Principal Civil Engineer - Capital Projects (Water)

City of Rockville; Potomac (MD); On-site; USD 75,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Principal Civil Engineer to lead critical projects in water treatment and distribution. This role offers a unique opportunity to manage significant capital improvement initiatives and ensure compliance with regulations while enhancing community infrastructure. You will oversee a talented team, engage in strategic planning, and play a vital role in maintaining the city's water systems. With a strong emphasis on professional development and a supportive work environment, this position promises to be both challenging and rewarding for the right candidate.

Benefits

Generous retirement programs

Annual and sick leave

Tuition reimbursement

Membership at Swim and Fitness Center

Health and Wellness programming

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in civil engineering with a focus on water and wastewater.
• Licensed Professional Engineer in Maryland required.

Responsibilities

• Manage major capital improvement projects for water treatment and distribution.
• Supervise engineering staff and coordinate project execution.

Skills

Civil Engineering Principles

Project Management

Public Works Planning

GIS Software

AutoCAD

Communication Skills

Water/Wastewater Management

Education

Bachelor's in Civil Engineering

Tools

Microstation

Engineering Software

Job description

The City of Rockville has an exciting opportunity for a Principal Civil Engineer to joint our Capital Projects team! The successful candidate will have significant responsibility managing major capital improvement program (CIP) initiatives for our water treatment plant (WTP) and distribution system. This includes various WTP process and equipment upgrades, water main rehabilitation, lead and copper rule regulation compliance, and advanced metering infrastructure implementation. Responsibilities in this role are broad and cover every aspect of work related to the Water Fund such short and long-term planning, budget preparation, system modeling, community outreach, determination of development requirements, bidding and contract administration, construction support, and public presentation. If your expertise is more focused in Sewer, please see our other Principal Civil Engineer opportunity.

Employment with the city presents an exceptional and unique work environment in which you will play a critical part in supporting the lives of our 70,000 residents, businesses, and countless visitors. Our generous benefits package includes significant retirement programs, ample annual and sick leave, membership at the city’s Swim and Fitness Center, tuition reimbursement and training. We also offer a family friendly work/life balance, and various opportunities for employees to participate in Health and Wellness programming.

Job Summary

This position is responsible for performing difficult professional and administrative work in applying professional engineering services to a wide variety of Public Works planning, development, and design projects. The employee manages Public Works Programs to ensure sustainable service delivery in areas such as water and wastewater as well as manages individual design projects and directs and supervises the work of other personnel in a matrix organizational structure towards project execution. This position is responsible for assessing utility deficiencies and requisite infrastructure improvements to support private development. The work has major impact on the City and requires comprehensive knowledge of SWM, utility, and civil engineering in order to review and resolve a variety of unusual, difficult, and technical issues. The work is proactive with high level contacts on matters requiring cooperation, explanation, and persuasion and includes ensuring the adherence to laws, codes, policies, and procedures. The work includes handling multiple complex projects and meeting deadlines in order to facilitate the work of others and the projects. Work is subject to functional policies and goals under general managerial direction of the Engineering Supervisor, with serious consequences.

