AEC Career Roles

Analyzes and designs for room acoustics, sound isolation, and noise/vibration control in buildings and their surroundings.

Entry-level position supporting project teams with design development, drafting, and documentation under direct supervision.

Focuses on building technology, detailing, and the technical resolution of design intent into fully buildable construction documents.

Supports the Project Manager with day-to-day project operations including cost control, schedule management, subcontractor coordination, and owner communication.

Supports the superintendent in managing daily field operations, trade sequencing, safety compliance, and schedule adherence on active construction projects.

Firm leadership role with profit/loss responsibility, significant client relationships, studio management, and equity participation in some firms.

Leads a landscape studio or practice area, directing design quality, staffing, and business development.

Develops and coordinates BIM models for construction projects, performs clash detection, and supports VDC workflows for trade coordination.

Manages firm-wide BIM standards, training, and implementation. Coordinates BIM workflows across disciplines.

Specializes in the design, analysis, and performance of building enclosures including curtain walls, roofing, waterproofing, and thermal performance.

Drives business development, manages proposals/qualifications packages, and coordinates marketing for AE firms.

Leads business development efforts for a construction firm, cultivating client relationships, managing the pursuit pipeline, and driving revenue growth through strategic positioning.

Leads the entire estimating department, sets pricing strategy and standards, manages bid pipeline, and serves as the final authority on all project pricing.

Entry-level civil engineer performing site design, grading, drainage, and utility layout under supervision.

Engineer independently managing civil site design projects, including grading, utilities, stormwater, and permitting.

Verifies that building systems are designed, installed, and perform per the owner’s requirements through testing and functional performance verification.

Leads systems startup and commissioning on construction projects, verifying that installed systems perform to design and owner requirements.

Manages construction administration services including site observations, RFI responses, submittal reviews, and punch lists.

Leads subcontractor buyout, procurement, and contract administration, managing risk and terms across project scopes.

Sets the design vision and quality standard across projects, leading concept development and mentoring design teams.

Designer with growing independence, responsible for design development and construction documentation with moderate supervision.

Leads the interiors practice, setting design vision, growing the studio, and directing business development.

Owns firm-wide operations including project delivery systems, resource planning, financial performance, and process improvement.

Maintains project records, drawings, and documentation, keeping information organized, current, and accessible to the team.

Designs power distribution, lighting, and low-voltage systems for buildings, ensuring code compliance and coordination with other disciplines.

Designs systems and studies to protect environmental and public health, including water/wastewater treatment, remediation, and permitting.

Independently prepares detailed cost estimates for construction projects, manages bid processes, and develops pricing strategies for competitive and negotiated work.

Specializes in furniture, fixtures, and equipment selection, specification, and procurement coordination for interior projects.

Entry-level field position supporting superintendents with daily logs, layout, quality control, and coordination of trade contractors on the jobsite.

Designs fire suppression, sprinkler, and life-safety systems and performs code analysis to protect occupants and property.

Directs a field crew day-to-day, ensuring work is completed safely, on schedule, and to quality standards for a trade or scope.

Oversees multiple foremen and crews across a project or area, managing manpower, sequencing, and field production.

Oversees all field operations across multiple projects or a region, sets safety and quality standards company-wide, and leads the development of all field personnel.

Analyzes soil and rock behavior to design foundations, retaining structures, and earthwork for construction projects.

Leads interior projects end-to-end, managing scope, budget, schedule, and client relationships while directing the design team.

Entry-level interior designer supporting space planning, material selection, and FF&E coordination.

Develops interior design solutions from concept through construction documents with growing autonomy on projects.

Designs efficient irrigation and water-management systems for landscapes, balancing plant health with water conservation.

Manages technical production of project documents, coordinates consultants, and leads design tasks with minimal supervision.

Entry-level estimating position performing quantity takeoffs, soliciting subcontractor bids, and supporting senior estimators with bid preparation.

Plans land use, site layout, and community design balancing entitlements, environmental constraints, and development goals.

Entry-level landscape architecture professional assisting with site planning, planting design, and hardscape detailing.

Holds ultimate responsibility for firm strategy, financial performance, client relationships, and ownership decisions.

Designs heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems for buildings, including load calculations, equipment selection, and energy modeling.

Coordinates mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems installation across trades, manages clash resolution, and ensures systems are installed per design and in proper sequence.

Entry-level mechanical, electrical, or plumbing engineer performing system design, load calculations, and equipment selection under supervision.

Engineer independently managing MEP system design for building projects, coordinating with architects and contractors.

Manages mechanical, electrical, and plumbing scopes on a project, driving coordination, procurement, and subcontractor performance.

Manages project documentation, contracts, and administrative functions, serving as the organizational backbone of the project team.

