre-development, construction, production and reclamation phases of the mine-life cycle.
Ability to travel in-state and out-of-state and safely perform fieldwork at remote sites required (approx. 50-75% of travel required).
- A Pre-employment drug screen in compliance with state regulations is required.
- Must possess a valid driver's license with a clean driving record without restrictions.
Preferred Qualifications:
24-hr Surface Miner MSHA training.
Physical Requirements:
Ability to lift, carry, push, and pull equipment weighing up to 50 lbs occasionally.
Must be able to walk across, dig soil description, and sampling pits in variable terrain. This includes uneven and steep ground, in all weather conditions (rain, snow, hot/cold weather <40 degrees and >95 degrees.
Remain in a stationary position, walking, lifting, bending for extended periods of time for field work.
Ability to travel in-state and out-of-state and safely perform field work at remote sites required (approx. 50-75% of travel required).
Work Environment / Environmental Factors:
This position is based out of the local Lakewood, CO office and will require field related travel. This position may have potential for a hybrid work arrangement to be worked out with the direct supervisor. This arrangement is subject to review and may change at the company’s discretion.
Field work/oversight will include work to be performed outside (full days), as a result may include frequent work in various environmental factors (weather, altitude, terrain, noise, working in proximity to biological hazards consistent with field environments, etc.). This can include remaining stationary for long periods of time, walking, bending, lifting, and sitting for field activities.
Office work will include periods sitting or standing at a desk, using a computer, and other office equipment.
Additional Information:
Part-time temporary position, no scheduled hours. Hours will vary based on project/client needs.
Work will be performed primarily in a field setting and occasionally an office setting.
Target salary range: $70.00 / hour to $80.00 / hour. Please note that Tetra Tech considers various factors in determining pay, including but not limited to: education, relevant and demonstrated work experience in the role, skills, geographic location, qualifications, certifications, and other competencies relevant to the needs of the business.
Life at Tetra Tech:
The perks of working at Tetra Tech include:
- Comprehensive and market-competitive benefits.
- Tetra Tech offers the following optional benefits: Medical. Financial Benefits: 401K.
- Merit-based financial rewards.
- Flexibility and company-wide commitment to work/life balance.
- Collaborative team atmosphere that values the contributions of all employees.
- Learning and development opportunities for ongoing professional growth.
About Tetra Tech:
Tetra Tech is the leader in water, environment, and sustainable infrastructure, providing high-end consulting and engineering services for projects worldwide. With 30,000 employees working together, Tetra Tech provides clear solutions to complex problems by Leading with Science® to address the entire water cycle, protect and restore the environment, design sustainable and resilient infrastructure, and support the clean energy transition.
Tetra Tech is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law. Tetra Tech is a VEVRAA federal contractor and we request priority referral of veterans.
We invite applications from all interested parties.
Explore our open positions at https://www.tetratech.com/careers. Follow us on social media to learn more about our people, culture, and opportunities:
LinkedIn: @TetraTechCareers
X (Twitter): @TetraTechJobs
We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.
Please no phone calls or agencies.