Executive Search for Engineering and Civil Engineering Leaders
Alexander Executive Search, known as AES, is a retained executive search firm for engineering, civil engineering and technology leaders. We secure senior talent for businesses of every size. When the right hire defines your next chapter, we find them.
98% of the searches we take on end with a candidate placed. 96% of the leaders we place are still in role 12 months later.
Pick the route that fits what you need
Whether you are hiring a senior leader or considering your next move, start here.
Executive Search
Board, VP, director and project leadership hires in engineering and technology.
Our process →RoleDNA™ Mapping
We map what the role really needs, then assess candidates against it before you meet them.
How it works →For Clients
Hiring a senior leader? See how we run a search from brief to start date.
Hire with AES →For Candidates
Confidential career moves for senior engineering professionals. Send us your resume.
Find your next role →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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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.
Contact Alexander Executive Search
Our core markets
Senior hires across three connected sectors.
Engineering
Design, manufacturing, industrial, energy, process, environmental and specialist technical businesses, helping them appoint leaders who drive performance, delivery and growth.
Civil Engineering
Contractors, consultancies, developers and infrastructure organizations, with leaders in transportation, water, utilities, heavy civil, structures, geotechnical and major projects.
Technology
Digital engineering firms, software providers and innovation-driven organizations hiring senior commercial, operational and technical leaders.
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.
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 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.
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.
Where we recruit
Headquartered in Miami, with local market knowledge across the US, the UK and Asia.
Northeast & Mid-Atlantic
Midwest
West
Plan your next senior hire
Two free resources to help you budget for a leadership hire and understand what a wrong hire really costs.
Engineering Leadership Salary Report
Benchmark pay for engineering managers, civil engineers, construction managers and senior executives across the US before you set a salary or make an offer.
Get the Salary Report →Bad Hire Calculator
Work out what a wrong senior hire could really cost your business before you make your next appointment.
Calculate your bad hire cost →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?
Most searches take about 4 to 8 weeks from instruction to accepted offer. You’ll typically see a shortlist of fully interviewed and briefed candidates within 2 to 4 weeks, and we send a weekly progress update throughout. Interview dates depend on your team’s and the candidates’ availability, so agreeing on the brief, pay range and interview steps at the start keeps things 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.
What clients and candidates say
What clients and candidates say about working with Alexander Executive Search, from their LinkedIn recommendations.
Alexander Executive Search goes far beyond sending a resume and arranging an interview. Their process provides multiple data points before a candidate ever meets the client, including video, behavioral assessment, written competency responses, reference checks, and a much fuller picture of the executive behind the resume.
The time Alexander Executive Search spends searching for potential candidates, the personality test performed saves you as the employer an enormous amount of time. They will only bring you the top performers and candidates in the field you are placing them in.
Alexander Executive Search was professional, responsive, and timely throughout the entire process. The team took the time to understand my experience and skillset, knew exactly what the role required, and had a strong understanding of the market and available opportunities.
Alexander Executive Search took as long as required to understand not only my background, capabilities, and expectations but also areas where I might be flexible.
Their communication and updates had me informed at every stage of the hiring process. … they treat you like a person, not just a candidate file.
Alexander Executive Search has been instrumental in helping me find a new role. The team has always made itself available for a conversation and happy to offer independent advice despite it not having any direct benefit to them.
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.