Project Engineer - Land Development

Racey Engineering, PLLC; Luray (VA); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 102,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Group term life insurance

Dental and vision insurance

Flexible Spending Account

401(k) with employer match and profit‑

Paid leave and holidays

Tuition reimbursement

Referral bonus program

Job summary

Racey Engineering, PLLC is hiring a Project Engineer for land development. This design-forward role requires carrying a site from concept through approved construction plans and advising the Client.

Based in Luray or Roanoke, VA with a hybrid schedule; travel across Virginia is expected. Ideal candidates have 6–9 years of land development experience and proficiency with AutoCAD Civil 3D.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering.
• 6 to 9 years of land development civil design experience.
• Ability to carry a site from concept through approved plans with limited supervision.
• Proficiency with AutoCAD Civil 3D.
• Knowledge of Virginia Runoff Reduction Method.

Responsibilities

• Carry land development projects from concept through construction documents and approval.
• Design site grading, drainage, utilities, and erosion control.
• Prepare rezoning and special use permit applications.
• Represent projects at public meetings and hearings.
• Coordinate with planning and utility departments through reviews.
• Manage sub-consultants and monitor scope, schedule, and budget.
• Mentor designers and EITs.

Skills

Strong written communication

Project ownership

Team collaboration

Client coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering

Virginia PE license preferred

Tools

AutoCAD Civil 3D

Job description

Racey Engineering, PLLC is a privately held, HubZone-certified engineering and surveying firm in the Shenandoah and Roanoke Valleys of Virginia. Our offices are in Luray and Roanoke, Virginia, and we serve core clients up and down the I-81 corridor and throughout the Commonwealth. We built this firm on accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement. Our team brings together experience from a range of disciplines and industries, which lets us deliver practical, tailored solutions on every project we take on.

About Us

Who are we?

Racey Engineering, PLLC is a privately held, HubZone-certified engineering and surveying firm in the Shenandoah and Roanoke Valleys of Virginia. Our offices are in Luray and Roanoke, Virginia, and we serve core clients up and down the I-81 corridor and throughout the Commonwealth. We built this firm on accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement. Our team brings together experience from a range of disciplines and industries, which lets us deliver practical, tailored solutions on every project we take on.

What is our purpose?

Provide Value Create Opportunity Enhance Community

What are our Core Values?

Accountable— We each take responsibility for our actions, commitments, and delivering results.

Loyal— We demonstrate dedication and faithfulness to the company, the team, and its goals. That support carries through to our clients and community.

Passionate— We approach our work with enthusiasm, energy, and a deep commitment to excellence.

Honest— Communication is central to how we work. We communicate with integrity, transparency, and authenticity, even when it is difficult.

Adaptive— We embrace change and flexibility with a positive mindset and adjust to new challenges and environments.

Why people build a career here

Racey Engineering is a 2026 Best Places to Work in Virginia firm. You will find a family-oriented culture that cares about you and your family, and about making a meaningful impact in the communities we serve. You will work on projects across the Commonwealth while we support you as you learn and grow your technical and professional skills. We are looking for people who share our values and want to contribute to a strong work environment.

Benefits

• Health insurance - $0 deductible, with 75% of the employee premium paid by Racey
• Group term life insurance
• Dental, vision, and other supplemental insurances
• Flexible Spending Account
• 401(k) with employer match, and profit sharing option
• Paid leave and holidays
• Education and tuition reimbursement, including EIT and PE
• Referral bonus program

Listing summary

Production-heavy land development design - grading, stormwater, utilities - plus the entitlement work that gets projects approved. Rezonings, special use permits, and public hearings are part of this job, not somebody else's.

About the role

Racey Engineering is hiring a Project Engineer for land development. This is a design-forward role: we need someone who can pick up a site, carry it from concept through approved construction plans, and advise the Client.

What you'll do

• Carry land development projects from concept and due diligence through preliminary engineering, construction documents, and approval.
• Design site grading, storm drainage, stormwater management and BMPs, water and sanitary utilities, and erosion and sediment control.
• Perform stormwater modeling and apply the Virginia Runoff Reduction Method; prepare SWM and E&S narratives and computations.
• Prepare rezoning and special use permit applications - concept plans, proffer and condition exhibits, and the supporting narratives.
• Represent projects at public agency meetings and work sessions, and at planning commission, board of supervisors, and town council public hearings - including preparing the exhibits and presentations that go with them.
• Coordinate with county and town planning, zoning, engineering, and utility departments through review cycles, and write the comment response letters that close items out.
• Coordinate with VDOT on entrance permits, land use permits, and traffic-related review items.
• Manage sub-consultants for geotechnical, environmental, cultural resources, and traffic work.
• Own project scope, schedule, and fee budget on assigned projects, and report status monthly.
• Support the bid and construction phases - RFI response, submittal review, site visits, and record drawings.
• Check and mentor the work of designers and EITs as you grow into it.

What you need

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering or a closely related engineering discipline.
• 6 to 9 years of land development civil design experience.
• Demonstrated ability to carry a site from concept through approved construction plans with limited supervision.
• Site grading, storm drainage, stormwater management and BMP design, utility layout, and erosion and sediment control.
• Experience preparing rezoning and special use permit applications, and appearing before public agencies at public hearings.
• Working knowledge of Virginia municipal codes, zoning and subdivision ordinances, and the Virginia Runoff Reduction Method.
• Proficiency with AutoCAD Civil 3D.
• Strong written communication - a real part of this job is writing comment responses that end an argument rather than extend it.
• Virginia PE license preferred, not required. EIT welcome.
• Valid driver's license in good standing.

Nice to have

• Virginia PE license, or the ability to obtain one by comity.
• Hydraulic and hydrologic modeling – Hydraflow, HydroCAD, or equivalent - and CLOMR/LOMR experience.
• VDOT LAD administered (locally administered federal-aid) project experience.
• Both residential subdivision and commercial site development experience.
• Familiarity with Shenandoah Valley, Fredericksburg Area, and Roanoke Valley jurisdictions
• Experience mentoring designers or EITs.

Travel and schedule

• Full-time, hybrid, based out of the Luray, VA or Roanoke, VA offices. Will consider remote work with high experience.
• Site visits during due diligence, design, and construction; ability to navigate uneven terrain.
• Evening public hearings are part of this role - typically a few a month depending on the project mix.
• Travel throughout Virginia, typically 15 to 25 percent.
• Must be able to pass a drug screening.

Compensation

$85,000 - $102,000 per year. We hire this role at the Project Engineer or Senior Project Engineer level depending on your experience. The Senior designation and the upper half of the range go with independent project ownership and a track record of carrying entitlements through approval. Signing bonus and bonus opportunities are available.

Equal Opportunity

Racey Engineering, PLLC, in accordance with State and Federal laws, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age (40 or older), disability and genetic information (including family medical history), or veteran status. Racey Engineering, PLLC is required by law and by virtue of its contract(s) with the federal government to take affirmative action to employ women, minorities, otherwise qualified disabled individuals, and Vietnam-era and disabled veterans. Racey Engineering, PLLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer.