Forestry - Research Technician

Wages range from $19.50 to $21.50 per hour

Qualified Research Technicians help to maintain Sierra Pacific Industries’ long-term water quality, microclimate, road inventory, sediment, and erosion programs. Research and Monitoring Program staff are required to be familiar with, and adhere to, the Research and Monitoring Program Quality Assurance Project Plan, all standard operating procedures, and any additional departmental procedural documents. Staff must follow all Research and Monitoring Program guidelines, requirements, standards, documentation practices, and quality assurance/quality control procedures throughout the life of all projects.

This position provides an excellent opportunity to support various ongoing peer‑reviewed research projects throughout Sierra Pacific Industries’ California timberlands.

The Research Technician will use ATVs, 4x4 vehicles, and foot access to perform a variety of tasks with the Research and Monitoring Crew in Sierra Pacific Industries’ forests. Applicants must be willing to work in remote areas both as part of a group and independently.

• College-level coursework in hydrology, geology, geography, geomorphology, or Forestry, Natural Resources, or related program of study is preferred
• Possess valid driver’s license and have ability to drive on hazardous mountain roads
• Safely use ATVs in remote areas – will be required to load ATVs into trucks or tow an ATV on a trailer to the field with a four-wheel drive vehicle provided by Sierra Pacific Industries
• Ability to safely work in streams, riparian areas, remote forest road networks, and hike and navigate alone in remote steep mountainous regions using map, compass, and GPS

Compensation includes competitive hourly wage and housing allowance for qualifying individuals.

Apply online at:

Applicants must provide a cover letter and resume when submitting application.

Applications Close:
February 16th 2026

Interviews will be ongoing as applications are received.

Positions may be filled prior to deadline.

Employment Period: MAY/JUNE - AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2026 (flexible start & end dates)

Celebrate our 300th million seedling planted with us!

Sierra Pacific is an (EOE) Equal Opportunity Employer, including those with a disability and veterans.

Sierra Pacific Industries is a fourth-generation family-owned company based in Northern California that started in 1949 and has grown to be one of the largest lumber and millwork producers in the U.S., employing around 6,500 crew members. Sierra Pacific continues to be a company where its employees are proud to work at state-of-the-art facilities and others strive to become part of the team.

We own and sustainably manage more than 2.4 million acres of timberland in California, Oregon, and Washington. Our forests are sustainably managed under a 100-year plan by Registered Professional Foresters, Wildlife Biologists, Botanists, and other professionals. We are growing forests for our future, planting over 6 million new trees every year. In Spring 2024, we planted our 300 millionth seedling on our timberlands.

This milestone was decades in the making, reflecting our commitment to sustainable forest management and ensuring we have forests not just for today, but for generations to come.

Sierra Pacific effectively uses nearly 100% of every piece of wood we bring to our facilities. In fact, any small amount that isn’t turned into hand-crafted doors and windows, millwork, lumber, or landscaping material is actually converted into electricity in our eight biomass‑fueled power plants. We are proud that all Sierra Pacific facilities follow our drug-free and tobacco-free policies. As part of our safety in the workplace policy, an offer of employment is subject to a negative drug screen result.

We use E‑verify to verify the social security number and work authorization of all newly hired employees. Sierra Pacific is an (EOE) Equal Opportunity Employer, including those with a disability and veterans.