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Environmental Scientist

Tetra Tech
Santa Maria, CA
The Opportunity

Tetra Tech, Inc., a nationally recognized leader in engineering and environmental consulting, is seeking an experienced and dynamic Mid-Level Environmental Scientist to join our Water Sciences Team located in our San Luis Obispo and/or Santa Maria, CA office. Our growing Team supports a variety of clients primarily with their stormwater, surface water, groundwater, and watershed management programs.

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.

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.

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.

Responsibilities

This is a mid-level position designed for a professional with a strong technical background. The successful candidate will contribute to the execution of projects, coordinate field activities, support proposal preparation, and gradually take on responsibilities in client management and project oversight, with a clear trajectory toward project management roles for motivated individuals. We value innovation, collaboration, and career development. This position offers a unique opportunity to grow within a supportive and high-performing team.

You will work collaboratively with our Team to develop and implement watershed-based solutions, with an emphasis on:

  • Supporting compliance with NPDES permits (Construction, Industrial, and Municipal)
  • Conducting field inspections, audits, and sampling
  • Preparing technical reports, monitoring plans, and compliance documentation
  • Watershed and site assessments and watershed planning studies
  • Coordinating sampling and laboratory analysis and Leading or supporting field efforts for data collection
  • Performing statistical and geospatial analysis of water quality data
  • Recommending BMPs for erosion, sediment control, and pollution prevention
  • Presenting findings and training materials to clients and stakeholders
  • Supporting proposal and scope-of-work development
  • Conduct activities in line with internal procedures, legislation, and industry standards.
  • Pursue continuous professional development and maintain a high degree of discipline, knowledge and awareness.
  • Work in a safe manner at all times and report all health and safety incidents and concerns.
  • Additional duties as required.

The salary range for this position is $93,000-124,800. Please note that Tetra Tech considers various factors in determining pay, including, but not limited to geographic location, qualifications, licensures, certifications, experience, and other skills relevant to the needs of the business. Additional information on our benefits package can be found at Life at Tetra Tech - Tetra Tech.

Qualifications

Required Experience:

  • Minimum 5 years of directly relevant experience
  • Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Engineering, Planning, Geology, or related field
  • Proficiency of:
  • Understanding federal and State water quality regulations, State stormwater permits, and compliance programs
  • BMP selection, siting, and performance evaluation
  • Use of field instrumentation (water quality meters, GPS, velocity meters)
  • Conducting inspections and sampling
  • Excellent technical writing, data management, and analytical skills
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Adobe Reader, Google Earth
  • Public speaking and verbal communication skills.
  • Ability to work independently and lead field teams

Preferred Skills

  • QSD/QSP and/or QISP (or actively pursuing)
  • Experience with GIS and environmental data visualization
  • Application of statistical tools

This position requires the candidate to be a U.S. Citizen due to the projects they will be working on.

Background Check: If this position requires a CAC card, CUI Enclave Access and/or a Security Clearance, a background check will be completed.

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

  • Candidate must be able to traverse large project sites and must be physically able to carry up to 35 pounds of equipment and coolers containing ice and filled sample bottles during field work.
  • Field activities take place in a variety of weather conditions and can occur in remote locations and include areas of uneven terrain or occur during harsh weather and long periods of traversing terrain or remaining motionless.
  • Field sampling and monitoring may include various media (groundwater, surface water, sediment, and stormwater).
  • Candidate must be able to sit or stand at a desk / computer in an office environment for office-based tasks

Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Project work will entail approximately 75% fieldwork and 25% office work. Office work will generally consist of water quality equipment/supply preparation, reviewing/preparing SOPs, preparing field forms, and other office tasks in a typical office environment with controlled conditions. Fieldwork may entail work in a wide range of outdoor conditions, including work in adverse weather conditions, such as high heat, extreme cold, precipitation, and job sites where dense vegetation, uneven ground, physical obstacles, and animals/plants/insects may be present. Field project durations are not normally expected to exceed two weeks. However, some longer-term field assignments are possible. Professional development opportunities will also be available.

Language & Communication Skills: Ability to read, research, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical documents and procedures, and government regulations. Ability to write detailed reports, business correspondence, and procedures suitable for client submittal. Ability to effectively present information, communicate, and respond to questions from coworkers, clients, customers, and the general public. Effective communication skills, both orally and in written form. Must be fluent in the English language – reading, writing, and speaking. Spanish speaking skills are desired, but not required.

Other Skills: Instructions: Candidate must have the ability to work well in a professional and team-oriented environment, as well as independently. Candidate should possess strong organizational skills, excellent leadership skills, and be client-focused. Ability to be self-directed, solution-oriented and anticipate and/or identify issues early. Must possess basic computer skills; the computer skills must include proficiency in Microsoft Windows, Word and Excel. Knowledge/experience in computer-based, graphics software, data evaluation software, and electronic field data collection is desirable, but not necessary.

Life At Tetra Tech

The perks of working at Tetra Tech include:

  • Comprehensive and market-competitive benefits.
  • 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, sex, marital or familial status, 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 Follow us on social media to learn more about our people, culture, and opportunities:

LinkedIn: @TetraTechCareers

Twitter: @TetraTechJobs

Facebook: @TetraTechCareers

We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.

Please no phone calls or agencies.

Additional Information

  • Organization: 112 EGS
Posted 2026-01-21

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