Aaron Owen

The post-pandemic United States is witnessing a rise in civil engineering jobs due to technological innovations, the need for better infrastructure, a diverse workforce, and economic development. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, civil engineering jobs are growing faster than the average at 8 percent. This is the significant reason most job aspirants seek a civil engineering job in the Golden State.

Architectural, engineering, and construction (AEC) firms account for 10.10 percent of total employment in civil engineering, and to get access to them, you need to sign up for a civil engineering staffing agency. Engineering staffing agencies bridge the gap between employers and engineers with their top-notch employment services, including job search, skill development, and training. 

Curious as to how to approach and select a civil engineering agency? Read below for some tips to find out the benefits of working with civil engineering recruitment agencies like Certis Solutions. 

Tips for selecting the right engineering staffing agency

Signing on to many staffing agencies may not help you find your dream civil engineering job, as this can be time-consuming. Analyze a recruitment agency based on various parameters to ensure it meets your expectations and helps you find your ideal job opportunity. The following are a few things to keep in mind while selecting a civil engineering staffing agency.

Location

Opt for a staffing agency with maximum reach, especially when you want to work in a specific location or state like California. You should look for a specialist civil engineering staffing agency with dedicated project consultants in the state to help you get access to your desired employers. 

Services offered 

For holistic career advancement, you need to be proficient in different areas within your field of specialization, like civil engineering. And, in most cases, top-notch engineering staffing agencies will help you enhance your skills and expertise through various training and development programs. Look for staffing agencies that provide additional job-related services, like resume-building and interview preparations.

Roles available

Civil engineering is a vast industry with many job titles, including project engineer, project manager, technician, civil engineering drafter, and architect to name a few positions that are highly sought after by engineers. Therefore, you need to find the recruiting agency that helps you get the role or job you want. Some civil engineering staffing agencies can only focus on contractor roles. In contrast, others can get you a permanent position, so find the one that best syncs with your role requirements. 

Reputation

Looking at a staffing agency’s achievements, market standing, and reputation is important before trusting it to find you the desired role. You wouldn’t want to invest your time in an agency with a poor track record of placing candidates or that doesn’t maintain a professional relationship with civil engineering companies. 

Companies they partner with 

Does the recruiting agency you’re signing up for have the right contacts with the companies you aspire to work for? If not, then there’s no point in seeking their help. Always look for civil engineering recruitment agencies that share proximate relationships with the companies you’re interested in working with. 

Dedicated support 

Opt for a staffing agency that provides dedicated support, like a project specialist who can be available to answer questions and assist you with your queries. In short, you should have a point of contact that guides your path in finding the right job opportunity.

Benefits of working with Certis Solutions 

Finding the right job opportunity can be tiring, time-consuming, and challenging. We recommend you sign up with Certis Solutions for an easy way to get your dream job in civil engineering. When you apply for a civil engineering job through an online job portal like LinkedIn, you will notice similar companies appearing in your search result.

Certis Solutions maintains a professional relationship with companies not listed on a recruitment site or job portal, meaning you can contact these companies and find the right job in no time. Some other benefits may include:

• Best-in-industry compensation; 
• Continuous support and guidance from project specialists;
• Training and development programs;
• Resume-building and interview-preparation support;
• Connects you with top AEC companies in California.

Search for your dream civil engineering jobs at Certis Solutions, your one-stop destination for finding work in California’s top architecture, construction, and engineering firms. 

The environmental health of California is rapidly deteriorating for several reasons, including climate change, infrastructure development, and natural calamities, such as wildfires, droughts, and earthquakes. Despite the harmful environmental effect, the Golden State is experiencing a rise in fire damage renovation projects and construction of single and multi-family residential units and commercial buildings, creating the need for environmental monitoring roles. 

Rising construction projects and the current environmental conditions offer a ripe opportunity for those looking for environmental resource management jobs in the state. Many companies and general contractors are looking for professionals across different job titles, including environmental specialists, to monitor and ensure that the ongoing and new infrastructure projects comply with environmental laws.

To work in environmental resources management services, you need to understand the importance of environmental compliance and monitoring broadly. Below, we discuss both things extensively. We’ll also discuss which environmental companies are hiring in California. 

