For Students

Most new graduates who have obtained their Master's or Doctorate degree will start in this position. Immediately, you will be challenged to work both independently and in a diverse team environment on a variety of projects.

You will play an important role in applying your technical knowledge, creativity, and innovation to projects within your area of expertise. You'll also learn about new areas. As you grow in this position, opportunities will emerge to manage projects and meet with clients. You will begin to advance your professional status within the industry by contributing to publications and working toward professional licenses and registrations. Opportunities to get involved in Employee Networks and volunteer in STEM education are part of your overall Exponent experience. You belong. 

"At Exponent, you will work closely with a multidisciplinary team of talented and diverse consultants to solve intricate engineering problems, and actively contribute to our clients' success by leveraging your technical expertise."

-Naoki Manzano Miura

Once an individual has become a recognized technical contributor and has developed project management skills, they advance to the role of senior engineer/scientist. Our senior engineers and scientists expand their technical capabilities to provide support on a broader range of projects.

Examples may include resolving a client's problem, conducting field inspections, or leading a multidisciplinary project team. At this level, you will be focused on growing your internal client base and begin to have direct external client interaction.

You will learn to help maintain and grow Exponent's client relationships. You will continue to publish and become more involved in professional organizations. And you will have opportunities to be a part of diverse teams and participate in development programs such as our Mentoring Groups.

"One of my greater self-discoveries at Exponent has been that I have the capability to engage in interdisciplinary work in a meaningful way. Combining my knowledge of data science with other areas such as biology has been an eye-opening experience for me. I now feel more confident in expanding my breadth of expertise into other areas of research."

- Jermaine Marshall, Senior Scientist 

Our managing engineers and scientists have significant project and client management responsibilities, and they often supervise staff. Their increased understanding of our multidisciplinary capabilities helps them expand client relationships, lead projects, and develop new business opportunities for the firm. This is accomplished by maintaining a high level of individual productivity while also beginning to contribute to the overall growth of their practice.

At this level, you will strategically manage projects and teams, providing high-value results to clients on time and within budget. You may further develop your resume by ascending to leadership roles in professional organizations or through university teaching opportunities. You will have more opportunities to influence inclusivity and help other employees feel a sense of belonging at Exponent. 

"A career at Exponent is fast paced — choose your own adventure! The variety of opportunities has allowed me to choose projects that are both interesting and meaningful to me."

- Hilda Buss, Managing Engineer

Our senior managing engineers and scientists are recognized as key consultants with broad business and technical knowledge. At this level, you have become a trusted advisor in one or more technical areas.

You manage multiple projects and clients, motivate and lead staff, and develop business for both you and other staff members. You understand and market yourself and Exponent cross-functionally to procure new business.

You have an extensive publication record and serve in scientific advisory roles within industry. You are seen as a key mentor and leader within the organization and contribute to the growth of other staff members and your practice. You are a driver of diversity, equity and inclusion at Exponent. 

Exponent's principals are the most significant contributors to the overall growth and development of the firm. They are recognized technical authorities in their industries and have a great understanding of Exponent's key clients and multidisciplinary capability.

You continue to technically contribute to projects, while helping other staff members transition into significant client and project management roles as well. You will identify and lead initiatives to expand our capabilities into new technical areas and keep Exponent engaged with the emerging needs of our existing clients.

You will develop strategic growth plans and are instrumental in recruiting new staff to the firm — you are one of the "partners" of Exponent. Diversity, equity and inclusion is embedded in all aspects of your role. 

"The project work at Exponent is not only technically challenging but interesting and filled with learning opportunities. Continuous learning is important to me, and I learn best through teamwork and collaborating with others. The ability to do that at Exponent both inside and outside my field of expertise has led to the most rewarding experiences of my career."

- Rachel Kelly, Principal 

As you apply and prepare for your interview with Exponent, please consider the following: 

• Complete an online employment application, including a current resume/CV. 

• Share details of your technical research and accomplishments, publications, and speaking engagements, as well as additional experiences in leadership and more in your resume and/or cover letter. 

• Review our website and be knowledgeable about Exponent and what we do. You may find our expertise, solutions, people, careers, and culture pages helpful.  

• Prepare to discuss and answer technical and behavioral questions about your research, project work, and previous experience.  We are interested in learning about the range of skills that you have acquired. 

• Think of questions you may have about the position, the company, and our work. We encourage you to ask questions in areas that are important to you. 

• Be sure to practice your technical presentation before the final round interview. For experienced experts, we ask that you please share how you believe your expertise will be synergistic with Exponent.

• Reach out to Human Resources with any accommodations required. 

"If you're looking for a career, whether it's on the science, engineering, or administrative side, we really do everything. So, it's a great place to work and to start advancing your career. "

- Ute West, Project Accounting Coordinator, Finance

Our interview process begins with a short series of interviews hosted by our consultants and/or Human Resources. These conversations are typically around 30 minutes in length and often conducted over Microsoft Teams using video but may also be conducted over the phone or in person. We view these conversations as exploratory meetings between you and Exponent to learn more about each other and determine if we should proceed with a final round interview. 

You can expect to share information about your research, skills, and experiences and start to learn more about Exponent, including project examples, career path, and the impact our work has for our clients. We welcome and encourage questions! Some favorites include: 

• "What are you working on this week?" 

• "What have you learned since joining Exponent?" 

• "How has your work at Exponent impacted your clients or communities?" 

• "Have you been able to build meaningful and collaborative relationships with your colleagues?" 

Our final round interview is typically hosted on-site so you can meet the team and see our labs and/or facilities in person. You can expect a full-day interview with exciting 30-minute conversations* with several members of the practice team.

The interview panel will ask technical and behavioral questions to learn more about your range of skills, experiences, and interests.  The panel will also share information about the role, the company, the work, and the culture.  Of course, you will also have time to ask questions — please do!  

As part of the final round interview day, you will also be asked to give a 45-minute technical presentation on your area of expertise. The team will be looking for a specific in-depth analysis of your work and your communication skills. For current graduate students and early career professionals, most of your presentation should focus on your central graduate research or other in-depth technical work. 

For experienced consultants and academic and industry professionals, we ask that you introduce your expertise and how you believe you will partner with our teams to develop and grow business. The Human Resources team will provide you with more information before your visit. 

Our interview days are an excellent opportunity to meet team members with diverse skills and experiences and hear a variety of perspectives about life at Exponent. We look forward to hearing your story as well. 

* Note our United Kingdom interviews are hosted as a panel. 

You can expect to hear back from Exponent regarding your candidacy status within two weeks after your interview. Please be sure to communicate any job search deadlines (i.e., pending offers) to Human Resources so we can get back to you within your specified timeline. We appreciate your interest in Exponent!