Project Engineer - Land Development
Our client is a full service architecture, civil engineering, and land surveying firm established in the 40s and wholly owned by its employees. Nearly eighty years on from its founding, it remains one of the most recognizable names in southwest Michigan, with a team of more than 200 professionals delivering projects in partnership with government, education, commercial, and energy clients across the Great Lakes region.
Ownership here is not a token gesture. The firm is 100% employee owned, and a significant portion of its tenured staff are shareholders, which shapes how decisions get made and how people are developed. It is the sort of place where you are given the tools and the autonomy to get on with the work rather than a rigid corporate structure to navigate.
The Work
Services span architecture, civil engineering, surveying, construction services, GIS, interior design, and reality capture, all under one roof. In practice that means award-winning streetscapes and modern learning environments, interstate and bridge inspection, boundary and topographic survey, green and traditional energy infrastructure, data-driven mapping, and outdoor gathering spaces designed around how communities actually use them. The breadth is genuine, and it is one of the main reasons engineers here build wide rather than narrow skill sets.
Role Overview
This position covers design and plan production for general civil work across a broad project mix: site layouts, horizontal and vertical control, grading and drainage, paving, site utilities, and the associated civil engineering activities that sit around them. Assignments are complex and you will be expected to exercise judgment in evaluating, selecting, and adapting standard engineering techniques rather than simply applying them.
The role reports to the Regional Engineering Manager and may carry responsibility for direct reports. It is based in Kalamazoo with roughly 10 to 15% local travel.
Key Responsibilities
- Perform engineering calculations in support of civil design projects
- Manage projects, including client communication, public input and feedback, and internal coordination
- Carry out AutoCAD Civil 3D design and drafting
- Perform, train, and provide guidance on site investigations, survey work, CAD work, and data collection
- Prepare and review engineering designs and reports, including design calculations and plan preparation, and provide training and guidance to others
- Lead quality assurance, ensuring projects are built as designed and recommending modifications where needed
- Identify engineering and surveying services needed by clients, draft proposals, and estimate fees
- Coordinate with government agencies, client staff, and other professionals to obtain design information and approvals
- Write and edit construction specifications and engineering reports
- Tabulate bid items, calculate construction bid quantities from plans and specifications, and estimate construction costs
- Conduct periodic site visits to monitor the quality and progress of construction
Required Skills and Behaviors
- Consistent discretion and judgment across all work tasks
- Ability to plan, schedule, and complete assignments within agreed budgets and timelines
- Strong written and verbal communication
- Comfortable working within a multidisciplinary team of planners, engineers, surveyors, architects, and technicians
- Broad computer literacy, particularly Microsoft Office
- Demonstrated hands-on experience with AutoCAD Civil 3D
- Mentoring capability
- A broad civil engineering knowledge base rather than deep specialism in a single area
Education and Experience
- Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from an ABET accredited program
- 5+ years of experience in civil engineering or construction
- Active PE license, or the ability to obtain one within a year of joining
Compensation and Benefits
- Base salary of $80,000 to $120,000 depending on experience and licensure
- 401(k), incentive bonuses, and ownership opportunities through a 100% employee owned structure
- Medical, dental, and vision coverage effective from date of hire, including multiple medical plans with HSA employer contributions
- 100% employer paid short term and long term disability
- Reimbursement and support for tuition, continuing education, and personal and professional development
- Generous PTO and paid holidays
- Hybrid and flexible schedule options
- Employee and family activities including ski and fishing trips and sporting events
FAQs
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