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Southeastern Archaeological Research, Inc. "SEARCH"

Archaeologist (California)

San Diego , United States
full-time On-site

AI overview

Contribute to a significant California border monitoring project, focusing on the preservation of sensitive cultural resources through direct fieldwork and collaboration with government agencies.

Title: Archaeologist        
Location: Southern California     
Job Code: Arch_CA_2026            
Job Link: SEARCH Job Postings - Direct Applications          


Position Information

SEARCH has immediate openings for Archaeologists to join our team on a California border monitoring project. This is a Full-Time project hire position expected to run 2 years until the contract ends or is extended. Selected candidates are paid hourly and will work 10-hour days on a 4-on/3-off day schedule for the duration of the project. Work includes monitoring construction sites along the southwestern border, identifying sensitive cultural resources, marking areas of avoidances, conducting surveys, and submitting daily reports to the project lead. Selected candidates must be based in southern California, eligible to work on federal government projects, and meet the project experience qualifications.  

SEARCH provides a flexible work environment, a professional and collaborative atmosphere, and a wide range of projects and opportunities for our staff. SEARCH offers a competitive total compensation package with strong health and wellness and retirement plans. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance, group term life insurance, 401(k) plan with match, 11 paid holidays per year, and Vacation/Sick leave. Pay range for this position is $30 - $33 per hour, commensurate with education and experience.    

Key Responsibilities:

  • Use experience, education from a degreed program, and professional judgment to identify and target locations of sensitive cultural resources, mark areas for avoidance and buffer zones, and identify site probability based on cultural, geological, and other environmental features.
  • Adhere to project health and safety plan and participate, and/or lead when necessary, in office and field training and meetings. Offer recommendations for improvement to Health & Safety Manager.
  • Prepare daily and weekly cultural resource monitoring summaries, photo-documentation, and maps; input data into electronic devices.
  • Conduct archaeological monitoring, and potentially survey, in accordance with the research design.
  • Recognize archaeological signatures and apply reasoning to evaluate resources.
  • Evaluate and record accurate, organized, and clear field notes, maps, drawings, logs, forms, tables, databases, artifact bags, box labels, and other project documentation.
  • Field identification of artifacts and cultural features.
  • Perform quality control of field data (hand-written and electronic) on a daily basis to ensure information is accurate and complete.
  • Use electronic and traditional navigational equipment (GPS, iPad/ArcCollector/Survey 123, compass, transit, etc.) to determine project limits, record fieldwork, document findings, and communicate progress.
  • Photo-document artifacts, features, land use, landscapes, unique environmental features, historic structures, archaeology sites, unique environmental features, specialized equipment or technique usage, and work-in-progress.
  • Procure and maintain field equipment and supplies, technology, , and vehicles, in a clean, working, and safe manner.
  • Work closely with other project staff such as environmental monitors and construction crews.
  • Organized and clear written and oral communication.
  • Other duties, as assigned.

Requirements

Qualifications Required:

  • Degree in Anthropology or related field.
  • Based in Southern California.
  • Knowledge of California cultural resources.
  • Archaeological monitoring experience on construction sites.
  • Archaeological survey experience.
  • Demonstrated ability to work remotely with limited supervision.
  • Reliable transportation with clean driving record.
  • Eligible for federal projects (i.e. U.S. citizen with no felonies). 

Qualifications Preferred:

  • Minimum two (2) years of southwestern archaeology border project experience on government projects (i.e., federal, state, municipal,) within California or other southwestern border state.
  • Meet the Secretary of the Interior’s professional qualifications standards for archaeology and be an RPA or be eligible to become an RPA.
  • Located in San Diego.
  • Demonstrated experience using stop work authority on monitoring sites. 
  • Strong experience working on federal government projects at the California-Mexico border.

Application Requirements

  • Cover letter
  • Resume
  • References
  • Writing Sample

Other Important Need-to-Know Information

  • This position will require flexible availability outside of standard working hours.
  • Applicants must be eligible to be employed in the United States.
  • SEARCH is strongly committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment where a variety of backgrounds, cultures, orientations, ideas, and talents can flourish.
  • SEARCH is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
  • SEARCH is an Affirmative Action Employer and a Drug-Free Workplace.
  • Employment offers are contingent upon satisfactory verification of criminal, education, driving, and/or employment background checks as well as passing results from a pre-employment drug screen.
  • We will endeavor to make a reasonable accommodation to the known limitations of a qualified applicant with a disability unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of our business. If you believe you require such assistance to complete this form or, if requested, to participate in an interview, please let us know.

