How to hire a senior civil engineer

How to hire a senior civil engineer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step senior civil engineer hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a senior civil engineer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new senior civil engineer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a senior civil engineer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a senior civil engineer, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A senior civil engineer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, senior civil engineers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents senior civil engineer salaries for various positions.

   Type of Senior Civil Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Senior Civil Engineer	Civil engineers design, build, supervise, operate, and maintain construction projects and systems in the public and private sector, including roads, buildings, airports, tunnels, dams, bridges, and systems for water supply and sewage treatment.	$28-55
   Structural Designer	A Structural Designer designs, develops, and supervises the construction of new buildings and bridges, or extensions to existing properties or other structures. They review and update construction drawings as well as communicate project problems and flaws to managers.	$22-40
   Structural Engineering Internship	A structural engineering intern is responsible for supporting the engineering team on construction and structural projects, identifying cost-reduction techniques, and drafting layouts that adhere to clients' specifications, business requirements, and budget limitations. Structural engineering interns join the engineers on area visits, inspecting site foundation, and calculating dimensions and material costing... Show more	$15-32

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Civil 3D
   • Project Management
   • CAD
   • Construction Management
   • Geotechnical
   • Business Development
   • Site Development
   • Construction Projects
   • Stormwater Management
   • Wastewater
   • Hec Ras
   • Site Layout
   • Design Drawings
   • Civil Engineering Design

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage a geotechnical investigation that include determining boring locations and soliciting bids.
   • Analyze bridge structures for deficiencies following the AASHTO code using hand calculations and software.
   • Respond to RFI's and keep the daily logs and quantity book up to date.
   • Design bridges and other highway relate structures using PennDOT standards, and AASHTO policies and procedures.
   • Represent the client (MTA) during CPM schedule update reviews and contractor requests for change orders.
   • Evaluate contractor's procedure for execution, CPM's, breakdowns for payments and contractors certifications for payments.

   More senior civil engineer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your senior civil engineer job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A senior civil engineer salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, senior civil engineers' average salary in arkansas is 46% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level senior civil engineers earn 48% less than senior-level senior civil engineers.
   • Certifications. A senior civil engineer with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a senior civil engineer's salary.

   Average senior civil engineer salary

   $83,749yearly

   $40.26 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level senior civil engineer salary

   $60,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 20, 2026

   Average senior civil engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$120,947	$58
   2	Washington	$89,376	$43
   3	Nevada	$89,346	$43
   4	New York	$89,055	$43
   5	Virginia	$84,943	$41
   6	Oregon	$83,902	$40
   7	Massachusetts	$83,285	$40
   8	Maine	$81,261	$39
   9	Colorado	$80,768	$39
   10	Missouri	$79,568	$38
   11	Utah	$77,606	$37
   12	Oklahoma	$75,902	$36
   13	Texas	$75,532	$36
   14	Arizona	$74,545	$36
   15	Florida	$73,452	$35
   16	Illinois	$73,294	$35
   17	Ohio	$72,581	$35
   18	Maryland	$72,397	$35
   19	Michigan	$71,879	$35
   20	District of Columbia	$70,666	$34

   Average senior civil engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Microsoft	$135,552	$65.17	74
   2	Parsons	$108,022	$51.93	269
   3	Converse	$105,168	$50.56
   4	NTUA	$103,329	$49.68	6
   5	City of Detroit	$94,391	$45.38
   6	City of Fairfield	$93,925	$45.16	1
   7	City of Seattle	$92,977	$44.70	1
   8	Duquesne Light Company	$92,889	$44.66	1
   9	The Walt Disney Company	$92,451	$44.45	6
   10	Woods Services	$92,137	$44.30
   11	Cal	$91,596	$44.04
   12	The AES	$89,659	$43.11	7
   13	Metrolink	$89,623	$43.09
   14	Valley Metro	$89,300	$42.93
   15	Randstad North America, Inc.	$88,835	$42.71
   16	City of West Sacramento	$88,415	$42.51
   17	Wiley	$88,210	$42.41	47
   18	El Dorado Irrigation District	$87,970	$42.29
   19	Energy Inc.	$87,497	$42.07
   20	Burns & McDonnell	$87,488	$42.06	110

4. Writing a senior civil engineer job description

   A good senior civil engineer job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a senior civil engineer job description:

   Senior civil engineer job description example

   TYLin is a full-service, professional engineering firm focused on the planning, design, and construction of infrastructure solutions for public and private clients worldwide. The firm is an internationally recognized pioneer in solving the most difficult engineering challenges. Headquartered in San Francisco, California for over 65 years, TYLin has more than 3,200 professionals throughout the Americas, Asia, and Europe. TYLin is a member of Dar Group, a global, privately-owned professional services group, and its industry-leading family of Global Infrastructure companies.
   TYLin has a position available for a Senior Civil/Roadway Engineer in various Florida locations. As a Senior Civil/Roadway Engineer with TYLin, you will be joining a reputable local office with the backing and clout of an internationally renowned firm. You will be leveraging your technical experience, with civil and roadway projects, to assist our well established and growing Florida practice in delivering high quality and professional transportation projects to our clients. You will have opportunities to facilitate in all aspects of project development, from scoping to conceptual planning, through design, construction, and completion. You will work autonomously on some projects while being an integral team member on others. As a Senior Civil/Roadway Engineer, you will be responsible for oversight and execution of a variety of tasks essential to successful project development and delivery. This position will provide an exciting opportunity for an individual to work on projects with a wide range of complexity and size. We help you take charge of your career, giving you multiple growth opportunities along the way. The ideal candidate would be a highly motivated roadway engineering professional with a depth of experience in civil and roadway design projects, especially having experience with FDOT procedures and manuals. This experience may include, but not limited to, geometrics, roadway design, drainage, signing and pavement markings, maintenance of traffic (MPT), utility coordination, and environmental permitting. The desired candidate will use their experience as a basis from which to lead the roadway design efforts for a wide variety of projects. The design will involve partaking in and leading the development of plans, specs, and estimates for a variety of roadway projects. You may provide supervision and guidance to a group of employees, assigning tasks, checking work at appropriate intervals for accuracy and completeness; and maintaining budgets and schedules. You will support proposal efforts to expand our project base. Responsibilities Prepare complex engineering designs and plans for urban and rural roadways and highways. Finalize plans, specs, and estimates for construction documents. Develop budgets and monitor work of assigned team to ensure budgets and schedules are met. Coordinate with Project Managers, project teams, and clients. Assume responsibility for design, review, and sealing of assigned projects. Assure Quality process has been followed. Supervise the work of engineers and technicians. Serve as a technical and professional resource. Contribute to and promote office design proficiency. Mentor and develop staff. Provide support for local and regional Business Development Opportunities including marketing clients, developing proposal documents, and participating and leading interview teams. Qualifications Bachelor's degree or equivalent in Civil Engineering or related field from an ABET Accredited University. 8+ years of relevant highway/roadway design experience. Florida PE license or ability to obtain within 6 months. Proficient in Microsoft (MS) Office Suite. Proficient with Bentley MicroStation and GeoPak.
   Experience with Bentley OpenRoads is a plus.
   Experience with AutoCAD/Civil 3D is a plus.
   Adept at understanding and applying the material in the AASHTO Green Book and the Manual of Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD)
   Expertise pertaining to FDOT's policies and design procedures preferred.
   Ability to think independently, to derive unique solutions to a variety of problems related to highway infrastructure.
   Ability to participate and collaborate in project team setting, engage in creative and critical thought.
   Aptitude to effectively communicate ideas, design issues, and solutions through written and verbal communications including at public presentations.
   Ability to check the work of others for accuracy and completeness.
   Ability to work independently, as needed, to deliver projects efficiently.
   Propensity to manage time in order to meet project budgets and schedules.
   Ability to successfully deliver multiple concurrent projects.
   You may work in an open-concept office setting. Travel may be required for attending client or public meetings, scoping new assignments, and visiting project sites. Candidates must have a valid driver's license. Preference will be given to local candidates. Client focused, always striving to give clients the best solutions. Strong commitment to innovation by creating new and better ways to solve clients' toughest challenges. High levels of integrity, always doing the right thing in an ethical, fair, and sustainable way. Demonstrated experience of collaboration in a diverse and inclusive team, working together toward technical excellence. TYLin is an equal opportunity employer and we prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type as protected by federal, state, or local laws. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees . TYLin remains committed to complying with all local health authority, legal or lawful client requirements, as such this role may be situated in a jurisdiction with masking or vaccinate or test requirements to attend office or client locations (controlled location). You should ask your manager about this prior to starting. Should you be subject to the requirements, you are required to disclose your vaccination status within the first week of starting or before entering a controlled location, whichever comes first. We can recommend jobs specifically for you! Click here to get started.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right senior civil engineer for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with senior civil engineers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit senior civil engineers who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   To find senior civil engineer candidates, you can consider the following options:

   • Post your job opening on Zippia or other job search websites.
   • Use niche websites that focus on engineering and technology jobs, such as dribbble, authentic jobs, working not working, coroflot.
   • Post your job on free job posting websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit senior civil engineers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new senior civil engineer

   Once you've found the senior civil engineer candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new senior civil engineer first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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