Research & Development (R&D) Engineering

The Geotechnical Center of Excellence (GCE) is an industry-funded and stakeholder-led organization within the University of Arizona’s School of Mining Engineering and Mineral Resources dedicated to advancing mine safety and geotechnical innovation. The R&D Engineer supports applied research, field data collection, and professional development courses focused on mine stability, highwall safety, and thermal imaging–based rockfall detection. Working under general supervision of senior research staff, this position assists with instrumentation deployment, data acquisition, and testing activities, including field work on active mine sites. Much of this work will occur in real mine environments and may require moving safely between office, laboratory, and field settings. While the role reports to senior staff, the ability to work independently and exercise good judgement in field and office settings is strongly valued. Fieldwork at active mine sites and occasional travel to industry events are expected.

For more information about the Geotechnical Center and the Engineering department at the University, click here mining.Outstanding U of A benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance plans; life insurance and disability programs; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; retirement plans; For more information about working at the University of Arizona and relocations services, please click here .

Duties & Responsibilities Applied Research & Field Support: Participate in planning and execution of field data collection and research testing programs related to highwall safety, slope performance monitoring, and thermal imaging applications. Work will occur both on campus and on active mine sites. Coordinate & Support installation, calibration, and operation of sensors, collect and process data, perform preliminary analyses, contribute to technical documentation and serve as co-author / presenter of written reports, abstracts and publications In collaboration with senior research staff.

Professional Development Support: Collaborate with senior staff and industry advisors to develop and maintain professional courses on geotechnical topics. Prepare course materials and draft assessments (e.g., Support editing and organizing contributor content (including video editing). Collaboration & Growth: Work closely with senior staff to coordinate project tasks, communicate progress, and review student and undergraduate assistant work products for accuracy, completeness, and data quality. Participate in team discussions, field campaigns, and collaborative problem-solving. Foundational understanding of geotechnical engineering and slope stability principles.

Strong communication skills and attention to detail in data handling and documentation.

Interest in emerging technologies for mine slope monitoring and data analytics.

Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to clearly document methods, summarize findings, and communicate with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Basic experience with data collection and analysis in field or research settings.

Strong technical writing and organizational skills.

Minimum Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Geotechnical Engineering, Geological Engineering, Geology, or a related discipline.

Preferred Qualifications Experience with geotechnical instrumentation, slope monitoring data, or remote sensing applications.

Experience with geotechnical software (e.g., RocScience suite, FLAC) and data visualization tools.

Experience using Python or similar scripting languages for data processing, automation, or visualization is considered a plus.

Experience writing technical material (e.g. methods, results, or data summaries) and/or contributing to conference abstracts, presentations, or publications.

Full Time/Part Time: Full Time

Academic

Research

Compensation Type: salary at 1.0 full-time equivalency (FTE)

Compensation Guidance: The Rate of Pay Field represents the University of Arizona’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting. The University considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, and internal equity. The university offers compensation growth opportunities within its career architecture. Research Engineering

Research

Documents Needed to Apply: Resume and Cover Letter

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