Executive Search for Engineering and Civil Engineering Leaders

Alexander Executive Search secures senior talent for engineering and technology businesses of every size. When the right hire defines your next chapter, we find them.

98%of the searches we take on are filled
96%of candidates we place are still in their role after 12 months
12 monthsfree replacement as standard, extended to 2 years for senior roles
Who we are

Executive search built for technical industries

We specialize in senior appointments across engineering, civil engineering and technology. We find leadership talent for critical positions where technical credibility, commercial judgment and cultural fit all matter.

From regional leadership hires to board-level appointments, we help organizations of every size secure people who can lead change, deliver complex programs and build high-performing teams.

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Engineering leaders reviewing a project with their team
Long-term impact

We find leaders who create long-term impact

The most important hires are rarely the easiest to make. Where innovation, infrastructure, digital capability and operations are all changing fast, the wrong senior appointment is expensive.

Our search approach is designed to reduce that risk. We combine sector knowledge, targeted headhunting, market mapping and structured assessment to find leaders with the experience, judgment and style to succeed.

Where many firms focus on filling roles, we focus on appointments that strengthen businesses.

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Engineer presenting technical data
Senior appointments

Senior appointments we deliver

We lead searches for senior and executive roles, tailored to the importance of each assignment, whether that’s a leader to transform a large business or a specialist hire in a niche technical market.

International reach

A search partner with an international view

We support clients with international hiring, cross-border talent mapping and access to senior professionals in competitive markets. That wider reach finds strong candidates beyond local networks and job ads.

Search across borders takes more than reach. It takes discretion, market knowledge, a consistent process and the ability to represent your brand well to senior people.

Our process

Our evidence-based recruitment process

Clients come to us for more than resume delivery. They want a partner who understands technical markets, represents their opportunity well and runs a disciplined process from brief to completion.

Find and attract the best talent

We work with you to position your business well and attract strong people.

Reduce your downtime

Our assessment technology cuts the number of interviews you need.

Improve your hiring accuracy

We use psychometrics to objectively assess hiring teams and candidates for a better match.

Reduce your cost to hire

96% of the candidates we place are still in their role after 12 months, so you hire once.

Clients and candidates

For clients building leadership teams. For senior professionals exploring the right move.

We work with organizations seeking strong leadership talent and with senior professionals weighing their next career step. Our approach is relationship-led, confidential and focused on long-term outcomes.

Locations

Where we recruit

Headquartered in Miami, with local market knowledge across the US, the UK and Asia.

FAQs

Executive search questions we are asked most

Straight answers on cost, timing, guarantees and how we run a search.

Who are the best engineering executive search firms in the USA?

The right firm depends on your sector and the seniority of the role. Alexander Executive Search is a retained executive search firm for engineering, civil engineering, construction and manufacturing leadership roles paid $150K and above. 98% of our searches end in a placement and 96% of the leaders we place are still in their role after 12 months. Our guide to top engineering executive search firms in the USA compares specialist firms by sector.

What does engineering executive search cost?

SHRM describes the industry standard for retained search as about 33% of the role’s annual salary, bonus and signing bonus, and contingency fees as around 20% to 25% of first-year cash compensation. Our fee depends on the role and is agreed with you before the search starts. See how executive search fees work.

How long does an executive search take?

It depends on the role, the location and how quickly feedback comes back. Agreeing the brief, the pay range and the interview steps at the start is the biggest thing that keeps a search moving.

What guarantee do you offer?

Every placement comes with a 12-month free replacement guarantee, extended to 2 years for senior roles. If the person leaves within that period, we find a replacement free of charge, subject to the agreed terms of engagement.

How is executive search different from contingency recruiting?

With contingency recruiting you only pay if you hire a candidate the recruiter sent, and several agencies may be working the same role. Retained executive search is exclusive: we map the market, approach people who are not looking and assess every shortlisted candidate before you meet them.

What is RoleDNA™ Mapping?

RoleDNA™ Mapping is how we assess candidates. Every shortlisted candidate is presented across 8 levels: location, an executive summary, a professional photo, an introduction video, answers to key competency questions, a behavioral assessment matched to your role, verified references and a detailed resume. How RoleDNA™ Mapping works.

Which roles and sectors do you recruit for?

We recruit senior leaders paid $150K and above, including board directors, managing directors, VPs, technical directors, project executives and operations leaders, across engineering, civil engineering and infrastructure, construction, manufacturing and technology. We are headquartered at 1221 Brickell Avenue, Suite 900, Miami, with an office in London.

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Build your leadership team with confidence

If you are hiring senior talent in engineering, civil engineering or technology, we can help you find and secure leaders who make a lasting impact.

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