Hillis-Carnes Engineering Associates, Inc.
Hillis-Carnes Engineering Associates is a 100% employee-owned civil engineering consulting firm delivering geotechnical, construction materials testing, environmental, and specialty construction services through 21+ branch offices across the Mid-Atlantic and Caribbean.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1989
- HeadquartersAnnapolis Junction, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Hillis-Carnes Engineering Associates, Inc. does
Hillis-Carnes Engineering Associates, Inc. (HCEA) is a 100% employee-owned civil engineering consulting firm headquartered in Annapolis Junction, Maryland. Founded in 1989 by Richard Hillis, PE and William M. Carnes, PE, the company provides a multi-disciplinary portfolio including geotechnical engineering, construction materials testing and inspection (CMT), environmental consulting, geostructural engineering, deep foundations, specialty construction, laboratory testing, industrial hygiene, drone inspections, and geoscience services. It serves public and private sector clients across the Mid-Atlantic region (Maryland, Washington DC, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia, New Jersey, and Florida-Sarasota) and has one international office in Barbados. The company has grown to over 400 employees, including 20+ Professional Engineers, and is staffed with personnel certified by NICET, ACI, AWS CWI, and other industry credentials.
HCEA's technology stack centers on physical engineering assets (a diverse fleet including the Geoprobe 7822DT drill rig, PDA testing rigs with CAPWAP analysis, and an ACOE-AASHTO accredited in-house laboratory) augmented by a proprietary software platform. FieldAccess, completed in 2017 after a multi-year development effort, is a custom Windows-tablet application enabling field technicians to enter field data, receive remote job assignments via automated text, work offline, and deliver reports to clients within 24 hours. In July 2023 HCEA added Drone Inspections using DJI Matrice hardware with live-streaming data delivery. The firm operates three wholly owned operating entities: the parent (HCEA), Hillis-Carnes Capitol Services, PLLC (HCCS, an ACOE-AASHTO accredited D.C.-area lab), and Clendenin Consulting & Remediation Group (CCRG, an environmental services firm acquired in 2022). Recent project work spans major public infrastructure (Pennsylvania Turnpike P3 bridge reclamation, $3.7B I-66 Outside the Beltway), institutional builds (Heinz Field, Audi Field, Mount Nittany Health), and complex remediation (former Allied Chemical Plant at Exelon Harbor Point).
HCEA makes money through project-based professional services fees priced by scope, complexity, and client requirements, with multi-year contract cadences on larger engagements. Distribution is exclusively direct, delivered through 21+ regional branch offices that place engineers and field technicians on client project sites. GTM is relationship-driven enterprise field sales backed by industry event participation (NAIOP Maryland, podcasts), recruiting-driven employer branding, and community involvement. Notable employer-of-choice signals include consecutive ENR Top 500 rankings (climbing from #403 in 2016 to #347 in 2024), Baltimore Business Journal Fast 50 recognition, and NDA Safety Award. Reported design-specific revenue was $58.4 million in 2023, an 11.9% year-over-year increase.
Hillis-Carnes Engineering Associates, Inc. firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Hillis-Carnes Engineering Associates, Inc.
- Legal name
- Hillis-Carnes Engineering Associates, Inc.
- Website
- https://hcea.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1989
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Hillis-Carnes Engineering Associates is a 100% employee-owned civil engineering consulting firm delivering geotechnical, construction materials testing, environmental, and specialty construction services through 21+ branch offices across the Mid-Atlantic and Caribbean.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Hillis-Carnes Engineering Associates, Inc. industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Geotechnical Engineering Consulting
- NAICS
- Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services (54136), Support Activities for Mining (21311)
- SIC
- Services-Engineering Services (8711)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Geotechnical Design, Engineering & Consulting (Analysis, Design, Peer Review) (IMAFAOAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Geotechnical & Subsurface Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAB), Civil & Structural Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAA), Geotechnical Investigation & Site Characterization (Boreholes, In-situ Testing, Lab Testing) (IMAFAOAG), Geotechnical Site Investigation & Engineering Geology (Borings, Lab Testing) (EUAHAFAE)
Keywords
Where Hillis-Carnes Engineering Associates, Inc. is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Annapolis Junction
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices22 records
Markets served
Hillis-Carnes Engineering Associates, Inc. business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Engineering Consulting Services: Professional consulting engineering services including geotechnical engineering, environmental consulting, construction materials testing and inspection, geostructural engineering, and specialty construction. Revenue generated through project-based consulting fees for both public and private sector clients.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Project-based engineering consulting services |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Hillis-Carnes Engineering Associates, Inc. product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Hillis-Carnes Engineering Associates is a multi-disciplinary consulting engineering firm providing geotechnical engineering, construction materials testing and inspection, environmental consulting, subsurface investigations, deep foundations, and specialty construction services. The firm delivers on-site engineering consulting, testing, and inspection services to public and private sector clients throughout the Mid-Atlantic region and Caribbean via 20+ branch offices.
