About Careertakes

👉 Important disclosure: Careertakes is a third-party recruiting platform supporting this hiring process. If selected, you will be employed directly by our client, Scientific & QA.

Applicants for this role may also receive access to additional matched opportunities through the Careertakes platform.

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Role overview

Confidential Client is seeking as-needed, entry-level Paleontology Technicians to support paleontological resource projects throughout Southern California. This project-based role is ideal for recent graduates, field-school alumni, and early-career professionals who want field experience with construction monitoring, fossil salvage, surveys, and lab support.

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What You’ll Do

• Conduct paleontological construction monitoring under the direction of project leadership.
• Assist with paleontological surveys and fossil salvage efforts.
• Support laboratory work including fossil processing, cataloging, and specimen handling.
• Maintain accurate field notes, maps, locality records, and project documentation.
• Help prepare technical report sections and compile data for deliverables.
• Participate in worker environmental awareness trainings and follow site safety protocols.
• Deliver reliable, high-quality work products on schedule and within budget.

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Minimum qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Paleontology, Geology, or a closely related field.
• Experience documenting stratigraphy through coursework, field studies, research, or similar experience.
• Ability and willingness to work outdoors in varying weather conditions, including high-heat environments.
• Valid California driver’s license and reliable transportation.
• Willingness to travel and stay overnight as projects require.

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Preferred qualifications

• 1+ years of field experience or construction monitoring.
• Familiarity with paleontological mitigation practices, regulations, and field protocols.
• Experience meeting qualifications for supervised fieldwork on federal lands (e.g., BLM) or similar jurisdictions.
• Strong observational, note-taking, and basic GIS/map-reading skills.

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Compensation & logistics

• Pay range: $25 — $35 per hour, based on experience and qualifications. (California pay transparency: range is provided.)
• Employment type: as-needed / project-based (contract assignments); schedule depends on project demand.
• Primary work area: projects across Southern California; reporting location: Irvine, CA. Travel and overnight stays may be required.

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Why this is a good opportunity

• Hands-on field experience with monitoring and salvage on real-world construction projects.
• Mentorship from experienced paleontologists and interdisciplinary exposure within environmental consulting projects.
• Flexible, project-based assignments that build a portfolio of field and lab experience for early-career professionals.

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Keywords & skills (for applicants)

• Paleontology Technician Irvine, CA
• Construction monitoring
• Fossil salvage and processing
• Paleontological surveys
• Entry-level field technician

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Equal Opportunity & Hiring Transparency

Careertakes and our client are Equal Opportunity Employers committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We prohibit discrimination or harassment of any kind. To support a fair and efficient hiring process, AI tools may be used to assist with application review or resume screening. These tools do not replace human decision-making. Final hiring decisions are made by people.

If you have questions about how your data is used, please contact us directly.