Civil Engineering Principal

At Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc. (CEC), every team member is personally invested in serving our clients with integrity, delivering results that matter, and growing meaningful careers. As employee-owners, we’re accountable not just for our work, but for creating an environment that supports and challenges one another. Our people are our priority — and that’s what drives us to dig deeper, collaborate smarter, and build lasting relationships inside and outside of our company. 

As a Principal for Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc. (CEC), you’ll partner with senior leadership to grow the Civil/Site Practice, strengthen client relationships, and guide stakeholders through the regulatory environment while ensuring technical excellence. You’ll lead and mentor a team of engineers and project managers, oversee proposals, budgets, and quality control, and support recruiting and staff development. At the same time, senior leadership will work with you to shape your own career path through targeted professional development, mentoring, and involvement in office and corporate initiatives.

Key Responsibilities: 

• Expert in application of engineering principles and practices;
• Ability to utilize knowledge and experience to develop and lead teams;
• Growth and Development of established and new clients/contacts in the Real Estate, Oil & Gas, Renewables, and Manufacturing client sectors; ;
• Participate and Lead internal and external client- and professional development-based initiatives;
• Lead financial management (AR/WIP) of projects, including the ability to lead discussions with accounting/legal to resolve complex financial issues;
• Expert in scope of service and budget (proposal) development, and demonstrated ability to direct projects profitably;
• Experience in the hiring/recruiting, mentoring, and developing staff members;
• Excellent communication skills (speaking and writing), including experience communicating with staff, clients, contractors, and government regulatory officials;
• Present at public meetings/hearings with qualifications sufficent to provide expert testimony;
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with experience working across teams and with external stakeholders;
• Demonstrated leadership and commitment to mentoring junior staff.

Our Knoxville office, located in the heart of East Tennessee, is home to a dynamic and collaborative team of professionals. Nestled near the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, Knoxville offers a unique blend of natural beauty, vibrant culture, and a strong sense of community. The city boasts excellent schools, and a thriving downtown with restaurants, entertainment, and outdoor spaces. Whether you're exploring the nearby national park, enjoying a University of Tennessee game, or connecting with a supportive professional network, Knoxville is a great place to live, work, and grow. 

• 15+ years’ experience; or a relevant combination of experience and education;
• B.S./M.S. in Civil Engineering (or related field) and MBA (plus);
• Professional Engineer licensure (P.E.), with registration in Tennessee or ability to obtain;
• Additional professional certifications (CPESC, CFM, PMP, etc.) a plus.

We have experts! CEC is consistently ranked as a Top 500 Design Firm and Top 200 Environmental Firm by Engineering News-Record. We are looking for people who enjoy using their education and experience to solve difficult technical problems and work on interesting projects. You can accomplish this while working with a team of professionals who are equally motivated to provide high levels of service to our clients and to teach you along the way.

We have support! We have a variety of Employee Resource Groups, including CEC Community – focused on giving back to the communities in which we work; CEC Ignite – focused on helping professionals early in their careers to develop their pathway; CEC iDEA – focused on inclusion, diversity, equality, and acceptance; and CEC Women – focused on creating internal and external opportunities for women to network and leverage professional experience!

We care about our people! People and Culture are two of the five elements of our strategic plan. When you care about your people, they will want to grow a career with you – that is our goal. CEC offers you a small-firm work environment with large-firm opportunities. Not only will we help you develop professionally, but we will also provide an opportunity to become an owner of the firm and share in its success.

CEC offers a matching 401(k); profit sharing; a performance bonus; company stock; medical, dental, and vision insurance; short and long-term disability; tuition assistance; professional development; and work-life balance.

CEC is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in recruiting, hiring or promotion based on race, color, religion, sex (including sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, transgender status), national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status or any other basis or characteristic prohibited by applicable federal, state, or local law.

THIRD PARTY RECRUITERS

If CEC has not expressly requested recruiting services or contractually engaged with you for recruiting services on a specific position, any resumes or candidate profiles sent to CEC shall be considered unsolicited.  Therefore, any such submissions will be considered property of CEC, with no associated fees due to your firm.