Principal Civil Engineer Jobs
Principal Civil Engineer jobs are open across transportation, water resources, land development, and public infrastructure, from mid-career to senior and director-level, with specializations in structural design, stormwater management, and site development. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Showing 5 of 41+ Principal Civil Engineer jobs
Xcel Energy (NASDAQ: XEL) is a leading energy provider and Fortune 500 company, dedicated to serving millions of electricity and natural gas customers across eight states: Minnesota, Colorado, Wisconsin, Michigan, North Dakota, South Dakota, New Mexico and Texas. We make energy work better for our customers, helping them thrive every day. That means always raising the bar - delivering better service and providing more reliable, resilient, and sustainable energy.
Xcel Energy is a place where you’ll have opportunities to grow, expand your skills, and help lead the clean energy transition. We offer meaningful rewards, recognition, and support to help you build your career and make an impact - both on the job and beyond. Most importantly, it means you’ll be joining a company that knows employees are the driving force behind its success and is committed to helping you be your best.
Xcel Energy supports a hybrid work model to enable collaboration and flexibility. Many roles are expected to work onsite three days per week (Tuesday–Thursday); however, work location expectations vary based on role, team, and business needs.
This position offers an exciting opportunity to join the Xcel Energy team in constructing new electric generation stations around Colorado. The role involves active participation in the design and construction phases of utility-scale renewable and dispatchable generation. It is an excellent chance to develop engineering and operational skills within a rapidly expanding generation portfolio. The successful candidate will work closely with the EPC contractor, equipment suppliers, Operations, construction team, and Company engineers to achieve top-quartile facility performance. Candidate should expect to be on-site at least three days a week until the end of site commissioning. Following this period, a hybrid work arrangement at the office will be anticipated. Strong communication skills, a proactive approach to problem-solving, and the ability to work independently with limited supervision are essential for success in this role.
The job summary below and responsibilities reflect the staff engineer level role. The successfully chosen candidate will be placed at a level that is commensurate with their skills and experience as different skills and/or experience will be required at the senior and princiapl engineer levels.
Position Summary
Under general direction, demonstrates complete understanding & wide application of engineering technical principle, theories, & concepts in the field. Independently determines & develops approaches to solutions. Receives technical guidance on complex problems; completed work reviewed for adequacy in meeting objectives. May lead small-medium non-critical projects or critical projects under direction of higher level engineer/supervisor. May provide work direction to other professionals &/or staff. Represents the organization in providing solutions to difficult technical issues associated with specific projects. Frequent inter-organizational & outside customer contact. Demonstrates a broad knowledge & proficiency of precedents in the specialty area, a good knowledge of related specialties, & general knowledge of other related disciplines.
Essential Responsibilities
Uses & applies technical standards, principles, theories, concepts, & techniques to perform activities/assignments that may include a variety of complex features such as conflicting design requirements, unsuitability of conventional materials or methods & difficult coordination requirements.
Supports the development of technical documentation (including but not limited to designs, testing, calculations, reports, standards, etc.) Utilizes & may assist with the development of procedures requiring a broad knowledge & proficiency in a specialty area & has a general knowledge of related disciplines.
Works under the general direction of a higher level engineer or supervisor for routine engineering projects. Provide ongoing technical support for project activities within areas such as Operations, Maintenance, testing/diagnostics & Regulatory. May provide field engineering oversight &/or direction for activities such as commissioning, testing, inspections, etc.
May lead small-medium, non-critical projects. Coordinate/leads critical projects or portions of projects (including phases such as research, design, equipment selection, procurement support, installation & commissioning), under the direction of a higher level engineer or supervisor. Work reviewed upon completion for adequacy in meeting objectives.
Under the direction of a higher level engineer/supervisor supports bid/evaluation processes including preparation of bid documents, completion of technical evaluations for proposals; provide recommendations for selection, etc. Partners & communicates with areas such as Supply Chain & Legal following appropriate processes.
Frequently exchanges information in all formats, on matters having a wide range of importance & complexity both inter-organizationally & with outside customers.
