Civil Engineer – Senior Transportation Practice Lead

Ayres Associates Inc.; Burlington (NC); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Ayres Associates Inc. is seeking a bold Senior Transportation Practice Lead to launch and grow a new transportation practice in North Carolina from Burlington.

You will lead a team, drive client relationships, and shape strategy across Ayres’ offices nationwide. You will recruit, mentor, and manage engineers, deliver innovative transportation solutions, and create a lasting impact on North Carolina’s infrastructure landscape.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in civil engineering.
• Registered professional engineer (PE) license in North Carolina.
• 10+ years of experience in transportation project management, business development, and staff mentoring.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and technical skills.
• Willingness to travel to other company locations on occasion.
• Demonstrated ability to manage transportation projects profitably.

Responsibilities

• Take the lead in marketing and winning transportation projects, including NCDOT, counties, municipalities, and private-sector clients.
• Prepare and negotiate contract documents.
• Manage clients.
• Oversee project production to ensure on-schedule, profitable delivery and compliance with Ayres’ quality standards and contract requirements.
• Build and maintain relationships with leaders within the company.
• Support staff development and mentorship.
• Participate in division meetings with the VP and fellow leads.
• Develop annual business plans and budgets focusing on growth and training initiatives.
• Engage in professional organizations locally and nationally.
• Participate in office-wide social events.

Skills

Project management

Business development

Staff leadership

Communication

Travel willingness

Profitability oversight

Education

Bachelor's degree in civil engineering

Job description

Civil Engineer – Senior Transportation Practice Lead

Job Category: Transportation

• Full-Time

Locations

Showing 1 location

Burlington, NC 27215, USA

Description

Help build the future of transportation in North Carolina from the ground up!

Are you ready to put your name on the map and lead something truly transformative? We’re looking for a bold, entrepreneurial transportation engineer to launch and grow a new practice in North Carolina – not just to fill a leadership role, but to create one.

Join Ayres – a USA TODAY Top Workplace recognized in both 2025 and 2026 – where people-first leadership, collaboration, and professional growth create an environment where great teams do their best work.

As our Senior Transportation Practice Lead, you’ll:

• Build something that lasts: Develop a new service line from the ground up, with the freedom to shape its direction and the support to make it thrive.
• Grow a high-performing team: Recruit, mentor, and lead a team of talented engineers who share your vision and passion.
• Make an impact: Deliver innovative transportation solutions that improve lives and communities across North Carolina.
• Lead with vision: Collaborate with colleagues in our offices across the country to drive strategy, win work, and deliver excellence.
• Leave a legacy: Establish yourself as a key player in North Carolina's infrastructure space – and help define what the future looks like.

On any given day, you’ll:

• Take the lead in successfully marketing and winning transportation projects, including NCDOT, counties, municipalities, and private-sector clients.
• Prepare and negotiate contract documents.
• Manage clients.
• Manage projects, overseeing the production of all project work, ensuring that the work is produced on schedule, profitably, and in conformance with Ayres’ quality standards and contract requirements.
• Build and maintain respectful working relationships with fellow leaders within the company.
• Support and participate in staff development and mentorship.
• Be an active participant in monthly division meetings held with the vice president and fellow transportation leads.
• Develop an annual business plan and budget with emphasis on growth, financial planning, capital purchases, marketing, and training initiatives.
• Actively engage in local, statewide, and/or national professional organizations.
• Participate in officewide social events.
• Be given a great deal of autonomy to grow, direct and lead your team.

Required qualifications:

• A bachelor’s degree in civil engineering.
• Registered professional engineer (PE) license in North Carolina.
• A minimum of 10 years of combined experience in the following:
  • Sound transportation project management skills.
  • Proven business development expertise focused on identifying, pursuing, and winning projects.
  • Managing and mentoring staff.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and technical skills.
• Willingness to travel to other company locations on occasion.
• Demonstrated ability to manage transportation projects profitably
• A valid driver’s license with a good driving record.

Desired skills and experiences:

• Ability to develop and grow transportation engineering (one of Ayres’ largest service offerings) in North Carolina.
• A desire to build the Ayres brand at professional meetings/conferences locally, statewide, and potentially nationally.
• Proven success in meeting goals and objectives of annual business plans and budgets, including revenue and profitability, staffing, backlog, billing, accounts receivable, ROI on capital purchases, and image development.
• Ability to think outside the box to generate creative ideas and inspire your team.
• Eagerness to cultivate a team environment where all staff members feel valued and supported and all ideas flow freely.
• Enthusiastic focus on business development, including client contact, marketing initiatives, and monitoring client and partner satisfaction.

Please note, benefits vary depending on job status. To learn more about our great benefits, visit our website at https://www.ayresassociates.com/careers/the-ayres-advantage/
Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
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