Project Development EngineerLocation: New Kensington, PA
Job Type: Full-Time
Work Arrangement: Onsite
Salary: $110,000/year
Position OverviewThe
Project Development Engineer will serve as a primary technical and construction resource for
project development and preconstruction activities, with a particular focus on private infrastructure and buried utility opportunities.
This position will work directly with
owners, developers, engineers, designers, estimators, business development, and operations teams to define project scope, evaluate alternatives, assess risks, and develop practical construction strategies before projects begin.
The role serves as a critical connection between
business development and construction operations, helping transform early project concepts into executable plans and supporting growth in
buried utilities, broadband/fiber, site development, and other emerging infrastructure markets.
Key Responsibilities- Serve as the primary technical and construction resource during project development and preconstruction activities.
- Work with owners, developers, engineers, and designers to define project scope and objectives.
- Evaluate project alternatives, feasibility, constraints, risks, and construction requirements.
- Develop high-level project execution strategies, including means, methods, sequencing, logistics, and route planning.
- Lead constructability reviews and project planning efforts.
- Provide technical guidance on buried utility infrastructure, including trenching, boring, plowing, conduit installation, utility conflicts, permitting, easements, and constructability.
- Develop conceptual budgets, preliminary schedules, assumptions, and planning documents.
- Identify and analyze risks involving constructability, utilities, permitting, right-of-way, easements, environmental requirements, schedule, contractual, insurance, and commercial considerations.
- Coordinate efforts between business development, estimating, engineering, and operations.
- Provide strategic direction to estimating personnel regarding budgets, pricing strategies, production assumptions, scope gaps, and project risks.
- Support proposals, client presentations, interviews, and pursuit activities.
- Communicate construction approaches, assumptions, risks, and execution strategies to clients and stakeholders.
- Facilitate project turnover and ensure operations teams understand project scope, assumptions, risks, commitments, budgets, schedules, and execution plans.
- Work closely with internal teams to improve project development effectiveness, backlog growth, and project profitability.
Required Qualifications- Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, or a related discipline.
- Minimum 8 years of progressively responsible construction experience.
- Experience in heavy civil, utility infrastructure, infrastructure, oil and gas, water, telecommunications, preconstruction, estimating, project management, operations, engineering, or related fields.
- Experience in the Pennsylvania, Ohio, or West Virginia markets is preferred.
- Strong experience developing construction execution strategies, project development plans, conceptual budgets, preliminary schedules, and proposal support materials.
- Experience with project planning, constructability reviews, design coordination, value engineering, scope development, and risk analysis.
- Strong understanding of heavy civil and buried utility construction means and methods.
- Knowledge of trenching, boring, plowing, conduit installation, utility coordination, earthwork, grading, and site development.
- Understanding of utility permitting, easement coordination, route planning, right-of-way considerations, environmental constraints, and utility conflict resolution.
- Ability to review plans, specifications, contract documents, geotechnical reports, utility information, permitting requirements, and other technical documentation.
- Demonstrated ability to influence project decisions and gain consensus among owners, developers, designers, consultants, estimators, engineers, operations teams, and senior stakeholders.
Software ExperienceExperience with the following is preferred:
- Microsoft Office Suite
- HCSS HeavyBid
- HCSS HeavyJob
- Bluebeam
- Scheduling software
- Document management platforms
- Advanced Excel for budgeting and analysis
Preferred ExperienceExperience supporting projects involving:
- Utility infrastructure
- Broadband / Fiber
- Oil & Gas
- Water infrastructure
- Industrial construction
- Transportation infrastructure
- Private site development
- Heavy civil construction
Role StructureThis position was created to strengthen the organization's
project development and preconstruction capabilities within private infrastructure and buried utility markets.
The role is intended to bridge the gap between
business development and operations, particularly where projects are still being developed and require practical construction input.
This position will function primarily as a
project development and preconstruction resource, rather than as a dedicated estimator or traditional project manager.
Success in This RoleSuccess will be measured by:
- Project development effectiveness
- Risk identification and mitigation
- Client confidence
- Successful transition of projects to operations
- Backlog growth
- Project profitability
- Quality of construction execution strategies
Additional RequirementsAdditional responsibilities may be assigned as needed.
Candidates must demonstrate strong
communication, collaboration, leadership, analytical, and problem-solving skills and be comfortable working across business development, estimating, engineering, and construction operations.
Ideal Candidate ProfileThe organization is particularly interested in candidates with titles such as:
Project Development Engineer | Preconstruction Engineer | Senior Project Engineer | Construction Engineer | Preconstruction Manager | Project Development Manager | Heavy Civil Engineer | Utility Project Manager | Estimator / Preconstruction LeadStrong consideration will be given to candidates with experience in:
- Buried utility construction
- Broadband / Fiber
- Heavy civil construction
- Infrastructure development
- Private development
- Oil & Gas
- Water infrastructure
- Construction predevelopment and preconstruction
- Project feasibility and constructability
- Conceptual estimating and budgeting
- Pennsylvania, Ohio, or West Virginia markets
