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County Engineer

New Hanover County

Details

Posted:

November 4, 2025

Location:

Wilmington, North Carolina

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Salary:

$96,378 - $163,843

Level:

Experienced

Years of Experience:

5 - 10

Preferred Education:

4 Year Degree

Years of Experience

5 - 10

New Hanover County is seeking an experienced, licensed Professional Engineer to serve as County Engineer, providing leadership and direction of the operations and services within the county's Engineering department. The County Engineer serves as the department head and subject matter expert, overseeing the department's projects and activities, compliance with ordinances, and completion of subdivision reviews, capital projects, stormwater operations, and shore protection efforts. The ideal candidate is knowledgeable about the needs and challenges of coastal areas, has demonstrated success in building and maintaining relationships with government leaders and officials, and can exercise sound judgment in analyzing situations and making decisions in a collaborative and transparent environment.

Duties include providing leadership and expertise to staff, presenting project proposals for review by the Board of County Commissioners, developing and coordinating projects to execute decisions made by the Board of Commissioners, developing and overseeing department and project budgets to effectively monitor expenditures and the availability of funds, ensuring projects meet county needs and specifications, serving a liaison to Cape Fear Public Utility Authority, working with developers to ensure water and sewer availability and capacity levels, overseeing department personnel management, and addressing concerns and inquiries of the public regarding department activities.

Operating with a $5M budget, the Engineering Department provides a range of engineering, shore protection, and project management services, both to the community and to other county departments. The Engineering department’s services include administration and implementation of the Stormwater and Drainage Ordinance, as well as the Sedimentation and Erosion Control Ordinance. The department also manages the Stormwater Services Program, which began in 2020, for the purpose of helping to ensure the continued upkeep of the stormwater management system throughout the unincorporated areas of the county, and relieving property owners of the responsibility of maintaining and cleaning ditches and pipes on their property.

As a local program office of the state, the department issues and enforces Sedimentation and Erosion Control Permits for all non-governmental land-disturbing activities within New Hanover County and the City of Wilmington and is also responsible for the maintenance of abandoned cemeteries within New Hanover County.

New Hanover County government and this department are progressive leaders who are excited to take on new projects that benefit our community and take advantage of opportunities to better our community.

Recent accomplishments include:

Performing 336 Stormwater Plan reviews and 758 Erosion and Sediment Control reviews, resulting in the issuance of 359 Land Disturbance Permits and 105 Stormwater Permits in a two year period.

Implementing an online application for Land Disturbance Permitting and Stormwater Permitting through the county's online portal, COAST.

Completion of the Mason Inlet Relocation Project, removing nearly 500,000 cubic yards out of the inlet and relocating the inlet to its northernmost boundary of the engineered corridor.

Installing 10 stream gauges throughout the County, connecting them to the NC Flood Inundation Mapping & Alert Network (NCFIMAN), a publicly available flood warning tool.

Fully designed and permitted a culvert replacement project on White Road.

Initiation of two watershed planning studies for Acorn Branch and Pumpkin Creek.

Completion of more than 70 miles of stormwater maintenance and 10 capital projects, which included 3,900 linear feet of pipe replacements, in a two year span.

About New Hanover County
At fewer than 200 square miles, New Hanover is the 2nd smallest of the 100 North Carolina counties, but one of the most densely populated. With 235,000 residents, it has become the center of rapid urbanization in the southeast region of North Carolina. In addition to being a great place to live, New Hanover County is a great place to do business. New Hanover County is committed to progressive public policy, superior service, courteous contact, judicious exercise of authority, and sound fiscal management to meet the needs and concerns of our citizens today and tomorrow.

New Hanover County operates under a governing board/manager form of government where policy setting is the responsibility of the Board and policy execution is the responsibility of the Board appointed County Manager. To serve the citizens of this progressive, regional urban center, the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners adopted a county-wide strategic plan, where its backdrop is framed by these vision and mission statements and a set of shared values that govern how the Board and staff make decisions. These shared values are professionalism, integrity, innovation, equity, stewardship, and accountability.
New Hanover County is dedicated to the recruitment and recognition of a talented and diverse workforce that is committed to public service. Our shared values of professionalism, innovation, equity, integrity, stewardship and accountability guide the way we conduct ourselves and deliver services to our customers. New Hanover County celebrates diversity in our employees’ backgrounds, beliefs, identities, and abilities, while supporting growth opportunities for all. Our talented team has a passion for providing care and services that effect change on the everyday lives of the citizens they encounter. The differences that unite us are a reflection of the community we serve. If this sounds like an organization that models the values you uphold, we invite you to join our team at New Hanover County.
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Hours
Hours are 8AM-5PM weekdays; must be available for evening meetings, special events, and during emergency situations. Must obtain residency in New Hanover County within 6 months of employment.

Application Information
A completed application must be submitted and received through the New Hanover County website at www.nhcgov.com. Applicants are required to thoroughly complete this online application and are encouraged to attach a cover letter and resume in the "attachments" section. New Hanover County is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Bachelor’s Degree in a related Engineering field and seven (7) years of progressively responsible engineering experience, including three (3) years of management level experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above. Must have valid driver's license and good driving record. Must be willing to maintain residence in New Hanover County within 6 months.
Required Licenses/Certifications:
Valid NC Driver's License. Valid Professional Engineer (PE) license North Carolina Professional Surveyor’s License preferred

NOTES:

Additional Salary Information: The current salary range for this position is $96,378 - $163,843. The hiring range for this position is $96,378 - $140,000 plus a competitive benefits package. Salary is negotiable within the hiring range, depending on qualifications. New Hanover County offers: Employer paid 401k contributions; Retirement plan through the NC Retirement system; Flex time availability, depending on your position; Paid sick and personal leave + 13 paid holidays per year; Paid parental leave; Paid community services leave to give back to our community; Education leave to obtain a degree within your line of work; Medical, dental, and vision insurance + many other insurance options; Onsite, employer-paid health and wellness center; Professional development trainings & leadership initiatives; Opportunities to make a difference in your community; And so much more! Please check out our careers page at www.nhcgov.com/careers for more information on why New Hanover County is a great place to work.

About New Hanover County

At fewer than 200 square miles, New Hanover is the 2nd smallest of the 100 North Carolina counties, but one of the most densely populated. With 235,000 residents, it has become the center of rapid urbanization in the southeast region of North Carolina. In addition to being a great place to live, New Hanover County is a great place to do business. New Hanover County is committed to progressive public policy, superior service, courteous contact, judicious exercise of authority, and sound fiscal management to meet the needs and concerns of our citizens today and tomorrow.New Hanover County operates under a governing board/manager form of government where policy setting is the responsibility of the Board and policy execution is the responsibility of the Board appointed County Manager. To serve the citizens of this progressive, regional urban center, the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners adopted a county-wide strategic plan, where its backdrop is framed by these vision and mission statements and a set of shared values that govern how the Board and staff make decisions. These shared values are professionalism, integrity, innovation, equity, stewardship, and accountability....New Hanover County is dedicated to the recruitment and recognition of a talented and diverse workforce that is committed to public service. Our shared values of professionalism, innovation, equity, integrity, stewardship and accountability guide the way we conduct ourselves and deliver services to our customers. New Hanover County celebrates diversity in our employees’ backgrounds, beliefs, identities, and abilities, while supporting growth opportunities for all. Our talented team has a passion for providing care and services that effect change on the everyday lives of the citizens they encounter. The differences that unite us are a reflection of the community we serve. If this sounds like an organization that models the values you uphold, we invite you to join our team at New Hanover County.

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County Engineer

New Hanover County

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