Demo

Principal Civil Engineer

BW Design Group
Oak Brook, IL Full Time
POSTED ON 4/16/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 5/23/2026
Who You’ll Work With

You will join BW Design Group and be part of a committed team of over 1600 professionals, and work in teams and directly with our clients doing work that is shaping the world around us. You will be welcomed into a rapidly growing business and team and empowered to make an impact. You will be valued, cared for, and challenged on your path to becoming a world-class professional consultant and surrounded by leaders who are committed to creating an environment that enables you to realize your own success and fulfillment.

When you join Design Group as a Principal Civil Engineer, you are joining a team that will challenge you and position you for growth. In this role, you will work with a team of industry experts to help the world’s leading companies solve their most difficult problems. You will join our Architecture/Engineering Process Practice and partner with seasoned leaders, technical specialists, and subject matter experts to deliver the highest quality solutions to our clients with consistency and accuracy.

What You’ll Do

The Principal Civil Engineer position is designed for the firms most accomplished professionals who demonstrate mastery in their field of study and are recognized as a thought leader by external industry professionals as well as within their Design Group practice. Principals are highly sought after by our clients and our project execution teams for their technical expertise. Our Principals’ knowledge base and expertise enhance the Design Group brand as a world-class engineering and consulting firm.

  • Project Leadership: Take charge of planning, executing, and finalizing projects according to strict deadlines and within budget constraints. As the Principal, you will be responsible for coordinating all aspects of the site development projects.
  • Client Collaboration: Foster strong client relationships, serving as the primary point of contact for project communication. Your ability to understand and address client needs will be crucial in ensuring project success.
  • Site Development: Oversee and manage site development projects, including coordinating with the construction project manager, expansions, and renovations, focusing on food, beverage, and consumer packaged goods manufacturing facilities.
  • Regulatory Compliance: Ensure that all projects adhere to local, state, and federal regulations. Coordinate with regulatory agencies and authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs) to secure permits and approvals.
  • Team Coordination: Lead a team of professionals, including engineers, designers, and support staff, to deliver high-quality, safe, and efficient site development projects. Your leadership and project management skills will be essential in motivating and guiding the team to success.
  • Cost Management: Responsible for controlling project budgets, monitoring expenses, and ensuring cost-effective solutions while maintaining high quality and safety standards.
  • Risk Management: Identify potential risks and challenges in the project, creating strategies to mitigate them and maintain project timelines.
  • Quality Assurance: Implement and maintain quality control processes to ensure that project deliverables meet the highest standards and client expectations.
  • Report Generation: Prepare detailed project reports and documentation for clients and internal teams, conveying project progress, milestones, and any deviations from the plan.
  • Business Development: Contribute to the growth of Design Group by fostering existing client relationships, identifying opportunities for additional services, and participating in the preparation of proposals.


What You’ll Bring

  • BS Civil Engineering from an ABET accredited university.
  • A Professional Engineer (PE) license is required.
  • A minimum of 10
  • years of experience in site development and civil engineering within the manufacturing sector, with a strong focus on food, beverage, or consumer packaged goods facilities.
  • Proven track record of successfully managing and delivering site development projects from initiation to completion.
  • Excellent understanding of regulatory compliance and permitting processes at local, state, and federal levels.
  • Experience in performing field facility condition assessments and reviewing hydraulic calculations and analyses.
  • Experience reviewing construction documents using software such as AutoCAD Civil 3D and Hydro CAD.
  • Strong leadership and team management skills.
  • Exceptional communication and interpersonal abilities.
  • Proficiency in project management software and Microsoft Office Suite.
  • A willingness to travel for project requirements, including installation and start-up activities, client meetings, and industry-related events.
  • Relocation assistance may be available for outstanding candidates, determined on an individual basis.


Our culture and commitment to our people is what sets us apart. We foster an environment of mutual respect, integrity, and unconditional interest in the individual and collective success of our professionals. Our model and entrepreneurial mindset offer a rewarding, challenging, and highly flexible path. As a Principal Civil Engineer, you will build a meaningful and fulfilling career with the support of professional development resources and mentorships including our First Year Experience program, Individual Development Plans, and Career Path resources and tools. You will be surrounded by exceptional talent who will support your development as both a world-class engineer and a highly effective leader.

Feel like you're on the path to becoming a Principal Civil Engineer but you're not quite there yet? We'd love to connect with you to see if we can take you from where you are today and grow you into a Design Group Engineering Consultant.

The approximate pay range for this position is $170K - $240K. Please note that the pay range provided is a good faith estimate for the position at the time of posting. Final compensation may vary based on factors including but not limited to background, knowledge, skills, and abilities as well as geographic location of the position.

Salary : $170,000 - $240,000

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