Every job looks good in a posting. But what will it feel like once you start? What you do on a Tuesday, who you work with, and whether you’ll be learning or just getting by. 

Hear from our people who started as interns and grew into Project Scientists, technicians who work on active job sites, and take a look at GTA teams in Charlotte, Raleigh, and Pittsburgh. If you’re considering a career in geotechnical, environmental, or construction materials work, this is a look at what your first days and years at GTA could be.

What GTA Interns Actually Work On

Depending on the role, GTA interns can assist with site assessments, collect field data, run tests in the lab, or support construction observation. Supervisors stay involved and give feedback, but interns are expected to take ownership of their work. Angelo Parolari, a former intern who’s now a Project Scientist, said: “They’ve given me very complex sites, but the fact that I would do sites by myself after a few weeks showed a level of trust.”

Most internships also split time between the field and the office. That gives a realistic sense of the job and helps you figure out which kind of work suits you after. Angelo liked that mix: “I didn’t want to be in the office all day, but I also didn’t want to be in the field every day either.”

Sydney Conboy, who also started as a summer intern, has simple advice for anyone starting out: “Be a sponge.” Ask questions, pay attention to how the team works, and take on new tasks when they come up.

What a Field Technician’s Workday Looks Like

GTA Field Technicians test soil, concrete, asphalt, and other construction materials on active job sites. Their work confirms that what’s being built meets the project’s engineering specs and safety standards. It’s a core part of GTA’s Construction Materials Testing services.

No two weeks look the same for them. In a single week, they might be checking soil compaction on a new roadway, and then testing concrete at a hospital, and then observing foundation work at a school. One technician described the range like this: “We have master grading sites, we have residential sites. You’re seeing something new and learning something new every day.”

Some sites stick more than others. One technician’s early projects included blasting, large-scale earthwork, and even dinosaur bones found on site. “It was definitely a learning curve,” he said, “but it was very cool to see so many different aspects of the job.”

Technicians spend most of the day outside, lifting equipment, running tests, and observing work. If they’d rather be outdoors than at a desk, that’s a big plus. “I’ll take coring any day over sitting in the office,” one technician said. “It’s usually you and another technician, and as a team you get the job accomplished.”

They’ll also work closely with contractors and engineers. Part of their job is pointing out issues a contractor may have missed and helping solve material problems as they come up. Over time, those working relationships make everything easier. “As time goes on, you’re building relationships, and the better your job ends up turning out to be,” one technician explained.

And because they’re on site from early grading through completion, they get to watch projects come together over months. “Maybe you start from the beginning, and it’s just grass, and then you see the houses be built completely start to finish,” one technician said.

How GTA Trains and Supports New Hires

You don’t need prior industry experience to get started at GTA. Many positions are open to candidates with a high school diploma or some college coursework, with opportunities to learn on the job. Training starts on day one, working alongside experienced technicians. 

GTA also supports industry certifications, including NICET, ACI, and WACEL, to help employees continue developing their skills. Earning these credentials allows team members to strengthen their qualifications and prepare for greater responsibilities.

While the learning curve can be a lot, the people we talked with were honest about it. “The biggest challenge when I first started was the learning curve,” one technician said. “It felt like there was a lot to learn, and there still is, but I had great mentors who walked me through it.”

And figuring out where you fit takes time, too. Cameron Linger interned with GTA and then joined the geotechnical engineering department full-time. After a while, he realized it wasn’t the right long-term fit. Instead of leaving, he talked with his managers about other options. “They were actively giving me a lot of opportunities to progress my career in the direction that I wanted to go,” he said. Cameron moved to the natural resources department and was promoted to Project Scientist within two and a half years.

Along with opportunities to learn and grow, GTA offers a comprehensive benefits package that supports both your well-being and professional growth. Benefits include:

• Competitive pay and annual bonus potential
• Paid time off
• Health, dental, and vision coverage
• A 401(k) with company match
• Education assistance and professional society memberships
• Wellness programs, employee recognition, and team events

A Look at GTA’s Local Teams

Each GTA office has its own mix of services, projects, and people. Here’s a quick look at three of them.

Charlotte
The Charlotte office opened in 2006 with a few associates and now has more than 45 people across field and office roles. The team handles construction observation, materials testing, geotechnical services, environmental work, and residential builder projects. Their projects include storage facilities, office towers, apartment buildings, and subdivisions with more than 500 single-family homes. The team gets together outside of work about once a month for things like Topgolf, escape rooms, axe throwing, and rafting. Assistant Project Manager Baker McGinnis said the office’s mostly younger field staff is a big part of how it works: “No one’s really stuck in their ways, which makes a big difference.”

Raleigh
The Raleigh office supports geotechnical, environmental, and natural resources projects across North Carolina. The team’s work has taken them to some unique job sites, including a lake where they used a barge to reach an island and drill and install shafts for a new transmission line. They’ve also tackled unexpected challenges, such as an environmental remediation project at an automotive facility after discovering previously unknown contamination. Beyond the variety of projects they take on, the Raleigh office values creating a workplace where everyone feels comfortable being themselves. As one team member put it, “We have an open culture where everyone has the opportunity to be themselves.” 

Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh is one of GTA’s newer offices, with a team of five. One standout project involved a site with very soft glacial soils extending 50 to 60 feet deep and groundwater nearly at the surface, presenting challenges for foundation and excavation design. The team has also worked on solar farm projects in Ohio and a large Pennsylvania Army National Guard facility. With a small staff, everyone pitches in wherever they’re needed, giving team members the opportunity to work on a variety of projects and develop a wider range of skills.

Find Your Next Opportunity at GTA

Whether you’re looking for an internship to get your foot in the door, a field technician position where you can gain hands-on experience, or an opportunity to take the next step in your career, GTA offers a range of roles to explore. 

We’re always looking for people who are ready to learn and grow! Explore our current openings to find a role that fits your experience and career goals.

Visit gtaeng.com/careers to see available positions and learn more about joining the GTA team.