Principal Investigator – Archaeology & Cultural Resources (Hybrid)

Tetra Tech; Phoenix (AZ); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexibility and work/life balance

Collaborative team environment

Learning and development opportunities

Job summary

Tetra Tech is seeking a Principal Investigator for Archaeology & Cultural Resources in the U.S. Southwest, with a preference for Arizona residents.

The role combines leadership, field oversight, regulatory compliance, and client coordination, supporting renewable energy and infrastructure projects across the Southwest. The ideal candidate has extensive CRM experience, strong report-writing skills, and the ability to travel for fieldwork.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or higher in Anthropology or Archaeology.
• Meets Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualification Standards for Archaeology.
• 5–8 years of professional CRM experience with increased responsibilities.
• 2–3 years of supervisory experience in CRM.
• Experience conducting archaeological investigations in the U.S. Southwest.
• Experience evaluating NRHP/state register eligibility.
• Experience with surveys, testing, and data recovery.
• Knowledge of soils, geomorphology, and field documentation.
• Ability to prepare reports for NHPA/NEPA and permitting.
• Working knowledge of federal, state, and local historic preservation regs.

Responsibilities

• Serve as Principal Investigator for cultural resources surveys and analyses.
• Lead archaeological surveys, testing, monitoring, excavation, and data recovery.
• Support permitting, regulatory compliance, and due diligence projects.
• Evaluate cultural resources for NRHP/state register eligibility.
• Prepare cultural resources reports, proposals, and regulatory docs.
• Coordinate with federal, state, SHPOs, and tribal reps.
• Develop scopes of work, proposals, schedules, budgets, and cost estimates.

Skills

CRM experience

Leadership

Project management

Regulatory coordination

Technical writing

Communication

Team mentoring

Education

Master’s degree or higher in Anthropology/Archaeology

SOI Professional Qualification Standards for Archaeology

Tools

ArcGIS Online

GIS field apps

MS Office (Word/Excel/PowerPoint)

Adobe

ESRI software

Job description

Principal Investigator - Archaeology & Cultural Resources (Hybrid)

Tetra Tech is adding an experienced Principal Investigator - Archaeology & Cultural Resources to support our growing cultural resources and renewable energy environmental compliance practice in the U.S. Southwest. This is a full-time, salaried position with benefits, with a preference for candidates residing in Arizona.

The successful candidate will lead cultural resources investigations and provide technical expertise for renewable energy, infrastructure, and other development projects, primarily in Arizona and New Mexico, with opportunities to support projects throughout the United States.

This position combines technical leadership, fieldwork oversight, regulatory compliance, project management, and client coordination. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in cultural resources management (CRM), a strong understanding of federal and state historic preservation regulations, and demonstrated experience conducting archaeological investigations in the U.S. Southwest.

Travel to project sites throughout the Southwest will be required as necessary for fieldwork, site visits, and project-related activities.

Location: Arizona Preferred | U.S. Southwest

Why Tetra Tech:

At Tetra Tech, we are Leading with Science to solve the world’s most complex challenges. Our industry-leading experts in engineering and consulting are committed to driving positive change in communities around the world. For over 50 years, we have been at the forefront of innovation and sustainability. Today we stand as a market leader, offering cutting-edge solutions in water, environment, energy, and international development. Our work has improved more than 625 million lives around the world.

Your Impact:

Join Tetra Tech to make a real difference. Our work leverages cutting‑edge technologies, advanced analytics, and the expertise of world‑class scientists and engineers to create meaningful change around the world. Discover your full potential – join us to advance your career while leaving a lasting legacy.

Essential Job Functions:

• Serve as Principal Investigator for cultural resources surveys, investigations, and analyses.
• Lead and oversee archaeological surveys, testing, monitoring, excavation, and data recovery activities.
• Support Tetra Tech's cultural resources and renewable energy environmental compliance teams on permitting, regulatory compliance, and due diligence projects.
• Conduct and oversee evaluations of cultural resources for eligibility under the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and applicable state registers.
• Prepare, review, edit, and provide quality assurance for cultural resources technical reports, proposals, and regulatory documentation.
• Support compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and applicable state and local regulations.
• Coordinate with federal, state, municipal, and commercial clients, regulatory agencies, State Historic Preservation Offices (SHPOs), and tribal representatives.
• Support consultation efforts involving Native American tribes and Tribal Historic Preservation Offices (THPOs), as appropriate.
• Develop project scopes of work, proposals, schedules, budgets, and cost estimates.
• Manage CRM projects and tasks, including budgets, invoicing, scheduling, staffing, field logistics, and resource allocation.
• Supervise field crews and provide technical guidance, leadership, and mentoring to project staff.
• Collaborate with geographically dispersed multidisciplinary teams to meet project objectives and deadlines.
• Support preparation of cultural resources sections for environmental permitting documents, including renewable energy projects.
• Maintain effective client relationships and deliver high-quality technical work products.
• Conduct activities in line with internal procedures, legislation, and industry standards.
• Pursue continuous professional development and maintain a high degree of discipline knowledge and awareness.
• Work in a safe manner at all times and report all health and safety incidents and concerns.
• Additional duties as required.

