Principal Engineer

The City of Carlsbad seeks a Principal Engineer with strong working knowledge of Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Project Management and transportation and storm drainage engineering principles to join the Transportation Department of the Public Works Branch. The Principal Engineer is the second management level in the engineering professional series and will report to the Transportation Director/City Engineer.

The Principal Engineer will manage and perform professional engineering tasks that include organizing and managing the CIP projects for the Transportation Department, contract administration, project and grant management, reviewing bid documents including plans, specifications, and cost estimates, and managing compliance with applicable Federal, State, and SANDAG grants and regulations as assigned.

The City of Carlsbad embraces diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace and recognizes the vital relationship of a culturally diverse, engaged work environment and innovative excellence. A diverse, equitable and inclusive work climate comprises personal experiences, values, and views shaped from differences of culture and circumstance. Our organization appreciates belonging, creativity, recognition and retention of its employees and is committed to hiring and developing motivated, productive and talented employees who provide services and enhance our quality of life. We work to embrace open and equitable access to opportunities for learning and development as our responsibility and goal.

Carlsbad - The Community:

This nearly 40 square mile city is ideally situated in north San Diego County with an approximate population of 115,000. It offers a great climate, beautiful beaches, lagoons and abundant natural open space. World class resorts, family attractions, well planned neighborhoods, a diverse business sector and a charming village atmosphere combine to create the ideal California experience.

The Department:

The Transportation Department supports the planning, design, and assists in construction and inspection of the city transportation and drainage capital projects; keeps people and traffic moving; and maintaining the transportation and drainage infrastructure systems.

Under the direction of the Transportation Director/City Engineer, the Principal Engineer will oversee and help manage implementation of the department's CIPs in collaboration with the department's four Division Managers/Superintendents including the Engineering Manager, City Traffic Engineer, Transportation Planning and Mobility Manager, and Streets and Storm Drain Maintenance Division Public Works Superintendent.

This position will assist with developing and administering the goals, priorities, policies and programs for the department. Key areas of focus will include serving as the lead for process and continuous improvement efforts and for managing the execution of the department's CIP priorities, from project initiation to construction closeout, including Strategic Plan transportation priority projects.

The Principal Engineer will manage execution of the department's CIP projects including prioritization of work, project schedules and progress updates, working directly with the Transportation Director/City Engineer and the other division managers such as the Engineering Manager, City Traffic Engineer, Transportation Planning and Mobility Manager, and Streets and Storm Drain Maintenance Division Public Works Superintendent.

The Principal Engineer will work closely and collaboratively with other departments including Community Development, Police, Fire, Utilities, and Construction Management and Inspection as needed to deliver the department's CIP.

Job Functions Include:

• Lead and champion continuous improvement efforts to standardize procedures and improve operational efficiencies in assigned focus areas.
• Oversee the development, implementation and maintenance of the Transportation Department's CIP projects. This includes scope development, optimizing resource use and ensuring projects align with the city's strategic plan and department's program goals.
• Participate in the CIP Development Team meetings to coordinate the Transportation Department's CIP projects and facilitate decision-making processes and risk analysis for project inclusion and prioritization.
• Manage the preparation of status reports to include the five-year CIP and 15-year forecast, providing updates on status of schedule and budget to management and prepare presentations to city management and the City Council.
• Identify opportunities for improving service delivery methods and procedures, and identify resource needs including overseeing development, implementation and updates of the Transportation Department's Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) program.
• Develop and update engineering directives, guidelines, standard drawings, standard technical specifications and other technical administrative policies and procedures.
• Coordinate, recommend and prepare information for transportation grant applications.
• Make recommendations to maximize the utilization of city allocated resources, including funds and budgets, and work closely with the Finance Department and the Transportation Department's Management Analyst to balance financial resources.

Typical duties assigned to this position include but are not limited to:

• Provide leadership, mentoring and career development for the department.
• Organize, prepare and assist others in preparing staff reports to the City Council, attend and present at the City Council and the Traffic Safety & Mobility Commission meetings or other agency meetings as required. Represent the city in community and at professional meetings as required.
• Review and evaluate bid documents and studies for complex public projects for conformance with the city, federal, state and regional regulations and codes.
• Participate in the development of standard engineering specifications, criteria and policy and procedure statements on engineering matters.
• Assist other city departments/divisions and the general public in the interpretation of city ordinances, policies, regulations and procedures.
• Manage the preparation of Request for Qualifications and Request for Proposals and evaluate Statements of Qualifications and Proposals. Coordinate work with Contracts Administration in the development and execution of various agreements and contracts such as professional service agreements and construction contracts.
• Manage the preparation and submit applications and secure permits for various projects and tasks including those required from the State of California Department of Transportation, County of San Diego, San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, California Coastal Commission and other regulatory agencies.
• Identify and coordinate with all project stakeholders & regulatory agencies. Coordinate project design and development. Identify requirements for project approval and prepare schedules and budgets. Obtain necessary permits, CEQA approval and negotiate and obtain easements for public improvements.
• Assist in the preparation and administration of operational budgetary and annual CIP budget report.
• Interact and engage with the public and professionals while implementing important CIP projects.
• Provide and/or supervise engineering staff and consultants in the planning, programming, designing and construction support services for CIP and public works projects.
• Assist in the Preparation of Master plans and fee programs for transportation and storm drain infrastructure.
• Coordinate CIP program management related activities with other city departments, divisions and outside agencies.

To perform a job in this classification, an individual must be able to perform the essential duties as generally described in the specification. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties in a specific job. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required.

• 8+ years proven experience working in a similar role, for a public agency or as a consultant
• Able to work independently and with a team
• Able to speak to all levels of staff and various agencies
• Skilled, effective and compelling communicator, with both written and oral presentations
• Problem-solving; able to offer alternative solutions to complex situations
• Understands the principles, practices and methods of civil engineering with an emphasis on transportation infrastructure
• Extensive experience program management and providing engineering support services for the Transportation Department's CIP projects

• Advanced transportation engineering and program management practices as applied to municipal public works.
• Techniques and methods for preparing designs, plans, specifications, cost estimates, technical reports, and recommendations related to transportation and public works projects.
• City policies and procedures governing engineering operations.
• Applicable federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations, policies and procedures related to the engineering, development and construction of projects.
• Principles, practices and techniques of public administration including budget and personnel administration.
• Municipal operations as they relate to other city branches, departments and divisions
• Principles and techniques of supervision and management.
• The city's mission, vision and values.

Ability to:

• Perform program management and technical civil and transportation engineering work of a complex nature with a minimum of supervision
• Communicate clearly and concisely, orally and in writing
• Supervise, train and evaluate professional and technical staff
• Plan, organize and direct the activities of assigned area of responsibility
• Apply initiative and be innovative within all aspects of the work
• Understand the organizational structure of the city and the roles and responsibilities of this position and how they relate to the organization
• Interpret applicable laws, rules and regulations
• Develop and administer a division budget
• Prepare and analyze technical reports, statements, contracts and legal documents
• Establish and maintain cooperative relationships
• Maintain effective work relationships with staff, other governmental agencies, contractors and the general public

Any combination of experience and education that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

• A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in civil engineering or a related field is required
• Master's degree is preferable and may be substituted for work experience
• Minimum eight years of increasingly responsible and professional engineering experience involving the design and construction of a variety of public facilities and projects, including a special focus in transportation engineering
• Two years of experience in a supervisory capacity