Product overview
Hillis-Carnes Engineering Associates, Inc. is a multi-disciplined consulting engineering firm offering a comprehensive portfolio of services rather than a single unified software product. The core service offerings include Geotechnical Engineering, Testing and Inspections (Construction Materials Testing and Inspection), Subsurface Investigations, Environmental Consulting, Geostructural Engineering, Deep Foundations, Specialty Construction, Facilities Consulting, Construction Consulting, Geoscience, Laboratory Testing (ACOE-AASHTO accredited), Industrial Hygiene, Drone Inspections, and Instrumentation and Monitoring. The company operates through its subsidiary Hillis-Carnes Capitol Services, PLLC (HCCS) in Washington, D.C. Additionally, the firm has developed internal software tools including FieldAccess, a custom field application for data collection and reporting.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Geotechnical Engineering
Quantifiable outcome
- Revenue growth from $34M (2016) to $58.4M (2023), representing 71.8% increase over 7 years
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Hillis-Carnes Engineering Associates, Inc.
Customer profileNamed customers15 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Hillis-Carnes Engineering Associates, Inc. technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Hillis-Carnes Engineering Associates, Inc. partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Clendenin Consulting & Remediation GroupcoreAcquisition of Clendenin Consulting & Remediation Group (CCRG) in Leesburg, Virginia to strengthen environmental consulting capabilities.
- Pennsylvania Turnpike CommissioncoreProviding special materials testing with the PA Turnpike including the P3 bridge reclamation project. Managed by Pittsburgh Branch Manager Justin Zelekovitz.
- Hillis-Carnes Capitol Services, PLLC (HCCS)coreWashington, D.C.-based subsidiary that received lab accreditation from ACOE-AASHTO, providing geotechnical engineering and CMT services.
- Atlantic Geotechnical Services, Inc. (AGS)coreAcquisition of Atlantic Geotechnical Services, Inc. with official name change and branding as part of HCEA.
- FAM ConstructioncoreProviding Construction Materials Testing and Inspections for the I-66 Outside the Beltway transformation project - a $3.7 billion megaproject.
- Maryland Stadium AuthoritycoreWorking with Maryland Stadium Authority and Pendulum on Multi-Use Sports and Events Facility in Hagerstown, MD providing CMT, Environmental, and Geotechnical Engineering Services.
- CA Student Living Investments, LLCcoreContracted to provide Construction Materials Testing and Inspection Services for HERE Pittsburgh student housing development.
- Redbrick LMD, LLCcoreHCCS working with Redbrick LMD providing Geotechnical Engineering Services for The Douglass, a 750-unit apartment community in Washington, D.C.
- NorthPoint DevelopmentcoreProviding Construction Materials Testing and Inspection Services for the new Keystone Trade Center - a $1.5 billion project with five buildings.
- Hunt Construction Group & Mascaro Construction JVcoreWorked with Hunt Construction Group & Mascaro JV for Heinz Field project, managing structural, civil, and architectural testing and inspection services.
- Armada Hoffler Construction Co.coreProviding Environmental Services for Baltimore's Harbor Point Development project.
- Grunley ConstructioncoreContracted to provide Quality Control services for Bird House at the Smithsonian Zoo project.
- Carroll Engineering, IncorporatedcoreWorking with Carroll Engineering to provide Geotechnical Engineering Services for Salisbury University's Blackwell Hall renovations.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Hillis-Carnes Engineering Associates, Inc. competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Terracon Consultants, Inc. Terracon is the largest US geotechnical/environmental engineering firm with a national footprint across all 50 states. It competes most directly with HCEA on geotechnical engineering, construction materials testing, and environmental consulting services for the same developer, general contractor, and government clients.