What is compliance and monitoring in environmental resource services?

In simple terms, environmental compliance means adhering to the laws, codes, standards, and regulations created to protect the environment while undertaking a development project. General contractors and companies often have to pay hefty fines when they fail to meet these rules and standards. 

In case of critical environmental violation, the liable person or representative of the company may also need to serve a prison term. Considering the severity of the issue, most companies often hire professionals who ensure each project complies with the standards and laws to avoid repercussions or punishments. 

Environment monitoring refers to collecting and analyzing environmental data to monitor and minimize the impact of a company’s practices on the environment. With overexploitation of resources for industrial and commercial activities, environment monitoring has never been more significant as they help assess and mitigate the potential risk to the natural environment. 

As you grow in your respective environmental resource management jobs, you’ll learn different monitoring and environmental scanning techniques, such as sedimentation, absorption, grab sampling, and electrostatic samples. 

Both compliance and monitoring aim to minimize the impact of various architectural, construction, and engineering projects on the environment and public health, making understanding them an essential part of environmental resources services. 

Examples of compliance and monitoring in use: environmental resources

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the statutory body that governs compliance with environmental standards and laws through routine investigations, inspections on development sites, checking for contamination in export and import environmental substances, and providing training to environmental resource management personnel. These acts are categorized into three types of environmental aspects: air; water; and waste, chemicals, and cleanup compliance monitoring.

1. Air compliance monitoring 

The U.S. EPA works with federal, state, and tribal administrations to ensure companies and contractors meet the clean air rules, regulations, and laws under the Clean Air Act (CAA). The act aims at curbing air pollution to ensure public health safety and mitigate potential risks to the natural environment. 

2. Water compliance monitoring 

There are two major acts that come under water compliance monitoring where the statutory bodies work with the three-tier administration to make sure every development project complies with clean water regulations and laws. 

• The Clean Water Act  (CWA) emphasizes the responsibility of companies and general contractors to maintain, clean, and sustain water resources they’re using for development projects. It also monitors the discharge of contaminants or industrial/construction waste in the water bodies. 
• The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) monitors set standards for the quality of drinking water. EPA, along with state and local authorities and suppliers, enforce these standards on contractors undertaking a development project. 

3. Waste, chemicals, and cleanup compliance monitoring

Infrastructure or engineering projects that deal with mining, chemicals, hazardous waste, and other harmful environmental substances must comply with the laws and acts related to waste and chemical management. 

• Under the Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA), if you’re using toxic chemical substances like lead, mercury, asbestos, and some specific hexavalent chromium compounds, you’re required to report, record, and meet the testing requirement before using these chemical substances. 
• Following the TSCA, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) or the Superfund commands authorities to monitor and clean residues of hazardous chemical substances that have the potential to harm public safety and the environment. Projects including chemicals must comply with this act to avoid legal actions.
• Another act under waste compliance monitoring is the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), which monitors and ensures the proper disposal of harmful chemical substances. This also includes the appropriate transportation, storage, generation, and treatment of hazardous chemical or industrial waste. 

There are several other environmental acts that ensure the protection of the natural environment and encourage companies to work in compliance with environmental laws. For those looking to build a career in environmental resource management, understand and learn about these acts and compliance monitoring examples to connect with the on-site environmental monitoring requirements. 

Environmental resource management jobs: Who’s hiring

Top environmental companies currently hiring professionals across different environmental resources management job titles in California include:

• ECORP Consulting, Inc.
• Montrose Environmental Group, Inc
• North Wind
• Tepa Companies
• Surf to Snow Environmental Resource Management, Inc
• TRC Companies 

Importance of a technical staffing agency 

When looking for environmental resources management jobs, you may not find all the companies currently hiring. This is precisely where a technical staffing agency like Certis Solutions helps you, as it connects you with companies and contractors not listed. 

A technical staffing agency also helps you gain experience and build your network by working on different projects for various clients. It assists you in finding the perfect job opportunity that matches your personal and professional expectations and goals. 

Do you want to work in top architecture, construction, and engineering (ACE) firms? Contact Certis Solutions as we help you get in touch with leading companies from the industry. 

