Project Engineer - Tunnels Construction Management

Mott MacDonald•Los Angeles, CA

1d•$126,000 - $154,000•Hybrid

About The Position

We are seeking a talented and motivated Project Engineer to support the construction delivery of major tunneling and underground infrastructure projects across Southern California and beyond. The role is anticipated to include secondment to a construction site, working closely with the owner, construction management team, designer, and contractor on the Los Angeles Sanitation (LASAN) Outfall Tunnel Program and other critical infrastructure projects. As part of the site-based construction management team, you will monitor construction activities, coordinate technical and contractual interfaces, review contractor submittals, maintain project records, and support timely resolution of field issues. This position is ideal for an engineer who combines tunneling knowledge with practical judgment and strong communication skills.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, or a related discipline.
7+ years of experience in tunneling, underground construction, heavy civil infrastructure, or construction management.
Demonstrated experience working in a field or site-based role on transportation, water/wastewater, energy, or related infrastructure projects.
Practical knowledge of tunneling and underground construction methods, including shafts, excavation support, concrete works, ground support, grouting, and tunnel boring machine operations.
Experience reviewing contractor submittals, RFIs, work plans, method statements, inspection records, schedules, and change documentation.
Understanding of construction safety, quality assurance, contract administration, document control, and project controls practices.
Ability to interpret drawings, specifications, contract requirements, and technical reports and apply them to field conditions.
Strong written and verbal communication, coordination, recordkeeping, and stakeholder management skills.

Nice To Haves

Professional Engineer (PE) license preferred, or ability to obtain licensure within a defined timeframe.
A proactive, field-oriented approach to construction delivery and issue resolution.
Sound judgment, attention to detail, and the ability to maintain clear contemporaneous records.
Ability to work effectively with owners, contractors, designers, inspectors, and multidisciplinary teams in a fast-paced site environment.
A commitment to safe execution, quality workmanship, schedule awareness, and collaborative problem-solving.

Responsibilities

Serve as a site-based member of the construction management team for tunneling, shaft, underground structure, and associated surface works.
Monitor contractor activities for general conformance with contract documents, approved submittmits, permits, and project procedures.
Perform regular field observations and document construction progress, labor and equipment, work activities, constraints, and notable site conditions in daily reports.
Coordinate responses to requests for information, field queries, design clarifications, nonconformance reports, and other technical issues arising during construction.
Review contractor submittals, work plans, method statements, shop drawings, material data, inspection and test plans, and temporary works packages for completeness and coordination.
Track submittals, RFIs, action items, nonconformances, change issues, and other construction management logs through timely closure.
Support quality assurance activities, including inspection coordination, review of testing and inspection records, verification of corrective actions, and compilation of turnover documentation.
Participate in progress, coordination, quality, look-ahead, and issue-resolution meetings; prepare meeting notes and follow up assigned actions.
Review contractor schedules, short-term look-ahead plans, progress updates, and quantity records; identify emerging constraints or variances and support recovery planning.
Assist with measurement and verification of completed work, review of payment application backup, and maintenance of records supporting quantities and progress.
Support evaluation and documentation of potential changes, differing site conditions, claims, and time impacts by maintaining contemporaneous records and coordinating technical input.
Coordinate interfaces among the owner, contractor, designer, inspectors, utility representatives, operations staff, and other project stakeholders.
Support environmental, permit, community-impact, traffic, access, and site logistics coordination as required for the work.
Assist with testing, commissioning, punch-list management, as-built record review, closeout, and handover activities.
Promote a strong culture of health, safety, quality, inclusion, and collaboration, and promptly escalate significant site risks or concerns.