Senior Project Engineer

Cochran; Springfield (MO); On-site; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Cochran is a growing civil engineering firm seeking a senior-level leader to guide strategy, technical excellence, and people development across Missouri markets. The role blends hands-on engineering oversight with executive leadership to strengthen teams, expand market presence, and elevate firm capabilities.

The successful candidate will mentor staff, nurture client relationships, drive operational excellence, and position Cochran for long-term growth in a collaborative, client-focused

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field required.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license required.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive engineering experience.
• Demonstrated experience leading teams, mentoring staff, and managing client relationships.
• Strong technical background with the ability to contribute to engineering design and oversight.

Responsibilities

• Mentor, coach, and develop engineering staff across multiple experience levels.
• Help cultivate a strong, collaborative, and accountable team culture.
• Support recruiting, hiring, onboarding, and retention efforts.
• Provide leadership in career development, performance management, and succession planning.
• Partner with firm leadership to identify organizational growth opportunities and staffing needs.

Skills

Leadership

Mentoring

Client relationships

Communication

Strategic planning

Business development

Team development

Project oversight

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field

Job description

Cochran is a growing civil engineering firm with seven Missouri offices, offering services in construction administration, materials testing, architectural and geotechnical engineering, and land surveying. Serving both public and private sector clients, Cochran's expertise spans municipal, commercial, residential, transportation, water/wastewater, site development, retail, planning, and interior design projects.

With more than 120 professionals, Cochran delivers tailored solutions backed by deep technical expertise and a commitment to its core values of Teamwork, Excellence, Quality, and Trust. Through principal involvement and a client-focused approach, Cochran provides outstanding service throughout every project's lifecycle.

Position Summary:

We are seeking a senior-level leader to join our growing engineering firm in a highly visible and impactful role. This position combines technical expertise with strategic leadership and will play a key role in shaping the future of our organization. While the role will maintain involvement in technical design and project execution, the broader objective is to help strengthen our people, expand our market presence, and elevate our overall capabilities.

This individual will serve as both a technical resource and a leader within the organization — mentoring staff, fostering client relationships, driving operational excellence, and helping position the firm for long-term growth. The ideal candidate is someone who thrives in a collaborative environment, enjoys developing teams, and brings both business insight and engineering credibility to the table.

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership & Team Development

• Mentor, coach, and develop engineering staff across multiple experience levels
• Help cultivate a strong, collaborative, and accountable team culture
• Support recruiting, hiring, onboarding, and retention efforts
• Provide leadership in career development, performance management, and succession planning
• Partner with firm leadership to identify organizational growth opportunities and staffing needs

Technical & Project Leadership

• Provide technical oversight, guidance, and quality assurance on engineering projects
• Contribute to project planning, design, and execution as needed
• Serve as a senior technical resource for complex or high-profile projects
• Ensure projects are delivered with a high standard of quality, efficiency, and client satisfaction
• Support continuous improvement of technical processes, standards, and capabilities

Business Development & Market Presence

• Build and strengthen relationships with clients, partners, and industry stakeholders.
• Support business development initiatives, proposals, presentations, and strategic pursuits.
• Represent the firm within the industry and local market through networking and professional involvement.
• Identify opportunities to expand service offerings, markets, and client partnerships.
• Help elevate the firm’s visibility, reputation, and technical capabilities within the industry.

Strategic Growth & Operations

• Collaborate with leadership on strategic planning and operational initiatives.
• Help identify areas for organizational improvement, scalability, and efficiency.
• Contribute to long-term planning around growth, staffing, and service expansion.
• Support the development of processes and systems that strengthen firm performance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field required.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license required.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive engineering experience.
• Demonstrated experience leading teams, mentoring staff, and managing client relationships.
• Strong technical background with the ability to contribute to engineering design and oversight.
• Proven ability to support business development and organizational growth initiatives.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to balance strategic leadership with hands‑on involvement.

What Success Looks Like

• Developing and strengthening engineering talent within the organization.
• Building trusted relationships internally and externally.
• Helping expand the firm’s capabilities and market presence.
• Contributing to a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Serving as a key leader in the continued growth and evolution of the firm.

Cochran is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to creating an inclusive workplace for all employees. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable federal, state, or local laws.

Cochran values diversity and encourages qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply.