NCE is actively seeking an experienced Associate Engineer to join our Pavements and Materials Group in Richmond, California. If you enjoy a challenging career in pavement engineering, this opportunity may be for you!
We would like someone to help lead our talented team in Northern California and throughout California helping clients improve their pavements, whether through improved designs, specifications, maintenance and rehabilitation techniques or management. As an Associate Engineer, you would have the opportunity to work on a variety of pavement engineering and materials related projects. These include primarily California local agency street design and rehabilitation, acting as a project manager and working directly with clients. NCE also works with the Caltrans pavement program, San Francisco International Airport, the Port of Oakland, among others. In addition, this is the type of position where you could bring in your own focus and establish a direction for the company’s work.
You should have a proven track record of successful of project management, strong client skills, writing and winning pavement proposals, and presenting your work to clients and at conferences. You will work with NCE staff to win new research projects and bring together the resources that will assure the high-quality outcomes NCE delivers. If desired, continued participation on national committees (e.g., TRB, ASTM, ACPA, AAPT) is highly encouraged. The ability to maintain NCE’s reputation with state and local agencies in your areas of technical expertise is a must, which will include business development and client interaction (including travel). Our goal is to provide superior consulting services, resulting in highly satisfied clients, and staff that continue to grow. Relocation to the NCE Richmond office location is required, though flexibility exists on terms.
At NCE, Engineers are encouraged and supported to innovate, investigate, discover, and learn. NCE fosters a collaborative work environment and provides avenues that encourage sharing knowledge, experiences, and new and creative ideas.
Qualifications (Must Have):
- B.S. with 15+ years of experience in pavements with a public sector focus – cities, counties, airports, ports.
- Proven record of client satisfaction and an ability to lead and manage multiple projects.
- Demonstrated ability to prepare successful proposals and win projects.
- Excellent communication skills (written and verbal).
- California PE or ability to obtain California Professional Engineer registration within 6 months of hiring.
- Solid understanding of asphalt concrete and concrete materials and Caltrans and Greenbook pavement specifications and methods.
Qualifications (Nice to Have):
- M.S. or Ph.D. in a pavement-related field.
- California Professional Engineer registration.
- Extensive network of local agency contacts.
- Experience acting as Contract Manager on multi-consultant teams for large CA agencies
- Ability to support NCE’s engineering assignments by providing technical input.
- Ability to mentor and supervise engineering staff.
- Ability and willingness to make presentations, teach, and engage clients and staff.
Working Conditions: Mainly office setting, travel as required, field visits as needed.
Salary Range is $140,000 to $170,000+ annually, DOE.
Skills Required
- Bachelor of Science degree with 15 or more years of pavement engineering experience focused on public-sector clients such as cities, counties, airports, or ports.
- Proven record of client satisfaction and ability to lead and manage multiple projects.
- Demonstrated ability to prepare successful proposals and win projects.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- California Professional Engineer license or ability to obtain California registration within six months of hiring.
- Solid understanding of asphalt concrete and concrete materials, plus Caltrans and Greenbook pavement specifications and methods.
- Master of Science or Ph.D. in a pavement-related field.
- California Professional Engineer registration.
- Extensive network of local agency contacts.
- Experience acting as Contract Manager on multi-consultant teams for large California agencies.
- Ability to provide technical input on engineering assignments.
- Ability to mentor and supervise engineering staff.
- Ability and willingness to make presentations, teach, and engage clients and staff.
What We Do
Nichols Consulting Engineers (NCE) is a multidisciplinary consulting engineering, planning, and environmental firm focused on infrastructure projects, primarily for public-sector clients. Its practice areas span civil engineering, pavement and materials, environmental compliance, landscape architecture, water resources, and asset management. The firm partners with clients and communities to deliver feasibility studies, planning, design, permitting, and construction support, emphasizing innovative, value-driven and sustainable solutions to infrastructure and resource challenges.