May assign tasks & coordinate work of interns, drafters, technicians, craft personnel &/or others. Provide guidance & mentoring to less experienced engineers. Responsible for continuous self-development of technical skills & competencies.
Performs activities such as budgeting, estimating, forecasting, accounting, work order management, in support of engineering projects.
Staff Engineer Level (Salary Range: $81,000 - $106,267)
Minimum Requirements
Bachelor’s degree in engineering from ABET accredited, civil engineering degree preferred.
2+year's relevant engineering experience. Demonstrated broad knowledge & proficiency in specialty area, knowledge of related specialties, & general knowledge of other related disciplines.
Ability to demonstrate the unique technical skills & core competencies for this engineering level established & documented by the organization.
EIT/FE (Engineer in Training/Fundamentals of Engineering) strongly preferred.
Senior Engineer Level (Salary Range: $97,000-$129,267)
Minimum Requirements
Bachelor’s degree in engineering from ABET accredited, civil engineering degree preferred.
5+ years relevant engineering experience with EIT/FE (Engineer in Training/Fundamentals of Engineering) required; 7+ years relevant engineering experience without EIT/FE.
Ability to demonstrate the unique technical skills and core competencies for this engineering level established & documented by the organization.
Preferred PE (Professional Engineer) registration may be required depending on business need.
Principal Engineer (Salary Range: $112,000-$156,600)
Minimum Requirements
Bachelor’s degree in engineering from ABET accredited, civil engineering degree preferred.
9+ years relevant engineering experience with PE (Professional Engineer) registration required; 15+ years relevant engineering experience without PE.
Ability to demonstrate the unique technical skills and core competencies for this engineering level established & documented by the organization.
Preferred Experience & Skills
Experience in utility-scale projects, particularly in renewable such as wind, solar, or battery storage projects, with design experience in these areas being particularly valuable.
Experience in utility-scale combustion turbine and/or reciprocating engines is an acceptable alternative to renewable facilities.
Experience designing facilities such as sizing foundations and understanding geotechnical reporting, will be preferred.
Experience overseeing construction and commissioning of utility equipment.
Our culture is grounded in shared values and employee commitments that guide how we work, support one another, and grow together.
Our Values
Connected, Committed, Trustworthy, Safe
Our Employee Commitments
- Work that makes a difference
- A team you can count of
- Opportunities to grow
- Rewards that help you thrive
Xcel Energy provides job applicants reasonable accommodations for disabilities throughout the application process. If you are in need of an accommodation to complete the application process, now or at any time in the future, please complete the Applicant Accommodation Request Form.
Non-Bargaining
The anticipated starting base pay for this position is: $81,000.00 to $156,600.00 per year
This position is eligible for the following benefits: Annual Incentive Program, Medical/Pharmacy Plan, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account, Health Care Flexible Spending Account, Health Savings Account (HSA) (if enrolled in eligible health plan), Limited-Purpose FSA (if enrolled in eligible health plan and HSA), Transportation Reimbursement Account, Short-term disability (STD), Long-term disability (LTD), Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Fitness Center Reimbursement (if enrolled in eligible health plan), Tuition reimbursement, Transit programs, Employee recognition program, Pension, 401(k) plan, Paid time off (PTO), Holidays, Volunteer Paid Time Off (VPTO), Parental Leave
Benefit plans are subject to change and Xcel Energy has the right to end, suspend, or amend any of its plans, at any time, in whole or in part.
In any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information including but not limited to dates of school attendance and graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.
Deadline to Apply: 11/12/26
EEO is the Law (PDF) | Equal Opportunity Statement (PDF) | Employee Rights (PDF)
All Xcel Energy employees and contractors share responsibility for protecting the company's information and systems by adhering to cybersecurity policies, standards, and best practices, recognizing that cybersecurity is everyone's responsibility.
