Green Card Principal Civil Engineer Jobs
Principal Civil Engineer green card sponsorship connects infrastructure specialists to EB-2 and EB-3 pathways through PERM labor certification. Employers must complete a prevailing wage determination and recruitment test before filing your I-140 petition, making early coordination with HR and your future team critical to a smooth, permanent transition.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
As a Civil Engineering Principal for Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc. (CEC) in our Civil Practice at the Nashville, TN office, you’ll play a key leadership role in growing our Civil/Site practice across Tennessee while leading and delivering high-quality land development projects. We’re looking for an established civil engineering and business leader who brings strong technical and project management capabilities, a demonstrated track record of developing and expanding client relationships, and an established network within the regional land development market.
You’ll work with commercial, institutional, industrial, and energy clients while identifying and pursuing new opportunities, expanding existing client relationships, and positioning CEC for continued growth in the region. You’ll be expected to leverage established client and industry relationships to generate new opportunities for the Civil/Site practice and introduce CEC’s broader multidisciplinary capabilities, creating opportunities across multiple practices and service lines.
You’ll maintain an active presence in the regional business and development community and work collaboratively with professionals across CEC’s practices and offices to understand client needs and bring the full capabilities of the firm to those relationships.
In addition to your business development responsibilities, you’ll lead project teams and oversee project execution, including reviewing work products, quality control, client interaction, budgeting, and mentoring junior engineers. In managing junior staff, you’ll review design aspects such as site layouts, grading plans, stormwater management facilities, water quality best management practices, and utilities. You’ll provide leadership throughout all phases of a project—from conceptual planning and design through regulatory review, bidding, construction, and project completion.
At CEC, every team member is personally invested in serving our clients with integrity, delivering results that matter, and growing meaningful careers. As employee-owners, we’re accountable not just for our work, but for creating an environment that supports and challenges one another. Our people are our priority — and that’s what drives us to dig deeper, collaborate smarter, and build lasting relationships inside and outside of our company.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Lead business development efforts for the Nashville Civil/Site practice, including identifying prospective clients, developing relationships, pursuing opportunities, and converting those relationships into new work
- Leverage and expand an established network of developers, architects, contractors, brokers, energy clients, and other land development stakeholders throughout Tennessee
- Leverage existing client and industry relationships to identify and create opportunities for CEC’s broader multidisciplinary services, expanding relationships across multiple practices and service lines
- Develop and execute strategic client growth plans for new and existing clients
- Maintain active presence in the regional development community through client engagement, industry organizations, and networking
- Collaborate across CEC practices and offices to identify client needs, develop integrated solutions, and bring the full capabilities of the firm to client
- Lead proposal development, client presentations and interviews, scope and fee development, and contract negotiations
- Manage land development and civil engineering projects from proposal through construction, including oversight of scope, schedule, budget, and client expectations
- Review project designs, including site layouts, grading plans, stormwater management facilities, utilities, and water quality best management practices
- Perform quality assurance/quality control of project deliverables and ensure compliance with regulatory and client requirements
- Coordinate and communicate with clients, contractors, subconsultants, and regulatory agencies throughout all phases of the project
- Mentor and supervise junior engineers and technical staff, supporting professional growth and development
- Collaborate with office and regional leadership on market strategy, business planning, revenue growth, recruiting, and expansion of the Civil/Site practice
QUALIFICATIONS
- 10+ years of experience in the land development and civil engineering
- Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering
- Professional Engineer (P.E.) license in Tennessee
- Demonstrated success developing new business and expanding client relationships within the land development market
- Established professional network in the region, with relationships among developers, architects, contractors, brokers, energy clients, institutional clients, or other land development stakeholders
- Proven ability to originate opportunities, develop proposals, and convert client relationships into contracted work
- Demonstrated ability to leverage client relationships to generate opportunities across multiple disciplines or service lines
- Experience providing technical review of civil engineering deliverables
- Experience preparing proposals, developing scopes and fees, and managing project execution
- Experience mentoring, developing, and leading staff
- Strong written, verbal, presentation, and relationship-building skills
PREFERRED CAPABILITIES:
- Demonstrated history of growing a client portfolio, market sector, or civil engineering practice
- Strong visibility and established relationships within the region
- Proven track record of successfully managing complex land development projects
- Experience leading multidisciplinary project teams
- Experience identifying and developing opportunities for multiple engineering, environmental, surveying, or related professional service disciplines
- Active participation or leadership in professional, development, real estate, or industry organizations
- Familiarity with local permitting processes and coordination with regulatory agencies
About us:
We have experts! CEC is consistently ranked as a Top 500 Design Firm and Top 200 Environmental Firm by Engineering News-Record. We are looking for people who enjoy using their education and experience to solve difficult technical problems and work on interesting projects. You can accomplish this while working with a team of professionals who are equally motivated to provide high levels of service to our clients and to teach you along the way.
