Paleontological Field Technician

About Us

We are a California-based environmental consulting firm with 500+ professionals and over 30 years of experience serving clients across the transportation, energy, water, infrastructure, private development, and government sectors. We are proud to be a Certified Great Place to Work, as reflected in the experiences our employees share on Glassdoor and the trust, connection, and sense of purpose felt across our company.

Our mission is to deliver practical, science-based environmental and planning solutions that support communities, infrastructure, and natural systems. At Rincon, people come first. We value collaboration, fairness, and transparency, and we are committed to creating an environment where everyone can grow, contribute meaningfully, and do their best work.

We are seeking as-needed Paleontological Field Technicians who will be responsible for providing paleontological mitigation support throughout California. This role will be responsible for conducting paleontological monitoring on construction sites, including preparation for sustained monitoring in a variety of climates and ecologies.

Please note, this position is listed for California and is available for any of the Central Coast, SoCal and Nor Cal regions, with particular interest in candidates located in San Luis Obispo, Ventura, and Fresno counties.

• Perform construction mitigation monitoring for paleontological resources.
• Collect detailed and accurate field data with a focus on the geology and stratigraphy of the site and prepare clear and concise daily monitoring reports to summarize the data.
• Collect fossils during monitoring, perform/assist with small- and large-scale fossil salvage that may include plaster jacketing or bulk matrix sampling.
• Clean, organize, and prepare fossils for institutional curation.
• Work under the direction of a qualified paleontologist.

• Bachelor's degree in geology, paleontology, or a closely related field, with coursework and field training in paleontology and sedimentary geology.
• Experience in California paleontology, which may include paleontological monitoring, survey, fossil salvage, laboratory preparation, report writing, and coordination with a principal paleontologist.
• Ability to safely perform fieldwork on construction sites often in rough terrain and inclement weather for long hours.
• Excellent communication skills (verbal and written), a high level of responsiveness to supervisors, the ability to follow detailed instructions, and strong organizational skills.
• A valid driver's license, clean driving record, and reliable transportation for travel to and from project work sites.
• Proficient in technology with the ability to reliably communicate through smartphones, computers, or tablets.

The base hourly range for this temporary position is $25.00–$35.00 per hour. At Rincon, our salary ranges are based on the market median of similar jobs, according to third‑party salary benchmark surveys. The base pay that is actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate’s job‑related knowledge, skills, and experience.

Individuals offered employment must successfully complete a pre‑employment drug screening as a condition of employment. Additionally, those hired who may be assigned to federal projects will be subject to further drug testing, including screening for cannabinoids (THC/marijuana), in compliance with the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 and other applicable federal regulations, which take precedence over California state and local laws.

Rincon Consultants, Inc does not accept unsolicited applicant/candidate resumes from search firm recruiters and/or temporary agencies that do not have a signed contract and specified work order with Rincon Consultants. Further, such resumes received will be deemed the sole property of Rincon Consultants and no fees will be paid in the event Rincon Consultants subsequently hires such individual. Rincon Consultants is an equal opportunity employer.

All aspects of employment will be based on merit, competence, performance, and business needs. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.