Accessibility Statement
Xcel Energy endeavors to make https://www.xcelenergy.com and https://jobs.xcelenergy.com accessible to any and all users. If you are in need of an accommodation to complete the application process, now or at any time in the future, please complete the Applicant Accommodation Request Form. For any other application related questions, including application follow-ups or technical issues, please use our Recruiting Assistance, Electra, for assistance. Electra can be found in the lower right-hand corner of our Xcel Energy Careers site.
Xcel Energy (NASDAQ: XEL) is a leading energy provider and Fortune 500 company, dedicated to serving millions of electricity and natural gas customers across eight states: Minnesota, Colorado, Wisconsin, Michigan, North Dakota, South Dakota, New Mexico and Texas. We make energy work better for our customers, helping them thrive every day. That means always raising the bar - delivering better service and providing more reliable, resilient, and sustainable energy.
Xcel Energy is a place where you’ll have opportunities to grow, expand your skills, and help lead the clean energy transition. We offer meaningful rewards, recognition, and support to help you build your career and make an impact - both on the job and beyond. Most importantly, it means you’ll be joining a company that knows employees are the driving force behind its success and is committed to helping you be your best.
Xcel Energy supports a hybrid work model to enable collaboration and flexibility. Many roles are expected to work onsite three days per week (Tuesday–Thursday); however, work location expectations vary based on role, team, and business needs.
This position offers an exciting opportunity to join the Xcel Energy team in constructing new electric generation stations around Colorado. The role involves active participation in the design and construction phases of utility-scale renewable and dispatchable generation. It is an excellent chance to develop engineering and operational skills within a rapidly expanding generation portfolio. The successful candidate will work closely with the EPC contractor, equipment suppliers, Operations, construction team, and Company engineers to achieve top-quartile facility performance. Candidate should expect to be on-site at least three days a week until the end of site commissioning. Following this period, a hybrid work arrangement at the office will be anticipated. Strong communication skills, a proactive approach to problem-solving, and the ability to work independently with limited supervision are essential for success in this role.
The job summary below and responsibilities reflect the staff engineer level role. The successfully chosen candidate will be placed at a level that is commensurate with their skills and experience as different skills and/or experience will be required at the senior and princiapl engineer levels.
Position Summary
Under general direction, demonstrates complete understanding & wide application of engineering technical principle, theories, & concepts in the field. Independently determines & develops approaches to solutions. Receives technical guidance on complex problems; completed work reviewed for adequacy in meeting objectives. May lead small-medium non-critical projects or critical projects under direction of higher level engineer/supervisor. May provide work direction to other professionals &/or staff. Represents the organization in providing solutions to difficult technical issues associated with specific projects. Frequent inter-organizational & outside customer contact. Demonstrates a broad knowledge & proficiency of precedents in the specialty area, a good knowledge of related specialties, & general knowledge of other related disciplines.
Essential Responsibilities
Uses & applies technical standards, principles, theories, concepts, & techniques to perform activities/assignments that may include a variety of complex features such as conflicting design requirements, unsuitability of conventional materials or methods & difficult coordination requirements.
Supports the development of technical documentation (including but not limited to designs, testing, calculations, reports, standards, etc.) Utilizes & may assist with the development of procedures requiring a broad knowledge & proficiency in a specialty area & has a general knowledge of related disciplines.
Works under the general direction of a higher level engineer or supervisor for routine engineering projects. Provide ongoing technical support for project activities within areas such as Operations, Maintenance, testing/diagnostics & Regulatory. May provide field engineering oversight &/or direction for activities such as commissioning, testing, inspections, etc.
May lead small-medium, non-critical projects. Coordinate/leads critical projects or portions of projects (including phases such as research, design, equipment selection, procurement support, installation & commissioning), under the direction of a higher level engineer or supervisor. Work reviewed upon completion for adequacy in meeting objectives.
Under the direction of a higher level engineer/supervisor supports bid/evaluation processes including preparation of bid documents, completion of technical evaluations for proposals; provide recommendations for selection, etc. Partners & communicates with areas such as Supply Chain & Legal following appropriate processes.
Frequently exchanges information in all formats, on matters having a wide range of importance & complexity both inter-organizationally & with outside customers.