We have support! We have a variety of Employee Resource Groups, including CEC Community – focused on giving back to the communities in which we work; CEC Ignite – focused on helping professionals early in their careers to develop their pathway; CEC iDEA – focused on inclusion, diversity, equality, and acceptance; and CEC Women – focused on creating internal and external opportunities for women to network and leverage professional experience!
We care about our people! People and Culture are two of the five elements of our strategic plan. When you care about your people, they will want to grow a career with you – that is our goal. CEC offers you a small-firm work environment with large-firm opportunities. Not only will we help you develop professionally, but we will also provide an opportunity to become an owner of the firm and share in its success.
CEC offers a matching 401(k); profit sharing; a performance bonus; company stock; medical, dental, and vision insurance; short and long-term disability; tuition assistance; professional development; and work-life balance.
CEC is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in recruiting, hiring or promotion based on race, color, religion, sex (including sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, transgender status), national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status or any other basis or characteristic prohibited by applicable federal, state, or local law.
THIRD PARTY RECRUITERS
If CEC has not expressly requested recruiting services or contractually engaged with you for recruiting services on a specific position, any resumes or candidate profiles sent to CEC shall be considered unsolicited. Therefore, any such submissions will be considered property of CEC, with no associated fees due to your firm.
INTRODUCTION
As a Civil Engineering Principal for Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc. (CEC) in our Civil Practice at the Nashville, TN office, you’ll play a key leadership role in growing our Civil/Site practice across Tennessee while leading and delivering high-quality land development projects. We’re looking for an established civil engineering and business leader who brings strong technical and project management capabilities, a demonstrated track record of developing and expanding client relationships, and an established network within the regional land development market.
You’ll work with commercial, institutional, industrial, and energy clients while identifying and pursuing new opportunities, expanding existing client relationships, and positioning CEC for continued growth in the region. You’ll be expected to leverage established client and industry relationships to generate new opportunities for the Civil/Site practice and introduce CEC’s broader multidisciplinary capabilities, creating opportunities across multiple practices and service lines.
You’ll maintain an active presence in the regional business and development community and work collaboratively with professionals across CEC’s practices and offices to understand client needs and bring the full capabilities of the firm to those relationships.
In addition to your business development responsibilities, you’ll lead project teams and oversee project execution, including reviewing work products, quality control, client interaction, budgeting, and mentoring junior engineers. In managing junior staff, you’ll review design aspects such as site layouts, grading plans, stormwater management facilities, water quality best management practices, and utilities. You’ll provide leadership throughout all phases of a project—from conceptual planning and design through regulatory review, bidding, construction, and project completion.
