Senior Principal Engineer

Senior Principal Engineer Department: Engineering Employment Type: Full Time Location: Big Stone Gap

The Lane Group is a Virginia-based engineering consulting firm with a strong legacy of providing specialized consulting and infrastructure engineering services to public-sector clients. The firm is known for delivering technically complex projects through hands-on leadership, rigorous quality control, and long-standing relationships with state and local agencies. The Lane Groups senior leaders are deeply engaged in project execution, client coordination, and mentoring technical staff, ensuring consistency, accountability, and high-quality outcomes across its portfolio.

The Lane Group is now proudly part of Rinker Design Associates LLC (RDA), a well-established Virginia civil engineering firm with more than four decades of experience supporting transportation infrastructure and public works projects throughout the Commonwealth. RDA operates as a subsidiary of Trilon Group, a national family of infrastructure consulting firms focused on transportation, water utilities, and community development. This partnership allows The Lane Group to maintain its strong local identity and leadership-driven culture while benefiting from expanded technical resources, regional collaboration, and long-term organizational stability.

Job Description

The Senior Principal Engineer is a senior leadership role responsible for technical excellence, strategic growth, and operational oversight within The Lane Groups engineering practice. This position combines high-level project leadership, client engagement, staff development, and business development, serving as a key contributor to both regional success and long-term organizational strategy.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide executive-level oversight and technical direction on complex transportation and infrastructure projects.
• Serve as Engineer of Record as appropriate and ensure adherence to applicable state, federal, and industry standards.
• Review and approve engineering designs, calculations, plans, specifications, and deliverables.
• Act as a trusted advisor to key public-sector and institutional clients.
• Maintain and expand long-term client relationships throughout Virginia and the surrounding region.
• Support strategic pursuits, proposals, and interviews for major project opportunities.
• Lead, mentor, and develop senior engineers, project managers, and emerging leaders.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and technical excellence.
• Support succession planning and workforce development initiatives.
• Collaborate with Rinker Design Associates and Trilon Group leadership on growth initiatives and integration efforts.
• Contribute to operational planning, financial performance, and resource management.
• Identify opportunities to expand services, markets, and delivery methods.

Requirements:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Knowledge of graphic designing is very essential, utilizing the latest version of Autodesk Civil 3D.
• Knowledge of hydraulic modeling software, WaterCAD, and KYPipe.
• Skill in updating, maintaining, operating, and evaluating all AutoCAD software and related equipment.
• Strong attention to detail, ensuring edits requested by project manager are accurate.
• Able to fully understand and follow complex oral and written instructions.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team.
• Skills to operate basic office equipment, like printers, computer terminals, facsimile machines, copy machines, and telephone systems.
• Ability to operate access and maintain diverse software applications.
• Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Basic understanding of ISO 9000 design requirements.

Why Join RDA

We offer a comprehensive benefits package, which includes:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401K Retirement Plan
• Roth Contributions
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Life, AD&D, short-term, and long-term disability
• Generous PTO and 8 federal holidays, 1 floating holiday
• Parental leave
• Supportive team culture

RDA is an Equal Opportunity Employer and maintains a drug-free workplace. Applicants that require an employment visa sponsorship now or in the future will not be considered.