Division Principal

Job Summary:

At Salas O'Brien we tell our clients that we're engineered for impact. This passion for making a difference applies just as much to our team as it does to our projects. That's why we're committed to living our values every day: inspiring, achieving, and connecting as shared owners of our success with a focus on a sustainable future.

Building for the long-term means that all of our team members can expect to work on amazing projects with a people-first approach to problem solving. It also means that each member of our team has truly limitless potential to build a unique, meaningful, and high-impact career-and they'll receive great total rewards along the way.

The Principal is a senior leader responsible for setting strategic direction and driving the successful execution of division objectives in alignment with company goals. This role provides overall leadership for division operations, financial performance, project delivery, client relationships, and talent development, with full accountability for results.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, partnering with executive leadership, fostering strong client relationships, overseeing complex projects, and promoting technical excellence, operational efficiency, and sustainable growth across the division.

In addition, the Principal leads with transparency and proactively communicates organizational changes and strategic initiatives to ensure alignment, trust, continuity, and preservation of the Division's strong local culture and morale.

The Charlotte Division serves a diverse portfolio of market sectors, including Federal; State and Local Government; Aviation; Sports Venues; Healthcare; Higher Education; and Data Centers. While the majority of our work is concentrated in the southeastern United States, our team has delivered projects across 36 states, three U.S. territories, and seven countries.

Recognized for our commitment to quality, we are frequently engaged on large, complex projects where precision, coordination, and attention to detail are critical to success. One representative example is the Asheville Airport project, which involved the complete demolition and reconstruction of the airport, expanding it to approximately twice its original size while maintaining full operational continuity throughout construction.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the Division by setting strategic direction and driving execution in alignment with Company and Business Unit objectives, with a strong emphasis on technical excellence and quality delivery.
• Partner closely with Business Unit and executive leadership to translate strategy into actionable plans and provide regular updates on operational performance, financial results, and key strategic initiatives.
• Proactively communicate organizational changes and strategic decisions in advance, providing clear rationale and expectations while maintaining trust and engagement across the Division.
• Develop and sustain strong client relationships, serving as a senior point of contact while identifying opportunities for business development and long-term growth.
• Oversee Division operations, including budgeting, forecasting, resource planning, and overall financial performance, with accountability for P&L results.
• Ensure successful delivery of Division projects to quality, schedule, and cost standards.
• Lead, mentor, and develop senior staff by fostering accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement while modeling strong leadership attributes including approachability, technical credibility, sound business judgment, quality focus, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and direct communication.
• Prepare future leaders to support succession planning and long-term continuity.
• Promote cross-Division collaboration by working with peer leaders to share resources, best practices, and drive company-wide initiatives.
• Represent the firm in key client engagements, industry events, and professional organizations to enhance visibility and market position.
• Champion the Division's team-oriented, locally focused culture by supporting morale, engagement, and quality-driven engineering practices that differentiate the organization.
• Assess workplace practices and flexibility options to determine best-fit approaches that support productivity, coordination, and business needs, while establishing clear expectations and best practices.
• Promote the adoption and effective use of modern technology and collaborative tools to improve efficiency, reduce workflow friction, and enhance information sharing, while maintaining high standards for accuracy and quality.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field required; advanced degree preferred.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license or equivalent credential required.
• 15-20+ years of progressive engineering/management experience, including demonstrated success in a leadership role overseeing teams and complex projects.
• Proven ability to manage and deliver large-scale, multi-million-dollar projects on time and within budget.
• Strong financial acumen, including experience with budgeting, forecasting, and P&L management.
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams, develop talent, and drive operational excellence.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders, build client relationships, and represent the organization effectively.
• Demonstrated ability to lead through change with clarity and transparency, exhibiting approachability, technical proficiency, business acumen, quality-driven decision-making, cross-disciplinary leadership, and commitment to cultural preservation.

Location: Charlotte, NC (Hybrid)

Travel: As Needed

Compensation & Benefits:

The expected base salary range for this role is $170-200K USD per year. Actual compensation will be determined based on a number of factors including skills, experience, qualifications, and location.

This role is also eligible for performance-based bonuses and a comprehensive U.S. based benefits package, including:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off and company holidays
• Wellness programs and employee assistance resources
• Professional development support

For more information, visit our full benefits overview here.

About Us:

Founded in 1975, Salas O'Brien is an employee-owned engineering and professional services firm focused on achieving impact for our clients, our team, and the world. We know that tomorrow's requirements are today's opportunities, and we are here to design lasting solutions for pressing challenges.

We work across a variety of industries providing integrated engineering and consulting services. Our specialized experience includes design for data centers, healthcare, science and technology, high-rise buildings, clean energy, education, and other building types as well as structural and building sciences, infrastructure asset management, advanced robotics, and more.

Our technical expertise is paired with an exceptional team of business development, human resources, finance and accounting, information technology, and marketing professionals, all of whom play a key role in bringing our commitments to life every day.

Third-Party Agency Notice

Salas O'Brien does not accept unsolicited resumes from external recruiters or agencies. We only work with approved partners engaged directly by our Talent Acquisition team for specific searches. Unsolicited submissions will not be eligible for placement fees.

Equal Opportunity Employment Statement

Salas O'Brien provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, colour, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state/provincial, or local laws. Salas O'Brien will accommodate the disability-related needs of applicants as required by law.