Paragon Technical Services - Technical Director, Asphalt Mix Design & Technical Services

Ergon, Inc.; Richland (MS); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

401(k) matching & profit sharing

Health, Dental, Vision, and Life Ins.

Short- and Long-Term Disability Plans

Tuition assistance

Paid holidays, vacation, and sickLeave

Job summary

Ergon, Inc. in Flowood, Mississippi, seeks an experienced Technical Director - Asphalt Mix Design & Technical Services to lead asphalt mix design, performance testing, and technical services.

This role provides strategic and technical leadership to develop high-quality asphalt products and ensure compliance with specifications. The ideal candidate has deep expertise in mix design methodologies, lab operations, and project leadership, with a proven track record in driving innovation and customer

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Materials Science, or related field.
• Minimum of 10 years in asphalt mix design and performance testing.
• At least 5 years in leadership or management within a technical environment.
• Expert knowledge of Superpave, Marshall, and other asphalt mix design methodologies.
• Strong understanding of pavement performance testing including rutting, fatigue, and moisture susceptibility evaluations.
• Thorough knowledge of ASTM, AASHTO, and DOT specifications.
• Demonstrated leadership, project management, and team development skills. Excellent analytical and communication abilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead development, optimization, and evaluation of asphalt mix designs per ASTM, AASHTO, DOT, and customer specs.
• Direct technical service activities, including troubleshooting, customer support, and field evaluations.
• Oversee laboratory testing operations with accuracy, efficiency, quality, and safety.
• Drive R&D initiatives for innovative mix technologies and sustainable materials.
• Collaborate with operations, sales, and management to support quality and customer success.
• Represent Ergon in industry associations and technical committees.
• Provide leadership and mentorship to laboratory and technical staff.

Skills

Asphalt mix design

Performance testing

Leadership

Superpave/Marshall methods

Regulatory knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering or related field

Master's degree preferred

Job description

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced and innovative Technical Director - Asphalt Mix Design & Technical Services to lead our asphalt mix design, performance testing, and technical services functions. This role will provide strategic and technical leadership to ensure the development of high-quality asphalt products, compliance with industry specifications, and the delivery of exceptional technical support to customers and operations teams.

The ideal candidate will have deep expertise in asphalt mix design methodologies, performance testing, laboratory operations, and emerging pavement technologies, along with a proven track record of leadership and project management.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development, optimization, and evaluation of asphalt mix designs to meet ASTM, AASHTO, DOT, and customer specifications.
• Direct technical service activities, including troubleshooting, customer support, and field performance evaluations.
• Oversee laboratory testing operations, ensuring accuracy, efficiency, quality, and safety compliance.
• Drive research and development initiatives focused on innovative mix technologies, sustainable materials, and performance-enhancing solutions.
• Collaborate with operations, sales, and management teams to support production quality and customer success.
• Represent the company in industry associations, technical committees, and conferences.
• Provide leadership, mentorship, and technical guidance to laboratory and technical staff.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Materials Science, or a related field. Master's degree preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in asphalt mix design and performance testing.
• At least 5 years of leadership or management experience within a technical environment.
• Expert knowledge of Superpave, Marshall, and other asphalt mix design methodologies.
• Strong understanding of pavement performance testing, including rutting, fatigue, and moisture susceptibility evaluations.
• Thorough knowledge of ASTM, AASHTO, and DOT specifications.
• Demonstrated leadership, project management, and team development skills.Excellent analytical, problem-solving, communication, and customer relationship skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Civil Engineering, Pavement Engineering, Materials Science, or a related discipline.
• Experience leading technical research and innovation programs.
• Active participation in professional and industry organizations.

Why Ergon?

At Ergon, we are a relationship-driven, family-owned company that values each employee's growth and contributions. Headquartered in Flowood, Mississippi, we take pride in maintaining a close-knit, small-company atmosphere while offering exceptional career opportunities. Our comprehensive benefits package includes:

• Competitive pay
• 401(k) matching & profit sharing
• Health, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance
• Short- and Long-Term Disability Plans
• Additional voluntary benefits
• Paid holidays, vacation, and sick leave
• Tuition assistance

At Ergon, we live by our core values:

• Empowered Service: Together, we're committed to delivering unparalleled service. We do what's right, provide solutions, and foster stronger relationships with our teams and customers. Employee safety is our top priority and the first consideration in all aspects of our service. That's empowered service.
• Selfless Leadership: We lead with compassion and put those around us before ourselves. We don't say we're experts; we demonstrate it through technical expertise, category innovation and care for what we do. We call this selfless leadership.
• Purposeful Growth: We believe employee growth and company growth go hand in hand. We build our legacy together to ensure future success through purposeful growth. The company has always reinvested tremendously back into the business, but not just growing for the sake of growing, but growing in a careful and strategic way.
• Respectful Relationships: And together, we foster a culture of respect, acceptance and diversity of ideas and of people. Our differences make us stronger. And we're united by our shared values, always forging respectful relationships.

We are an EEO/AAP employer. M/F/VET