Civil Engineer - Principal

Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc.; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) matching

Profit sharing

Company stock ownership

Performance bonus

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Tuition assistance

Professional development

Work-life balance

Job summary

Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc. (CEC) is seeking a Civil Engineering Principal in our Charlotte, NC office to lead site development and design efforts for a diverse project mix. You’ll manage teams from concept through construction, ensuring quality, compliance, and client satisfaction.

As an employee-owner, you’ll mentor staff, contribute to business development, and help shape long-term growth while collaborating with clients and regulatory agencies in a dynamic Southeast market.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering required; Master’s degree preferred.
• Professional Engineer (P.E.) license required.
• 15+ years in civil engineering focusing on site development or infrastructure design.
• Experience overseeing projects with annual fees over $500,000.
• Proficiency with AutoCAD Civil 3D for site design and utilities.
• Experience developing scopes of work, proposals, and managing budgets and schedules.
• Familiarity with local/state permitting processes and regulatory coordination.
• Experience collaborating with multidisciplinary teams and external stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Manage site development and civil engineering projects from proposal through construction, including scope, schedule, and budget oversight.
• Design and review site layout, grading, stormwater, utilities, and erosion control.
• Prepare technical reports, plans, specs, cost estimates, and permit applications.
• Perform QA/QC reviews to ensure regulatory and client requirements are met.
• Coordinate with clients, contractors, subconsultants, and regulatory agencies across all phases.
• Mentor junior engineers and staff, supporting career development and performance reviews.
• Collaborate with senior leadership on business development and client growth initiatives.

Skills

Leadership

Mentoring

Client communication

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering

Master's degree preferred

Professional Engineering License (P.E.)

Tools

AutoCAD Civil 3D

HydroCAD

HEC-RAS

Job description

As a Civil Engineering Principal for Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc. (CEC) in our Civil Practice at the Charlotte, NC office, you’ll lead project teams responsible for land development and site design for a wide range of commercial, residential, institutional, and industrial projects. You’ll manage staff members that prepare tasks such as site layout, grading, stormwater management, utility design, erosion control, and permitting. You’ll work closely with clients and stakeholders from concept through construction, ensuring quality, compliance, and client satisfaction.

At CEC, every team member is personally invested inserving our clients with integrity, delivering results that matter, and growing meaningful careers. As employee-owners, we’re accountable not just for our work, but for creating an environment that supports and challenges one another. Our people are our priority — and that’s what drives us to dig deeper, collaborate smarter, and build lasting relationships inside and outside of our company.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage site development and civil engineering projects from proposal through construction, including oversight of scope, schedule, and budget
• Lead the design and review of site layout, grading, stormwater systems, utilities, and erosion control
• Prepare and oversee technical reports, plans, specifications, cost estimates, and permit applications
• Perform quality assurance/quality control reviews and ensure project deliverables meet regulatory and client requirements
• Coordinate and communicate with clients, contractors, subconsultants, and regulatory agencies throughout all phases of the project
• Mentor and supervise junior engineers and technical staff, including support for career development planning and performance reviews
• Collaborate with senior leadership on business development and strategic client growth initiatives

Our Charlotte office is home to a collaborative and growing team of professionals in one of the Southeast’s most vibrant cities. Located near both the mountains and the coast, Charlotte offers a unique mix of urban energy, outdoor recreation, and Southern charm. With top-rated schools, a thriving downtown, and a strong sense of community, Charlotte is a great place to live, work, and grow.

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering; Master's degree preferred
• Professional Engineering License (P.E.)
• 15+ years of experience in civil engineering focused on site development or infrastructure design, or a comparable combination of education and experience
• Experience managing civil or site development projects with annual fees exceeding $500,000
• Proficiency in AutoCAD Civil 3D for site design, grading, and utility layout
• Experience developing scopes of work, preparing proposals, and managing projects to meet budget and schedule targets
• Experience resolving design and permitting challenges related to grading, stormwater management, and utility systems
• Familiarity with local and state permitting processes and coordination with regulatory agencies
• Experience collaborating with multidisciplinary teams and external stakeholders

Preferred Capabilities

• Experience using stormwater modeling tools such as HydroCAD or HEC-RAS
• Active participation in professional organizations or industry groups
• Experience mentoring and developing junior engineering staff
• Demonstrated leadership in managing project teams and client relationships

We have experts! CEC is consistently ranked as a Top 500 Design Firm and Top 200 Environmental Firm by Engineering News-Record. We are looking for people who enjoy using their education and experience to solve difficult technical problems and work on interesting projects. You can accomplish this while working with a team of professionals who are equally motivated to provide high levels of service to our clients and to teach you along the way.

We have support! We have a variety of Employee Resource Groups, including CEC Community - focused on giving back to the communities in which we work; CEC Ignite - focused on helping professionals early in their careers to develop their pathway; CEC iDEA - focused on inclusion, diversity, equality, and acceptance; and CEC Women - focused on creating internal and external opportunities for women to network and leverage professional experience!

We care about our people! People and Culture are two of the five elements of our strategic plan. When you care about your people, they will want to grow a career with you - that is our goal. CEC offers you a small-firm work environment with large-firm opportunities. Not only will we help you develop professionally, but we will also provide an opportunity to become an owner of the firm and share in its success.

CEC offers a matching 401(k); profit sharing; a performance bonus; company stock; medical, dental, and vision insurance; short and long-term disability; tuition assistance; professional development; and work-life balance.

CEC is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in recruiting, hiring or promotion based on race, color, religion, sex (including sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, transgender status), national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status or any other basis or characteristic prohibited by applicable federal, state, or local law.