
Houston Engineering Recruiters: Bridging Design and Delivery
Advastar has helped hundreds of companies and projects with their engineering hiring
Houston engineering recruiting and staffing solutions
Advastar helps Houston organizations build high performing engineering teams that can deliver across the Gulf Coast industrial corridor. Our recruiters focus on leaders who hold a Texas PE and can guide complex work from front end design through commissioning for refineries, chemical plants, utilities, hospitals, higher education and municipal owners. We understand the demands of projects that stretch from Pasadena and Texas City to Baytown and Freeport, and we know how to staff for sites that operate around the clock.
Our approach fits the way capital work gets done in Greater Houston. We support retained search, recruitment process outsourcing, contract staffing and contract to hire, then align the hiring plan to turnaround windows, outage schedules, procurement milestones and owner safety programs. Workforce and succession planning is mapped to your backlog so you have the right balance of project delivery staff, maintenance and reliability specialists and operations support personnel as new phases come online.
Sourcing goes far beyond job boards. We maintain a proprietary bench of mechanical, electrical, civil, structural, process, instrumentation and controls, reliability and project engineering talent, captured with licensure details, leadership history, certifications and mobility preferences. We account for TWIC and site access requirements where needed and we validate experience with Ship Channel and coastal waterway construction, tankage and piping, unit revamps, water and wastewater upgrades, storm surge mitigation and roadway improvements. That depth lets us present shortlists of candidates whose skills, values and communication style fit Houston owners and EPC partners.
Houston is our talent engine. We recruit from Rice University and the University of Houston, draw emerging technicians from San Jacinto College and Lee College, and stay connected to craft and leadership pipelines supported by the ABC Gulf Coast chapter and regional apprenticeships. Candidates are interviewed against the realities of working with CenterPoint Energy and Entergy Texas, coordinating with city and county inspectors, sequencing work along I-10 and the Beltway, and delivering quality that meets Gulf Coast standards for safety and throughput.
Since 2012 we have supported permanent, contract and interim placements for construction and heavy industry across the Gulf Coast, and that experience shows in our Houston results. If you need engineering management that can move a project from concept to closeout and improve reliability along the way, connect with our local team and see how a focused search in the Houston market delivers the right leader faster.
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Our engineering talent network
- 19,800 vetted engineering professionals
- 5,600 PE & discipline-certified engineers
- 42 metros with active placements
- 18days median time to first shortlist
Houston engineering industry segments commonly supported
CAD Designers bring technical concepts to life through sophisticated 3D modeling and drafting techniques. Their expertise in using advanced CAD software enables them to create detailed, accurate designs that streamline the manufacturing and construction processes, ensuring projects are both innovative and precisely executed. Advastar connects companies with top-tier CAD Designers who drive innovation and precision in every project. We place these people on the Freeport and Texas City corridors and the industrial capital work around it.
Focused on translating design ideas into comprehensive technical drawings, CAD Drafters excel in precision and clarity. Their work provides the essential documentation needed for construction, manufacturing, and engineering projects, making sure every detail is accurately represented and ready for implementation. Advastar offers access to skilled CAD Drafters who support projects with reliable, high-quality technical documentation. Houston demand for these roles runs through the Texas Medical Center, and we staff it across Montgomery and Brazoria counties.
Infrastructure projects like roads, bridges, and public buildings demand the expertise in structural analysis, materials science, and project management that a civil engineer brings to the table. Advastar provides our clients with access to a network of qualified engineers who are well-versed in the latest technologies and industry best practices, delivering the talent you need to build strong, reliable infrastructure. We place these people on the Freeport and Texas City corridors and the industrial capital work around it.
Skilled construction engineers are essential for the success of any building project. Their expertise in the technical aspects of construction projects, combined with their knowledge of budgeting, compliance, and project management, ensures that designs are implemented correctly. Advastar specializes in connecting companies with top talent who can drive your projects to completion. In Houston, this is most often energy and petrochemical work – the Houston Ship Channel being the obvious example.
Design Engineers are innovators who craft creative, functional solutions for complex engineering challenges. Their role involves conceptualizing, testing, and refining designs to meet both performance and aesthetic criteria, ensuring that each product not only works effectively but also pushes the boundaries of industry standards. Advastar provides access to expert Design Engineers who are committed to transforming visionary ideas into reality. In Houston, this is most often energy and petrochemical work – the Houston Ship Channel being the obvious example.
With their specialized knowledge in areas like power systems and automation, electrical engineers are needed across industries, and this creates a competitive hiring landscape. That’s especially the case when it comes to candidates who have expertise in emerging technologies like renewable energy. Advastar’s extensive talent network helps companies connect with this critical talent that can drive innovation in their organization. The Freeport and Texas City corridors is where this shows up in Houston, and we cover it out to Harris and Fort Bend counties.
The demand for skilled mechanical engineers often outpaces the available talent pool. Not only can they be hard to find, but not all professionals in this niche have the specific skill sets needed for construction projects. Advastar connects our clients with vetted professionals who have expertise in energy systems, MEP projects, HVAC system design, building automation, and other key areas to ensure the efficiency and reliability of your building systems. Most of our Houston work in this area has been healthcare and institutional, including the Texas Medical Center.