Benefits

SEARCH Compensation and Benefits include:

  • Competitive Salary
  • Per Diem (for overnight travel)
  • SEARCH-subsidized Group Health Insurance (including Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage)
  • SEARCH-provided Short-Term Disability Insurance
  • SEARCH-provided Long-Term Disability Insurance
  • SEARCH-provided Group Term Life Insurance
  • Voluntary Life Insurance
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Emergency Travel Assistance
  • Generous 401(k) Retirement Plan
  • Paid Holidays (11)
  • Vacation/Sick Leave
  • Merit-Based Raises, Bonuses, and Promotions


About SEARCH:

SEARCH is a global leader in archaeology, maritime archaeology, and the full spectrum of cultural heritage services. SEARCH’s staff are industry leaders and subject matter experts who support commercial and government clients worldwide. Since 1993, SEARCH has completed over 5,000 projects nationwide and across 44 countries, spanning seven continents and four oceans. By integrating science, technology, and creativity, SEARCH harnesses the power of the past to advance the projects, places, and people it serves.
      
For more information about SEARCH, please visit searchinc.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter.      

Please send inquiries about the position to [email protected]. Include the Job Posting code (Arch_CA_2026) in the subject line of your email.

Perks & Benefits Extracted with AI

  • Equity Compensation: Merit-Based Raises, Bonuses, and Promotions
  • Health Insurance: SEARCH-subsidized Group Health Insurance (including Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage)
  • Overnight travel per diem: Per Diem (for overnight travel)
  • Paid Time Off: Paid Holidays (11) and Vacation/Sick Leave
Southeastern Archaeological Research, Inc. "SEARCH"

SEARCH is at the forefront of the Cultural Resources Management industry, and we continuously seek top talent. We have high expectations for ourselves, our staff, and our company. A career with SEARCH likely will be more challenging and more demanding than your previous job. We strive for the best out of our people, and we encourage you to apply if you can deliver consistently great work with an optimistic and positive attitude. If you believe that you are among the finest at what you do, then we encourage you to apply to work with us and enjoy a career that is professionally and personally rewarding (and fun). To help you decide whether SEARCH is a good fit for you, we’ve listed a few of the values which are important to us: 1. Expertise – We are subject matter experts. Our staff members are in command of the current research, methods, and best practices of their discipline, as well as the laws, regulations, guidelines, policies, and protocols that affect their field. 2. Passion – We eat, sleep, and breathe cultural resources management. We work hard and we enjoy the rewards of hard work. We come in early if need be, and we stay late because we love what we do (and because of an occasional deadline). Often many of us are active in our field in our own personal time because CRM is in our blood. 3. Teamwork – We communicate well and often. We are a multidisciplinary team of professionals, and we work best when we collaborate and share ideas within our immediate teams and enterprise wide. 4. Improvement – We continually strive forward and don’t settle. We are constantly improving our own work, our processes, and our products, and we embrace new ideas that make us better. Never do we say, “It’s good enough” or “It’s only a draft.” 5. Perfection, please – Attention to detail matters to us. We are looking for people who consistently deliver superior work products and who carefully craft every field note, e-mail, letter, agenda, map, photo, table, computer file name, and multi-volume technical report. SEARCH’s excellent reputation is based on our delivery of outstanding work, and we take this very seriously.6. “Please” perfection – Manners matter to us. We are looking for people who are in command of social graces. Opening the door opens doors. We offer a great benefits package to those who come aboard with us! SEARCH compensation and benefits include: Competitive Salary Per Diem (for overnight travel) SEARCH-subsidized Group Health Insurance (including Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage) SEARCH-provided Short-Term Disability Insurance SEARCH-provided Long-Term Disability Insurance SEARCH-provided Group Term Life Insurance Voluntary Life Insurance Generous 401(k) Retirement Plan Paid Holidays (10) Paid Time Off (PTO) Employee Assistance Program Emergency Travel Assistance Merit-Based Raises, Bonuses, and Promotions We conduct pre-employment drug testing, DMV check, and criminal background check. We treat all employment inquiries confidentially. Reliable transportation is required for all positions. For more information, please visit www.searchinc.com SEARCH is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. SEARCH is an Affirmative Action Employer and a Drug-Free Workplace. SEARCH will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information.

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