Description

ARA is seeking a staff civil engineer to participate in research and engineering consulting projects in support of ARA’s contract with the Florida DOT State Materials Office (SMO) in Gainesville, FL. Primary responsibilities will be testing and evaluation of highway construction and traffic control device materials.

What you will do as a staff civil engineer:

• Conduct laboratory testing and analysis of pavement marking materials, reflective sheeting materials, pavement markers, and adhesive materials on-site at SMO testing facilities. Learn and become proficient with many different types of laboratory testing equipment.

• Perform continuous/repeated evaluation of material performance over time to determine the optimum roadway and traffic control products for the state.

• Collect field data including pavement marking retroreflectivity (dry and wet), thickness, durability, and color at the state’s Approved Product List (APL) test decks, as well as AASHTO Product Evaluation & Audit Solutions test decks and at District site investigations. Testing involves the operation of handheld testing equipment, such as a retroreflectometer and spectrophotometer.

• Be familiar with FHWA’s Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD).

• Coordinate with other SMO sections for multi-section research studies and sample testing.

• Evaluate products and corresponding data submitted by manufacturers for their product’s inclusion to FDOT APL. Select possible test sites for installation of pavement markings submitted to APL. Coordinate product installation with manufacturers and District personnel in collaboration with the Field Operation Supervisor and Laboratory Manager.

• Review Standard Specifications and Florida Test Methods.

• Other responsibilities may include but are not limited to forensic investigations, conducting lab tests on other roadway materials such as friction surface treatments, participation in research on material performance, evaluation of installation practices, and preparation of technical reports and presentation materials.

Staff civil engineer requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Civil Engineering

• Knowledge and understanding of common pavement engineering principles and practices, such as pavement design, evaluation, and management practices; structural capacity evaluation; pavement materials engineering; pavement performance modeling; resilient modulus analysis; soil materials characterization; statistical analysis; and general data reduction

• Working knowledge of MS Office products and other specialty pavement-related evaluation tools

In-state travel is required. Typical trips are 2 to 3 days in length and occur every 1 to 3 months. Most testing is performed at night when traffic volume is lower. Occasional day trips may occur as well.

Desired skills and experience:

• 2+ years of practical pavement engineering experience (graduate/academic research work may be applicable experience)

• Experience analyzing pavement marking performance data

• Experience analyzing nondestructive pavement testing data and pavement condition data

We offer a comprehensive and generous benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, life, and retirement plans. The salary for this position ranges from $56,160 to $68,640/year, depending on education and experience.

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 2,100 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.

ARA embraces the core values of passion, freedom, service, and growth. We provide a working environment in which highly qualified technical professionals can pursue their specialties with a maximum of support and a minimum of bureaucracy. These individuals form a network of colleagues with complementary capabilities, similar goals, and a willingness to cooperate on challenging and important technical problems. We strive for long-term associations among our staff and with our clients.

We recognize 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)