Functions of all Principal Civil Engineers

• Supervises and coordinates the preparation and review of construction plans, specifications, computations, and contract documents for the Public Works Capital Improvement Projects and development permits prepared by consulting engineers and City staff.
• Performs reviews of complex engineering plans, reports, and computations for compliance with engineering principles and applicable city, county, state, and federal codes, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Assists reviewing laws, regulations, requirements, and standards of the federal government, the state, and non-governmental bodies (such as AWWA or LEED) to identify and assesses changes and recommend changes to the Rockville City Code.
• Reviews the impact of development projects on City water and wastewater infrastructure for conformance with the Adequate Public Facility Standards and recommends improvement to the water and wastewater systems to ensure system integrity.
• Conducts studies; recommends policies, regulations, and procedures; and analyzes fees and rates to achieve division goals.
• Interprets designs and advises on intent issues as they arise, refines or revises designs or adds designs, as necessary, and may resolve design/construction conflicts during the construction phase.
• Prepares and reviews complex construction plans, studies, plats, easements, specifications, and estimates for projects ranging from new construction to repair/modification of existing infrastructure.
• Schedules and reviews the work of lower level engineers to ensure design quality and compliance with City standards, specifications, and good engineering practice, and maintains a status report on all projects.
• Coordinates projects and obtains permits from appropriate City departments, outside agencies, and private utility companies.
• Reviews standards, specifications, ordinance requirements, and regulations within the City in order to recommend modifications and advise on their probable impact.
• Assists and provides advice to inspection personnel to resolve field problems and respond to contract administration inquiries.
• Answers public inquiries regarding projects and other engineering matters; attends and acts as City representative at citizen and community meetings.
• Evaluates proposed development and establishes water, wastewater, and SWM requirements through the Water and Sewer Authorization and the Stormwater Concept approval process to ensure development complies with the City, State, and federal codes, including the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance.
• Drafts proposed legislation for the City Code to stay current with modern standards and practices, and local, state, and federal regulations.
• Receives and resolves inquiries regarding complex complaints from interested parties involving issues that are the purview of the department's codes.
• Assists division chief in the preparation of the operating and CIP budgets and other administrative and personnel duties.
• Manages individual engineering projects and provides estimates for CIP planning, budgeting, and design purposes.
• Supervises engineers and consulting engineers in project execution for the Engineering Division.
• May be required to attend meetings after hours and respond to emergencies.
• Performs other duties as required.

Functions of CIP Construction

• Manages the planning and implementation of Programs, such as the Bridge Rehabilitation Program, Sanitary Sewer Preventative Maintenance Program, or Water Distribution Rehabilitation Program. Program management includes recommending funding levels; identifying, planning and implementing Capital projects; and applying GIS to implement an Asset Management program.
• Manages the A&E contract to ensure adequacy of the A&E firm's work, timeliness, accuracy of construction cost estimates, and appropriate coordination with others, including governmental bodies in the design phase.
• Prepares request for proposal for engineering projects, and serves as staff liaison to consultants on Public Works design projects.
• Plans and designs public infrastructure improvements including water, sewer, stormwater, and bridges implemented through the Capital Improvement Program.

Education and Experience:
Bachelor's degree in civil engineering or environmental engineering from an accredited university or college, plus seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in civil engineering, or any combination of substantially equivalent education and experience.

Special Qualifications:
Must be a licensed Professional Engineer and be registered with the State of Maryland within one year of employment. Possession of (or ability to obtain) certification from the Project Management Institute as a Project Management Professional (PMP), is desirable. Must possess a valid state driver's license.

• Considerable knowledge of the principles and practices of civil engineering.
• Considerable knowledge of the appropriate standards and procedures used in the design and construction of roadway, water, wastewater, storm drainage, stormwater management, sediment control, and other public works construction.
• Considerable knowledge of information sources, research techniques, and reporting standards used in public works engineering.
• Knowledge of government procurement practices, policies, and procedures.
• Skill in program leadership and dealing with a variety of individuals and groups, at all levels, including stakeholder outreach and explaining technical aspects of programs to citizens and groups.
• Skill in critical strategic thinking and project planning.
• Skill in the use of personal computers, GIS, and design software (AutoCAD and/or Microstation).
• Skill in the use of specialized engineering software for water, wastewater, or stormwater modeling.
• Skill in good communication, both written and verbal and excellent human relations skills.
• Skill in making engineering computations, estimates, and designs.
• Skill in the use of word processing and data processing equipment.
• Ability to complete difficult engineering computations and to design a variety of public works projects quickly and accurately.
• Ability to review complex engineering plans, specifications, and documents and to discern and correct errors in design and criteria.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other engineers, employees, contractors, and other persons contacted in the course of the work.
• Ability to plan and assign work for contract engineers, inspectors, surveyors, and lower-level engineers.