**To apply, please upload both a resume and a cover letter. In your cover letter, describe research and writing projects in which you worked independently and why you think you are a good fit for this position.**

ARA is seeking civil engineers, with emphasis in pavements, materials, maintenance, transportation infrastructure management, or geotechnical engineering, to work full-time in our Transportation Research & Technology Deployment Group in Champaign, Illinois; Madison, Wisconsin; or Austin, Texas.

We are looking for engineers who are dynamic, crave and are comfortable with autonomy, and enjoy solving complex problems; people who want a job that offers challenges that go beyond routine, repetitive tasks.

Engineers in the Transportation Research & Technology Deployment Group are actively involved in all aspects of the profession, which includes problem solving, using subject matter knowledge and innovation to offer high-quality solutions to our clients, marketing to bring in new business, and writing high-quality proposals. Our engineers have a high level of freedom to be innovative and self-directed, along with an ability to pursue projects and tasks that are truly interesting and meaningful.

While most work will be performed with only general supervision and guidance, successful candidates must also be able to work as a member of an integrated team and exhibit a collegial and professional demeanor towards colleagues and external stakeholders.

Perform Project Work

• Exhibit a willingness and ability to engage in a wide variety of project activities, including completing comprehensive literature reviews, leading client meetings and conference calls, teaching training courses, organizing and analyzing data, generating reports, managing tasks or projects, generating dynamic solutions to address challenges—whatever is needed to keep our clients satisfied and our teams productive.
• Possess a high degree of intellectual curiosity that fuels motivation to be innovative, see the bigger picture, and persevere on long tasks.
• Possess an eye for detail and an ability to formulate independent research questions, models, and solutions, to deliver top quality work.
• Work independently and take ownership of all aspects of assigned tasks and projects. Exhibit a high level of autonomy and ability to do what it takes to complete projects on time, on budget, and to interface with others to resolve any challenges.
• Be flexible, willing and able to adapt to the demands of the project/task.

Participate in Business Development

• Assist in writing proposals in response to RFPs for existing and new lines of business.
• Engage in marketing and networking activities at conferences and other industry gatherings.
• Present project information at training courses, industry meetings, department meetings, client meetings, etc.

Demonstrate Professionalism

• Engage in company activities that support continuous improvement, such as attending webinars and meetings outside of one’s subject area, meetings about the organization’s strategic vision and direction, and other internal activities.
• Be pleasant and enjoyable to work with and work as an integrated member of a team and collaborate effectively with others—a true team player.
• Thrive in an environment where day-to-day work hours are flexible, but some evenings and weekends may be required to ensure that projects are completed on time.
• Be open to feedback from others, with a willingness to respond non-defensively, and to use the feedback to improve oneself and/or project deliverables.

Staff Civil Engineer Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Civil Engineering (Master’s or PhD preferred).
• Demonstrated understanding of pavement engineering, pavement materials, risk management, maintenance, transportation infrastructure management, and/or geotechnical engineering as they relate to transportation infrastructure and related fields.
• Strong communication (written and verbal) and organizational skills. Publication in peer-reviewed journals and relevant conference presentations a plus.
• Demonstrated knowledge of statistics and data analysis. Experience with SAS, R, or any equivalent statistical software package a plus.
• Computational skills such as finite element methods, numerical modeling, and/or programming experience preferred.

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 about 1,700 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.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)