Principal - Water/Wastewater - Design Center

Are you driven to grow, lead, and make a meaningful impact? At Apex, we’re building more than a consulting and engineering firm—we’re creating a place where your career accelerates, your contributions matter, and your potential is fully realized. We believe your growth is our growth, which is why we invest in your development at every stage of your career.

Here, you’ll work on projects that shape communities, protect the environment, and create lasting impact, all while being empowered with the autonomy and flexibility to do your best work. Fueled by high quality delivery, exceptional client retention, and strategic acquisitions, Apex Companies continues to rank among the fastest-growing firms in the AEC industry, recently recognized by the Zweig Group for our industry-leading growth. Our success is grounded in strong leadership, a collaborative culture, and a shared commitment to delivering exceptional outcomes.

As we continue to grow, we’re focused on building a team of high-performing professionals who are ready to lead, collaborate, and push what’s possible. At Apex, you don’t just join a company, you help shape what comes next. Apex Companies is hiring a Principal - Water/Wastewater to lead the build-out of a design center.

We are seeking a strategic and entrepreneurial Principal-level leader to build, scale, and lead a high-performing Design Center focused on water and wastewater infrastructure. This role is a unique opportunity to shape a center of excellence that drives technical delivery, innovation, and operational efficiency across the organization. The Opportunity As a Principal Design Center Lead, you will be responsible for establishing and growing a centralized design capability that supports projects across multiple regions.

You will define the vision, build the team, and implement the processes, tools, and culture needed to deliver high-quality, efficient, and scalable engineering solutions. This role blends technical leadership, business strategy, and people development—ideal for a leader who thrives on building something from the ground up and driving measurable impact.

What You’Ll Do

Build Scale the Design Center Establish the vision, structure, and operating model for a centralized design center Recruit, develop, and lead high-performing engineering teams (EITs, PEs, designers, PMs) Create scalable delivery frameworks to support multi-office and national project needs Project Delivery Fiscal Oversight Oversee delivery of design for infrastructure projects including water and wastewater treatment, distribution/collection systems, and stormwater management. Ensure technical excellence, quality control, and adherence to scope, schedule, and budget. Provide technical leadership, mentoring, and QA/QC oversight to project teams.

Manage project performance, including backlog, utilization, and profitability metrics.