Any given project is only as successful as its budget allows. Poorly budgeted projects result in low quality or incomplete work. Heavily padded budgets result in unhappy clients, or a total lack of a project altogether (i.e., losing the project). 

This is why every budget needs a skilled estimator behind it, and why construction staffing agencies are always on the lookout for good estimators. This blog explores why estimators are important to projects in California. 

California Needs Estimators 

Construction estimators, at the core of their job, calculate costs and prepare estimates for civil engineering or construction projects. In general, estimates encompass materials, labor, mobilization/demobilization, and equipment. 

Estimators also undertake an administrative role in handling quotes, tenders, and a list of suppliers and contractors. Estimators aren’t only predictive, however. It’s up to them to continuously keep on top of costs and spending during a project. 

Many estimators specialize in particular kinds of construction or engineering projects, such as electrical estimators, heavy civil estimators, and vertical construction estimators. This means companies and staffing agencies often have multiple estimators posting at any given time.

The need for estimators seems fairly self-evident. A project can’t go ahead without knowing how much it will cost. However, California finds itself with a growing need for estimators. 

California has continually been rated as one of the most expensive places to build in the United States. Partially, this is because of the high cost of land in places like Los Angeles and San Francisco. However, construction companies also tend to charge top dollar in California. The state is often the site of high levels of innovation in construction, which doesn’t come cheap. 

What You Need to Become an Estimator

Being an estimator is a popular position in California for those who specialize in accounting, have attention to detail, or have some desire to work with numbers and want to move into the construction industry. If you do have a degree in a relevant field, you could potentially be a candidate for the position of estimator. 

In particular, being an estimator requires excellent mathematics, accounting, and computer skills. You will need to be proficient in most Microsoft Office programs, know how to use (or be willing to learn) estimating software, check quantities and price quotes for accuray, have good presentation skills, and handle reports and bid letters. 

You also need to have excellent problem-solving and communication skills to constantly be on top of the budget and consistently keep all relevant parties informed of the budget. Estimators need to effectively communicate both verbally and in writing with a variety of people, including the project manager slated to run the project, the superintendent that will be directing the field crews, subcontractors working on the project, vendors (for materials and supplies), and the client.

An understanding of the construction industry as a whole is important. You can’t simply rely on your accounting skills; you need to read and understand blueprints and specs, as well as have a good understanding of construction materials, methods, and equipment. 

Estimators in California

California always has exciting opportunities in the construction sector, and every construction staffing agency is going to be looking for good estimators to help provide the expertise those construction projects require. Certis Solutions is here to help you connect with the jobs you need to make the most of your career. 

Working on buildings of the future is a dream for many. But how do you go about becoming a construction engineer in California? And how do you find work as one? We’ll explain the essentials here. 

Why California Needs Engineers

The Golden State is the most populous American state, and that population is growing faster. The need for new building projects to house this population and give them a place to work, shop, and entertain themselves is significant.

In particular, the major cities of San Francisco, Sacramento, San Diego, and Los Angeles have a large need for new workers in the construction industry. This makes the state an excellent place to undertake an engineering career.

An Education for Construction Engineering 

To work in construction and civil engineering in California, a good first step is to complete a four-year bachelor’s degree in civil engineering (or another engineering related field). 

Certain businesses may look more favorably on your job application if you also have a masters in engineering and/or a professional engineering license. Becoming licensed as a professional engineer is a well-earned honor, as well as an indication to employers and clients of the skills you bring to your work.

Construction Engineering Licensing in California 

While becoming a licensed Professional Engineer (PE) isn’t a requirement or needed for every engineering job, it generally allows for faster career advancement and a higher salary. 

Moreover, if you want to directly sell your services in the state of California, operate your own engineering firm, or bid for contracts, you must be a licensed PE. Attempting to sell your services or bid for contracts without this license is illegal. Though the specific requirements for licensure can differ from state to state, licensure candidates follow the same basic steps throughout the United States and its territories.

The first step in becoming licensed as a PE in California is to register for and take the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam (FE exam). After passing the FE exam, you can apply to get your engineer-in-training (EIT) certification. In California, to get this certification you need to show you have three or more years of engineering-related work experience, have a clean background, and pass the FE exam. Achieving EIT status signals you have mastered the fundamental requirements and taken the first step toward earning your PE licensure.

