Project Engineer / Project Manager

Project Engineer I - Land Development Confidential Client | McHenry, IL & Aurora, IL & New Lenox, IL (Land Development Group) What if your next project shaped how communities grow and function? At our client, civil engineers don't just draw plans - they design the roadway, drainage, and utility infrastructure that determines how people live, move, and connect every day.We're looking for a Civil Project Engineer with 5-10 years of land development or site civil experience who's ready to step up: more ownership, more client contact, and a real say in how projects get delivered. Why this role is different This isn't a narrow, siloed seat. You'll handle utility, grading, and drainage design across commercial sites and residential communities, including the roadway and utility extensions that support them - the kind of well-rounded experience that accelerates growth and opens doors to leadership.You'll be involved across the full project lifecycle: planning, design, permitting, and construction support. You'll manage your work to schedule and budget, sit at the table with clients and municipalities, and mentor the engineers coming up behind you.Put simply, you won't just be doing design work - you'll be influencing how projects are planned and executed, and watching your work move from concept to something real on the ground. Where you'll make your impact Design and deliver civil/site projects - grading, stormwater, water, and wastewater systemsTake ownership of project components, and in some cases entire projectsPartner with internal teams, clients, and municipalities to solve real-world challengesLead or contribute to QA/QC to ensure high-quality, buildable designsSupport projects from early planning through constructionMentor junior engineers and help elevate the team around you You might be a great fit if… You're ready to move beyond task execution and want genuine ownershipYou'd rather work across multiple project types than be boxed into oneYou're looking for a firm where growth doesn't take 10+ yearsYou want more client and municipal exposure than your current seat allows What you bring EducationDegree in Civil or Environmental Engineering LicensurePE required (or able to obtain imminently) - this is a must-have Experience5-10 years in civil engineering, land development preferred SoftwareCivil 3D, StormCAD, WaterCAD or similar Soft skillsStrong communicator, collaborative, comfortable in front of clients and municipalities Why this firm My client is a long-established, employee-owned engineering and consulting firm with well over a century of continuous operation - a genuinely stable platform with real ownership upside for the people who build it.National reach, local roots - 700+ employees across 20+ offices nationwide, with a strong Illinois presenceConsistently ranked among the top design firms in the US, and climbingCertified as a great place to work - culture is measured here, not just talked aboutCareer roadmaps that make progression visible: the skills needed at each stage and a clear path to get there, rather than waiting your turnLand Development is a core business line with its own leadership, integrating land planning, engineering, and landscape architecture into one teamLarge enough to lead impactful projects anywhere in the country, but structured so you can grow without waiting in line Let's make this easy If you've been thinking about a move but haven't found the right mix of growth, impact, and ownership - this is worth a conversation. Happy to share the client name and full details on a quick call.