Need a civil engineer for your project? If so, you’re in the right place. Take a look at these 5 tips for hiring a civil engineer and be prepared to find the right firm for the job.

Check References and Reviews

When deciding on a civil engineering firm, be sure to check references and client reviews. Even if the firm has been recommended by someone you know, it is important to complete your own due diligence to ensure a proper match.

Look for Clear Communication

Clear, consistent communication is necessary for a project to run smoothly. Including this item in your search criteria can help eliminate frustration and confusion on your end. No one wants to be left in the dark when it comes to their project!

Ask about Quality Control

Maintaining quality control can make a significant difference in a projects outcome. Review the firms QC practices and assess their responses to make sure they align with the scope of your project.

Look for Firms with Similar Project Experience

Not all firms will have the experience needed to carry out your project efficiently. When searching for firms in your area, view their portfolio or ask to see examples of similar past projects they have completed. The more experience they have with your projects scope of work, the more likely your project will be completed without issue.

Assess Value and Rates

Evaluating price is a crucial step when looking to hire an engineer, however, determining value is also an important step. Consider a firms value and experience first, then evaluate price. The firm that provides the lowest bid is not always the right choice for the job.

With these 5 tips for hiring a civil engineer in mind, feel confident in knowing you’re choosing the right firm for the job. For more information on starting a project in the Puget Sound area, contact McInnis Engineering today! Find us on social media and subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date on M.E. news and updates.

Featured reading —

Events in the South Sound | October 2025

Festival of Light
Where: Eastside Community Center
When: October 4^th from 11am to 6pm
Learnmore →

Tacoma Arts Month 2025
Where: All Around Tacoma
When: October 11 -12th from 11am to 5pm
Learnmore →

Proctor District Halloween Parade
Where: Proctor District
When: October 18^th from 4pm to 9pm
Learn more →

Greek Festival
Where: 1741 N Schuster Way
When: October 3, 4 & 5 2025
Time: 11am
Learn more →

Dia de los Muertos Craft Classes
Where: 110 9^th Avenue SW
When: September 18 - October 23
Learn more →

This Week in Survey: Expanding Our Capabilities by Land,
Air—and Water

Aug 11 2025

At McInnis Engineering, we’re committed to delivering uncommon engineering value—and that means continually investing in tools that improve accuracy, efficiency, and outcomes for our clients. This week, we’re excited to share some major upgrades to our survey equipment that expand our capabilities across Pierce, Thurston, and King Counties.

Eyes in the Sky: DJI Matrice 4E RTK Drone

We’ve added a DJI Matrice 4E RTK drone to our survey toolkit. This isn’t your hobby drone—it’s a precision-engineered workhorse equipped with real-time kinematic (RTK) positioning for centimeter-level accuracy. The Matrice 4E allows us to quickly capture high-resolution aerial data, generate detailed topographic surfaces, and perform volumetric calculations with speed and precision.

Whether we're mapping large development sites, tracking construction progress, or surveying hard-to-access terrain, this drone allows us to do more in less time—without compromising accuracy.

Boots on the Ground: New Leica Total Stations and GPS Units

In addition to the drone, we’ve upgraded to Leica’s top-tier survey instruments, including total stations and GNSS gear that set the industry standard. These tools improve field efficiency, reduce errors, and allow us to handle complex survey conditions with confidence.

For clients, this means faster turnaround, reliable data, and survey crews equipped to tackle the toughest site challenges.

Into the Water: A Boat for Pond Surveying

Not every job stays on dry ground. We’ve also added a survey vessel to support work in ponds, wetlands, and other water bodies. This boat is equipped for shallow water surveying, and it helps us safely and accurately gather data where traditional equipment can’t go.

It’s a key part of our commitment to environmental and stormwater-related survey work, which continues to grow throughout the region.

Why It Matters

These investments aren’t just about having cool gadgets—they’re about giving our clients better information, faster. Whether it’s a preliminary site survey, an as-built for a stormwater pond, or topographic data for design work, we’re bringing the best tools to the job.

If you’ve got a project coming up that needs surveying—whether by land, air, or water—we’d be glad to talk.

5 Tips for Hiring a Civil Engineer

This Week in Survey: Expanding Our Capabilities by Land,Air—and Water

Uncommon Engineering Value

McInnis Engineering Launch

This Week in Survey: Expanding Our Capabilities by Land,
Air—and Water