GEOTECHNICAL LABORATOR AND RESEARCH ENGINEER

Requisition No: 869632

Agency: Department of Transportation

Working Title: GEOTECHNICAL LABORATOR AND RESEARCH ENGINEER- 55010205

Pay Plan: SES

Position Number: 55010205

Salary: $108,409.56 - $140,294.73

Posting Closing Date: 04/24/2026

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STATE OF FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

JOB POSTING DESCRIPTION

820 / State Materials Office

OPEN COMPETITIVE

SELECTED EXEMPT SERVICE

FULL-TIME

CONTACT PERSON: Sasidhar Ayithi

CONTACT PHONE NUMBER: (352) 955-2924

CONTACT EMAIL ADDRESS: sasidhar.ayithi@dot.state.fl.us

HIRING SALARY RANGE: $4,169.60 - $5,395.94 / biweekly range /

$108,409.56 - $140,294.73 / annual range

Join FDOT and be part of the team that works as one to improve safety, enhance mobility and inspire innovation in the Florida transportation system.

To ensure honesty and transparency, all applicants must provide their own work. Unless explicitly requested, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to assist with qualifying questions, work samples, or interviews is strictly prohibited, and any breach of this requirement will lead to the applicant being removed from consideration.

Candidates must be United States (U.S.) citizens or lawfully authorized alien workers. Visa sponsorship is not available.

Our Mission

The mission of the Florida Department of Transportation is to provide a safe statewide transportation system that promotes the efficient movement of people and goods, supports the state's economic competitiveness, prioritizes Florida's environment and natural resources, and preserves the quality of life and connectedness of the state's communities.

Our Vision

As a OneFDOT team, we serve the people of Florida by providing a transportation network that is well planned, supports economic growth, and has the goal of being congestion and fatality free.

The Work You Will Do:

Geotechnical Laboratory and Research Engineer / State Highway Engineer / Office of Materials / Geotechnical Materials / Research and Soils & Foundations Laboratory

This position is responsible for leading the soils and foundations laboratory team in their evaluation of geotechnical materials, developing specifications and policies, and overseeing and implementing geotechnical research. The selected candidate will manage and supervise employees and manage department resources and contracts. In addition, the selected candidate will represent the Department on statewide and national geotechnical materials committees.

The Difference You Will Make:

Through cooperation, coordination and collaboration among the OneFDOT team, you will be contributing to a strong and empowering culture of TRREC: Trust, Relationships, Respect, Empowerment, and Communication.

How You Will Grow:

FDOT encourages our team members to grow through engagement, empowerment, training, and professional development. Through our agency's learning management system, you have access to hundreds of computer-based training and instructor-led courses.

Where You Will Work:

State Materials Office, 5007 NE 39th Ave., Gainesville, FL 32609

Annual Salary Range:

$108,409.56 - $140,294.73

Your Specific Responsibilities:

Supervises employees within the Research and Soils & Foundations Laboratory subsection; spending the majority of their time communicating with, motivating, training, and evaluating employees, and planning and directing employees' work. Has the authority to effectively recommend the hiring, transferring, suspension, layoff, recalls, promotions, discharges, assignments, rewards, or disciplinary actions for subordinate employees. Plans and directs workloads, deadlines, work objectives, and utilization with subordinate staff. Provides direction and ensures that all subordinates receive training and instruction in methods and techniques necessary to safely perform their assigned tasks.

Responsible for the programs in the Research and Soils & Foundations Laboratory subsection. Ensures laboratory services are delivered timely. Continually re-assesses laboratory needs and activities to ensure geotechnical materials are tested accurately and timely and stakeholder needs are met. Conducts Quality Assurance Reviews by evaluating geotechnical and earthwork materials on projects and related processes to verify compliance with specifications and determine current performance status. Initiates improvements to optimize delivery or improve results. Notifies stakeholders of any changes to the project/process. Prepares technical reports and presentations documenting results, conclusions, and recommendations. Prepares and signs/seals engineering documents and specifications as required.

Develops, identifies, and prioritizes both in-house and contracted geotechnical materials research needs. Develops project scopes and requests for proposals. Evaluates submitted research proposals. Acts as the research contract project manager or technical review committee member as required. Effectively and thoroughly reviews and approves/rejects deliverables timely. Manages the research project schedule and funding to ensure the project is completed in accordance with contract documents. Facilitates the implementation of research findings.

Develops, revises, and maintains Department policies, procedures, specifications, manuals, and test methods. Coordinates activities with others to ensure a consistent and uniform direction to the geotechnical engineering program. Act as the Department's technical liaison with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Industry, trade associations, governing entities, and others with regards to geotechnical materials. Act as the technical representative for discussions regarding development and revision of specifications, procedures, and any other geotechnical materials related issues.

Provides technical support and expertise to effectively address geotechnical materials related issues and challenges. Ensure that District personnel and other customers have the necessary assistance in support of geotechnical materials related operations. Provide support in time to meet the customers' needs.

The Successful Candidate will have the following required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Concepts, terminology, principles, and analytical techniques of geotechnical engineering.
• Engineering design, construction, production, and/or operations.

Skills in:

• Operating a personal computer for work processing, spreadsheet, and database applications.

Ability to:

• Analyze and interpret engineering data.
• Plan, design, evaluate, and investigate engineering works and systems.
• Monitor and inspect engineering projects.
• Solve problems relating to engineering.
• Plan, organize, and coordinate work assignments.
• Communicate engineering information effectively.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Supervise employees.

Licensure/Registration/Certification Requirements:

• Registration as a Professional Engineer in accordance with Chapter 471, Florida Statutes, or able to obtain registration by endorsement as a Professional Engineer in the State of Florida under Chapter 471, Florida Statutes, within one year from your appointment date.

Other Job-Related Requirements:

• Travel is required.
• This position will be required to respond before, during and following emergency situations.

The State's total compensation package for employees features a highly competitive set of employee benefits including:

• Health insurance (over 90% employer paid)
• $25,000 life insurance policy (100% employer paid)
• Dental, vision and supplemental insurances
• State of Florida retirement package
• 10 paid holidays a year
• Generous vacation and sick leave
• Career advancement opportunities
• Tuition waiver for public college courses
• A variety of training opportunities
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

For additional benefit information available to State of Florida employees, visit: https://www.mybenefits.myflorida.com/

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: You will be required to provide your Social Security Number to conduct required verifications. Male applicants born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion in the Career Service, or appointment in the Selected Exempt Service (SES) or Senior Management Service (SMS), unless they are registered with the Selective Service System (SSS) before their 26th birthday, or have a Letter of Registration Exemption from the SSS.

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.

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