Lead Tech

Operations Services – Sunol, California

Salary: USD 80, Annually

The Lead Laboratory Technician at Martin Marietta plays a pivotal role in ensuring that all aggregate and construction materials consistently meet or exceed company standards, customer expectations, and State Department of Transportation (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below). The Lead Laboratory Technician oversees daily quality control (QC) workflows, ensures the rigorous maintenance and calibration of laboratory equipment, and serves as the primary technical liaison between the production plant, site management, and external stakeholders.

Driven by a commitment to safety and operational excellence, the Lead Quality Technician is responsible for monitoring plant process controls, diagnosing gradational or physical variances, and proactively guiding a team of QC Technicians to maintain product compliance and minimize material waste.

• Utilize prescribed industry and DOT standards to determine the chemical, physical, and gradational characteristics of aggregates, soils, and other construction materials to verify strict conformity to project specifications.
• Safely and efficiently extract representative material samples from complex industrial environments, including active conveyor belts, stockpiles, and customer job sites.
• Oversee the setup, precision adjustment, and safe operation of laboratory testing instruments, including shakers, scales, ovens, and agitators.
• Coordinate daily schedules and workflows for Quality Control Technicians at the designated facility or quarry, ensuring maximum testing coverage and compliance.
• Direct the onboarding, technical training, and skill development of junior quality team members.
• Review testing documentation, guidance papers, and laboratory logs to ensure continuous alignment with shifting regulatory and corporate policies.
• Maintain meticulous test data files and record real‑time test results using specialized proprietary software alongside standardized physical data sheets.
• Synthesize, review, and communicate critical quality data to internal plant management and external regulatory entities to secure necessary product compliance and certifications.
• Oversee the routine cleaning, proactive maintenance, and complex calibration of all laboratory equipment, keeping exact logs to support internal and external quality audits.
• Partner directly with Plant Leadership to investigate, diagnose, and resolve process control anomalies impacting product specifications and gradational consistency.
• Participate in out‑of‑specification product investigations, formulate corrective/preventative action recommendations, and track the long‑term effectiveness of process adjustments.
• Investigate and resolve complex customer technical complaints regarding product performance, acting as the primary subject matter expert under the general guidance of regional QC management.
• Act as a vocal advocate for Martin Marietta’s safety‑first culture by ensuring full compliance with MSHA regulations and promptly reporting unsafe site conditions to plant management.
• Enforce strict cleanliness, organization, and hazard mitigation protocols across all laboratories and quality control spaces.
• Assist in collecting and compiling site environmental monitoring data as required by local and federal regulatory frameworks.

In addition to the primary responsibilities outlined, the successful candidate may be expected to take on other tasks and assignments as required, including but not limited to duties outside the typical scope of the role to support overall team operations and organizational needs. Flexibility and adaptability to evolving job demands are essential.

Bachelor’s Degree in Construction Management, Engineering, or relevant experience in lieu of a degree.

4+ years in QA/QC Testing within Aggregates or Heavy Building Materials industry.

• ASTM & AASHTO
• Quality tools and techniques
• QA Standards and procedures
• Effective communicator (written and spoken)
• Process protocol & process control

• Must be able to lift and carry up to 50…