Civil Engineering Section Lead - Aviation

CHA Consulting, Inc. • Louisville, TN

3d • $120,000 - $130,000

About The Position

CHA Consulting, Inc. is seeking a Civil Engineering Section Lead to join its Aviation Team in Knoxville, Tennessee. The role leads and mentors engineers, guides project delivery, and remains actively involved in solving complex civil infrastructure challenges. It may suit an experienced engineer pursuing a first formal leadership role or an established leader seeking greater responsibility while continuing to contribute technically. Aviation experience is preferred but not required; relevant experience in site development, land development, transportation, municipal infrastructure, water resources, or related disciplines is welcome.

The Section Lead oversees civil engineering planning, design, and delivery for airport infrastructure projects, coordinates multidisciplinary teams, mentors engineers, and supports professional development. The role also involves managing project scope, schedules, budgets, and technical quality; building relationships with clients and project partners; supporting business development; and participating in construction observations and administration as needed.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering.
• At least 4 years of progressive civil engineering experience in civil site design, land development, municipal infrastructure, transportation, aviation, or other horizontal infrastructure projects.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license.
• Experience leading engineering projects, mentoring junior engineers, or coordinating technical teams and work assignments.
• Experience managing project budgets, schedules, and client relationships.
• Strong experience with Civil 3D, AutoCAD, or comparable civil engineering software.
• Working knowledge of QA/QC processes, engineering standards, and project delivery.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and relationship-building skills.
• Readiness to take on formal team leadership responsibilities while continuing to contribute technically.

Nice To Haves

• Aviation experience.
• Participation in professional engineering organizations.

Responsibilities

• Lead civil engineering planning, design, and delivery for airport infrastructure projects, including airfields, terminal-area site improvements, roadways, parking facilities, and utilities.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary engineering teams and align technical work and project priorities with scope, schedule, and budget commitments.
• Mentor and coach junior engineers, provide technical guidance, and support professional development.
• Coordinate work assignments, balance team workloads, and guide day-to-day execution in partnership with senior leadership.
• Manage project scope, schedules, budgets, and technical quality, applying QA/QC processes throughout project delivery.
• Build relationships with clients, contractors, regulatory agencies, and internal project teams.
• Support business development by participating in proposals, client meetings, and project pursuits.
• Perform periodic field observations during construction, participate in progress meetings, and support construction administration activities as needed.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior