Karl Wilhelm Ritter (German: Karl Wilhelm Ritter; April 14, 1847 in Liestal (Switzerland) – October 18, 1906 in Zell, Zürich) was a civil engineer, professor of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, and later rector of the Polytechnic Institute of Zurich (1887–1891).

Ritter worked on the statics of engineering structures and the construction of bridges and railways at the Polytechnic Institute of Zurich.

He participated in the work of the Construction Commission of Zurich and the board of the Swiss Union of Engineers and Architects (1896–98).

Ritter developed the first design scheme for tunnel lining to deal with the effects of loads from collapsing rock.

Karl Wilhem's son, Woldemar Ritter (1880–c.1935) would also become a prominent architect, specializing in church buildings.