Principal Civil Engineer

ARA Career • Tyndall AFB, FL

5d

About The Position

ARA is seeking an experienced civil engineer with subject matter expertise in pavement engineering to join the Engineering Science Division (ESD) Aircraft Operating Surfaces (AOS) Group at Tyndall AFB, Florida. Remote work may be considered for the ideal candidate.

The Principal Civil Engineer provides leadership, technical direction, and high-level expertise across complex pavement engineering projects. The role leads engineering design, analysis, and evaluation activities for airfields, operational surfaces, and contingency environments. It includes overseeing advanced investigations, developing mechanistic and empirical pavement models, directing engineering design efforts, supporting project execution, and ensuring conformance with engineering specifications and client expectations.

The team works across mechanistic modeling, laboratory and field testing, nondestructive evaluation, pavement management systems, accelerated pavement solutions, and development of software tools and decision-support frameworks. Occasional travel and outdoor work, including field testing, may be required.

ARA is an employee-owned international research and engineering company founded in 1979. It employs more than 2,000 professionals and provides technical expertise and products in areas including civil technologies, software and simulation, defense, environmental technologies, testing and measurement, pavement analysis, and robotics. ARA describes its culture as challenging and innovative, and offers employees opportunities to participate as owners through its Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), along with competitive salaries and outstanding benefits.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering with 12 or more years of experience, or equivalent: a master’s degree with 10 or more years of experience, or a PhD with 8 or more years of experience.
• Expertise in pavement engineering, including mechanistic pavement modeling, statistics and data analysis, nondestructive pavement evaluation, pavement management, and development of software tools and decision-support frameworks.
• Proven success as a seller-doer, including business development and marketing, writing winning proposals, and managing projects.
• Established presence in the pavement engineering community.
• Strong written and verbal communication and organizational skills.
• Must be a U.S. citizen.

Nice To Haves

• Coding experience.
• Publication in peer-reviewed journals.
• Relevant professional or industry conference presentations.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a subject matter expert in pavement engineering, including pavement design, condition assessment, and pavement management.
• Formulate independent research questions, models, and solutions to deliver high-quality work.
• Lead project execution as a project manager or technical advisor.
• Ensure projects are delivered on schedule and within budget, and work with others to resolve challenges.
• Perform business development and marketing activities, including growing a professional network and presenting technical material at conferences, local meetings, and to potential clients.
• Lead proposal-writing efforts in response to RFPs, RFQs, and other solicitations.
• Lead engineering design, analysis, and evaluation activities for airfields, operational surfaces, and contingency environments.
• Oversee advanced investigations, develop pavement models, direct design efforts, and support project execution.
• Ensure work conforms to engineering specifications and client expectations.

Benefits

• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).
• Competitive salaries.
• Outstanding benefits.
• Tools, training, and opportunities for employees to take active roles as owners.
• Career growth and recognition for innovation, self-motivation, and technical excellence.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Principal