Senior Project Engineer

Job description

Ames Construction has been building America for more than 60 years, and the people who work here are the reason we continue to succeed. We are a full-service, heavy civil and industrial contractor building critical infrastructure, including highways, bridges, mines, dams, rail, and more. Our teams take on challenging projects that keep communities safe, supply chains moving, and the country connected. At Ames, we are Fueled by Family and Driven by Ownership . That means we look out for one another, take pride in what we build, and take responsibility for our actions, our results, and the long-term health of the company. Guided by our core values of People, Team, Our Bond, Persistence, and Vision , we do what we say we will do, push through challenges and deliver work we’re proud of. When you join Ames, you’re joining a company built for long-term success — where skilled people, strong teams , and disciplined execution come together to build careers and a better future. Position Summary The Senior Project Engineer provides advanced technical, administrative, and operational support to help ensure the successful delivery of heavy civil construction projects. Building on prior Project Engineer experience, this role assumes increased responsibility for scheduling, cost control, forecasting, document management, subcontractor coordination, risk identification, and field operations support. The Senior Project Engineer works with a high degree of independence, mentors junior project staff, and serves as a key liaison between project management, field operations, subcontractors, vendors, and clients. Please note: Visa sponsorship is not currently available for this position. Essential Functions Contract Management : Reviews design, contract and bid documents, bid analysis, subcontracts, material contracts, permits, RFIs, submittals, and change documentation; identifies contract, scope, procurement, notice, and coordination issues early; develops recommended solutions; and supports the Project Manager in documenting, pricing, negotiating, and resolving changes. Communication : Leads and supports coordination meetings with clients, subcontractors, vendors, field teams, designers, and key stakeholders; prepares agendas, documents decisions, tracks commitments, and follows through on action items to promote alignment with project requirements under the direction of the Project Manager. Financial Management : Supports project cost control, forecasting, quantity tracking, budget updates, production analysis, change management, and subcontractor/vendor cost coordination; reviews cost trends and production performance; helps identify budget risks and recovery opportunities; and provides timely information to the Project Manager and Operations team to support informed decision-making. Operational Planning and Execution : Provides technical support to heavy civil field operations, performs constructability reviews, assists with work planning, evaluates drawings and specifications, helps resolve field issues, coordinates upcoming work with project stakeholders, and supports crews with the information, materials, permits, and subcontractor coordination needed to execute work safely, efficiently, and in compliance with project requirements. Scheduling : Monitors project progress and schedule updates, coordinates short-term planning with operations, subcontractors, vendors, and clients, identifies schedule risks and constraints, tracks commitments affecting upcoming work, and helps develop recovery plans or mitigation strategies when schedule performance is at risk. Leadership : Provides guidance and mentoring to Project Engineers, Field Engineers, Interns, and other project support staff; delegates tasks based on individual skills and experience; reviews work for completeness and accuracy; promotes accountability and professional development; and helps reinforce company standards for communication, documentation, safety, quality, and follow-through. Compliance : Assists with inspection, documentation, and verification of work to ensure compliance with plans, specifications, permits, environmental requirements, safety standards, and quality expectations; supports preparation and closeout of required records, including testing documentation, inspection reports, deficiency tracking, as-built information, and other project quality documentation. Procurement and Materials : Supports procurement planning and execution, buyout tracking, material submittals, vendor coordination, delivery schedules, expediting and material status reporting to ensure required materials and subcontractor resources are available to support the project schedule. Change Management : Assists in identifying, documenting, pricing, tracking, and resolving potential changes, extra work, claims, and owner or subcontractor change requests; maintains organized records to support entitlement, cost recovery, schedule impacts, and timely resolution. Qualifications Experience: 5+ years of progressive Project Engineer experience in heavy civil construction, preferably supporting complex infrastructure projects. Must have previous heavy civil construction field-related experience in earthwork, grading, concrete structures, foundations, underground utilities, and related civil infrastructure work. A degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, or a related engineering discipline is preferred. Operational Excellence: Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities, support complex project schedules, coordinate multiple scopes of work, and proactively resolve issues to keep projects on track. Technical Proficiency: Advanced working knowledge of project controls systems and software, including document control, cost control, quantity tracking, forecasting, and scheduling tools such as P6 or equivalent. Strong understanding of heavy civil jobsite activities, safety, environmental, quality, permits, specifications, procurement, subcontractor coordination, RFIs, submittals, change documentation, and production reporting. Precision: Exceptional organizational skills, strong attention to detail, and the ability to independently identify, analyze, and help resolve plan, specification, quantity, schedule, and scope-related field discrepancies. Leadership and Communication : Energetic, proactive, and professional communicator who coordinates effectively with internal teams, field leadership, subcontractors, vendors, owners, and designers. Demonstrates sound judgment, ownership, follow-through, and the ability to mentor junior project staff while maintaining a solution-oriented approach. Working Conditions Location: This position is based at an assigned project location within the Ames Pacific Office region headquartered in Corona, CA. Projects are primarily located throughout Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Orange Counties, with future opportunities throughout California as business needs arise. Travel: Regular travel to and from project sites is required. Candidates must be willing and able to commute within assigned project areas. Office Environment: extensive sitting at desk and computer; some standing, bending at the waist, stooping and reaching required; ability to lift 5-20 pounds occasionally. / Construction Site Environment: physical ability to stand, walk, crawl, bend, reach and climb. Potential exposure to high noise levels. Total Rewards People are the most important asset at Ames Construction. Base salary range is $125,000 – $150,000 a year, which varies depending on many factors, including experience, skills, and knowledge. This role is eligible for a discretionary bonus. Ames offers generous retirement benefits, including Employee Stock Option Plan (ESOP) participation and a 401k match. Ames' non-craft health benefits package is designed so that our team members flourish, with medical, dental, and vision (all at one low premium), voluntary benefits, company holidays, and paid time off. Please see the Benefits section of our Careers page for more information. Ames Construction is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.