CEI Senior Project Engineer

Kinard-Stone, Inc. (KSI) is seeking a CEI Senior Project Engineer (SPE) to lead Construction Engineering and Inspection services for transportation projects in Florida.

This senior leadership position has direct responsibility for project delivery, client service, technical oversight, and CEI staff. The SPE will work closely with KSI’s owners and senior leadership, giving the right candidate direct access to company decision-makers and a meaningful role in how we staff projects, serve our clients, pursue new work, and grow our CEI practice.

At KSI, the SPE is not one of many layers within a large organization. You will have visibility across the company and the opportunity to influence both individual projects and the firm's direction.

What you’ll do:

As a CEI Senior Project Engineer, you will:

• Serve in responsible charge of CEI services for assigned transportation construction projects.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for clients and represent their interests throughout construction.
• Lead Project Administrators, Contract Support Specialists, inspectors, engineers, and other CEI personnel.
• Provide technical direction and exercise independent engineering judgment in resolving construction issues.
• Maintain a thorough understanding of contract plans, specifications, special provisions, shop drawings, material requirements, permits, and other contract documents.
• Monitor construction for compliance with contract requirements and applicable FDOT standards, specifications, policies, and procedures.
• Monitor contract time, construction progress, CEI budgets, and staffing needs.
• Review contractor schedules, including baseline and monthly CPM schedule updates, as required.
• Provide engineering oversight of change orders, work orders, supplemental agreements, claims, requests for additional time or compensation, monthly payments, and final payments.
• Lead and participate in progress meetings and coordination with clients, contractors, Engineers of Record, utility agencies, permitting agencies, and other project stakeholders.
• Oversee inspection, documentation, materials testing and acceptance, and other quality-related activities.
• Identify project risks early and work with the project team and client to develop practical solutions.
• Mentor CEI personnel and help employees develop the technical and leadership skills needed to advance within KSI.
• Coordinate with KSI leadership to plan staffing assignments and transitions based on project schedules, employee capabilities, and upcoming workload.

Help shape KSI’s CEI practice

• Help identify and pursue upcoming FDOT, county, and municipal CEI opportunities.
• Provide input on which projects KSI pursues and how we position our teams.
• Help select teaming partners and develop project staffing strategies.
• Participate in proposal development, technical writing, and interviews.
• Help identify, recruit, and retain strong CEI personnel.
• Build and maintain relationships with clients, teaming partners, and industry contacts.
• Help determine where KSI should expand its CEI capabilities and project experience.
• Share lessons learned and improve project delivery practices across the company.

Required qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from an accredited college or university.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license in the State of Florida, or ability to obtain Florida licensure by endorsement within the timeframe permitted by the applicable contract.
• Minimum of six (6) years of engineering experience, including at least two (2) years involving transportation projects, or experience meeting the requirements of the applicable FDOT contract.
• Experience with highway, roadway, bridge, or other transportation construction projects.
• Knowledge of FDOT construction specifications, standards, procedures, and contract administration requirements.
• Ability to interpret construction plans, specifications, and contract documents and apply sound engineering judgment to field conditions.
• Ability to lead and coordinate CEI personnel.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Valid driver’s license.

Required certifications:

• FDOT Advanced Maintenance of Traffic (MOT)
• CTQP Quality Control Manager
• Final Estimates Level 1 and 2

Preferred qualifications:

• Previous experience as an SPE, Project Administrator, or similar CEI leadership role on FDOT projects.
• Experience with major roadway, interstate, interchange, bridge, resurfacing, drainage, utility, or safety improvement projects.
• Experience reviewing CPM schedules, change orders, claims, supplemental agreements, and contractor payments.
• Experience managing CEI staffing and project budgets.
• Experience preparing CEI proposals or participating in project interviews.
• Established relationships within Florida’s transportation industry.

Why KSI:

KSI offers something that can be difficult to find at a larger consulting firm: direct access to the people making the decisions.

As an SPE, you will work directly with KSI’s owners and senior leadership rather than operating through multiple management levels. Your ideas about staffing, project delivery, client service, pursuits, and the direction of our CEI practice will be heard.

The position also offers the opportunity to have a visible impact. As KSI continues to build its CEI practice, the person in this role can help determine what that growth looks like — the projects we pursue, the people we hire and develop, the clients we serve, and the type of company we continue to build.

We are looking for an SPE who wants to lead projects and help build the team behind them.