Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering or related field from an ABET-accredited program.
Licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.) in relevant states.
Minimum of 8 years of progressive engineering experience, particularly in leading complex projects.
Expertise in engineering design, analysis, and project delivery within the service area.
Strong mentoring skills and effective communication with clients and multidisciplinary teams.
Responsibilities
Provide technical leadership for complex engineering projects from concept to implementation.
Establish design criteria and work plans; evaluate alternatives for quality, risk, and cost.
Review and approve engineering deliverables for accuracy and compliance with standards.
Resolve complex technical issues and guide project teams and clients.
Mentor engineers and promote quality-focused work practices.
Coordinate with project managers on scope, schedules, and client expectations.
Support business development activities, including proposals and client presentations.
Benefits
Professional development opportunities and mentorship.
Flexible work environment with substantial independence.
Engagement in complex and impactful engineering projects.
Collaboration with multidisciplinary teams and stakeholders.
Contribution to the continuous improvement of engineering practices.
Full Job Description
Job Description:
Overview
The Principal Engineer is a senior technical leader who provides advanced engineering judgment, technical direction, and project leadership for complex work within an assigned service area. This role translates client and project objectives into effective design solutions, guides project teams through challenging technical issues, and serves as a trusted resource to Project Engineers, Senior Project Engineers, project managers, and technical staff. The Principal Engineer operates with substantial independence and helps strengthen technical quality, client confidence, and the development of the firm’s engineering practice.
Responsibilities
Provide technical leadership for complex engineering projects from concept development through final design, permitting, construction, or implementation support, as applicable.
Establish technical approaches, design criteria, and work plans; evaluate alternatives and recommend solutions that balance quality, risk, constructability, cost, and schedule.
Review and approve engineering calculations, plans, specifications, reports, estimates, and other technical deliverables for accuracy, consistency, and compliance with applicable standards.
Resolve complex technical issues and provide authoritative guidance to project teams, clients, agencies, subconsultants, and contractors.
Mentor and develop engineers, EITs, designers, and other technical staff; promote sound engineering judgment, accountability, and quality-focused work practices.
Coordinate with Project Managers and Senior Project Managers on scope, staffing, schedules, budgets, risk, quality control, and client expectations.
Support proposals, scopes, fee development, client presentations, interviews, and other business-development activities within the assigned service area.
Contribute to the development and continuous improvement of design standards, technical tools, workflows, and QA/QC practices.
Represent the firm professionally with clients, agencies, professional organizations, and community stakeholders.
Provide technical direction for complex roadway programs, including schematics, PS&E, geometric design, standards, constructability, and delivery.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering or a related field from an ABET-accredited program.
Licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.) in the state(s) required to support project work.
Minimum of 8 years of progressive engineering experience, including substantial experience leading complex projects and technical teams.
Demonstrated expertise in engineering design, analysis, applicable codes and standards, and project delivery within the assigned service area.
Proven ability to mentor technical staff, influence project outcomes, and communicate effectively with clients, agencies, and multidisciplinary teams.
If you need an accommodation or assistance with completing your application due to a disability or special need, please contact our team at or call (210) 375-9000.
About PapeDawson Engineers Inc
Pape-Dawson Engineers, Inc. is a civil and environmental engineering consulting firm headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. The company was founded in 1965 by Gene Dawson and Bill Pape. The firm provides services in the areas of transportation, water resources, land development, environmental, surveying, and construction management. Pape-Dawson has additional offices in Austin, Houston, Fort Worth, and Dallas. The company has been recognized as one of the best places to work in San Antonio and Austin.
