Principal Engineering Lead

SSA Marine•Long Beach, CA

3d•$200,000 - $250,000

About The Position

The Principal Engineering Lead is responsible for overall engineering strategy, technical governance, and delivery of engineering activities for the POLA (Port of Los Angeles) Cruise Terminal Project, from FEL2 through EPC execution, commissioning, and handover. Acting as SSA Marine’s technical authority in an Owner-led Progressive Design-Build (PDB) model, the role develops a robust, optimized, and constructible technical baseline aligned with cost, schedule, operability, and risk objectives. The position oversees the Engineering & Design Criteria Document (DCD) Integrator, ensures engineering maturity at each FEL stage-gate, and integrates design with permitting, procurement, and construction. It helps de-risk the project before GMP/Lump Sum conversion and ensures engineering supports safe, efficient execution. The project is multi-phase and spans several locations. During the initial phase, estimated to last 2–3 years, the employee may work from the Seattle, Washington office or travel from Southern California to the Seattle office at least monthly. In the following phase, the employee must be willing to relocate to or reside near Long Beach, California. The role includes travel to project sites and multiple regions, and may require extended off-site stays. Required duties are normally performed in a climate-controlled office, with occasional work in extreme outdoor temperatures. The role involves exposure to computer screens and work in a safety-sensitive environment with moving equipment and potential operational hazards. Noise is usually moderate. The position has no supervisory responsibilities.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, such as Civil, Structural, Mechanical, Electrical, or a related discipline.
12–15 years of progressive engineering and project delivery experience in large infrastructure, port, marine terminal, or heavy industrial projects.
Proven experience leading engineering delivery for projects exceeding USD 500 million.
Strong experience with Owner, EPCM, Design-Build, or hybrid delivery models.
Demonstrated experience with FEL stage-gate processes and engineering governance frameworks.
Strong understanding of multidisciplinary engineering coordination, constructability and contractor-driven design, and cost estimation and value engineering.
Experience managing engineering consultants and multidisciplinary teams.
Strong technical leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
Proven ability to resolve complex technical challenges and interface issues.
Willingness to relocate to or reside near Long Beach, California during the later project phase.
Ability to travel to project sites and multiple regions, attend required meetings, and undertake extended off-site stays when required.
Ability to work safely in a safety-sensitive environment with moving equipment and potential operational hazards.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree such as an MBA or MSc.
Professional certifications such as PE or PMP.
Experience working in U.S. regulatory environments, including CEQA/NEPA processes.

Responsibilities

Act as SSA Marine’s technical authority for the POLA project across all engineering disciplines.
Establish and enforce engineering standards, design criteria, and quality expectations aligned with SSA Marine and industry best practices; ensure deliverables comply with project requirements, regulations, codes, and standards.
Lead engineering activities through FEL2, FEL3, and EPC execution, ensuring deliverables meet stage-gate maturity requirements and supporting FEL reviews with design bases, technical reports, cost estimates, and schedules.
Apply engineering maturity tools to assess readiness for execution and procurement.
Direct and manage the Engineering and DCD Integrator, setting scope, priorities, deliverables, and performance expectations and monitoring progress, resources, and quality across disciplines.
Ensure timely development of a fit-for-purpose Design Criteria Document to support CEQA and procurement.
Align engineering with the Design-Builder during Progressive Design-Build phases; validate constructability, phasing, and technical solutions with contractor input.
Support cost estimates and technical inputs for GMP/Lump Sum negotiations, and ensure engineering decisions support procurement packaging and construction execution.
Define and manage engineering execution plans, schedules, and deliverable requirements; issue engineering documentation in time to support procurement, fabrication, and construction, including IFC readiness.
Lead multidisciplinary coordination across civil, structural, marine, electrical, mechanical, and systems engineering.
Ensure engineering supports operational requirements, maintainability, and lifecycle performance.
Lead technical interfaces with the Engineering & DCD Integrator, Design Architect, Design-Builder, CEQA/NEPA consultants, POLA stakeholders, and SSA internal functions including Operations, Procurement, Sustainability, Safety, and Technology.
Resolve cross-functional and cross-party technical conflicts.
Own engineering input into CAPEX development, cost estimates, and value engineering; optimize design to balance cost, performance, operability, and risk while avoiding overdesign.
Identify, assess, and mitigate technical and design risks, integrate engineering risks into the project risk framework, and lead technical, constructability, and assurance reviews.
Ensure engineering supports construction sequencing, procurement strategy, and field execution; coordinate with the Construction Manager and Procurement teams to ensure readiness.
Support resolution of technical issues during construction, commissioning, and start-up.
Capture lessons learned and contribute to improving SSA Marine’s engineering standards, governance, and delivery practices.