Soil Testing Lab Internship Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Salary : $51,379.68 - $65,591.04 Annually
Location : Los Angeles County, CA
Job Type: Full time
Job Number: C3854W
Department: PUBLIC WORKS
Opening Date: 07/29/2026
Position/Program Information
EXAM NUMBER
C3854W
APPLICATION FILING PERIODThe application filing period will begin on Thursday, July 30, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. (PT) - Continuous.
We will keep accepting applications until the position is filled. The application window may close unexpectedly once we have enough qualified candidates.
TYPE OF RECRUITMENTWe welcome applications from anyone.
Why work for us?
With more than 10 million residents, Los Angeles County has the largest population of any county in the nation! As the largest employer in Southern California, with more than 39 diverse departments and over 2,100 different job descriptions, Los Angeles County offers a lifetime of opportunities and careers. We are Los Angeles County Public Works, the largest municipal public works agency in the nation. With more than 4,000 employees, Public Works offers over 500 different types of career opportunities that promote professional and personal growth as well as a rewarding and exciting work environment!
For more information about the outstanding benefits offered by Los Angeles County, please visit us here:
If you have questions about working for Los Angeles County, including current open recruitments, tips on crafting a resume or acing an interview, career planning, or any other general information, please visit our website at:
OUT-OF-CLASS EXPERIENCE OR WITHHOLDS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED FOR THIS EXAMINATION. REQUIRED EXPERIENCE MUST BE FULLY MET AT THE TIME OF FILING, AND CLEARLY INDICATED ON THE APPLICATION.
Essential Job Functions

• Fills with a shovel, lifts onto a pickup truck, and transports bags of soil weighing approximately 90 pounds to the materials lab for analysis.
• Lifts asphalt cores and core barrels, weighing approximately 40 pounds, for asphalt pavement laboratory testing, and conducts field sampling of soils for California Bearing Ratio tests.
• Lifts and shifts the position of 40-pound loaded sieves in the prep room.
• Digs holes 8 inches in diameter and 4 feet deep in firm, dense soil using a manual post-hole digger.
• Prepares samples for testing by identifying, dating, separating, and logging information.
• Tests soil samples for compaction, consolidation, moisture content, shear strength, specific gravity, composition, and bearing value.
• Tests sand and rock samples for grading, abrasion resistance, specific gravity, sand equivalency, and plastic limits.
• Tests paving liquid and emulsified asphalt samples for flash point, viscosity, heat loss, sieve retention, penetration, stripping, softening point, and residue by evaporation.
• Tests asphalt and concrete mixtures for specific gravity, setting time, strength, oil content, and screen analysis.
• Assists in performing the simpler phases of a wide variety of specialized materials tests.
• Assists as a helper on a field crew operating test boring and sampling equipment.
• Records test data, performs computations, and prepares report forms and graphs.
• Operates testing machines and equipment to perform physical tests.
• Performs cleanup and minor maintenance to keep the laboratory and testing equipment clean and in working condition.
• Performs tensile tests on structural steel.
• Performs other duties related to the physical testing of engineering construction materials, as needed.

For more information, please view the classification specification:
Requirements
REQUIREMENTS TO QUALIFY:
OPTION I: One year of experience in testing of soils, asphalt and concrete.
OPTION II: Completion of 15 semester units or 22.5 quarter units in engineering, physical science, mathematics, or public works (i.e., construction inspections; traffic control) from an accredited college or university*.
LICENSE:
A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions.
PHYSICAL CLASS:
Physical Class 4 - Arduous: This class involves frequent heavy lifting over 25 pounds, often combined with bending, twisting, or working above ground on irregular surfaces. It includes those positions that occasionally demand extraordinary physical activity such as those in Safety positions.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENT INFORMATION:
*To receive credit for your education, include a legible copy all relevant documents, including your transcript from an accredited institution within five (5) calendar days of filing your application. The document should show the field of study, number of units and the type of unit system used (e.g., semester, quarter) and be in English. If not in English, then translation is required. International degrees must be evaluated for equivalency to U.S. standards and indicate the number of units and unit system. Documents marked as unofficial will not be accepted. For more information on our standards for educational documents, please visit:
If you are unable to attach the required documents with your application, please submit them to PWExams@pw.lacounty.gov within five (5) calendar days of filing your application. When emailing, please indicate your name, the exam name, and the exam number.
We do not accept password-protected documents. Ensure documents are unlocked before attaching to your application or sending to the exam analyst.
Additional Information
Once we have identified that you meet our requirements, an invitation regarding the following assessment process will be sent:
EXAMINATION CONTENT:
This examination consists of a Multiple-Choice and Simulation Assessment, weighted at 100%, measuring:

• Achievement
• Professional Potential
• Responsibility
• Teamwork
• Reading Comprehension
• Numerical Calculation

You must meet the requirements and achieve a passing score of 70% or higher in order to be placed on the eligible list.
MULTIPLE-CHOICE AND/OR SIMULATION ASSESSMENTS ARE NOT REVIEWABLE BY CANDIDATES PER CIVIL SERVICE RULE 7.19.
Notice of Non-Acceptance and Final Result letters will be sent electronically to your e-mail address. Test scores cannot be given over the telephone.
TESTING ACCOMMODATION:
If you require an accommodation to fairly compete in any part of the assessment process, you will be given the opportunity to make a request when completing your application. Please note, you may be required to submit documentation from a qualified medical provider or other qualified professional to support your request for a testing accommodation.
TRANSFER OF TEST COMPONENTS:
If you have taken identical components recently for other exams, your responses may be automatically transferred to this examination. This exam contains test components that might be used on future exams, and your responses could be transferred to that exam.
TEST PREPARATION:
We provide study guides and other test preparation resources to help candidates prepare for employment tests. While the guides may help in preparing for the test, we recommend reviewing all related materials that seem necessary.

