Senior Project Engineer, PE (Geotechnical)

Hillis-Carnes Engineering Associates, Inc.; Aberdeen (MD); On-site; USD 75,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Hillis-Carnes Engineering Associates, Inc. seeks a Senior Project Engineer to lead geotechnical and CMT projects in the region, mentoring staff and interfacing with clients.

This role emphasizes technical leadership, proposal development, and robust data interpretation. The candidate will work independently with minimal guidance, manage multiple projects, contribute to business development, and help drive quality, safety, and client service.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Civil or Geotechnical Engineering or related field.
• 8–10 years of progressive geotechnical engineering or consulting experience.
• Licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.).
• Strong written and verbal communication with clients.

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.
• 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.

Skills

Client communication

Team collaboration

Technical leadership

Microsoft Office proficiency

Education

Bachelor of Science in Civil/Geotechnical Engineering

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 and many more! Need another reason to join in on the success? We offer an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) in which employees are given shares in the company and the more successful the company is, the more valuable the shares become.

Minorities and Women are encouraged to apply.

EOE

Salary: $75000 - $125000 per year