Job Specifications
Job Description
What if you could redefine what’s possible?
With us, you can. You want Purpose. Growth. Opportunity. People who get it. We are the home of ambitious, passionate, and innovative world shapers. With an unmatched breadth and depth of engineering, advisory and science-based expertise, our global minds unite to power local solutions. We are pathfinders and impact makers. We are Visioneers. We are WSP.
The Opportunity
Your Impact Starts Here – Are you ready to tackle some of the most rewarding, hands-on challenges in construction materials engineering? In this Construction Materials Co-op Student role, you’ll support real projects from day one, working in both the field and the laboratory to help evaluate the materials that shape our roads, bridges, and communities.
As a Construction Materials Co-op Student, you will gain practical experience in soils, asphalt, and concrete testing while learning directly from experienced technicians, engineers, and field supervisors. You’ll build strong technical skills, develop your confidence on construction sites, and see how your work contributes to safe, high‑quality infrastructure across our communities.
Your Impact
In this role, you will:
Perform routine field and/or laboratory testing on construction materials, including soil, aggregates, concrete, and asphalt, following established procedures and standards.
Collect field samples of soils and other construction materials from active job sites, ensuring accurate labelling, handling, and chain of custody.
Conduct a wide variety of materials tests to assess engineering properties and determine whether materials meet project specifications and acceptance criteria.
Support field supervisors and senior technical staff in monitoring construction activities related to materials placement, compaction, and quality control.
Record, organize, and report test results with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail, contributing to clear technical documentation and data-driven decisions.
Communicate day-to-day findings and observations with engineers, contractors, construction crews, and other project stakeholders to support timely issue resolution.
Apply a strong safety mindset in both the field and laboratory, actively participating in safety orientations, toolbox talks, and on-the-job training.
Contribute to problem solving on real-life engineering challenges related to construction methods, material selection, mix proportions, and mix design.
During your work term, you will also:
Develop and improve construction job site skills and comfort working in active construction environments.
Build professional communication skills with engineers, clients, contractors, construction crews, and traffic control personnel.
Develop awareness of safety hazards on construction sites and how to mitigate them.
Learn foundational principles for construction materials such as hot mix asphalt, recycled asphalt, soil, and concrete.
Gain experience interpreting test results from both laboratory and field conditions, and understand how they impact project decisions.
Strengthen your technical writing skills through clear, structured reporting and, where applicable, support requirements such as Engineers Nova Scotia (or applicable provincial association) monthly Experience Records and Co-op Final Work Term Reports.
The Skills That Set You Apart
You may be a great fit for this role if:
You are currently enrolled in a university engineering program (e.g., civil, geological, environmental, materials, or related discipline) and are eligible for a co-op or internship work term.
You are curious about construction materials engineering and eager to grow your skills in field and laboratory testing of soils, concrete, asphalt, and related materials.
You bring solid problem-solving and analytical thinking skills, and you enjoy working with data, test results, and technical standards to understand what they mean in practice.
You are highly organized, with strong time management skills, and can prioritize tasks in a fast-paced environment with changing site and lab demands.
You have developing technical writing and data reporting skills, and you take pride in accurate, detailed documentation.
You are comfortable working outdoors on active construction sites (in varying weather conditions) and are committed to following all safety procedures and PPE requirements.
Previous experience on construction sites, or exposure to asphalt pavement, Portland cement concrete, or soil mechanics, is an asset – but not required. On-the-job training will be provided.
Why Choose WSP?
We exist to shape communities to advance humanity. The brightest engineers, advisors and scientists from across the globe call WSP home.
Proudly Canadian – we are a Top 100 Employer in Canada for 2026
A global community of brilliant minds – your next idea, mentor, or opportunity is always within reach.
Limitless opportunities start here. Whether it’s across the country
About the Company
We are one of the world's leading professional services firms, uniting our engineering, advisory and science-based expertise to shape communities to advance humanity. From local beginnings to a globe-spanning presence today, we operate in over 50 countries and employ approximately 73,000 professionals, known as Visioneers. Our Canadian team, of 13,000 professionals, pioneers solutions and delivers innovative projects across sectors: Transport & Infrastructure, Property & Buildings, Earth & Environment, Water, Power & Energy ...
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