Once you obtain the EIT certification, all states require that candidates complete four years of qualifying engineering experience, typically under the supervision of a professional engineer. Once complete, the final step in obtaining licensure is successfully completing the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam in your state. 

Note that each state (as well as the District of Columbia and all U.S. territories) has its own licensure board, administering its own exam and required qualifications. To find out more about your state’s licensure requirements, visit the website of your state licensing board state-by-state summary.

To speed up the process, check if any engineering work you did while taking your education counts toward the years of experience requirement. Often, engineering work done at American schools will count for this six-year requirement. Foreign education may be capped for how much it can count. 

Note that if you specifically want to become a civil engineer in California, you’ll also need to pass the California Civil exams. You can also get specific licensing if your work experience is specialized (e.g., structural engineering). 

Becoming a licensed professional engineer in California is a long and expensive process, but is a worthwhile endeavor if you aspire to lead projects, run an engineering division, or own your own engineering company. By working with a staffing agency that has partnerships with many prominent firms in the AEC industry, you can be ensured you’ll gain access to a robust database of jobs in the environmental services space. 

Our Certis project coordinators will work alongside you to help you access job opportunities for numerous desirable projects with dynamic companies. Certis Solutions is here to help you connect with the jobs you need to make the most of your career. 

With deteriorating environmental conditions worldwide, it has become critical to manage and oversee different commercial, governmental, and industrial projects that may negatively impact the environment. Hence, this increases the demand for environmental consulting services that will ensure the physical environment isn’t harmed due to overexploitation of resources, deforestation, industrial pollution, and other activities.

According to the United States’ Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs related to environmental scientists and specialists are expected to grow by 8 percent in the next seven to ten years. Professionals looking to build a career in this field would do well collaborating with a technical staffing agency that can help them reach out to the ideal employer. This article will touch on the types of services environmental consultants provide, along with companies in California looking to hire for different environmental consulting jobs.

Types of environmental consulting services

The role of environmental consulting agencies is to provide insights on various issues that may affect the environment through scientific knowledge, technical expertise, and in-depth research. Professionals working in the environmental consulting arena assist organizations and businesses by providing guidance to ensure projects maintain compliance with current environmental regulations at the local, state, and federal levels. The services may include the following outlined below.

1. Assessments

The property or area proposed for commercial/industrial development is assessed based on different regulations and environmental impacts. An environmental consultant may inspect the property for potential contaminants, including chemical hazards and overexploitation of resources.

2. Remediation

Environmental remediation deals with the removal of pollution or contaminants from environmental media such as soil, groundwater, sediment, or surface water. Environmental consultants focused on remediation encourage companies to restore sites that have been contaminated due to prior or current activities or business operations. For example, if a nearby water bank gets contaminated because of rigorous use, the company will take the necessary steps to clean the water bank.

3. Compliance

Every industrial or commercial project must comply with local, state, and federal laws and regulations. An environmental consultant may work closely with a company to ensure they’re following building and safety standards and thus ensuring human safety and maximum protection of the environment.

4. Monitoring

Environmental consultants and resource managers monitor construction sites to mitigate the risk of potential permit violations or negative environmental impacts from construction activities.  Professionals in this field ensure all development and construction projects follow laws and regulations with due diligence.

5. Industrial hygiene

Industrial hygiene ensures the health and safety of individuals working on a development or infrastructure project. Industrial hygienists and consultants recognize, evaluate, and communicate potential threats to prevent unwanted accidents.

Top environmental consulting companies hiring in California 

Top companies currently looking to hire skilled professionals for different environmental consulting services or environmental resource management roles in and around California include:

• ECM Group
• Montrose Environmental Group, Inc.
• Surf to Snow Environmental Resource Management, Inc
• Ahtna, Inc
• Emerald Site Services
• GSI Environmental Inc.
• Geo-Logic Associates
• Central Environmental Inc.
• Environmental Synectics, Inc.
• Omega Environmental
• Bancroft Construction Company

Technical staffing agencies: Your best bet for getting hired

With growing market competition, it isn’t easy to find the perfect job in your desired field. Technical staffing agencies can help as they serve as an intermediary to connect employees with their dream employer. Staffing agencies have strong relationships with various companies and hiring managers, and in many cases can assist you with applying for positions that are not typically listed on job portals. You get a fair opportunity and industry-standard remuneration without any hassle. These agencies also help refine your work competencies to stand out among other applicants. From technical to soft skills,  staffing agencies highlight your qualifications and ensure your resume is tailored to your ideal role at your dream company. 

