Project Engineer, Underground/ Heavy Civil

Guy F. Atkinson Construction; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 90,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health/dental/vision insurance

Retirement/401k plan

Paid time off

Fitness reimbursement

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

A leading construction company in Washington, DC, is seeking a Project Engineer. Responsibilities include providing administrative and technical services in project scheduling and cost engineering while ensuring safety compliance. The ideal candidate has an engineering degree and 3-5 years of experience in heavy civil construction. We offer a competitive salary range of $90,000 to $135,000 along with a comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance, 401k contributions, and paid time off.

Qualifications

• 3-5 years of relevant experience working on commercial or heavy civil construction projects.
• Strong initiative, independence, and integrity.
• Alignment to the company's Standards of Excellence.

Responsibilities

• Engage in safety training and embrace the safety culture.
• Maintain strong working relationships with personnel and stakeholders.
• Track and update project quantities and budgets.

Skills

Initiative

Interpersonal skills

Oral and written communication

Ability to work in a team

Strong work ethic

Education

Undergraduate degree in engineering, construction management, or related discipline

Job description

About Atkinson

Building our nation's infrastructure since 1926, Atkinson provides innovative design and construction solutions for heavy civil projects. We are committed to safely delivering complex, quality projects while building long-lasting, collaborative relationships with our clients.

Atkinson Underground/Civil

Atkinson Underground/Civil is a division of Atkinson that focuses on underground and civil construction projects, applying the same rigorous standards of engineering, safety, and quality that define our company-wide operations.

The Role

The Project Engineer provides administrative and technical services in the fields of scheduling, cost engineering, subcontract coordination, and general project administration. Along with job‑site project managers and superintendents, project engineers have responsibilities in overall project oversight and may be assigned to a particular section, subcontractor, or other facet(s) of the project.

Responsibilities

• Actively pursue and engage in safety training to learn and embrace the Atkinson safety culture
• Participate in the TRACK process; attend daily/weekly meetings and field inspections
• Initiate and maintain strong working relationships with Atkinson’s craft personnel, field inspectors, subcontractor representatives, vendors, home‑office support, the project management team, and the community
• Stay ahead of the crew’s needs to ensure they work efficiently
• Prioritize daily tasks by understanding deadlines and material procurement lead times
• Provide prompt, accurate information, notices and requests to agencies, subcontractors, vendors, etc.
• Communicate clearly and concisely in a grammatically correct and unbiased manner
• Investigate issues, ask thoughtful questions, gather input and propose solutions
• Beat the estimated budget
• Pursue self‑development outside of assigned responsibilities
• Produce safe, efficient construction engineering products
• Track and update quantities timely to ensure accurate budgets, forecasts and reporting
• Perform thorough invoice reviews and pay subcontractors and vendors promptly
• Gather and prepare supporting documentation for change orders and requisitions

Basic Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in engineering, construction management, or related discipline; or equivalent work experience
• 3‑5 years of relevant experience working on commercial or heavy civil construction projects from start to finish
• High degree of initiative, independence, personal responsibility, and integrity
• Willingness to speak up, listen, ask open‑ended questions, and learn from others
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Effective oral and written communication skills
• Strong work ethic and ability to work in a fast‑paced team environment
• Alignment to our Standards of Excellence: self‑motivated, results‑oriented, adaptable, team player, accountable, ethical, innovative, resilient, builds relationships and teams, followership, sets direction and executes

The work environment and requirements described below are representative of those necessary for an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this role.

The Physical Side of the Role

This is an active, hands‑on role. You will be on your feet frequently, navigating active job sites with uneven terrain, stairs, ladders, and hoists. The work is physically demanding and requires a full range of motion, including bending, kneeling, and reaching. You will be comfortable lifting and carrying materials up to 25 lb, occasionally up to 50 lb. The role requires effective communication skills and visual acuity for reading plans and inspecting work. Office desk time may involve prolonged sitting for computer work, document review, and meetings.

Your Work Environment

You’ll spend a significant amount of time on active construction sites, which means being adaptable to all kinds of weather and moderate to loud noise levels, and comfortable in elevated or confined work areas with moving mechanical equipment. You will also spend time in a typical office setting with moderate noise levels. Your safety is our top priority, and you will be expected to follow Atkinson Construction’s safety policies and procedures, and all applicable laws, at all locations.

A Drug‑Free Workplace

Atkinson promotes a drug‑free workplace. A pre‑employment drug “fitness for duty” screening is required, and the company conducts random quarterly drug “fitness for duty” tests.

Compensation and Benefits

Atkinson offers a total compensation package that includes base salary, bonus potential, and a comprehensive benefits package including health/dental/vision benefits, paid time off, retirement/401k, company contribution plans, life insurance, commuter benefits, short‑ and long‑term disability, fitness reimbursement, FSA, tuition reimbursement, backup daycare, tutoring & family support benefits, EAP/Work‑Life assistance, and a holiday contribution program. For this role the base salary range is $90,000‑$135,000. Compensation may vary outside of this range depending on a candidate’s education, experience, skills, and geographic location. Base pay is one part of the Total Compensation Package that is provided to compensate and recognize employees for their work.