Our project engineer recruiters fill the role that feeds every project management bench: construction, field, industrial and commissioning engineers. Project engineer means different things in construction, plant and manufacturing settings, so every search starts by pinning down which one you are hiring.
Construction project engineers run submittals, RFIs, drawing control and subcontractor coordination. Industrial and plant project engineers scope and specify equipment and manage installation against an outage window. Field engineers hold layout, quantities and quality at the work face. We screen for trajectory as much as for current capability, because most project managers were project engineers first. Houston demand for these roles runs through the Texas Medical Center, and we staff it across Fort Bend and Montgomery counties.
Sales Engineers serve as the vital link between technical expertise and customer engagement. They combine deep product knowledge with persuasive communication skills to tailor technical solutions that meet client needs, helping companies to build strong, trust-based relationships while driving innovation and revenue growth. Advastar partners with companies to source Sales Engineers who excel at merging innovation with customer-focused strategies. Across Greater Houston, this sits with the energy and petrochemical employers – the Houston Ship Channel among them.
Hiring the right structural engineer is critical for the safety and stability of your project. The structural engineering candidates in Advastar’s network are skilled in areas like load analysis, material selection, and advanced modeling software to ensure your structures can withstand environmental and operational stresses to meet regulatory and performance standards. Across Greater Houston, this sits with the energy and petrochemical employers – the Houston Ship Channel among them.
Staffing expertise for all engineering skillsets
- Agriculture
- Commercial
- Data Center
- Design/
Fabrication
- Food & Beverage
- Heavy Industrial
- Industrial
- Manufacturing
- Oil & Gas
- Petrochemical
- Power Generation
- Power Transmission & Distribution
- Refinery
- Solar/
Wind/ Battery - Transportation
- Water/
Wastewater
Real-world outcomes: showcasing our engineering recruiting expertise
- Read Case Study: Supporting a Complex Pipeline Integrity Project
Supporting a complex pipeline integrity project
- GIS, drafting & design engineers placed
- Regulatory compliance and asset digitization handled
- Assets remapped to federal standards
- Read Case Study: Powering Up a Combined-Cycle Facility
Powering up a combined-cycle facility
- Controls, electrical & mechanical engineers placed
- PLC/HMI programming and grid-integration expertise
- Turbine upgrades brought to current environmental code
- Read Case Study: Automating a Food & Beverage Manufacturing Facility
Automating a food & beverage manufacturing facility
- Process & automation engineers and panel builders placed
- Robotics and PLC-programming expertise delivered
- Higher throughput with food-safety compliance
What hiring managers say about Advastar
Why clients trust Advastar
Forbes 2026Best of Recruiting & Best of Staffing
Advastar was named to Forbes' 2026 Best of Recruiting and Best of Staffing lists, both compiled from independent surveys of the clients and candidates we work with.
Read the AnnouncementGE EnergyStaffing Partner of the Year
GE Energy named Advastar its Staffing Partner of the Year in 2025 through the GE Vernova supplier program.
60+ yearsof combined engineering expertise
Our engineering recruiters bring more than 60 years of combined recruiting experience to every search we run.
Tell us who you need to hire
- Tell us about the role you need to fill
- A recruiter calls you within one business day
- Together we agree on a plan to fill the role
Find your next role
- Tell us what kind of work you want
- A recruiter reviews your details and gets in touch
- We put you forward for jobs that fit
GE Energy Staffing Partner of the Year
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Our houston engineerings: bridging design and delivery recruiting team
David Case
President, Advastar Engineering Services
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Tim Shearer
VP & National Managing Director
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Robert Cornelio
Director of Business Development
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Jaime Summers
Senior Recruiter
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Amanda Martin
Recruiter
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Christen Trent
Recruiter
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Laura Carrillo Barrios
Recruiter
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Lisa Wombwell
Office Manager
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Houston engineering hiring, answered
Most Houston searches produce a shortlist inside two to three weeks. Roles tied to energy, petrochemical and industrial capital projects move faster because we are already talking to that bench; a niche credential or a clearance requirement adds time.
We staff work across Harris, Fort Bend, Montgomery, Brazoria and Galveston counties, with most demand coming from energy, petrochemical and industrial capital projects. Recent activity has clustered around the Houston Ship Channel, the Texas Medical Center and the Freeport and Texas City corridors.
Skilled trades in Greater Houston run $38 to $62 an hour for skilled trades, with salaried engineering roles priced against the same market. We benchmark every search against what Houston employers are actually paying rather than a national average.
Both, plus contract to hire and employer of record payrolling. Project work across Harris, Fort Bend, Montgomery, Brazoria and Galveston counties tends to start as contract and convert; corporate and leadership roles are usually direct hire from the start.
Texas licensing applies to the trades that require it, and site access on the Houston Ship Channel work often carries its own safety and background requirements. We verify credentials before a candidate reaches your shortlist.
Yes. Our Houston office serves Harris, Fort Bend, Montgomery, Brazoria and Galveston counties, and the recruiters working your search know Greater Houston rather than covering it from another state.
The Houston office
2100 Travis StHouston, TX 77002



