Senior Construction Engineer

Description

SUMMARY

The Senior Construction Engineer/CEI Practice Lead serves as a senior technical manager and practice leader responsible for the growth, management, and delivery of Phase III Construction Inspection and Construction Engineering services for transportation infrastructure projects at the state and local agency level. This leadership position combines business development, technical oversight, project delivery, staff management, mentoring, and client relationship responsibilities.

The successful candidate will lead transportation construction engineering and inspection (CEI) programs, develop new business opportunities, maintain key client relationships, oversee project execution, and mentor engineering and inspection staff while ensuring excellence in safety, quality, schedule, and budget performance.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Business Development & Market Growth

With coordination and support of the firm’s Business Development Department:

· Develop and execute strategic business development plans to expand the firm's CEI and transportation construction practice. 

· Identify, pursue, and secure new contracts with state departments of transportation, counties, municipalities, toll authorities, transit agencies, and other public-sector clients.

• Lead proposal development, qualifications packages, interviews, and contract negotiations.
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with transportation agency decisionmakers and industry partners.
• Monitor transportation funding programs, capital improvement plans, and procurement opportunities.
• Represent the firm at industry conferences, professional organizations, and client meetings.

Technical Leadership

• Serve as the senior technical authority for Phase III construction engineering and inspection services.
• Provide oversight and guidance for complex transportation construction projects, including highways, bridges, intersections, transit facilities, multimodal improvements, and utility coordination efforts.
• Review and approve construction engineering procedures, quality management plans, technical reports, and project documentation.
• Resolve complex construction issues involving design interpretation, specifications, change orders, claims, scheduling, and risk management.
• Ensure compliance with agency standards, federal regulations, contract requirements, and industry best practices.
• Provide expert consultation to clients and project teams throughout project delivery.

Project Management

• Direct multiple CEI and construction engineering projects concurrently.
• Manage project scope, budget, schedule, staffing, quality, and profitability.
• Coordinate construction management teams, resident engineers, inspectors, and specialty consultants.
• Oversee contract  administration, pay estimates, change order evaluations, field documentation, and project closeout activities.
• Monitor project performance metrics and implement corrective actions when necessary.
• Ensure successful project delivery and client satisfaction.

Staff Leadership & Mentoring

• Lead, supervise, and mentor construction engineering and inspection staff.
• Recruit, develop, and retain high-performing engineering and inspection professionals.
• Conduct performance evaluations and establish professional development plans.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, safety, and continuous improvement.
• Provide technical training and career coaching to resident engineers, inspectors, and project managers.
• Support succession planning and leadership development initiatives.

Client Relationship Management

• Serve as a trusted advisor to transportation agency clients.
• Build long-term relationships with agency leadership, project managers, and stakeholders.
• Participate in project partnering meetings and executive-level client discussions.
• Anticipate client needs and identify opportunities for expanded services.
• Promote responsive communication and exceptional client service.

Quality and Safety Leadership

• Champion a culture of safety across all field and office operations.
• Ensure adherence to corporate quality management systems and construction inspection procedures.
• Review project compliance with safety regulations, quality standards, environmental commitments, and permit requirements.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives and implementation of best practices.

Requirements

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILL REQUIREMENTS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. 

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering or related engineering discipline.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license required.
• Minimum 10+ years of progressively responsible transportation construction engineering experience.
• Minimum 5+ years of leadership, project management, or supervisory experience.
• Demonstrated experience managing Phase III Construction Engineering and Inspection (CEI) services.
• Proven record of successful business development and client management.
• Strong knowledge of transportation construction practices, contract administration, and public agency procedures.
• Experience managing projects for state DOTs, counties, municipalities, and other local agencies.
• Excellent leadership, communication, negotiation, and presentation skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and teams simultaneously.
• Valid State Driver’s License

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience serving as Resident Engineer, Senior Resident Engineer, Project Manager, or CEI Program Manager.
• Established relationships with state DOT and local government transportation agencies.
• Experience on major highway, bridge, interchange, transit, and roadway reconstruction projects.
• Design-Build, CM/GC, or alternative delivery experience.
• Certifications such as: 
  • PMP (Project Management Professional)
  • CCM (Certified Construction Manager)
  • Agency-specific construction engineering certifications
  • OSHA safety training certifications

Key Competencies

• Strategic Business Development
• Transportation Construction Engineering
• Program and Project Management
• Client Relationship Management
• Staff Leadership and Mentoring
• Contract Administration
• Quality Assurance/Quality Control
• Risk Management
• Construction Claims and Change Management
• Technical Problem Solving
• Financial and Operational Management
• Team Building and Talent Development

Success Metrics

• Growth of CEI and construction engineering revenue and backlog.
• Client satisfaction and repeat business.
• Successful pursuit and capture of new transportation projects.
• Quality, schedule, and budget performance across projects.
• Staff retention, development, and succession planning.
• Safety performance and compliance metrics.
• Profitability of assigned projects and programs.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit and talk or hear. The employee is required to stand; walk; make presentations; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

WORKING CONDITIONS

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee may work in outside-weather conditions. The noise level in the office work environment is usually moderate. The noise level on the construction site is often loud. Work may require occasional weekend and/or evening work.