Petrographer

WJE Austin is home to WJE’s second-largest laboratory facility, and we are seeking an experienced Petrographer to join our local team. Bring your problem-solving mindset, insatiable curiosity, and developing technical expertise to a team that is genuinely excited about their work and invested in each other’s success.

As a Petrographer at WJE, you will apply a principles-first, problem-solving approach to determine root causes of problems, characterize materials, and evaluate performance for a variety of cementitious materials applications across the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry.

Our industry-leading team of petrographers contributes to investigations involving concrete, mortar, aggregate, dimension stone, stucco, and other building materials, including problems such as alkali-aggregate reaction (AAR, including both ASR and ACR), mix design verification, low strength, cement-admixture interaction, efflorescence, delamination and other surface defects, fire-damaged concrete, cracking, sulfate attack, freeze-thaw damage, and delayed ettringite formation (DEF).

We leverage multiple state-of-the-art methods, such as optical microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, image analysis, laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), and electrical resistivity, and have access to additional capabilities and a broader team of materials scientists in WJE’s Janney Technical Center.

In addition to managing projects for external clients, our petrographers collaborate with engineers and architects across WJE to solve interesting and complex problems in the built world, ranging from historic preservation and collapse investigations to new construction challenges.

Flexibility in Position Level: Recognizing the unique combination of skills applicable to the niche practice of forensic petrographic analysis, we are open to considering candidates at a variety of experience levels for this position. Whether you are early in your career or an established expert, our team is ready and willing to provide commensurate support, mentorship, and training necessary to set you up for long-term success.

• Contribute to the day-to-day success of multiple concurrent projects and complete work with limited oversight, under the guidance of experienced petrographers
• Perform hands-on petrographic analyses, microscopy, field assessment, and physical testing, such as compressive strength and durability testing
• Accurately record and organize data for analysis, while exercising good judgment in assessing the reasonableness of test results
• Assume responsibility for key aspects of laboratory safety, maintenance, and quality assurance, including setting up, operating, and maintaining laboratory instruments; cleaning glassware; restocking laboratory supplies, reagents, and solutions

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in geology, materials science/engineering, geological engineering, or a related field with substantial coursework in mineralogy, petrology, and geochemistry; advanced degree preferred
• Minimum two years of applied petrographic laboratory experience; industry experience preferred to experience gained solely in an academic setting
• Strong foundation in optical mineralogy, petrology, and petrographic sample preparation, including the following methods: traditional petrographic microscopy; thin section analysis; immersion mount analysis; hand sample analysis with a stereo microscope; point-count and modal analysis; and preparation of thin sections, polished sections, lapped hand samples, etc.
• Excellent technical, written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
• Ability to prioritize tasks and adapt to changing demands…