Required Qualifications:

• Master's degree or higher in Anthropology, Archaeology, or a closely related discipline.
• Must meet the Secretary of the Interior's Professional Qualification Standards for Archaeology.
• 5-8 years of professional experience in cultural resources management, demonstrating progressively responsible assignments.
• 2-3 years of supervisory experience in cultural resources management.
• Demonstrated experience conducting archaeological investigations and cultural resources surveys in the U.S. Southwest.
• Expertise evaluating cultural resources for NRHP and/or state register eligibility.
• Experience conducting archaeological surveys, test excavations, and data recovery projects.
• Knowledge of soils, geomorphology, and appropriate field documentation methods.
• Demonstrated ability to prepare cultural resources technical reports supporting Section 106, due diligence, and state or county permitting requirements.
• Working knowledge of federal, state, and local historic preservation and cultural resources regulations.
• Experience preparing cultural resources sections for NEPA documents and state-level permit applications.
• Ability to qualify for Principal Investigator permits on Bureau of Land Management (BLM), U.S. Forest Service (USFS), and state-managed lands in Arizona and New Mexico.
• Experience working with Arizona and New Mexico State Historic Preservation Offices.
• Experience managing CRM projects or tasks, including budgets, schedules, invoicing, personnel allocation, and field crews.
• Strong technical writing, editing, and report formatting skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint, as well as Adobe and ESRI software.
• Excellent organizational, analytical, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Strong leadership and mentoring abilities.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with geographically dispersed teams while managing multiple deadlines.
• Willingness and ability to travel to project sites throughout the U.S. Southwest as needed.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license with a clean driving record without restrictions.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Current residency in Arizona.
• Experience with state-level renewable energy permitting requirements, particularly wind and solar development projects.
• Experience supporting cultural resources investigations for renewable energy and infrastructure projects in Arizona and New Mexico.
• Experience working with Native American tribes and Tribal Historic Preservation Offices.
• Experience guiding clients through tribal consultation processes.
• Experience with ArcGIS Online or other GIS-based field applications.
• Experience preparing proposals, scopes of work, and budgets for CRM projects.
• Experience with cultural resources permitting requirements associated with renewable energy development in the Southwest.
• Travel throughout Arizona, New Mexico, and other Southwest project locations as needed.
• Combination of office-based technical work, project management, regulatory coordination, and archaeological fieldwork.
• Field assignments may involve working outdoors in remote locations and varying weather and terrain conditions.

The perks of working at Tetra Tech include:

• Flexibility and company-wide commitment to work/life balance.
• Collaborative team atmosphere that values the contributions of all employees.
• Learning and development opportunities for ongoing professional growth.

A pre-employment drug screen in compliance with federal regulations is required, along with a physical if needed.

Compensation:

Pay commensurate with experience.

Pay Range: $80,000-$90,000 yearly

Pay Range - There are multiple factors that are considered in determining final pay for a position, including, but not limited to, relevant work experience and demonstrated work experience in the above role; skills, certifications, and competencies that align to the specified role; geographic location; and education, as well as contract provisions regarding labor categories that are specific to the position.

At Tetra Tech, health and safety play a vital role in our success. Tetra Tech’s employees work together to comply with all applicable health & safety practices and protocols, including public health orders and regulations that are mandated by local, state, provincial, federal, international authorities, and clients.

About Tetra Tech:

Tetra Tech is the leader in water, environment, and sustainable infrastructure, providing high-end consulting and engineering services for projects worldwide. With 30,000 employees working together, Tetra Tech provides clear solutions to complex problems by Leading with Science to address the entire water cycle, protect and restore the environment, design sustainable and resilient infrastructure, and support the clean energy transition.

Tetra Tech is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, marital or familial status, status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law. Tetra Tech is a VEVRAA federal contractor and we request priority referral of veterans.

We invite applications from all interested parties.