- ECS Group of Companies (ECS Limited): ECS is a Mid-Atlantic/Southeast-headquartered geotechnical, construction materials, and environmental engineering firm with a multi-state branch model that closely mirrors HCEA's service mix and geographic approach.
- Kleinfelder: Kleinfelder is a multi-disciplinary engineering, environmental, and construction services firm with a strong East Coast presence and a similar portfolio of geotechnical, CMT, and environmental consulting work for infrastructure and private clients.
- Schnabel Engineering: Schnabel is an employee-owned geotechnical and environmental engineering firm with East Coast/Mid-Atlantic operations that overlap HCEA's tunnel, dam, geostructural, and foundation design work.
- Haley & Aldrich: Haley & Aldrich is a national geotechnical and environmental consulting firm with a strong East Coast presence serving the same developer, real estate, and infrastructure clients as HCEA.
- S&ME Inc. S&ME is an employee-owned, multi-state geotechnical, environmental, and construction materials testing firm serving the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic with a similar full-service branch model.
Regional players
- GeoEngineers, Inc. GeoEngineers is a US geotechnical and environmental consulting firm with similar subsurface investigation, geoscience, and CMT capabilities, though its primary footprint is in the Pacific Northwest rather than the Mid-Atlantic.
Broad incumbents
- Tetra Tech, Inc. Tetra Tech is a global consulting and engineering firm with a substantial environmental services and water resources practice that overlaps HCEA's environmental and geotechnical consulting offerings at a much larger scale.
- WSP Global Inc. WSP is a global professional services firm providing earth and environment advisory, geotechnical, and CMT services through acquired US firms, overlapping HCEA's infrastructure and real estate client base.
- TRC Companies, Inc. TRC is a North American engineering, environmental, and consulting firm with environmental remediation, CMT, and infrastructure practices serving similar utility and government clients as HCEA.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Hillis-Carnes Engineering Associates, Inc. social profiles
Digital presenceHillis-Carnes Engineering Associates, Inc. compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Hillis-Carnes Engineering Associates, Inc. financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Hillis-Carnes Engineering Associates, Inc. leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
Hillis-Carnes Engineering Associates, Inc. subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Hillis-Carnes Engineering Associates, Inc. funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Hillis-Carnes Engineering Associates, Inc. M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Hillis-Carnes Engineering Associates, Inc.
What does Hillis-Carnes Engineering Associates, Inc. do?
Hillis-Carnes Engineering Associates is a multi-disciplinary consulting engineering firm providing geotechnical engineering, construction materials testing and inspection, environmental consulting, subsurface investigations, deep foundations, and specialty construction services. The firm delivers on-site engineering consulting, testing, and inspection services to public and private sector clients throughout the Mid-Atlantic region and Caribbean via 20+ branch offices.
Is Hillis-Carnes Engineering Associates, Inc. a public or private company?
Hillis-Carnes Engineering Associates, Inc. is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Hillis-Carnes Engineering Associates, Inc. founded?
Hillis-Carnes Engineering Associates, Inc. was founded in 1989. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Hillis-Carnes Engineering Associates, Inc. based?
Hillis-Carnes Engineering Associates, Inc. is headquartered in Annapolis Junction, United States, in the North America region.
How does Hillis-Carnes Engineering Associates, Inc. make money?
One revenue line is on record: engineering Consulting Services.
Who are Hillis-Carnes Engineering Associates, Inc.'s main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Terracon Consultants, Inc., ECS Group of Companies (ECS Limited), Kleinfelder, Schnabel Engineering, Haley & Aldrich and S&ME Inc.. GeoEngineers, Inc. is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are Tetra Tech, Inc., WSP Global Inc. and TRC Companies, Inc..
Does Hillis-Carnes Engineering Associates, Inc. have an API?
No public API is recorded for Hillis-Carnes Engineering Associates, Inc..
What industry is Hillis-Carnes Engineering Associates, Inc. in?
Hillis-Carnes Engineering Associates, Inc.'s product category is Geotechnical Engineering Consulting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAFAOAK, Geotechnical Design, Engineering & Consulting (Analysis, Design, Peer Review), with a secondary code of BPAHAIAB, Geotechnical & Subsurface Engineering Consulting. Its NAICS code is 54136 and its SIC code is 8711.