Staff Archaeologist

Jacobs; Tempe (AZ); Hybrid; USD 62,000 - 108,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) plan

Stock purchase option

PPTO

Job summary

Jacobs in Tempe, Arizona seeks a full-time staff archaeologist to support cultural resources for renewable energy, government, and infrastructure projects across the Southwest.

The role includes NHPA/ARPA/NEPA compliance, field surveys and monitoring, and preparing technical reports. Travel is expected; hybrid work between Tempe office and remote locations is available to maximize productivity.

Qualifications

• Local to the Phoenix metro area.
• B.A. in anthropology/archaeology/CRM.
• Minimum of three years of professional archaeological field work with construction monitoring.
• Familiarity with NHPA, ARPA, NEPA, NAGPRA and state policies for Arizona.
• Experience with GPS, mapping, data recording, site documentation and photography.
• Excellent writing and verbal communication skills.
• Willingness to travel and work 8–10 hour days in varied conditions.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate compliance with NHPA, ARPA, NAGPRA, NEPA and state laws.
• Conduct archival research and field surveys and monitoring.
• Prepare technical reports for cultural resources projects.
• Evaluate eligibility of resources for NRHP/state registers.
• Support senior cultural resources staff and field crews.

Skills

Fieldwork

Written communication

Verbal communication

Team collaboration

Data recording

Photography

GIS

Relational databases

GPS technology

Construction monitoring

Education

Bachelor's degree in anthropology/archaeology/CRM

Tools

GIS

FieldMaps

Survey123

Microsoft Office

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 a full-time staff archaeologist based in Tempe, Arizona to work on a variety of projects throughout Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and Nevada. This position involves providing cultural resources support for planning, engineering, and construction services to renewable energy, government, military, transportation and commercial clients.

The archaeologist career path provides the opportunity to work on projects that require compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), Archaeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA), National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Native American Graves Repatriation and Protection Act (NAGPRA), and other federal, state, and local cultural resource regulations. All work will be conducted under the guidance of senior cultural resources staff.

The ideal candidate will have a B.A. in anthropology/archaeology/CRM with experience working in the Southwest and experience in conducting archaeological surveys and construction monitoring. Familiarity with basic artifact and feature identification, mapping, data recording, site documentation, and photography is a requirement. Other qualifications include excellent writing and verbal communication skills, strong organizational skills, and technological proficiency that includes some experience working with GIS and relational databases.

While this position will primarily support projects in the Phoenix Basin, travel is expected for the position. Primary duties will include conducting Class I research, Class III surveys, and cultural resources monitoring. This will involve conducting pre-field research, participating in fieldwork and laboratory analysis, and preparing technical reports. It is imperative that candidates be able to work 8-to-10-hour days in a variety of conditions.

We value collaboration and believe that in-person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs’ Tempe office and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work. The desired candidate must be local to the Phoenix metro area.

The successful candidate should have a desire to grow personally as well as professionally with the support of the local team.

Our Archaeologists

• Coordinate compliance with NHPA, ARPA, NAGPRA, NEPA, state environmental regulations, and other laws relating to cultural resources.
• Conduct archival research and background records reviews.
• Conduct all aspects of archaeological fieldwork (primarily survey and monitoring).
• Conduct analyses and prepare technical reports for projects that involve cultural resources.
• Evaluate eligibility of resources for listing in the NRHP and state registers of historic properties.
• Provide support to and work with senior-level cultural resources staff.

Here’s what you’ll need

• Local to the Phoenix metro area.
• B.A. in anthropology/archaeology/CRM
• Minimum of three years of professional archaeological field work experience with extensive experience completing construction monitoring.
• Basic knowledge of historic preservation laws and policies, including NEPA, NHPA, ARPA, and NAGPRA
• Familiarity with state regulations and cultural resources policies for Arizona.
• Basic soil identification
• Experience using GPS technology (FieldMaps and Survey 123).
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Must be capable of walking for long periods of time over unfamiliar terrain, facing trenches, screening soil, and conducting hand excavation.
• Must be willing and able to travel, as needed.
• Must be motivated and able to work safely with minimum supervision.

Highly Preferred Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience
• Experience leading crews in the field
• Experience conducting research, literature reviews, and cartographic reviews
• Experience writing compliance reports and completing site forms
• Background in the consulting environment
• Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously and be responsive to both internal and external clients
• HAZWOPER certification
• OSHA-10 certification

Our health and welfare benefits are designed to invest in you, and in the things you care about.

• 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.

The base salary range for this position is $61,700.00 to $107,900.00. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

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 posted on September 14, 2026. This position will be open for at least 3 days.

We value collaboration and believe that in-person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work.

Your application experience is important to us, and we’re keen to adapt to make every interaction even better. If you require further support or reasonable adjustments with regards to the recruitment process (for example, you require the application form in a different format), please contact the team via Careers Support.