Full-Time

Principal Investigator

Olsson

Olsson

1,001-5,000 employees

Engineering firm delivering community-focused designs.

Compensation Overview

$150k - $240k/yr

+ Bonus

Des Moines, IA, USA + 16 more

More locations: Loveland, CO, USA | Fayetteville, AR, USA | Colorado Springs, CO, USA | Joplin, MO, USA | Lincoln, NE, USA | Dallas, TX, USA | Little Rock, AR, USA | Kansas City, MO, USA | Omaha, NE, USA | Fort Worth, TX, USA | Tulsa, OK, USA | Oklahoma City, OK, USA | Phoenix, AZ, USA | Denver, CO, USA | Springfield, MO, USA | Overland Park, KS, USA

Remote

Remote work option available; candidates may be located in any listed office or remote.

Bachelor's

Category
Lab & Research (2)
,

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Requirements
  • Graduate degree (e.g., Master of Arts, Master of Science, or Ph.D.) in archaeology, anthropology, or closely related field from an accredited institution.
  • 12+ years of relevant post-education experience in Section 106/110 Compliance.
  • Experience in cultural resource management in the Midwest or South.
  • Experience in leading and mentoring others.
  • Innovative and proactive approach to problem-solving.
  • Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
  • Commitment to continuous learning and professional development, including participation in professional organizations.
  • Strong communication skills.
  • Ability to contribute and work well on a team.
  • You are passionate about working collaboratively with others.
  • You are passionate about having ownership in the work you do.
  • You are passionate about using your talents to positively affect communities.
Responsibilities
  • Serve as a firmwide subject matter expert, providing internal and external leadership on cultural resources compliance.
  • Provide strategic direction and consultation to project teams and clients on complex issues, regulatory pathways, and technical methodologies.
  • Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal environmental regulations, including NHPA, ARPA, and NEPA requirements. Plan, scope, prepare and review field investigations analyses, technical reports, and documentation.
  • Maintain a strong external reputation as a technical leader, contributing to the profession through publications, conference presentations, and participation in scientific or regulatory working groups.
  • Promote efficiencies and uphold quality standards, ensuring deliverables meet the highest levels of scientific rigor and regulatory defensibility.
  • Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including regulatory agencies, scientific partners, and industry organizations, to stay informed of evolving policies and opportunities for collaboration.
  • Represent the firm in professional organizations, advisory committees, or regulatory forums to elevate both the environmental discipline and the firm’s visibility.
  • Lead and manage projects from early planning through implementation, including scoping, technical strategy, budgeting, scheduling, and quality oversight.
  • Mentor and develop staff, fostering technical growth, scientific excellence, and consistency across the firm.

Olsson is an engineering firm that designs and delivers infrastructure and environmental projects to improve communities. It provides civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, and environmental engineering services across planning, design, permitting, and construction support, guiding projects from concept through construction. The work combines site assessments, calculations, modeling, and field implementation to create practical, buildable solutions for transportation, water, energy, and habitat projects. Olsson differentiates itself through its integrated, multi-discipline approach and close collaboration with clients, offering end-to-end services and a hands-on project delivery model that emphasizes constructibility and real-world outcomes. The company’s goal is to help communities function better by delivering safe, reliable, and cost-effective infrastructure and environmental improvements.

Company Size

1,001-5,000

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Lincoln, Nebraska

Founded

1956

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Morgan Stanley Capital Partners announced majority investment on January 13, 2026, funding expansion.
  • Sarah Foster became president on July 8, 2026, sharpening execution and growth accountability.
  • Olsson acquired FTN Associates in 2025 and grew headcount to 2,603 by March 2026.

What critics are saying

  • Morgan Stanley Capital Partners controls Olsson after January 13, 2026, ending employee control.
  • FTN integration from 2025 can distract managers and trigger client turnover through 2026.
  • Sarah Foster must deliver growth fast; underperformance risks PE-driven restructuring and senior departures.

What makes Olsson unique

  • Olsson has 2,000-plus employees across 35 U.S. offices, spanning infrastructure end markets.
  • Founded in 1956, Olsson combines employee ownership with engineering, design, and consulting depth.
  • Olsson’s water, transportation, power, industrial, and federal practices create cross-sell resilience.

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Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

401(k) Company Match

Wellness Program

Performance Bonus

Flexible Work Hours

Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

7%

1 year growth

7%

2 year growth

7%
Morgan Stanley
Jan 14th, 2026
Morgan Stanley Capital Partners Makes Majority Investment in Olsson, Inc. | Morgan Stanley

Investment funds managed by Morgan Stanley Capital Partners (MSCP) today announced a majority investment in Olsson, Inc. (Olsson).

PE Hub
Jan 13th, 2026
Morgan Stanley Capital Partners acquires majority stake in 2,000-employee engineering firm Olsson

Morgan Stanley Capital Partners has acquired a majority stake in Olsson, a Lincoln, Nebraska-based engineering and design firm, according to PE Hub. Founded in 1956, Olsson employs over 2,000 people and provides infrastructure engineering design and consulting services to public and private clients. The company serves markets including technology, transportation, water infrastructure, power, industrial and federal sectors. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Intelligence360 News
Oct 6th, 2023
Olsson To Expand Into New Space In Irvine California.

Olsson to expand into new space in Irvine California. Olsson to expand into new space in Irvine California.Irvine, California — According to state and local development sources, Olsson plans to build out new space in Irvine. The company plans to occupy the new space at 250 Commerce # 220 in Irvine, on or about May 1, 2024. According to the company website We are Olsson, a nationally recognized, employee-owned engineering and design firm with a rich history of success. Founded in 1956 on the very mindset that drives us today, were here to improve communities by making them more sustainable, better connected, and more efficient. Simply put, we work to leave the world better than we found it

Omaha World-Herald
Jan 31st, 2023
OLSSON

Olsson closes deal to acquire Nielsen-Baumert Engineering, Inc.