Designs domestic water, sanitary, storm, and gas piping systems for buildings in compliance with plumbing codes.

Leads the preconstruction phase of projects including budgeting, scheduling, constructability reviews, and design-assist coordination, bridging the gap between business development and project execution.

Leads an engineering discipline or practice, owning technical quality, staffing, and business performance across projects.

Firm owner or equity partner with ultimate authority over firm direction, major design decisions, and business strategy.

Holds ownership-level responsibility for a landscape practice, leading vision, growth, and firm-wide design excellence.

Leads structural department or firm, manages major projects, develops business, and drives technical innovation.

Manages project financials including cost tracking, billings, forecasting, and reporting for construction projects.

Licensed architect managing complete projects from schematic design through construction administration, serving as primary technical lead.

Supports project managers with scheduling, documentation, meeting coordination, and administrative tasks for AE projects.

Directs the project management department or a major program, setting PM standards, overseeing all active projects in a region or business unit, and driving operational excellence.

Entry-level project team member supporting PMs and superintendents with documentation, submittals, RFIs, and daily coordination on active construction projects.

Senior executive overseeing a portfolio of major projects or a business unit, responsible for profitability, client relationships, staff development, and strategic growth.

Licensed landscape architect managing projects from concept through construction, including site planning, planting, irrigation, and hardscape.

Manages AE project delivery including scope, schedule, budget, quality, and client satisfaction.

Manages full project lifecycle from preconstruction through closeout, owning the budget, schedule, quality, and client relationship for assigned projects.

Builds and maintains CPM schedules, analyzes progress, and forecasts impacts to keep projects on time.

Manages the quality assurance and quality control program for construction projects, ensuring work meets specifications, standards, and owner expectations.

Supports the safety program on construction projects by conducting inspections, training, and documentation to ensure compliance with OSHA and company safety standards.

Leads the company-wide safety program, sets policy, manages safety staff across all projects, drives EMR improvement, and serves as the corporate authority on safety and health.

Manages the safety program for one or more construction projects, developing and enforcing safety policies, conducting audits, and ensuring regulatory compliance.

Develops and manages CPM schedules for construction projects, performs schedule analysis, and provides schedule recovery strategies for complex projects.

Senior licensed civil engineer managing complex site development projects, leading teams, and developing client relationships.

Leads electrical design on complex projects, stamps drawings, and directs junior staff while managing coordination and quality.

Leads estimating efforts on complex projects, mentors junior estimators, develops bid strategy, and presents pricing to owners and executive leadership.

Experienced interior designer leading projects, managing client relationships, and coordinating with architects and contractors.

Leads landscape design on complex projects, stamps drawings, and manages client relationships and project teams.

Leads mechanical design on complex projects, stamps drawings, and mentors junior engineers while managing client and consultant coordination.

Senior licensed engineer leading MEP design teams, managing complex building systems, and overseeing project delivery.

Oversees multiple large-scale projects or a portfolio of projects simultaneously, mentors junior PMs, and contributes to business development and client growth.

Oversees multiple projects and project managers, manages key client accounts, and drives operational excellence across the firm.

Oversees multiple projects simultaneously, manages client relationships, mentors staff, and contributes to firm strategy and business development.

Licensed PE/SE managing structural design projects, leading teams, and serving as engineer of record.

Leads field operations on large-scale or complex projects ($50M+), manages multiple superintendents, and serves as the senior field authority on the jobsite.

Writes and coordinates construction specifications for AE projects, ensuring technical accuracy and code compliance.

Entry-level engineer performing structural analysis and design under supervision, working toward PE licensure.

Engineer with growing project responsibility, performing complex analysis and beginning to manage smaller projects.

Leads a studio, market sector, or practice area, owning its design quality, staffing, financial performance, and client growth.

Manages all field operations for a construction project, owning the schedule, safety, quality, and day-to-day coordination of all trade contractors.

Leads sustainability strategy, energy modeling, and green building certification for AE projects.

Plans and designs roadways, intersections, and traffic-control systems, performing traffic studies and modeling for safe, efficient mobility.

Develops urban design frameworks, master plans, and zoning analyses for community and development projects.

Leads VDC/BIM department for a company or region, sets technology standards, manages VDC staff, and drives innovation in digital construction practices.

Leads virtual design and construction workflows on projects, manages 4D/5D modeling, drone/laser scanning integration, and drives technology adoption on jobsites.

C-suite or near-C-suite executive responsible for all construction operations, setting company-wide standards for project delivery, safety, quality, and profitability.

Leads all preconstruction services for the company including estimating, scheduling, and design-phase coordination, directly impacting win rate and profitability.

Manages project closeout including punch list, commissioning documentation, warranties, and owner turnover.

Designs stormwater, drainage, and hydraulic systems and performs hydrologic modeling for site development and flood management.