Principal Engineer

City of Escondido•Escondido, CA

19h•Onsite

About The Position

The Utilities Department is seeking a versatile professional with a solid background in wet utilities design and a commitment to continuous process improvement. The ideal candidate is comfortable leading teams, overseeing multiple projects, and collaborating across disciplines to drive successful project outcomes. If you want to join a hardworking team that shares a commitment to provide top-quality municipal services in a prime North County location, consider a career with the City of Escondido. We have an opening for the position of Principal Engineer in our Utilities Department/Wastewater Division. For a complete listing of job duties and qualifications, please refer to the corresponding job description, which can be obtained from the Human Resources Department or downloaded from the City's website. Under general direction, supervises, assigns, reviews, and participates in the work of staff responsible for major and minor engineering, development, and/or construction projects; ensures work quality and adherence to established policies and procedures; and performs a full range of advanced level professional engineering duties involved in completing the more technical and complex tasks relative to assigned area of responsibility.

Requirements

Knowledge of: Operations, services, and activities of assigned engineering program.
Civil, structural, electrical, traffic, geotechnical, and mechanical engineering principles and practices.
Pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations.
Principles of supervision, training, and performance evaluation.
Principles and practices of municipal budget preparation and administration.
Principles and practices of program development and administration.
Principles and practices of project management, administration, and coordination.
Design standards.
General accounting principles and practices.
General construction principles and practices.
Contract administration principles and practices.
Principles of business letter writing and report preparation.
Occupational hazards and standard safety precautions.
Office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and applicable software applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and databases.
Customerserviceprinciplesandtechniques.
Ability to: Coordinate and direct assigned Engineering Division programs, section, and/or workgroup.
Supervise, select, organize, and review the work of assigned staff involved in providing engineering services.
Select, train, and evaluate staff.
Recommend and implement goals, objectives, policies and procedures for providing assigned engineering services and activities.
Understand the organization and operation of the City and of outside agencies as necessary to assume assigned responsibilities.
Understand, interpret, and apply general and specific administrative and departmental policies and procedures as well as applicable federal, state, and local policies, laws, and regulations.
Prepare clean and concise administrative, engineering and financial reports.
Participate in the development and administration of program goals, objectives, and procedures.
Research, analyze, and evaluate new service delivery methods and techniques.
Participate in the preparation and administration of assigned budgets.
Prepare project scope and contract documents.
Prepare and review the preparation of plans and specifications for a variety of public works projects.
Analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions and implement recommendations in support of goals.
Interpret and apply federal, state, and local policies, laws, and regulations.
Read and interpret engineering and construction plans and specifications and interpret them to others.
Prioritize multiple, complex projects and programs within specific time frames.
Compile data, maintain records and files, and participate in the preparation of clear and concise reports.
Oversee and participate in the provision of a high level of customer service to internal and external customers.
Work cooperatively with other departments, City officials, and outside agencies.
Respond to requests and inquiries from the general public; tactfully and courteously represent the Public Works Department during public contacts.
Operate office equipment including computers and supporting word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications.
Demonstrate an awareness and appreciation of the cultural diversity of the community.
Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in civil engineering or a closely related field.
Six years (full-time equivalent) of responsible civil engineering experience including two years (full-time equivalent) of project management, administrative, and/or supervisory responsibility.
Possession of a valid California Certificate of Registration as a Professional Civil Engineer is required.
Possession of an appropriate, valid driver's license.

