Senior Archaeologist - Multiple West Locations

Jacobs; San Antonio (TX); Hybrid; USD 113,000 - 198,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) plan

Stock purchase plan

Deferred compensation

Executive Deferral Plan

PPTO (unlimited for eligible roles)

7 paid holidays

Caregiver leave

Merit increases

Discretionary bonus

Job summary

Jacobs is seeking Senior Archaeologists to provide archaeological support and both desktop and field-based cultural resources expertise for planning, engineering, and construction services to government, military, and commercial clients across the western United States.

The role involves leadership, mentoring, and coordinating with engineers, scientists, and project managers while ensuring compliance with NHPA, NEPA, and related regulations.

Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in Anthropology or Archaeology.
• Meet Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualifications Standards for Archaeology.
• Minimum of 10 years of professional archaeological fieldwork experience.
• 3 to 5 years experience as a Principal Investigator.
• Must be capable of walking long distances over unfamiliar terrain, excavating shovel tests and test units, and carrying field equipment.
• Experience using GPS technology.

Responsibilities

• Track and provide updates on discipline-specific topics, including the regulatory environment and new field methods.
• Serve as staff leadership with mentorship and direct feedback.
• Forecast workload and advise on staffing across projects.
• Manage large, complex cultural resource projects and coordinate with clients and agencies.
• Act as primary client contact for large programs and controversial projects.
• Mentor career and associate professionals and support business development for large contracts.

Skills

GPS technology

Leadership

Client relationship mgmt

Project management

Education

Master’s Degree in Anthropology or Archaeology

Job description

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.

Your impact

Jacobs is seeking full-time or modified full-time Senior Archaeologists to work on a variety of projects throughout the western United States. Your primary focus will be providing archaeological support and both desktop and field-based cultural resources support for planning, engineering, and construction services to government, military, and commercial clients in various locations. The Senior Archaeologist career path provides the opportunity to work on projects that require compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and other federal, state, and local cultural resource regulations.

As a Senior Archaeologist, you’ll serve as a key team member working with scientists, engineers, project managers, and other project staff across business sectors and practices in the company. Clients and agencies seek you out because of your demonstrated expertise and ability to solve problems. You have extensive experience as a consultant, with an agency, or both. You are a known regularly expert, locally and possibly nationally. You work independently, with guidance in only the most complex situations. You interpret internal and external business, solving complex problems and identifying innovative solutions based on experience, judgement, and understanding of best practices.

In this role, you will perform the following duties

• Track and provide updates on discipline-specific topics, including the following
• Changes to the regulatory environment
• New or advanced field methods
• Internal policies
• Serve as staff leadership, including providing support, mentorship, and timely, constructive, and direct feedback
• Forecast workload and make recommendations on staffing
• Manage large, complex cultural resource projects
• Serve as the primary client (and prospective client contact) for large programs and controversial projects
• Distribute project management workload among career and associate professionals
• Mentor career and associate professionals, in coordination with other senior leaders
• Take a significant role in business development for large contracts
• May serve as discipline or practice lead
• Coordinate with internal cultural resources leaders across geographies
• Provide timely and focused senior review
• Provide a regular forum for career and associate professionals to discuss complex issues, staffing concerns, and specialized project needs
• Provide support for project delivery and innovation, as appropriate

Possible office locations

HYBRID, REMOTE, or OFFICE. May be located near any state in the US West, including Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, or Wyoming.

Here’s what you’ll need

• Master’s Degree in Anthropology or Archaeology
• Meet Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualifications Standards for Archaeology
• Minimum of 10 years of professional archaeological fieldwork experience
• 3 to 5 years experience as a Principal Investigator
• Must be capable of walking for long periods of time over unfamiliar terrain, excavating shovel tests and test units, screening soil, and carrying field equipment
• Must be willing and able to travel frequently and for long periods of time, as needed
• Experience using GPS technology

Ideally, You’ll Also Have

• Experience working in the consulting environment and ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously and be responsive to both internal and external clients
• A Registered Professional Archaeologist designation
• Experience completing cultural resources studies for infrastructure, electrical transmission, Bureau of Land Management, DOT’s, renewable energy, and/or remediation projects
• Existing relationships with the tribal community.

Our health and welfare benefits are designed to invest in you, and in the things you care about. Your health. Your well-being. Your security. Your future.

Employees have access to medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance, a 401(k) plan, and the ability to purchase company stock at a discount. Eligible employees may also enroll in a deferred compensation plan or the Executive Deferral Plan. Jacobs has an unlimited U.S. Personalized Paid Time Off (PPTO) policy for full-time salaried/exempt employees, seven paid holidays, and caregiver leave. And certain roles may be eligible for additional rewards, including merit increases, performance discretionary bonus, and stock.

Compensation

The base salary range for this position is $113,100.00 to $197,900.00. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

Equal Opportunity / Inclusion

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

Job Posting Information

Job posted on October 01, 2026. This position will be open for at least 3 days.