Senior Project Engineer (Geotechnical)

Hillis-Carnes Engineering Associates, Inc.; Hagerstown (MD); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employer-paid benefits

Health insurance

Disability insurance

401(k) with company match

Tuition reimbursement

Employee referrals bonus

Job summary

Hillis-Carnes Engineering Associates, Inc. is seeking an experienced Senior Geotechnical/Project Engineer to lead geotechnical projects and mentor staff.

You will work closely with the Geotechnical and Construction Materials Testing teams, guiding field operations and technical direction for a regional portfolio. The role emphasizes client-facing leadership, independent technical work, and a potential path toward Associate Principal Engineer based on performance and business development

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (Geotechnical) required.
• 8–10 years of geotechnical consulting experience.
• Professional Engineer (P.E.) license.
• Strong written and verbal communication with clients and teams.
• Proficiency with MS Office (Word/Excel/Outlook).
• Experience with RocScience, Ensoft, Tablogs or similar software.
• Ability to work independently and in a team.

Responsibilities

• Lead geotechnical engineering projects under Principal supervision.
• Mentor junior staff and support field operations.
• Prepare proposals, cost estimates, reports, specs, and letters.
• Review lab and field test data for reports and recommendations.
• Represent the firm in client meetings.
• Coordinate with clients, contractors, vendors, regulators, and project teams.
• Support business development and professional organizations.
• Ensure compliance with safety policies and permitting.

Skills

Client communication

Project leadership

Team mentorship

Business development

Independent worker

Education

B.S. in Civil Engineering (Geotechnical)

Tools

RocScience

Ensoft

Tablogs

Job description

Position Overview

This position will work closely with our Geotechnical Engineering and Construction Materials Testing/Inspection departments, supporting a diverse portfolio of public and private sector projects throughout the region.

The successful candidate will provide client-facing technical leadership on geotechnical engineering and CMT projects, mentor junior staff, support field operations, and contribute significantly to business development initiatives. Sr. Project Engineer is the fifth rung of the career progression ladder, the last rung where your technical work is supervised. For the next steps in your career, you will be expected to work mostly independently on a technical level, so this position is intended to prepare you for that transition. This position is also bonus eligible.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage Geotechnical Engineering projects under the supervision of a Principal.
• Work independently, obtaining guidance as needed.
• Lead and manage CMT projects, particularly ones that you were involved with in the Geotechnical Engineering phase.
• General mastery of prior career ladder rungs.
• Prepare technical proposals, cost estimates, engineering reports, specifications, and project correspondence.
• Review, interpret, and evaluate laboratory and field test data for inclusion in engineering reports and recommendations.
• Represent firm in client meetings.
• Coordinate with clients, contractors, vendors, regulatory agencies, and internal project teams.
• Support business development efforts by maintaining client relationships and participating in professional and industry organizations.
• Support branch operations and perform additional duties as assigned by the Division or Branch Manager.
• Ensure compliance with company safety policies, site safety requirements, and applicable permitting requirements.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, or related engineering discipline.
• Minimum of 8 - 10 years of progressive and relevant geotechnical engineering or consulting experience.
• Professional Engineer (P.E.) license.
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills with clients, internally and with external third parties
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Proficiency/experience with typical commercial Geotechnical software such as RocScience, Ensoft, Tablogs, etc.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Geotechnical Instrumentation and monitoring projects.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and priorities while maintaining quality and client service standards.
• Experience developing client relationships and supporting business development initiatives.
• Self-motivated professional with a strong commitment to technical excellence and customer service.

Position Offering

This position may progress to the Associate Principal Engineer role based on demonstrated proficiency, management capabilities, business development contributions, and leadership performance.

Benefits

We are proudly an Equal Opportunity Employer and offer an appealing benefit package. A few of these perks include:

• 100% Employer-Paid Benefits (Long-Term Disability, Basic Life & Employee Assistance Program)
• Health (W/ Health Savings Account Option)
• Disability
• 401k w/ Company Match
• Generous Compensation for Employee-Referrals
• Tuition Reimbursement
• many more!

Minorities and Women are encouraged to apply.