Responsibilities

Plans, prioritizes, assigns, supervises, reviews, and participates in the work of staff responsible for major and minor engineering, development, and/or construction projects including projects in the private development sector, Capital Improvement Program (CIP) projects, and federally funded projects.
As assigned, oversees the Engineering Design Section including the preparation of survey requests, environmental initial studies forms, project design including computer drafting of plans, bid specifications, engineering elements of projects as required, bid documents, and City Council agenda items for award of bids; monitors all projects in design.
As assigned, serves as project manager for federally funded projects including federally funded street improvement projects; prepares grant funding applications and budgets; develops project scope; prepares consultant agreements; coordinates, selects, and manages consultants; reviews plans, specifications, and estimates; coordinates project approvals; prepares and monitors project schedules.
As assigned, serves as project manager and City representative for multi-agency programs and projects; prepares plans and correspondence; attends meetings and presents information; develops regional procedures.
Establishes schedules and methods for providing assigned services; identifies resource needs; reviews needs with appropriate management staff; allocates resources accordingly.
Participates in the development of goals and objectives as well as policies and procedures; makes recommendations for changes and improvements to existing standards, policies, and procedures; participates in the implementation of approved policies and procedures; monitors work activities to ensure compliance with established policies and procedures.
Participates in the selection of assigned professional and paraprofessional staff as well as contractors and consultants; provides or coordinates staff training; works with employees to correct deficiencies; implements discipline procedures.
Responds to and resolves citizen and staff inquiries, concerns, and complaints in a timely and effective manner.
Performs the more technical and complex tasks of the work unit including preparing plans, specifications, and calculations for special City projects as necessary.
Performs constructability review of plans and specifications for assigned projects; reviews structural calculation from other departments as necessary.
Prepares project certifications; prepares requests for project authorizations; prepares invoices for reimbursement; documents procedures and approvals.
Processes invoices for consultant and other agency services; reviews invoices; confirms work in progress and schedule; monitors budgets; approves invoices; appeals incorrect invoices.
Participates in the preparation and administration of the assigned program and/or project budget; submits budget recommendations; monitors expenditures.
Maintains records concerning operations and programs; prepares reports on operations and activities.
Serves as staff on a variety of boards, commissions, and committees including City commissions, councils, and planning groups; prepares and presents staff reports and other necessary correspondence.
Attends and participates in professional group meetings; maintains awareness of new trends and developments in the field of engineering; incorporates new developments as appropriate into programs.
Performs related duties as required.

Benefits

The City of Escondido is committed to a drug and alcohol free workplace.
All applicants will be subject to fingerprint investigation before a conditional offer of employment is extended.
A pre-employment medical examination will be conducted following a conditional offer of employment for all positions.
Safety sensitive positions will include a pre-employment drug screen.
Positions subject to the Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations will be subject to DOT pre-employment drug testing and random drug and alcohol testing.
All positions require the ability to read, write and speak English.
All appointments are subject to the successful completion of background investigation including LIVESCAN fingerprinting, and will be required to submit verification of the legal right to work in the United States.
Qualification by a medical examination will be required at the time of appointment.
After appointment, classified employees must satisfactorily complete a probationary period to be eligible for regular status.
In accordance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, all new employees must produce proof of eligibility to work in the United States within the first three days of their employment.
The City of Escondido participates in E-Verify®.
The Loyalty Oath will be administered to all new employees on their first day of hire.
New employees hired into positions that require a driver's license must provide proof of a valid California Driver's License of the appropriate class level on their first day of employment.
Additional information regarding the essential functions and physical, environmental and communication demands of the position may be obtained from the Human Resources Department.
If you require reasonable accommodation in the testing process, such as an alternate means of testing, you must contact the Human Resources Department by the final filing date to complete a Request for Reasonable Accommodation form.
The provisions of this bulletin do not constitute an express or implied contract.
Any provision contained in this bulletin may be modified or revoked without notice.
Pursuant to California Civil Code section 1786.53, the City of Escondido shall provide to all job candidates a copy of any records of arrest, indictment, conviction, civil judicial action, tax lien or outstanding judgment which was obtained in the course of conducting an evaluation for employment, assignment, and/or promotion.
A copy of this information, if received by the City, will be given to candidates within seven days of the City's receipt.
Eligible individuals are those who meet the following criteria: Served in the U.S. armed forces Received an honorable discharge Did not retire from military service Seeking employment with the City of Escondido for the first time.
Guard and Reserve active duty for training purposes does not qualify for veterans' preference.
Proof of eligibility (copy of DD-214) must be submitted at time of application, or later if the promulgation of the eligibility list will not be delayed.
Veterans' preference credit will only be applied to eligible applicants who attained a passing grade (total score exclusive of credit) on the final open examination.
The City of Escondido does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, disability, sex, age, national origin, or sexual orientation.
We will attempt to reasonably accommodate applicants with disabilities upon request.