Engineering Executive Search Houston

ROLES WE PLACE

Engineering executive search in Houston: roles we recruit

We focus on senior roles paying $150K and above, from office leadership to practice and program leadership. Most Houston searches fall into four groups.

Regional and office leadership

• Houston office and regional leaders with P&L responsibility
• Regional vice presidents and managing principals
• Operations directors for multi-office firms

Practice and technical leadership

• Transportation and transit practice leaders
• Water, wastewater and stormwater leaders
• Structural, bridge and land development leaders

Program and delivery leadership

• Program and project directors on public capital programs
• Design-build and alternative delivery directors
• Construction engineering and inspection (CEI) leaders

Growth and client leadership

• Business development and pursuit directors
• Public-sector client leaders for city, county and state agencies
• Market sector leaders for aviation, ports, water and energy

You can also see the full list of engineering leadership roles we recruit. In addition, for pay benchmarks, read our Engineering Leadership Salary Report 2027. For energy leadership roles, see our oil and gas executive search service.

LOCAL PROGRAMS

Programs shaping Houston’s engineering market

Together, these public programs create steady demand for senior engineering leaders. In each case, the figures and dates come from the agencies named, not from AES.

North Houston Highway Improvement Project

Segment 3 will rebuild parts of I-10, I-45, I-69 and SH 288 around downtown, with new drainage for flood mitigation. Drainage work began in October 2024, and the I-69 rebuild between SH 288 and I-45 began in January 2025 (TxDOT).

Harris County Flood Control District bond

Voters approved $2.5 billion in bonds in 2018, after Hurricane Harvey, for a project list of more than $5 billion. In September 2025, 75 active bond IDs were funding more than 240 projects (HCFCD).

Houston Ship Channel, Project 11

Port Houston has completed its portion of the Project 11 channel expansion dredging. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers leads the remaining work, which is scheduled for completion in 2029 (Port Houston).

Energy and industrial employers

Chevron and ExxonMobil both have their headquarters in the Houston area (Chevron), (ExxonMobil). Energy, petrochemical and power employers also recruit from the same pool of project and engineering leaders as civil firms.

OUR PROCESS

How our engineering executive search in Houston works

Because the search is retained, your appointment gets a dedicated team, clear milestones and a process built on evidence.

Define success

First, we agree what the leader must achieve. Then we build a behavioral blueprint with the McQuaig Job Survey.

Map the market

Next, we map leaders across Greater Houston, the Gulf Coast and other markets by client base, sector and program experience.

Approach confidentially

We approach candidates directly and discreetly rather than advertising the role.

Assess in depth

Every candidate then completes the 8 RoleDNA™ levels and is scored against your success profile.

Shortlist and close

Finally, you review two to four scored candidates. Then we manage references, offer and onboarding.

You can also see our executive search process step by step.

RoleDNA™ Mapping: 8 levels of assessment

Every shortlisted candidate is assessed across the same 8 levels, so you can compare Houston engineering leaders fairly before the first interview:

1. Job Location Mapping
2. Executive Summary
3. Professional Photo
4. Candidate Introduction
5. Key Competency Responses
6. Behavioral Assessment
7. Verified References
8. Detailed Resume

For example, the Candidate Introduction is a short video, so you can see how each leader communicates. In addition, the Behavioral Assessment uses the McQuaig Word Survey, matched to the role profile from the McQuaig Job Survey.

Results are then scored against the success profile for your role and shared in a 24/7 online client dashboard. Learn more about RoleDNA™ Mapping.

Texas PE license checks

Many senior roles in Houston need a Texas Professional Engineer license, which is issued by the Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors. We confirm each candidate’s license and its status before shortlisting. We also flag early when a leader licensed in another state will need Texas licensure (see NCEES).

RESULTS

The evidence behind our engineering executive search in Houston

96%

12-month retention

of the leaders we place are still in their role after 12 months.

98%

Fill rate

of the searches we take on are successfully completed.

8

Levels of assessment

in every RoleDNA™ profile, so you compare candidates on evidence.

12/24

Free replacement

months of cover: 12 as standard, extended to 24 (2 years) for senior roles.

A free replacement guarantee and proven retention

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

In one engagement, a growing U.S. engineering firm needed 10 appointments over two years. Before working with us, about 70% of its new hires stayed for 12 months. In contrast, all 10 leaders we appointed were still with the business after their first 12 months. Read the case study.

Firms of every size

We work with engineering firms of every size, from national and international firms to growing regional businesses. In a smaller firm, however, one senior hire can change the direction of the business. That is why we also run a dedicated executive search process for engineering firms under $120M, with the same research, assessment and guarantee.