At CEC, every team member is personally invested in serving our clients with integrity, delivering results that matter, and growing meaningful careers. As employee-owners, we’re accountable not just for our work, but for creating an environment that supports and challenges one another. Our people are our priority — and that’s what drives us to dig deeper, collaborate smarter, and build lasting relationships inside and outside of our company.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Lead business development efforts for the Nashville Civil/Site practice, including identifying prospective clients, developing relationships, pursuing opportunities, and converting those relationships into new work
- Leverage and expand an established network of developers, architects, contractors, brokers, energy clients, and other land development stakeholders throughout Tennessee
- Leverage existing client and industry relationships to identify and create opportunities for CEC’s broader multidisciplinary services, expanding relationships across multiple practices and service lines
- Develop and execute strategic client growth plans for new and existing clients
- Maintain active presence in the regional development community through client engagement, industry organizations, and networking
- Collaborate across CEC practices and offices to identify client needs, develop integrated solutions, and bring the full capabilities of the firm to client
- Lead proposal development, client presentations and interviews, scope and fee development, and contract negotiations
- Manage land development and civil engineering projects from proposal through construction, including oversight of scope, schedule, budget, and client expectations
- Review project designs, including site layouts, grading plans, stormwater management facilities, utilities, and water quality best management practices
- Perform quality assurance/quality control of project deliverables and ensure compliance with regulatory and client requirements
- Coordinate and communicate with clients, contractors, subconsultants, and regulatory agencies throughout all phases of the project
- Mentor and supervise junior engineers and technical staff, supporting professional growth and development
- Collaborate with office and regional leadership on market strategy, business planning, revenue growth, recruiting, and expansion of the Civil/Site practice
QUALIFICATIONS
- 10+ years of experience in the land development and civil engineering
- Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering
- Professional Engineer (P.E.) license in Tennessee
- Demonstrated success developing new business and expanding client relationships within the land development market
- Established professional network in the region, with relationships among developers, architects, contractors, brokers, energy clients, institutional clients, or other land development stakeholders
- Proven ability to originate opportunities, develop proposals, and convert client relationships into contracted work
- Demonstrated ability to leverage client relationships to generate opportunities across multiple disciplines or service lines
- Experience providing technical review of civil engineering deliverables
- Experience preparing proposals, developing scopes and fees, and managing project execution
- Experience mentoring, developing, and leading staff
- Strong written, verbal, presentation, and relationship-building skills
PREFERRED CAPABILITIES:
- Demonstrated history of growing a client portfolio, market sector, or civil engineering practice
- Strong visibility and established relationships within the region
- Proven track record of successfully managing complex land development projects
- Experience leading multidisciplinary project teams
- Experience identifying and developing opportunities for multiple engineering, environmental, surveying, or related professional service disciplines
- Active participation or leadership in professional, development, real estate, or industry organizations
- Familiarity with local permitting processes and coordination with regulatory agencies
About us:
We have experts! CEC is consistently ranked as a Top 500 Design Firm and Top 200 Environmental Firm by Engineering News-Record. We are looking for people who enjoy using their education and experience to solve difficult technical problems and work on interesting projects. You can accomplish this while working with a team of professionals who are equally motivated to provide high levels of service to our clients and to teach you along the way.
We have support! We have a variety of Employee Resource Groups, including CEC Community – focused on giving back to the communities in which we work; CEC Ignite – focused on helping professionals early in their careers to develop their pathway; CEC iDEA – focused on inclusion, diversity, equality, and acceptance; and CEC Women – focused on creating internal and external opportunities for women to network and leverage professional experience!
We care about our people! People and Culture are two of the five elements of our strategic plan. When you care about your people, they will want to grow a career with you – that is our goal. CEC offers you a small-firm work environment with large-firm opportunities. Not only will we help you develop professionally, but we will also provide an opportunity to become an owner of the firm and share in its success.
CEC offers a matching 401(k); profit sharing; a performance bonus; company stock; medical, dental, and vision insurance; short and long-term disability; tuition assistance; professional development; and work-life balance.
CEC is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in recruiting, hiring or promotion based on race, color, religion, sex (including sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, transgender status), national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status or any other basis or characteristic prohibited by applicable federal, state, or local law.
