Concrete Structural Research Engineer
Quick facts
- Pay
- $80,000–$124,000 per year
- Type
- Full-time
- Location
- McLean, VA
- Background
- PhD
- Industry
- Engineering — 246 open jobs
- Visa in listing
- H-1B
- Apply
- Free to apply — never pay anyone for a job offer or visa sponsorship
Job description
Help Explain Why Bridges Fail — And Design the Concrete That Won't
Roughly 600,000 bridges make up the National Highway System, and the concrete research happening in this lab directly shapes the design specifications engineers nationwide rely on to build and rate every one of them. When a bridge does fail, this is also the lab the National Transportation Safety Board and state DOTs call in to find out why. If you want research work with that kind of direct, visible impact — not just a report that sits on a shelf — this role is built for you.
Genex Systems is hiring a Concrete Structural Research Engineer to plan and conduct structural research projects for the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in the Structures Laboratory at the Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center (TFHRC), the nation's premier highway research facility.
About the Lab
The Structures Laboratory specializes in developing and testing innovative bridge designs, materials, and construction methods aimed at making the nation's bridges more efficient and durable. Its work spans full-scale testing of bridges and bridge components, field evaluation of in-service structures, and forensic investigation of structural failures for state Departments of Transportation, FHWA divisions, and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) — determining root causes of bridge failures and developing practices to prevent them from happening again.
What You'll Do
- Plan and conduct structural research projects focused on concrete as used in the design, rating, and construction of bridges
- Select and wire instrumentation for data acquisition — including strain gauges, accelerometers, tiltmeters, potentiometers, linear variable differential transducers (LVDTs), extensometers, and load cells
- Set up and operate closed-loop, servovalve-controlled hydraulic testing systems
- Design loading structures to support research test setups
- Conduct standard concrete property characterization tests, including compressive strength (ASTM C39), flexural strength (ASTM C78), modulus of elasticity (ASTM C469), splitting tensile strength (ASTM C496), creep (ASTM C512), ultra-high performance concrete fabrication and testing (ASTM C1856), length change (ASTM C157), and freeze-thaw resistance (ASTM C666)
- Write publication-ready research reports, and present findings at demonstration projects, seminars, committee meetings, and workshops
What You'll Need (Required)
- Master’s degree in Civil Engineering or Structural Engineering, plus at least 4 years of related research experience (or a Bachelor’s Degree, plus 8 years of related research experience)
Nice to Have (Preferred)
- Ph.D. in Civil Engineering or Structural Engineering
- Experience with concrete as used in the design, rating, and construction of bridges
- Familiarity with digital-to-analog data acquisition and sensor selection/wiring (see instrumentation list above)
- Experience with setup and operation of closed-loop, servovalve-controlled hydraulic systems
- Experience with design of loading structures
- Familiarity with standard concrete property characterization tests (ASTM C39, C78, C469, C496, C512, C1856, C157, and C666)
- Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to write publication-ready research reports and present at demonstration projects, seminars, committee meetings, and workshops
Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $80,000–$124,000/ year, commensurate with education and experience.
Genex Systems offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:
- 401(k) retirement plan with employer matching
- Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance
- Life insurance
- Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) and paid federal holidays
Location & Work Arrangement
McLean, VA — full-time, on-site at the Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center.
Additional Information
Work Authorization/Citizenship: Company will sponsor work visa for qualified candidates including Cap-Exempt H-1B.
Genex Systems, LLC is an equal opportunity employer. Genex Systems does not discriminate in employment on account of race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship status, ancestry, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.
Visa sponsorship record: Genex Systems, LLC
Sponsors actively| Fiscal year | H-1B LCAs | USCIS approvals | USCIS denials | PERM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2026 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — |
| FY2025 | 3 | 3 | 0 | — |
| FY2024 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — |
✔ Genex Systems, LLC filed 5 H-1B applications for this kind of role (Civil Engineers) in the period above.
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Which visas can work for this job
Occupation: Civil Engineers (SOC 17-2051).
- Mentioned in the listing
H-1B
- H-1B cap-exempt employer
Regular cap-subject employer — a new H-1B needs to win the lottery in March (unless you already hold cap-counted H-1B status).
- TN (citizens of Canada and Mexico)
This kind of role may fit the USMCA profession “Engineer” — it depends on the actual duties. No lottery, no cap; you need the matching degree or license.
- E-3 (Australia) and H-1B1 (Chile, Singapore)
Same degree requirement as H-1B, but no lottery and a separate quota that is rarely filled.
- O-1 (extraordinary ability)
For candidates with awards, publications, press, a high salary or critical roles at distinguished organizations. No cap, no lottery; the employer files a petition.
- STEM OPT extension (F-1 students)
Requires an E-Verify employer. We didn't find this company in the E-Verify list — ask HR.
Salary vs prevailing wage
Level I (entry)Civil Engineers · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV. Annual prevailing wages set by the Department of Labor (OFLC).
| Level | Prevailing wage | H-1B lottery odds* |
|---|---|---|
| Level I | $78,083 | ~15% |
| Level II | $94,432 | ~31% |
| Level III | $110,781 | ~46% |
| Level IV | $127,130 | ~61% |
This job pays $80,000–$124,000 a year — that's Level I (entry). In the wage-weighted H-1B lottery a Level I registration gets 1 entry; estimated selection chance about 15% — below average.
* Odds are DHS projections for the FY2027 wage-weighted lottery (actual results vary by year and employer). Since the FY2027 cap season the H-1B lottery is weighted by wage level: Level I = 1 entry, II = 2, III = 3, IV = 4. The level is set by the offered wage against the prevailing wage for the occupation and worksite. Separately, a $100,000 fee for new H-1B petitions for workers outside the US was announced in 2025; as of September 2026 a federal court ruling keeps it unenforceable while appeals continue — check the current status.
Sources: U.S. Department of Labor OFLC disclosure data (H-1B/H-1B1/E-3 LCA, PERM), OFLC prevailing wage data, USCIS H-1B Employer Data Hub, E-Verify participating employers. Data loaded: LCA FY2024–FY2026, PERM, USCIS Data Hub, OFLC wages; updated 2026-10-03. Employers are matched by name, so records of companies with similar names can occasionally be mixed up. This is general information, not legal advice — talk to an immigration attorney about your case.