Civil Engineer (PE) ​/ Project Lead

# Civil Engineer (PE) / Project Lead Lead civil design and stormwater drainage for SFR residential, commercial, multifamily, and subdivision projects across Whatcom, Skagit, and/or Snohomish Counties.

Apply for this role

All open roles →##

Position Overview Do you have a proven track record of owning projects from first submittal to final construction acceptance — and loving every problem that comes with it? Are you the engineer who gets called when something goes sideways on a job site, because people know you'll figure it out? Are you ready for bigger challenges, a team that makes you sharper, and real ownership over your work?

If the answer is yes, this is the role for you.

You'll work directly with our principals and with private builders and developers across Whatcom, Skagit and Snohomish Counties. You will be responsible for leading civil engineering projects from concept through construction — site design, grading, drainage, utilities, access, and land-use coordination — while managing client relationships, project schedules, and junior staff.

This role is execution-focused engineering leadership.

You will move fluidly between technical design, client communication, agency coordination, and field problem-solving. One week, you may be navigating a complex stormwater design for a residential subdivision. The next, you may be in a pre-application meeting with the county fighting for a project approval your client thought was dead. The week after that, you may be walking a site with a builder to troubleshoot a grading condition before it becomes a change order.

Though you are joining as a Project Lead, we expect you to grow. As we scale, this position can evolve into:
* Senior Project Manager
* Associate / Principal Engineer
* Office Lead — Bellingham or Arlington
* Or something we haven't planned for yet — if you're exceptional, we'll build the role around youWe do not believe in stagnant roles. If you are not operating at a meaningfully higher level within 18–24 months, this is probably not the right fit for either of us.

Before you get excited, we have to be straight with you.

This role is not a job where you put your head down, crank drawings, and wait for someone else to manage the client. You will be expected to own projects — technically, financially, and relationally. You will be expected to push back on agencies when they're wrong, challenge assumptions when the design doesn't feel right, and bring solutions instead of problems to every conversation.

This is for someone who wants to do real engineering on real projects that show up in the real world.

If that's you — keep reading.##

Skills & Qualifications Here's what we believe is required to succeed in this role:

A minimum of 5 years of civil engineering experience, with demonstrated progression in responsibility, including:
* Active Washington State PE license (required)
* Site civil design experience — grading, drainage, utilities, road improvements, frontage improvements
* Experience with land development projects: residential subdivisions, short plats, commercial site plans
* Familiarity with local jurisdictional requirements in Whatcom, Skagit and/or Snohomish counties (strongly preferred)
* SEPA, land use entitlements, and permit coordination experience
* Proficiency in Civil 3D or comparable design software
* Proven ability to manage project schedules, budgets, and client relationships simultaneously

This is for engineers who want to own outcomes — not just produce deliverables. We use sharp technical judgment, clear communication, and a bias for action to solve problems for our clients quickly and completely. We hold ourselves accountable without ego and build trust with clients and jurisdictions through consistent follow-through. We all thrive in an environment where results matter more than titles, and where a good answer delivered today beats a perfect answer delivered next month.##

Who We Are Big firms have more people. We have better ones.

We operate out of Bellingham and Arlington with a lean team of engineers and designers who run circles around the big regional players on local private development. Our land-use practice is deep, our…