Principal Project Engineer Tunnels

Mott MacDonald•Los Angeles, CA

2d•$158,000 - $193,000•Hybrid

About The Position

We are seeking a Principal Tunnels Engineer to support the design and delivery of major tunneling and underground infrastructure projects, primarily within the transportation sector but also supporting water, energy, and other infrastructure programs. Working from our LA office in a hybrid capacity, this role focuses on technical design leadership, project delivery, and mentoring, working within multidisciplinary teams to deliver safe, innovative, and high‑quality solutions across all phases of project development.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering or equivalent (Master’s degree preferred).
Professional Engineer (PE / P.Eng.) license required or ability to obtain within a defined timeframe.
15+ years of experience in tunneling, underground structures, or related heavy civil infrastructure projects.
Proven experience delivering projects across Transportation, Water/Wastewater, Energy, and other infrastructure sectors.
Strong technical proficiency in tunnel and underground design principles, standards, and methodologies.
Experience with engineering software and tools such as PLAXIS, SAP2000, Strand7, RS2/RS3, AutoCAD Civil 3D, MicroStation, BIM platforms, and related analysis tools.
Solid understanding of geotechnical, structural, and environmental considerations in underground works.
Demonstrated ability to lead technical design reviews and manage risk, quality, and technical performance on multidisciplinary projects.
Strong communication and collaboration skills, with a proven ability to mentor and develop junior engineers.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting project management activities such as scheduling, budgeting, and technical reporting is an asset.

Responsibilities

Deliver technical design and analysis for tunnels and underground structures across concept, preliminary, and detailed design phases.
Support and contribute to the delivery of large‑scale tunneling and underground infrastructure projects, particularly major transportation programs.
Provide technical leadership within project teams, resolving complex engineering challenges and ensuring high‑quality outcomes.
Review and validate engineering calculations, reports, drawings, and specifications to ensure compliance with applicable codes, standards, and best practices.
Apply advanced engineering tools, software, and methodologies (e.g., PLAXIS, BIM, Civil 3D) to improve design efficiency and project performance.
Coordinate with multidisciplinary teams, clients, and stakeholders to clarify requirements and deliver practical, cost‑effective solutions.
Contribute technical input to proposals and bids, supporting business development and project acquisition efforts.
Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior engineers, supporting capability development and knowledge sharing within the team.
Stay informed on emerging technologies and industry trends, incorporating innovative approaches where appropriate.
Lead by example in health, safety, and wellbeing, promoting lessons learned and modeling positive safety behaviors.
Champion the organization’s values, code of conduct, and inclusion and diversity, fostering a collaborative and inclusive working environment.