Design Specialist

About this Role

HBK Engineering is looking for a Design Engineer which offers the opportunity to be part of a project team consisting of professional engineers, project engineers and designers who are involved in the design, modification, and analysis of new and existing utility systems. The candidate would also support our municipal related designs as well as our growing portfolio of land development projects, including electric vehicle charging stations, commercial and utility-scale solar, electric substation, battery energy storage sites and utility-related civil site work.

A civil engineering project manager is responsible for managing staff, providing leadership, and assessing project deadlines and financial expenditures for large‑scale engineering projects. A critical focus of this role will involve utility and roadway conflict analysis, right‑of‑way (ROW) engineering, and coordinating infrastructure design packages with municipal and state DOT frameworks.
This position can be seated in one of the following office locations:
Chicago, Oak Brook, or Geneva, IL, Spring TX and Denver CO

• Design engineering systems in compliance with relevant specifications, codes, and client requirements for Civil Municipal engineering projects.
• Use engineering judgment and problem‑solving skills to independently address unique and complex electrical, structural, civil, and construction‑related challenges with minimal oversight.
• Perform peer reviews of engineering Civil designs under the oversight of professional engineering staff.
• Own all phases of the design lifecycle from initiation through construction completion and project closeout.
• Prepare detailed engineering and construction documents using a variety of software tools including AutoCAD, Micro Station, GIS systems, and client‑specific enterprise asset management platforms.
• Assess utility impacts on roadway profiles, perform utility conflict tracking, and design overhead/underground distribution reroutes around complex municipal roadway corridors.
• Coordinate directly with public works departments, utility companies, and state/local permitting agencies to secure required Right‑of‑Way (ROW), maintenance of traffic (MOT), and utility occupancy permits.
• Analyze information from supplementary data sources including topographical survey, utility atlas information, field sketches, client records, manufacturer equipment datasheets, etc.
• Prepare reports and studies meeting client requirements that present technical information clearly and concisely.
• Work with project management and engineering leadership to manage project risk.
• Communicate complex engineering matters to internal project management, engineering leadership, and field resources.
• Independently manage time and schedule to achieve project milestones.
• Perform field walkdowns with internal staff, clients, customers, governance authorities, and construction partners.
• 20% to 25% local travel is required.

• Experience with site civil grading and stormwater design.
• Experience with roadway and infrastructure design.
• Proven familiarity with municipal utility coordination standards, roadway construction specification manuals (e.g., IDOT standard specifications), and public right‑of‑way permitting interfaces.
• Possess a desire to work on Civil Municipal engineering projects.
• In-depth knowledge of 2D CADD software (AutoCAD or similar) including its use to generate layout drawings or other project materials.
• Water CAD or similar knowledge preferred.
• Review of Civil drawings or engineering materials developed by others.
• Training and mentoring of entry‑level staff.
• Ability to come up to speed quickly on in‑process projects and hit the ground running.
• Experience collaborating with a team in order to complete a larger project.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Wastewater and water design experience preferred.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor of Science in Engineering or related degree from an ABET‑accredited program.
• EIT Certification (Preferred).
• Must have minimum 2.5+ years of experience in civil site, roadway, or utility engineering.

• Senior leadership opportunities combining…