THIRD PARTY RECRUITERS
If CEC has not expressly requested recruiting services or contractually engaged with you for recruiting services on a specific position, any resumes or candidate profiles sent to CEC shall be considered unsolicited. Therefore, any such submissions will be considered property of CEC, with no associated fees due to your firm.
See all 163+ Green Card Principal Civil Engineer Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Green Card Sponsorship as a Principal Civil Engineer
Document progressive experience by project scope
PERM requires your employer to define the minimum requirements for your role. Compile a project portfolio organized by scale, budget, and regulatory complexity so HR can accurately write a job description that reflects what the position genuinely requires, not an inflated one that creates audit risk.
Search Migrate Mate for PERM-sponsoring firms
Filter your job search to civil engineering employers with verified green card sponsorship history using Migrate Mate. Targeting firms that have already navigated PERM for similar roles shortens negotiation time and signals that HR understands the process before your first interview.
Use OFLC Wage Search to anchor salary negotiations
Your employer's prevailing wage determination comes from DOL wage data tied to your SOC code and work location. Run your own OFLC Wage Search lookup before your offer conversation so you understand which wage level your experience maps to and can flag any mismatch early.
Align your degree to EB-2 or EB-3 before applying
EB-2 requires an advanced degree or a bachelor's plus five years of progressive experience in civil engineering. EB-3 covers a bachelor's degree alone. Know which category fits your credentials before engaging employers, since the PERM job description must match the qualifying pathway USCIS will evaluate on the I-140.
Ask about recruitment timing before accepting an offer
PERM labor certification requires the employer to run a mandatory recruitment test and wait for the DOL review period before filing your I-140. Confirm with your prospective employer whether they plan to start PERM immediately after your start date, since delays in recruitment launch directly delay your priority date.
Preserve your priority date across employer changes
If your I-140 gets approved and you later change employers, your original priority date can carry over to a new I-140 petition. After your I-485 has been pending 180 days, AC21 portability lets you move to a same-or-similar civil engineering role without restarting the green card process from scratch.
Green Card Principal Civil Engineer: Frequently Asked Questions
Which green card category fits a Principal Civil Engineer role?
Most Principal Civil Engineer positions qualify under EB-2, which covers roles requiring a master's degree or a bachelor's degree plus five years of progressive experience in a specialty field like civil engineering. EB-3 is available if the position requires only a bachelor's degree. Your employer's PERM job description must accurately reflect whichever minimum requirement applies, since USCIS will evaluate the I-140 petition against those stated credentials.
How is green card sponsorship different from H-1B for this role?
H-1B visa is a temporary nonimmigrant status requiring renewal every few years. Green card sponsorship through EB-2 or EB-3 leads to lawful permanent residence with no renewal requirement. The process involves PERM labor certification filed with DOL, a prevailing wage determination, a recruitment test, and then an I-140 petition with USCIS. Per-country numerical limits mean nationals of India and China may face priority-date backlogs before they can file for adjustment of status.
How do I find civil engineering employers who sponsor green cards?
Migrate Mate lists employers with verified employment-based green card sponsorship history, searchable by role and location. Targeting firms that have already filed PERM for similar engineering positions is the most efficient approach because HR teams familiar with the process move faster and are less likely to withdraw sponsorship mid-filing due to procedural uncertainty.
What does the PERM recruitment test require from my employer?
PERM requires your employer to test the domestic labor market by posting the position through DOL-mandated recruitment steps, including a Sunday newspaper advertisement, an internal job posting, and three additional recruitment steps from a DOL-approved list. The employer must retain documentation of each step for a five-year audit period. Your role in this process is limited, but confirming your employer has qualified legal counsel or an experienced HR team protects your timeline.
Can I change employers after my green card case is filed?
Yes, under two distinct rules. If your I-140 is approved, your priority date can transfer to a new employer's I-140 petition for a same-or-similar civil engineering role. Separately, once your I-485 has been pending for 180 days or more, AC21 portability lets you change to a same-or-similar occupation without restarting the adjustment of status process, even if the new employer files a fresh I-140.