May assign tasks & coordinate work of interns, drafters, technicians, craft personnel &/or others. Provide guidance & mentoring to less experienced engineers. Responsible for continuous self-development of technical skills & competencies.
Performs activities such as budgeting, estimating, forecasting, accounting, work order management, in support of engineering projects.
Staff Engineer Level (Salary Range: $81,000 - $106,267)
Minimum Requirements
Bachelor’s degree in engineering from ABET accredited, civil engineering degree preferred.
2+year's relevant engineering experience. Demonstrated broad knowledge & proficiency in specialty area, knowledge of related specialties, & general knowledge of other related disciplines.
Ability to demonstrate the unique technical skills & core competencies for this engineering level established & documented by the organization.
EIT/FE (Engineer in Training/Fundamentals of Engineering) strongly preferred.
Senior Engineer Level (Salary Range: $97,000-$129,267)
Minimum Requirements
Bachelor’s degree in engineering from ABET accredited, civil engineering degree preferred.
5+ years relevant engineering experience with EIT/FE (Engineer in Training/Fundamentals of Engineering) required; 7+ years relevant engineering experience without EIT/FE.
Ability to demonstrate the unique technical skills and core competencies for this engineering level established & documented by the organization.
Preferred PE (Professional Engineer) registration may be required depending on business need.
Principal Engineer (Salary Range: $112,000-$156,600)
Minimum Requirements
Bachelor’s degree in engineering from ABET accredited, civil engineering degree preferred.
9+ years relevant engineering experience with PE (Professional Engineer) registration required; 15+ years relevant engineering experience without PE.
Ability to demonstrate the unique technical skills and core competencies for this engineering level established & documented by the organization.
Preferred Experience & Skills
Experience in utility-scale projects, particularly in renewable such as wind, solar, or battery storage projects, with design experience in these areas being particularly valuable.
Experience in utility-scale combustion turbine and/or reciprocating engines is an acceptable alternative to renewable facilities.
Experience designing facilities such as sizing foundations and understanding geotechnical reporting, will be preferred.
Experience overseeing construction and commissioning of utility equipment.
Our culture is grounded in shared values and employee commitments that guide how we work, support one another, and grow together.
Our Values
Connected, Committed, Trustworthy, Safe
Our Employee Commitments
- Work that makes a difference
- A team you can count of
- Opportunities to grow
- Rewards that help you thrive
Xcel Energy provides job applicants reasonable accommodations for disabilities throughout the application process. If you are in need of an accommodation to complete the application process, now or at any time in the future, please complete the Applicant Accommodation Request Form.
Non-Bargaining
The anticipated starting base pay for this position is: $81,000.00 to $156,600.00 per year
This position is eligible for the following benefits: Annual Incentive Program, Medical/Pharmacy Plan, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account, Health Care Flexible Spending Account, Health Savings Account (HSA) (if enrolled in eligible health plan), Limited-Purpose FSA (if enrolled in eligible health plan and HSA), Transportation Reimbursement Account, Short-term disability (STD), Long-term disability (LTD), Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Fitness Center Reimbursement (if enrolled in eligible health plan), Tuition reimbursement, Transit programs, Employee recognition program, Pension, 401(k) plan, Paid time off (PTO), Holidays, Volunteer Paid Time Off (VPTO), Parental Leave
Benefit plans are subject to change and Xcel Energy has the right to end, suspend, or amend any of its plans, at any time, in whole or in part.
In any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information including but not limited to dates of school attendance and graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.
Deadline to Apply: 11/12/26
EEO is the Law (PDF) | Equal Opportunity Statement (PDF) | Employee Rights (PDF)
All Xcel Energy employees and contractors share responsibility for protecting the company's information and systems by adhering to cybersecurity policies, standards, and best practices, recognizing that cybersecurity is everyone's responsibility.
