Civil Engineering Executive Search in Texas

MAJOR PROGRAMS

The programs behind Texas demand

• Austin, I-35 Capital Express Central: TxDOT lists the project at $4.5 billion, with a 2024–2033 timeline, adding two non-tolled managed lanes in each direction through central Austin (TxDOT).
• Houston, North Houston Highway Improvement Project: Segment 3 will rebuild the freeway system around downtown, including parts of I-10, I-45, I-69 and SH 288, with new drainage for flood mitigation. Drainage work began in October 2024 and the rebuild of I-69 between SH 288 and I-45 began in January 2025 (TxDOT).

• Dallas-Fort Worth, DART Silver Line: Dallas Area Rapid Transit opened the 26-mile Silver Line regional rail service on October 25, 2025. It connects Plano, Richardson, Dallas, Addison, Carrollton, Coppell, Grapevine and DFW International Airport (DART).
• San Antonio, I-35 NEX Central: TxDOT’s $1.5 billion design-build project adds elevated lanes along 9.5 miles of I-35 in northeast San Antonio, with completion estimated for late 2027 (TxDOT).

Water and power add another layer. In November 2025, Texas voters approved Proposition 4, which will put up to $1 billion a year of state sales tax revenue into the Texas Water Fund from September 2027 to 2047, administered by the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB). On the power side, the Texas Energy Fund had signed $3.65 billion of loans for 4,994 MW of new natural gas generation on the ERCOT grid as of June 24, 2026 (Public Utility Commission of Texas). Water, grid and industrial projects all compete for the same engineering and project leaders. For more on the local market and city searches, see our Dallas, Houston and Austin engineering executive search pages.

LEADERSHIP ROLES

Leadership roles in demand in Texas

The Texas searches we are asked about most often fall into four groups.

Why Texas leadership hires are hard

• Four metros, four markets: Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio each have different clients, agencies and industries. A leader who suits Houston’s energy and industrial work may not fit a public-sector practice in Austin.
• Energy competes for the same people: oil, gas, petrochemical and power employers recruit from the same pool of project and engineering leaders, especially around Houston.
• Program timing: senior people on multi-year programs such as I-35 or the North Houston Highway Improvement Project are often unwilling to leave before a milestone, so the timing and the case for change both matter.
• Licensure: engineering in Texas is regulated by the Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors, and roles that seal engineering work for Texas projects normally need a Texas PE license. We check this early for candidates coming from other states.
• Distance: Texas is big. Regional roles can mean a lot of driving or flying, and the offer has to be clear about that from the first conversation.
• Smaller firms competing with big names: mid-sized firms rarely win on base salary alone. They win on scope, autonomy, direct access to ownership and a credible route to equity or partnership, and that story has to be made clear to candidates.

OUR PROCESS

How we run a Texas search

Every search starts with what the new leader must achieve in the first 12 to 24 months, such as opening a Dallas office, building a water practice or succeeding a founder.

Define success

Use RoleDNA™ Mapping to define what success looks like before any candidate is judged.

Map the market

Map leaders across Texas by program, discipline and delivery model, including people in other states who are open to relocating.

Approach confidentially

Approach candidates directly and confidentially rather than advertising the role.

Assess across 8 levels

Run structured competency interviews and McQuaig behavioral assessment, then verify references.

Offer and onboarding

Manage the offer, the resignation and the first months in the role.

Every shortlisted candidate comes with the same 8-level RoleDNA™ profile: Job Location Mapping, Executive Summary, Professional Photo, Candidate Introduction, Key Competency Responses, Behavioral Assessment, Verified References and a Detailed Resume. See our executive search process step by step, or read about our wider civil engineering executive search in the USA.

Texas executive search: frequently asked questions

How do you serve Texas clients?

We serve Texas clients from our headquarters at 1221 Brickell Ave, Suite 900, Miami, FL 33131. We also have a satellite office in London.

Which parts of Texas do you cover?

The whole state, including Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio.

What size of firm do you work with in Texas?

Firms of all sizes, from growing engineering, consulting and construction firms to large organizations, hiring for leadership roles paying $150,000 or more. Growing firms under $120 million in annual revenue also get a dedicated process built around their next stage of growth.

Can you find leaders with TxDOT or energy-sector experience?

Market mapping lets us identify leaders by the programs, agencies and sectors they have worked in and then approach them confidentially. Whether a particular person will move depends on timing and the opportunity, so we test motivation early.

How do you reduce the risk of a declined offer or an early exit?

We look at why each candidate has moved roles in the past, what they want from the next stage of their career and how well that matches your firm’s direction, because candidates whose goals align with the opportunity are far more likely to stay. We also benchmark compensation against current Texas market conditions so the offer is competitive and realistic, then guide both sides through negotiation, acceptance and onboarding.

What happens if the person we hire leaves?

If a placed candidate leaves within 12 months, we find a replacement free of charge. For senior roles the guarantee extends to two years. It is a free replacement of the placed leader, subject to the agreed terms of engagement.