Project Engineer (Retaining Walls)

Project Engineer

Retaining Wall Design & Construction

Location: Raleigh / Research Triangle, North Carolina

Kingfisher Recruiting has been hired by a Retaining Wall Builder to find a Project Engineer in the Raleigh area.

The Opportunity

The Project Engineer will work closely with customers, contractors, suppliers, field teams, and licensed engineering partners to develop practical, code-compliant solutions for segmental block retaining walls and related site conditions. The right person will combine sound engineering judgment with clear communication and a strong understanding of constructability.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and review engineering calculations, plans, details, specifications, and submittals for segmental block retaining walls, mechanically stabilized earth systems, foundations, drainage, slopes, and related site improvements.

• Evaluate project drawings, grading plans, geotechnical reports, soil parameters, surcharges, utilities, drainage conditions, and construction constraints.

• Perform or coordinate analyses involving external and internal stability, bearing capacity, sliding, overturning, settlement, global stability, reinforced-soil zones, and wall drainage.

• Translate engineering requirements into clear, buildable construction documents and recommendations for estimating and field teams.

• Coordinate with clients, developers, general contractors, civil engineers, geotechnical consultants, architects, municipalities, material suppliers, and inspectors.

• Support permitting, design revisions, requests for information, substitutions, value-engineering reviews, and construction-phase questions.

• Visit active project sites to review existing conditions, observe installation, troubleshoot field issues, and document conformance with approved plans.

• Help prepare project scopes, budgets, schedules, material quantities, and technical proposals.

• Maintain organized design files, calculation packages, revision records, inspection documentation, and project correspondence.

• Identify technical or construction risks early and recommend practical solutions that protect safety, quality, schedule, and cost.

• Support multiple projects simultaneously while communicating priorities and deadlines clearly.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in civil engineering, geotechnical engineering, structural engineering, or a closely related discipline.

• Experience with retaining walls, foundations, earth-retention systems, reinforced soils, slopes, drainage, land development, or related geotechnical/structural design.

• Ability to prepare and interpret engineering calculations, construction drawings, specifications, geotechnical reports, and site-development plans.

• Working knowledge of relevant building codes, accepted engineering standards, permitting requirements, and construction practices.

• Proficiency with AutoCAD or Civil 3D and standard engineering calculation and documentation tools.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain technical issues to field personnel and non-engineering stakeholders.

• Ability to visit construction sites and work safely in active field environments.

• Valid driver's license and ability to travel to project locations within the region.

Preferred Qualifications

• North Carolina Professional Engineer license, or the ability to obtain North Carolina licensure through comity.

• Engineer Intern certification with a clear path toward PE licensure may also be considered.

• Direct experience designing segmental retaining walls, MSE walls, reinforced slopes, gravity walls, or cast-in-place retaining walls.

• Familiarity with NC soils, municipal permitting, design-professional inspection requirements, and construction practices in the Raleigh/Triangle market.

• Experience with global-stability or slope-stability software and retaining-wall design applications.

• Experience supporting commercial, residential-development, or national-homebuilder projects.

• Construction observation, special inspection, materials-testing, estimating, or design-build experience.

What Success Looks Like

• Accurate, timely designs that are practical to build.

• Fewer field conflicts because technical risks are identified before construction.

• Responsive support for customers, project managers, estimators, and field crews.

• Clear documentation that moves projects efficiently through permitting and inspection.

• Strong working relationships with clients, suppliers, contractors, municipalities, and engineering partners.

Compensation and Benefits

• Base: $100,000-$120,000

• Health, Dental, Vision Insurance

• PTO