Staff Civil Engineer Pavement & Geotechnical Research and Consulting

ARA is seeking a staff civil engineer with a focus on pavement and geotechnical engineering to join our growing team. This full-time position is available at one of our offices in Champaign, IL; Ventura, CA; or Madison, WI. Please indicate your location preference(s) in your application.

This role is ideal for someone who wants to apply research expertise to practical engineering challenges. You’ll work on both research and consulting projects, tackling complex infrastructure problems in pavement design, geotechnical asset management, field testing, and data-driven condition assessments.

At ARA, you’ll be part of a collaborative, innovative, and mission-driven team. We support engineers who want to grow technically, contribute to high-quality deliverables, and evolve into subject matter experts.

What you’ll do as a staff civil engineer:

• Conduct applied research and consulting work in pavement and geotechnical engineering, including design, analysis, materials testing, and condition evaluation


• Support proposal writing, technical reporting, and data analysis for transportation infrastructure projects


• Contribute to projects involving pavement management systems, FWD/GPR testing, geotechnical evaluations, and asset management


• Work closely with senior engineers and technical staff to deliver innovative, client-focused solutions


• Participate in industry conferences and contribute to publications and presentations


• Assist in field investigations and project execution, which may include occasional travel


• Develop and enhance technical capabilities in pavement and geotechnical systems through both hands-on work and formal mentorship

Staff civil engineer requirements:

• BS in Civil Engineering and 2-4 years of experience, or equivalent; advanced degree preferred


• Research experience in areas such as pavement design, pavement condition evaluation, soil mechanics, or geotechnical testing


• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal


• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving abilities


• Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively on multi-disciplinary teams

Preferred qualifications:

• Certified EIT with intent to pursue PE licensure


• Experience with MATLAB, Python, R, GIS, or database management tools


• Publication or presentation experience in technical venues


• Familiarity with proposal or grant writing

Salary & benefits:

The anticipated salary range for this position is $75,000 to 90,000/year, depending on education and experience, as well as location. ARA also offers competitive benefits that address our employees’ needs now and in the future. Learn more about each of our benefits at https://www.ara.com/benefits/.

About ARA:

ARA is an employee-owned international research and engineering company recognized for providing technically superior solutions to complex and challenging problems in the physical sciences. The company, founded in Albuquerque, NM, in 1979, currently employs more than 2,200 professionals and continues to grow. ARA offices throughout the United States and Canada provide a broad range of technical expertise in civil technologies, computer software and simulation, defense technologies, systems analysis, environmental technologies, and testing and measurement. The corporation also provides sophisticated technical products for pavement analysis, environmental site characterization, and robotics.

At ARA, employees are our greatest assets. The corporation realizes that employee ownership spawns greater creativity and initiative along with higher performance and customer satisfaction levels. ARA gives its employees the tools, training, and opportunities to take more active roles as owners. The culture is challenging; innovation and experimentation are the norm. Employees are eligible for contributions which not only add to the company’s success, but also their own through the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). The motto, “Engineering and Science for Fun and Profit” sums up the ARA experience.

Join us and help shape the future of transportation infrastructure.