Principal Engineer - Land Development

Senior Vice President - USA Civil Engineering Recruitment

Job Title: Principal – Civil Engineering Practice (Civil Practice Leader)

Salary: Base salary starting between $150,000 to $190,000 (negotiable to be higher based on experience)

Location: Knoxville, TN

Employment Type: Permanent, Hybrid

We are seeking an experienced Principal-level Civil Engineer to co‑lead and grow a civil engineering practice in Land Development and Civil Site Design
. This is a senior leadership role
, focused on managing the practice, guiding project managers, and shaping the group’s strategic direction, not primarily hands‑on design. The successful candidate will have a strong influence on the operations, growth, and long‑term strategy of the civil team and sit on the office leadership team to contribute to office‑wide decisions.

• Lead and mentor project managers, providing senior‑level guidance across the civil group
• Hire, develop, and retain top talent to grow the team from its current size (~7) toward 10+ members
• Establish structure, expectations, and accountability within the group

• Lead civil practice business development efforts, expanding client relationships and book of work
• Deepen existing client relationships and cultivate new programmatic clients
• Potential to bring work or team members with you (soft acquisition opportunities)
• Develop and implement the civil practice’s strategic plan
• Identify target markets, including commercial, residential, and industrial/manufacturing sectors
• Restore the civil group to being one of the office’s largest and most influential practices

• Provide high‑level oversight rather than day‑to‑day project management
• Step in to support project teams as needed, including troubleshooting and client escalations
• Maintain technical credibility to support staff, but with less emphasis on daily design work
• Participate on the office leadership team, influencing cross‑practice planning, hiring, and overall office strategy

• Licensed Professional Engineer (PE)
• 15–20+ years of civil engineering experience with leadership roles
• Proven experience managing project managers and leading teams
• Strong mentoring, team‑building, and change leadership capabilities
• Track record in business development and growing a book of work
• Strategic thinker with the ability to implement practice‑level initiatives
• Strong communication and relationship‑building skills

• Subdivisions (residential) and commercial properties
• Industrial/manufacturing project experience highly desirable
• Experience with programmatic clients and strong client connections is a major plus

• Starting range: $150,000–$190,000
  , commensurate with experience and leadership capabilities
• Equity included

• Lead and shape the growth of a civil engineering practice
• Opportunity to step away from hands‑on technical work into strategic leadership
• Influence office‑wide strategy and business growth
• Play a visible role in mentoring and developing the next generation of civil engineers

Target

Start Date:

Q1 next year, to allow planning and staffing of work for the year ahead.

• If you are a senior civil engineering leader ready to influence strategy, lead a team, and grow a practice, please send your resume for immediate consideration