Project Engineer - Segmental Retaining Walls

Ilocatum; Raleigh (NC); On-site; USD 90,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Ilocatum is seeking a hands-on Project Engineer to support retaining-wall projects from early design and estimating through permitting, construction, and closeout. This role suits a civil, geotechnical, or structural engineer who enjoys moving designs from calculations to field deployment.

You will work with clients, contractors, suppliers, field teams, and licensed engineering partners to deliver practical, code-compliant solutions for segmental block walls and related site conditions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in civil engineering or closely related discipline.
• Experience with retaining walls, foundations, earth-retention systems, reinforced soils, slopes, drainage, or related geotechnical/structural design.
• Ability to interpret calculations, drawings, specifications and site-development plans.
• Knowledge of building codes, permitting requirements, and standard construction practices.
• Proficiency with AutoCAD or Civil 3D and standard engineering tools.
• Strong written and verbal communication, with ability to explain technical issues to field personnel.

Responsibilities

• Develop and review calculations, plans, details, specifications, and submittals for segmental block retaining walls and related site improvements.
• Evaluate project drawings, geotechnical reports, soil parameters, surcharges, and construction constraints.
• Perform or coordinate analyses of stability, bearing capacity, sliding, overturning, settlement, and wall drainage.
• Translate requirements into clear, buildable construction documents for estimating and field teams.
• Coordinate with clients, contractors, engineers, geotechnical consultants, municipalities, suppliers, and inspectors.
• Support permitting, design revisions, RFIs, substitutions, and value-engineering reviews.

Skills

Communication

Field inspection

Reading blueprints

Engineering calculations

Geotechnical knowledge

Team collaboration

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree in civil / geotechnical / structural engineering

Tools

AutoCAD

Civil 3D

Job description

The Opportunity

We are seeking a hands‑on Project Engineer to support retaining‑wall projects from early design and estimating through permitting, construction, and closeout. This role is well suited to a civil, geotechnical, or structural engineer who enjoys seeing designs move from calculations and drawings into the field.

The Project Engineer will work closely with customers, contractors, suppliers, field teams, and licensed engineering partners to develop practical, code‑compliant solutions for segmental block retaining walls and related site conditions. The right person will combine sound engineering judgment with clear communication and a strong understanding of constructability.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and review engineering calculations, plans, details, specifications, and submittals for segmental block retaining walls, mechanically stabilized earth systems, foundations, drainage, slopes, and related site improvements.
• Evaluate project drawings, grading plans, geotechnical reports, soil parameters, surcharges, utilities, drainage conditions, and construction constraints.
• Perform or coordinate analyses involving external and internal stability, bearing capacity, sliding, overturning, settlement, global stability, reinforced‑soil zones, and wall drainage.
• Translate engineering requirements into clear, buildable construction documents and recommendations for estimating and field teams.
• Coordinate with clients, developers, general contractors, civil engineers, geotechnical consultants, architects, municipalities, material suppliers, and inspectors.
• Support permitting, design revisions, requests for information, substitutions, value‑engineering reviews, and construction‑phase questions.
• Visit active project sites to review existing conditions, observe installation, troubleshoot field issues, and document conformance with approved plans.
• Help prepare project scopes, budgets, schedules, material quantities, and technical proposals.
• Maintain organized design files, calculation packages, revision records, inspection documentation, and project correspondence.
• Identify technical or construction risks early and recommend practical solutions that protect safety, quality, schedule, and cost.
• Support multiple projects simultaneously while communicating priorities and deadlines clearly.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, geotechnical engineering, structural engineering, or a closely related discipline.
• Experience with retaining walls, foundations, earth‑retention systems, reinforced soils, slopes, drainage, land development, or related geotechnical/structural design.
• Ability to prepare and interpret engineering calculations, construction drawings, specifications, geotechnical reports, and site‑development plans.
• Working knowledge of relevant building codes, accepted engineering standards, permitting requirements, and construction practices.
• Proficiency with AutoCAD or Civil 3D and standard engineering calculation and documentation tools.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain technical issues to field personnel and non‑engineering stakeholders.
• Ability to visit construction sites and work safely in active field environments.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to travel to project locations within the region.

Preferred Qualifications

• North Carolina Professional Engineer license, or the ability to obtain North Carolina licensure after employment
• Engineer Intern certification with a clear path toward PE licensure may also be considered.
• Direct experience designing segmental retaining walls, MSE walls, reinforced slopes, gravity walls, or cast‑in‑place retaining walls.
• Familiarity with NC soils, municipal permitting, design‑professional inspection requirements, and construction practices in the Raleigh/Triangle market.
• Experience with global‑stability or slope‑stability software and retaining‑wall design applications.
• Experience supporting commercial, residential‑development, or national‑homebuilder projects.
• Construction observation, special inspection, materials‑testing, estimating, or design‑build experience.

What Success Looks Like

• Accurate, timely designs that are practical to build.
• Fewer field conflicts because technical risks are identified before construction.
• Responsive support for customers, project managers, estimators, and field crews.
• Clear documentation that moves projects efficiently through permitting and inspection.
• Strong working relationships with clients, suppliers, contractors, municipalities, and engineering partners.