Accessibility Statement
Xcel Energy endeavors to make https://www.xcelenergy.com and https://jobs.xcelenergy.com accessible to any and all users. If you are in need of an accommodation to complete the application process, now or at any time in the future, please complete the Applicant Accommodation Request Form. For any other application related questions, including application follow-ups or technical issues, please use our Recruiting Assistance, Electra, for assistance. Electra can be found in the lower right-hand corner of our Xcel Energy Careers site.
See All 41 Principal Civil Engineer Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Principal Civil Engineer JobsPrincipal Civil Engineer Job Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Consulting & Professional Services
- Staffing & Recruiting
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in principal civil engineer jobs.
- Professional Engineer (PE) license required, with multi-state reciprocity preferred
- Bachelor's or master's degree in civil engineering or a closely related discipline
- Extensive experience managing large-scale civil design projects from concept through construction
- Proficiency in AutoCAD Civil 3D, MicroStation, or comparable civil design software
- Demonstrated experience with client management, proposal writing, and project budgeting
- Familiarity with local, state, and federal permitting processes and regulatory submissions
Tips for Your Principal Civil Engineer Job Search
Tailor your resume to project delivery
Principal civil engineer listings weigh project ownership heavily. Restructure your resume so each role leads with scope, budget, and delivery outcome, not just duties. Reviewers want to see that you've taken projects from feasibility through construction closeout.
List your PE license prominently
Your Professional Engineer license state and number belong at the top of your resume, not buried in a credentials section. If you're licensed in multiple states or pursuing reciprocity, list all of them. Many applicant tracking systems screen for PE before a human reviewer sees your file.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists principal civil engineer openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Target postings by delivery method
Filter openings by whether the firm works in design-bid-build, design-build, or CMAR. Each method demands a different skill emphasis on your resume, and hiring managers notice when your language matches their shop's workflow.
Prepare technical examples for interview panels
Principal-level interviews typically include a panel with project managers and discipline leads who will ask you to walk through a complex design decision or a project that went off-plan. Prepare two or three specific examples with quantifiable outcomes before your first screen.
Negotiate scope alongside compensation
At the principal level, title alone rarely reflects authority. Ask directly in the offer stage how many direct reports the role carries, what your signing authority is, and whether you'll have business development responsibilities. These define the actual job, and they're negotiable.
Principal Civil Engineer Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most principal civil engineers?
The companies hiring the most principal civil engineers right now include Civil & Environmental Consultants, Toole Design, and Huitt-Zollars, with the largest share of openings in California, Texas, and Ohio, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Infrastructure spending tied to transportation and water projects is driving much of the current demand.
How many principal civil engineer jobs are remote?
About 60% of principal civil engineer openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting a role that still requires frequent site visits and client meetings. Sub-specializations in stormwater modeling, traffic analysis, and hydraulic design tend to have the highest share of remote or hybrid arrangements compared to structural or geotechnical-heavy roles.
How do you become a principal civil engineer?
You typically need a civil engineering degree, followed by passing the Fundamentals of Engineering exam early in your career and later the PE exam after accumulating the required supervised experience hours. From there, the path to principal runs through progressively larger project leadership roles, client-facing responsibilities, and often a move into mentoring junior engineers or managing a discipline team.
Can you get hired as a principal civil engineer with limited senior experience?
It's possible if your project portfolio demonstrates ownership rather than support. Firms hiring for principal roles focus on whether you've led design teams, managed client relationships, and carried budget accountability, not solely on years of service. Candidates who can point to a specific project type the firm actively pursues, and show measurable delivery outcomes, regularly make the transition ahead of a purely tenure-based schedule.
What does the principal civil engineer interview process look like?
Most firms run a phone or video screen with HR or a talent coordinator, followed by a technical interview with a discipline lead or project executive that covers past project decisions and your design approach. A final round typically involves a panel that includes senior leadership and may ask about business development experience, client management, and your philosophy on mentoring junior staff.
Where can I find and apply to principal civil engineer jobs?
You can find and apply to principal civil engineer jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Search the listings to find roles that match your discipline, project type, and location preferences, then apply directly to each one that fits.
See All 41 Principal Civil Engineer Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Principal Civil Engineer Jobs