Utility Research Operations Specialist

ABOUT CIVILGRID

CivilGrid is the trusted civil design platform powering affordable infrastructure renewal and growth. We give utilities, civil engineers, and municipalities a single, collaborative source of truth for what's underground so teams can plan, design, and build faster, smarter, and safer.

Our platform consolidates utility records, geotechnical and environmental data, paving moratoriums, and jurisdictional requirements directly from 3,000+ utilities, agencies, and municipalities with full chain-of-custody documentation. Teams at PG&E, Mark Thomas, and dozens of leading engineering firms use CivilGrid to cut research time by up to 88%, reduce project costs, prevent dig-ins, and accelerate delivery on the projects that keep communities running.

We're a venture-backed Series A startup tackling a $4.7T US infrastructure market that has been underserved by software for decades. Founded by industry insiders, each with 10+ years in utilities and civil engineering, we move fast, ship work that matters, and stay close to the customers and field teams we build for.

WHY THIS ROLE

We’re hiring a Utility Research Operations Specialist to help build and scale a high-performing operation focused on utility data research, agency outreach, and infrastructure intelligence.

This role sits at the intersection of engineering, data, and operations. You’ll be responsible for transforming a fast-growing, high-volume workflow into a structured, scalable system—owning how work gets done, how it improves over time, and how a growing team executes consistently. You will report to the Data Research Manager.

Location

- Hybrid in the Charlotte-Metro region

- 2 days per week in person in Fort Mill, SC

- Must live nearby or be willing to relocate

WHAT YOU'LL DO

Process Design & SOP Development

- Build, document, and continuously improve SOPs across core workflows:

- Utility research

- Agency outreach and follow-ups

- Data intake, validation, and tracking

- Identify inefficiencies and implement scalable solutions to improve speed, consistency, and quality

- Standardize workflows across team members and team leads

Day-to-Day Operations

- Oversee daily execution of utility research and outreach workflows

- Partner with Team Leads to manage workload, priorities, and timelines

- Step in to troubleshoot and unblock complex or high-difficulty requests

- Ensure consistent, professional communication with external agencies

Scaling & Systems

- Build operational frameworks to support team growth (10 → 15+ team members)

- Improve onboarding and training systems to accelerate new hire ramp time

- Partner on tooling and workflow improvements (internal tools, tracking systems, light automation)

- Help evolve how work is assigned, tracked, and completed at scale

- Identify trends and drive process improvements based on data

WHAT YOU'LL BRING

Experience

- 2-5 years of experience in utility engineering, civil engineering, GIS, or a related field

- Familiarity with utility systems (water, sewer, stormwater, electric, gas, telecom) strongly preferred

- Experience working with municipalities, utilities, or public agencies is a plus

Core Skills

- Strong operational mindset—you think in systems and processes

- Ability to create clear, scalable documentation (SOPs, workflows)

- Analytical and detail-oriented; comfortable using data to drive decisions

- Strong communication skills (internal and external)

- Comfortable working in a fast-paced, evolving environment

BONUS POINTS

- Experience with GIS tools (ArcGIS, QGIS)

- Exposure to SQL, data workflows, or tools like Retool

- Experience in a startup or high-growth environment

- Prior experience improving or scaling operational processes

HOW WE WORK

We're a small, but rapidly growing team that ships. Expect direct feedback, real ownership from day one, and proximity to customers — huge utilities, public agencies, and engineering firms whose work depends on what we build. We default to in-person collaboration where it matters and remote-friendly flexibility otherwise. We hire people who care deeply about their craft and the communities our customers serve.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

The base salary range for this role is $85,603 - $100,485.

Base salary is only one part of your total compensation package at CivilGrid, which also includes meaningful early-stage equity, comprehensive benefits, and the opportunity to shape a category-defining company. The base salary range listed above may encompass various levels and/or geographic locations; final offers are determined based on the candidate's experience, skills, level, and work location.

In addition to base and equity, we offer:

- Company-funded medical, dental, and vision insurance — including medical plans at no cost to the employee

- FSA (health and dependent care)

- Unlimited PTO and a culture that expects you to actually use it

- 401(k) plan

- Flexible, remote-friendly work environment

- A high-trust team, real ownership, and the chance to do the most meaningful work of your career

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

CivilGrid is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, pregnancy, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Employment decisions at CivilGrid are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in the application or interview process, please contact us — we're happy to help.