• Various information can be found on our website at The section dedicated to test preparation is "Employment Test Assistance."
• Online practice tests are available at
• You can also visit our Los Angeles County Online Assessment Preparation Series webpage at for information about common online assessment types, sample questions, and test-taking tips.

ELIGIBILITY AND VACANCY INFORMATION:
Applicants who passed the assessment are placed on a list in the order of their score group for a period of twelve (12) months. Applications will be processed as they are received and added to the list accordingly. We will use this list to fill vacancies in Public Works as they occur.
APPLICATION AND FILING INFORMATION:
We only accept applications filed online. Applications submitted by U.S. mail, fax, or in person are not accepted. Apply online by clicking on the "Apply" green button at the top right of this posting. This website can also be used to get application status updates.
Please fill out the application completely. Provide relevant job experience including employer's name and address, job title, beginning and ending dates, number of hours worked per week, and description of work performed.
We may verify information included in the application at any point during the examination and hiring process, including after an appointment has been made. Falsification of information could result in refusal of application or rescission of appointment. Copying verbiage from the Requirements or class specification as your work experience will not be sufficient to demonstrate meeting the requirements. Doing so may result in an incomplete application and may lead to disqualification.
We will send notifications to the email address provided on the application, so it is important that you provide a valid email address. If you choose to unsubscribe or opt out from receiving our emails, it is possible to view notices by logging into governmentjobs.com and checking the profile inbox. It is every applicant's responsibility to take steps to view correspondence, and we will not consider claims of missing notices to be a valid reason for re-scheduling an exam part. Register the below domains as approved senders to prevent email notifications from being filtered as spam/junk mail.
New email addresses need to be verified. This only needs to be done once per email address and can be done at any time by logging in to and following the prompts. This is to enhance the security of the online application and to prevent incorrectly entered email addresses.
SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER: Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number, so include yours when applying.
COMPUTER AND INTERNET ACCESS AT PUBLIC LIBRARIES: For those who do not have access to a computer or the internet, we provide access to complete an application at public libraries throughout the county.
NO SHARING USER ID, EMAIL AND PASSWORD: All applicants must file their application using their own user ID and password. Using a family member or friend's user ID and password may erase a candidate's original application record.
ANTI-RACISM, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION (ARDI): The County of Los Angeles recognizes and affirms that all people are created equal and are entitled to all rights afforded by the Constitution of the United States. We are committed to promoting Anti-racism, Diversity, and Inclusion efforts to address the inequalities and disparities amongst race. We support the ARDI Strategic Plan and its goals by improving equality, diversity, and inclusion in recruitment, selection, and employment practices.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Department Contact Name: Mayra Fuentes
Department Contact Phone: (626) 458-2141
Department Contact Email:
ADA Coordinator Phone: (626) 458-2141
Teletype Phone: (626) 282-7829
California Relay Services: (800) 735-2922
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES
Employment Information
Any language contained in the job posting supersedes any language contained below.
This document is intended to provide general information about the recruitment process of the County of Los Angeles. Applicants with questions about a specific job posting should contact the exam analyst listed on the posting.
Equal Employment Opportunity/Non-Discrimination Statement:
The County of Los Angeles is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and is committed to non-discrimination in the County workforce, regardless of age (40 and over); ancestry; color; ethnicity; religious creed; protected family or medical leave status; disability; marital status; medical condition; genetic information; military and veteran status; national origin; race ; sex; gender; sexual orientation; or any other characteristic protected by State or federal law. For more information, please visit:
Testing Accommodations for Applicants:
The County of Los Angeles complies with all federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for qualified applicants and employees with disabilities. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application process, please contact the testing accommodation coordinator listed on the job posting. Hearing impaired applicants with telephone teletype equipment may leave messages by calling the teletype phone number on the job posting. For more information on accommodations, please visit:
Fair Chance:
The County of Los Angeles is a Fair Chance employer. Except as otherwise permissible under applicable laws, you will not be asked to provide information about conviction history unless you receive a conditional offer of employment. The County will make an individualized assessment of whether your conviction history has a direct and adverse relationship with the specific duties of the job, and will also consider potential mitigating factors, which may include, but is not limited to, evidence and extent of rehabilitation, recency of the offense(s), and age at the time of the offense(s). If asked to provide information about conviction history, any convictions or court records which are exempted by a valid court order do not have to be disclosed. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with County Fair Chance Policies and the Fair Chance Act (Gov. Code Section 12952).
Employment Eligibility:
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