To be successful in your respective field, it’s important to build a strong network, and a staffing agency helps with that. It connects you with professionals that can provide industry insights and tips to become the ideal candidate for a job. You also get continuous guidance and assistance from experienced consultants that help you be better prepared for a job.

Need help finding a job in the environmental, construction, engineering, or emergency management industry? Visit Certis Solutions, a one-stop destination to find your next project or your next career. 

Certis Solutions has a dedicated team of technical recruiters and staffing consultants that work diligently to connect you with your ideal employer. Contact us today to learn more about our end-to-end staffing services. 

As any civil engineering staffing agency in California will tell you, there’s a desperate need for new land development engineers. Before any other construction or engineering project can begin, the land development engineers need to get to work. 

If you have skills in design or development, there are engineering staffing agencies interested in you. The following are some examples of land development agencies hiring engineers as of the time of this writing. 

#1 Fuscoe

Fuscoe Engineering’s business is in creating remarkable places. It does this by being at the cutting edge of new development and engineering technology. Founder Pat Fuscoe is an innovator in ecologically friendly engineering, technology, and leadership development. The company is noted for its deployment of technology, such as drones, 3D scanning, and artificial intelligence during its land development projects. 

Services 

Fuscoe is involved in the following industries:

• Civil Engineering
• Surveying and Mapping
• Stormwater Management
• Sustainable Design
• Geospatial Survey

Generally, Fuscoe is involved in surveying and site development both for construction projects, as well as environmental maintenance. 

Portfolio

Fuscoe has worked on a variety of projects for both commercial and residential purposes. This includes design work for the Kaiser Permanente Medical Office building in Hesperia, the Middle Earth residential towers for UC Irvine, and the Lumen retail and commercial space in Los Angeles. 

#2 Sandis

Sandis was established by Tim Sandis in 1965 in Mountain View, who helped develop that community. Sandis was a Greek survivor of the Second World War who moved to California to study engineering. Today, President Jeff Setera continues a legacy of experience, quality, efficiency, and accuracy.

Services 

Sandis is involved in a variety of engineering and development disciplines:

• Civil Engineering
• Traffic Engineering
• Stormwater Management
• Building Information Modeling
• Land Surveying
• Construction Staking 
• Laser Scanning
• Utility Locating
• Structural Steel Surveying 

The company is also heavily involved in professional development in the engineering space, as well as in thought leadership and community charity work. 

Portfolio

Sandis has worked in a variety of fields. They’ve helped with development to expand the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, Microsoft’s Silicon Valley Campus, and the County Government Center of Monterey. 

#3 Owen Design Group 

The Owen Design Group was founded in 1981 and has a reputation for outstanding consultation services. Owen works across a variety of construction and development fields, and has multiple divisions across California, including Irvine, Pasadena, Sacramento, and San Diego. 

Services 

Owen is involved in a vast array of projects relating to architecture and development:

• Architectural Design
• Civil Engineering
• Structural Engineering
• MEP Engineering 
• Commissioning
• Energy Design
• Facility Condition Assessment
• Project and Construction Management
• Compliance Management
• International Projects
• Technology and Software

Portfolio

Owen has worked on a variety of projects within California, across a variety of industries. They’ve helped provide development engineering work for the Port of Long Beach, the City of Los Angeles, and the Department of Defense. They’ve also done development work for a variety of commercial projects in cities and communities across California

Work in land development with Certis Solutions

The need for land development engineering and design is always high in California. However, this also means competition is high. 
If you’re looking for a job as an engineer in any field of construction in California, partnering with Certis Solutions will take your career to the next level. Our industry connections give us the tools that will help you find success in your job search and your career development.