For Experienced AEC Professionals

Your Expertise.
Your Schedule.
Your Rate.

You've earned your license, your reputation, and your right to say no to bad projects. Buildtal connects experienced AEC professionals with consulting gigs worth taking — on terms that work for your life.

Join as Consultant → Browse Gig Opportunities

Free to join. No exclusivity. Work as much or as little as you want.

$75–$175
Typical hourly rates
4+
Contract gigs/week
100%
You set the rate
From Buildtal Consultants
"Retired from Jacobs after 32 years. Didn't want to stop working — just wanted to stop going to 14 status meetings a week. Buildtal let me pick three interesting projects and say no to everything else."
RM
Robert M., PE
Civil/Structural · 32 yrs AEC
★★★★★
"I'm 61, still sharp, still licensed, and I'll do 20 hours a week on complex structural review. Buildtal gets that. LinkedIn did not."
DS
Diane S., PE, SE
Structural · 28 yrs practice
★★★★★
✓ Set your own hourly or project rate
✓ Accept only the projects you want
✓ No non-compete or exclusivity clauses
✓ Your credentials front and center
Why Buildtal for Consultants

Experienced professionals
deserve better than job boards.

Generic platforms treat 35 years of AEC experience the same as a recent grad. Buildtal surfaces your credentials, your specializations, and your terms — not just a PDF resume.

$

Set Your Rate

You set the hourly or project rate on your profile. Employers see it before reaching out — no games, no "what are your expectations." Your number, your floor.

Your rate, visible upfront
✓

Choose Your Projects

Browse available contracts and consulting gigs. Accept only what fits your availability and interests. Turn down the rest without awkward conversations.

Full project visibility
⧗

No Full-Time Commitment

20 hours a week. Three months. One specific deliverable. Buildtal supports every engagement model — from spot expert reviews to extended project oversight.

Any scope, any duration
Types of Consulting Work

Projects worth taking
at rates worth accepting.

A sample of consulting engagements posted by verified AEC employers on Buildtal right now. All rates are employer-confirmed, not aspirational.

Structural Engineering
Peer Review — High-Rise Residential Frame
$145/hr 6–8 weeks Remote OK
SE/PE required. Review lateral force resisting system and connections. 40–60 hrs total. Report deliverable.
Construction Management
Owner's Rep — Municipal Water Treatment
$115/hr 12 months On-Site 2 days/wk
CCM or CM-Lean preferred. Oversight of $28M water treatment facility construction. Flexible schedule.
Civil Engineering
Technical Expert — Infrastructure Litigation
$175/hr As needed Depo + Remote
Expert witness support for infrastructure dispute. PE required. Deposition and possible trial testimony.
Safety
Safety Program Audit — Mid-Size GC
$95/hr 4 weeks On-Site 3 days
CSP preferred. Comprehensive audit of safety program across 3 active job sites. Report + recommendations.
MEP Engineering
Commissioning Support — Data Center Expansion
$125/hr 6 months Hybrid
Cx agent support for mechanical and electrical systems. 20–25 hrs/week max. Flexible on start date.
Project Controls
Schedule Recovery — Delayed Hospital Project
$105/hr 3 months Remote + Monthly Site
P6 proficiency required. Develop recovery schedule and earned value baseline for $85M hospital. Remote primary.
How It Works

From profile to first
consulting gig in four steps.

1

Set Up Your Consultant Profile

Add your credentials, specializations, availability (hours/week), and the rate you want. Your profile shows exactly what you bring to the table — 35 years of that.

2

Browse Matching Gigs

See contracts filtered to your experience, location preferences, and availability. Every gig shows the full rate, scope, and duration upfront. No surprises.

3

Apply or Get Found

Apply directly to gigs you want, or let employers come to you. Your profile is searchable by verified employers who know what PE, SE, CCM, and CSP actually mean.

4

Engage on Your Terms

Negotiate directly with employers. Set your schedule, scope, and deliverables. No platform in the middle of your contract — just a clean introduction.

From Buildtal Consultants

Real feedback from
experienced AEC professionals.

"
I spent 30 years as a project manager at large GCs. When I scaled back, I expected to be invisible to the market. Buildtal changed that. Three engagements in four months, all remote-friendly, all at my rate.
JT
James T., CCM
Construction Management · 30 yrs
★★★★★
"
The platform shows my PE license and my sector specializations — airports, transit — front and center. That's what gets me the right calls. Not my LinkedIn summary that nobody reads.
MK
Margaret K., PE
Civil/Transportation · 27 yrs
★★★★★
"
Expert witness work, peer reviews, training programs — I do all three through Buildtal now. The employers are real, the rates are posted, and nobody wastes my time with lowball offers.
PW
Philip W., SE, PE
Structural Engineering · 34 yrs
★★★★★
Market Rate Guide

Know what your expertise
is worth on the open market.

These are typical consulting rates for experienced AEC professionals on Buildtal. Your specific rate depends on credentials, specialization, and engagement type.

Expertise Typical Rate Engagement
PE (Civil/Structural)
$95–$155/hr
Contract
SE (Structural)
$110–$175/hr
Contract
CCM / Owner's Rep
$85–$130/hr
Contract
Expert Witness (PE)
$150–$250/hr
Project
Safety Director (CSP)
$75–$110/hr
Contract
MEP / Cx Engineer
$90–$140/hr
Contract
Project Controls / P6
$80–$120/hr
Contract

Your profile, your rate floor.

When you set your rate on Buildtal, it becomes visible to employers before they reach out. No more lowball inquiries from firms who "just wanted to see if you're flexible."

Your credentials — PE, SE, CCM, CSP, AIA — are displayed as verified badges. Employers who find you on Buildtal already know what they're getting.

  • Rate visible to employers before first contact
  • Credentials verified, not self-reported
  • Specializations searchable by sector and skill
  • Availability shown as hours-per-week, not "open"
  • You choose who gets your contact info

Your experience is rare.
Treat it that way.

Join as a consultant, set your rate, and start getting found by employers who understand what 30 years in AEC actually means.

Join as Consultant →
✓ Free to join
✓ Set your own rate
✓ No exclusivity
✓ Work when you want