Civil Engineer (PE) / Project Lead

Axe Engineering; Arlington (WA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

100% company-paid health, dental, and vision

Unlimited PTO opportunities

401(k) option with company match

Job summary

Axe Engineering, located in Arlington, is seeking a skilled Civil Engineer (PE) to lead project design and execution for residential and commercial developments. The ideal candidate will have a minimum of 5 years of experience and a strong track record of managing civil engineering projects.

This role requires an active Washington State PE license and proficiency in Civil 3D software. Join a dynamic team dedicated to making a real impact in local communities.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of civil engineering experience.
• Site civil design skills in grading, drainage, and utilities.
• Experience with land development projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead civil engineering projects from concept through construction.
• Manage client relationships, schedules, and junior staff.
• Navigate local jurisdictional requirements.

Skills

Civil engineering experience

Project management

Client communication

Technical design

Education

Active Washington State PE license

Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering

Tools

Civil 3D

Job description

# Civil Engineer (PE) / Project LeadLead civil design and stormwater drainage for SFR residential, commercial, multifamily, and subdivision projects across Whatcom, Skagit, and/or Snohomish Counties.Apply for this roleAll open roles →## Position OverviewDo you have a proven track record of owning projects from first submittal to final construction acceptance — and loving every problem that comes with it? Are you the engineer who gets called when something goes sideways on a job site, because people know you'll figure it out? Are you ready for bigger challenges, a team that makes you sharper, and real ownership over your work?If the answer is yes, this is the role for you.You'll work directly with our principals and with private builders and developers across Whatcom, Skagit and Snohomish Counties. You will be responsible for leading civil engineering projects from concept through construction — site design, grading, drainage, utilities, access, and land-use coordination — while managing client relationships, project schedules, and junior staff.This role is execution-focused engineering leadership.You will move fluidly between technical design, client communication, agency coordination, and field problem-solving. One week, you may be navigating a complex stormwater design for a residential subdivision. The next, you may be in a pre-application meeting with the county fighting for a project approval your client thought was dead. The week after that, you may be walking a site with a builder to troubleshoot a grading condition before it becomes a change order.Though you are joining as a Project Lead, we expect you to grow. As we scale, this position can evolve into:* Senior Project Manager* Associate / Principal Engineer* Office Lead — Bellingham or Arlington* Or something we haven't planned for yet — if you're exceptional, we'll build the role around youWe do not believe in stagnant roles. If you are not operating at a meaningfully higher level within 18–24 months, this is probably not the right fit for either of us.Before you get excited, we have to be straight with you.This role is not a job where you put your head down, crank drawings, and wait for someone else to manage the client. You will be expected to own projects — technically, financially, and relationally. You will be expected to push back on agencies when they're wrong, challenge assumptions when the design doesn't feel right, and bring solutions instead of problems to every conversation.This is for someone who wants to do real engineering on real projects that show up in the real world.If that's you — keep reading.## Skills & QualificationsHere's what we believe is required to succeed in this role:A minimum of 5 years of civil engineering experience, with demonstrated progression in responsibility, including:* Active Washington State PE license (required)* Site civil design experience — grading, drainage, utilities, road improvements, frontage improvements* Experience with land development projects: residential subdivisions, short plats, commercial site plans* Familiarity with local jurisdictional requirements in Whatcom, Skagit and/or Snohomish counties (strongly preferred)* SEPA, land use entitlements, and permit coordination experience* Proficiency in Civil 3D or comparable design software* Proven ability to manage project schedules, budgets, and client relationships simultaneouslyThis is for engineers who want to own outcomes — not just produce deliverables. We use sharp technical judgment, clear communication, and a bias for action to solve problems for our clients quickly and completely. We hold ourselves accountable without ego and build trust with clients and jurisdictions through consistent follow-through. We all thrive in an environment where results matter more than titles, and where a good answer delivered today beats a perfect answer delivered next month.## Who We AreBig firms have more people. We have better ones.We operate out of Bellingham and Arlington with a lean team of engineers and designers who run circles around the big regional players on local private development. Our land-use practice is deep, our clients keep coming back, and our work shows up in the communities around us.If you want to be one of the best engineers in the room — and actually have room to prove it — you're in the right place.We are not a government agency. We are not a 200-person regional firm where your work disappears into a production machine. We are a small, high-performing team that moves fast, thinks hard, and takes ownership of every project we touch.When you stamp plans here, you're watching them get built — not handing them off to someone else to finish.## The Axe Creed · Cutting Through Project Barriers**We find a way. Every time. No exceptions.**Most projects don't die because of bad engineering. They die because someone accepted “no” from an agency, a neighbor, a jurisdiction, or a process — and stopped pushing. We don't stop pushing.Our pledge to every client: “we treat your project like it has our name on it — because it does.”**The words we live by. On every project. Every day.**Teamwork — We don't hand off. We collaborate all the way through. The best answer on any project comes from the whole team thinking together — engineers, designers, land-use, and client in the same room, working the same problem.Freedom — Flexible schedules. Real work-life balance. We care about what you produce, not when you clock in. Do great work. Live a great life. Those two things aren't in conflict here.Empowerment — Every person on this team has the authority to make decisions that move projects forward. You don't need three levels of approval to serve a client well. You need judgment — and we hire people who have it.Sense of Urgency — Time is a competitive advantage — for our clients and for us. We return calls the same day. We turn comments fast. We don't let things sit. In this business, speed and quality aren't opposites. We deliver both.Commitment to Client Satisfaction — We don't just meet expectations. We set them, then exceed them. If we make a promise, it's kept. If something goes sideways, we own it and fix it — no excuses, no finger-pointing.If those resonate — you might belong here.## Who Thrives HereYou might be a fit if:* You've looked at a project design and said “this is wrong” — and then fixed it without being asked* You treat a client call-back like a fire drill, not a task for tomorrow* You've mentored a junior engineer because it made the team better, not because it was in your job description* You've left a company because you were bored, not because it was hard* You believe the best engineering solution and the most cost-effective one are usually the same thing — and you know how to find it* You've navigated a difficult agency review and come out the other side with an approval your client didn't think was possibleYou're probably not a fit if:* You need a detailed checklist for every decision* You measure success by hours billed instead of problems solved* You want someone else to manage your schedule, your clients, and your project priorities* You think “that's how we've always done it” is an acceptable answer## What You Get* **Real Ownership —** Actual ownership of your work; you are the engineer of record on projects you'll be proud to drive past for the rest of your life.* **Compensation —** Competitive compensation. We pay for performance and experience, not arbitrary salary bands. High performers are rewarded accordingly.* **Direct Access to Leadership —** No layers, no politics. You'll know exactly where the company is going and why, because you'll be part of making it happen.* **Work That Matters —** Local projects with real community impact. You'll work in the neighborhoods where you live, and you'll see the results.* **High-Caliber Team —** A team that will make you better. We hire selectively because we're committed to keeping the bar high. The people around you will challenge you and back you up.* **Flexibility —** We care about output, not when you swipe in. Results are the currency here.## BenefitsAll benefits begin Day 1.* 100% company-paid health, dental, and vision for all team members (option to add dependents)* PTO, sick time, 7 paid US holidays, and flex-time which allows for unlimited PTO opportunities* On-time direct deposit bi-weekly* 401(k) option with company match## Ready?Stop doing forgettable work.If you've read this far and you're nodding your head — we want to hear from you. Send us your résumé, a brief note on a project you're proud of, and why you think you belong here.We're not looking for a perfect application. We're looking for the right person.Ready to do work you’ll drive past for the rest of your life?Apply for this role