What are the responsibilities and job description for the Design Engineer — Civil Infrastructure position at Hovland Barnes?
Design Engineer — Civil Infrastructure
Full-time · On-site · PE License Required
This role is for you if...
You're a licensed engineer who's tired of being handed pieces of projects. You want to own the full arc — from early concept and due diligence through design, permitting, and construction close-out. You're comfortable talking to clients, walking a municipal meeting room, and mentoring a CAD technician in the same week.
What your day-to-day actually looks like
No two weeks are the same. You'll move between:
- Running engineering calculations — hydrology, hydraulics, detention, storm sewer, water, and sanitary sewer systems
- Developing civil layouts and concept plans for residential subdivisions, multi-family, and commercial/industrial sites
- Designing full infrastructure packages — roadways, water systems, storm sewer, sanitary sewer
- Leading projects through municipal and governmental approval processes
- Attending and running meetings with clients, planning commissions, and city councils
- Collaborating with CAD technicians to produce complete, construction-ready plan sets
- Writing specifications, SWPPP documents, contracts, and permit applications
- Reviewing shop drawings, submittals, and RFIs
- Managing your own project schedule — and flagging when extra hours are needed before anyone has to ask
What you'll grow into
Engineers here don't just execute — they develop. You'll be involved in writing cost proposals, building qualification packages, and participating in business development. Over time, you'll build direct client relationships and gain experience presenting to government bodies and community groups.
You're likely a strong fit if you have
- An active PE license
- A background in civil site design and municipal infrastructure
- A track record of managing projects, not just contributing to them
- Strong communication skills — with clients, regulators, and your own team
- The judgment to know when to ask for peer review and the initiative to offer it to others
What makes this a place worth joining
- Real project ownership from day one
- Diverse project types — no assembly-line work
- A team structure that gives you freedom to grow
- Direct access to clients and decision-makers
- Leadership that trusts engineers to manage their own work