Civil Engineer

Role Summary

ValCap Group is seeking a hands-on
Civil Engineer / Project Lead
to turn raw sites into viable, permit-ready projects. You'll own conceptual site planning across multiple use cases (self storage, townhomes, single-family lots, multifamily, retail, industrial), build credible cost estimates (soft and hard costs), lead bidding and vendor selection, and coordinate rezoning, entitlements, and approvals with municipalities and utilities. You'll be our in-house point person for moving a concept from first sketch through approvals—and advising when not to proceed.

What You'll Do

• Concept Development & Site Planning
• Produce multiple
  concept site plans
  per property, exploring density, access, parking/loading, stormwater, grading, and utility feasibility.
• Create
  test fits
  / yield studies and iterate quickly to compare uses.
• Feasibility & Costing
• Build
  order-of-magnitude to Class 4/3
  cost estimates covering
  hard
  (earthwork, utilities, paving, structures) and
  soft
  (A/E, surveys, traffic, geotech, permits, impact fees, utility taps) costs.
• Develop and maintain
  assumption books
  (unit costs, productivity, contingencies) and
  risk registers
  per concept.
• Entitlements & Approvals
• Lead
  rezonings, variances/CUPs, site plan approvals, plats, utility coordination
  , and public hearings.
• Prepare submittal packages, respond to agency comments, and manage review cycles to decision.
• Bidding & Vendor Management
• Draft scopes and
  bid out
  surveys, geotech, traffic, environmental, architecture, and civil subconsultants; evaluate proposals and negotiate terms.
• Prequalify and solicit
  GC/sitework
  bids at the appropriate stage; level bids and recommend awards.
• Project Leadership & Communication
• Build and drive
  critical path schedules
  from concept through permit.
• Run weekly check-ins; maintain decision logs, budgets, and dashboards.
• Coordinate closely with acquisitions, finance, and asset teams to align on returns and risk.

Qualifications

• BS in Civil Engineering
  (or related).
  PE
  license preferred (or EIT on track).
• 5–10+ years in site/civil design and development for one or more:
  self storage, residential (townhome/SFR lots/multifamily), retail, or industrial
  .
• Direct real estate development (owner/developer side) experience strongly preferred.
• Proven experience taking sites through
  entitlement and permitting
  with local municipalities/utilities.
• Demonstrated ability to produce
  conceptual plans
  and
  credible cost estimates
  .
• Comfortable leading
  RFPs/bids
  , leveling proposals, and negotiating consultant/contractor scopes.
• Working knowledge of
  stormwater
  (SWPPP, detention/retention), grading, access/traffic, and utility design constraints.
• Proficiency in
  AutoCAD/Civil 3D
  , plan reading/markups; strong Excel skills.
• Comfortable with CAD and Civil 3D training (receiving or providing); commitment to ongoing skills development.
• Excellent communicator who can present options, tradeoffs, and clear recommendations.

Nice to Have

• PE in [State]; ability to obtain reciprocity as needed.
• Experience with
  public meetings
  /community outreach and hearing testimony.
• Familiarity with
  pro formas
  and sensitivity to development returns (IRR/ROC).
• Exposure to
  construction administration
  and field observation.

Success Metrics (KPIs)

• Concept throughput:
  ≥3 viable site concepts per property within 30 days.
• Estimate accuracy:
  ±20–30% at concept stage; improve as data matures.
• Schedule adherence:
  Hit key entitlement milestones within ±10% of baseline.
• Bid competitiveness:
  ≥2–3 qualified bids per key scope; ≤5% variance after leveling.
• Stakeholder satisfaction:
  Positive feedback from muni reviewers and internal teams.

First 90 Days

1. Audit existing sites; create
   constraints maps
   and preliminary
   test fits
   for each use case.
2. Stand up a
   cost database
   and template estimate for each asset type.
3. Publish an
   approval roadmap
   per site (rezoning/variance/plat/site plan steps).
4. Run at least one
   RFP
   for a priority subconsultant package and level the bids.

Compensation & Benefits

• Base:
  $100,000–$140,000 depending on experience.
• Bonus:
  10–20% tied to milestones (entitlement wins, permit-ready dates, budget/schedule adherence).
• Benefits: medical/dental/vision, PTO

Travel & Work Model

• In-person in Dallas, TX, 5 days/week.
• Travel as needed for site walks, agency meetings, vendor visits, and support in other markets.