Project Engineer

About Us

HBK Engineering, LLC is a fully licensed, professional engineering design firm headquartered in Chicago, IL with a staff approaching 700 individuals. HBK provides civil, environmental, structural, electrical, subsurface utility, construction support services and permitting facilitation. Since our founding in 1998, we have earned a reputation for delivering outstanding, accurate services in extremely time-sensitive, multilayered environments. That "industry-recognized" performance has propelled our expansion and the ability to provide engineering services in all 50 states. With 25 offices nationwide, including concentrations in the Midwest and on the Coasts, HBK brings together a dedicated team whose main focus is the design and protection of utilities and utility networks. We have successfully performed engineering work for a complete spectrum of utility infrastructure projects providing solutions and construction support from Coast to Coast in areas ranging from complex urban city centers, to rural greenfields, to limited access rights-of-way. In July 2020, HBK Engineering was acquired by Quanta Services. Quanta Services provides infrastructure services for electric power, pipeline, and communications industries and employees over 50,000 people. Quanta’s focus on the utility industry and HBK’s focus on constructability in our designs has made our integration into the Quanta family of companies seamless.

About this Role

As a Project Engineer at HBK Engineering you'll sit at the nexus of technical execution and people leadership. You will guide a small team of engineers day-to-day, serve as the technical counterpart to the Project Manager, and ensure the projects you touch hit their scope, schedule, budget, and quality targets. Your work spans proposal support, detailed design oversight, and continuous improvement initiatives that keep HBK a safe, innovative, and inclusive place to work.

What You'll Do

- Lead project delivery - own the technical workplan, coordinate with Project Management, and track scope, schedule, budget, and contractual compliance.

- Mentor & develop engineers - manage up to six Tier 1 & Tier 2 staff, run weekly/bi-weekly 1-on-1s, approve timesheets, conduct annual reviews, and balance workloads.

- Support business development - craft scopes, budgets, and schedules for proposals and RFP responses; flag scope creep or out-of-sequence work.

- Interface with clients & construction - act as the primary technical contact, anticipate constructability issues, and resolve field/engineering conflicts.

- Drive quality & safety - perform technical reviews, enforce safe work practices, and escalate risks that could impact safety, budget, or deadlines.

- Champion HBK culture - lead HBK Impact and other company events, model inclusive behavior, and foster a supportive, innovative environment.

- Continuously improve - track personal and team KPIs, set professional-development goals, and implement process / tool improvements across the division.

What You'll Bring

- Credentials - B.S. in Engineering (ABET-accredited) and a Professional Engineer (PE) license or equivalent experience that meets all other qualifications.

- Experience - ~5 years of engineering with demonstrated project execution and eam-lead responsibilities.

- Technical mastery - advanced knowledge of standard engineering principles, client & national standards, AutoCAD/MicroStation (or similar), and project-management software.

- Leadership & communication - proven mentoring skills, clear written/verbal communication, and ability to represent HBK at client meetings or industry conferences.

- Business acumen - understanding of contract types (hourly, unit-rate, fixed-fee), production metrics, vendor/subcontractor coordination, and billable vs. unbillable status.

- Organizational skills - attention to detail, problem-solving mindset, and capacity to juggle multiple moderate-scope projects in a collaborative environment.

- Safety mindset - knowledge of safe work practices in office and field settings.

What You'll Get

- A collaborative, people-first culture that invests in mentorship and career progression.

- Exposure to a broad mix of utility-infrastructure projects in power, renewables, telecom, gas, and municipal sectors.

- Regular opportunities to lead HBK Impact and other community-oriented initiatives.

- Professional-development support (licensure maintenance, training, conferences).

- Competitive compensation with comprehensive benefits (medical, dental, vision, 401(k), PTO, and company-sponsored events)

Equal Opportunity Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex (including gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, and/or gender identity), age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, and/or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state or local law.We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and protected veteran status. We prohibit all types of discrimination and are committed to providing access and equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities. For additional information or if reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application, interview, or hiring processes or to perform the essential functions of a position, please contact us the Company’s Human Resources department.