Principal Engineer

City of Glendale (AZ); Glendale Estates (AL); On-site; USD 113,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Glendale in Arizona seeks a Principal Engineer in the Transportation Department to lead the Street Maintenance division and drive critical roadway projects.

The ideal candidate has a Bachelor’s in Civil, Water Resources or Transportation and five years of professional engineering experience, including one year in a lead or supervisory role, plus PE registration in AZ within six months.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Civil, Water Resources or Transportation.
• Five years of professional engineering experience in the area of assignment, including one year of lead or supervisory experience.
• Registration as a Professional Engineer in Arizona within six months of hire.

Responsibilities

• Plan, organize, and manage the activities of assigned staff within department.
• Reviews, evaluates, and approves civil engineering studies, designs or plans for area of assignment.
• Coordinates city projects with other departments, municipalities, and agencies.
• Prepares written and oral reports for City management, City Council, other departments and the public.
• Manages the Streets and Right of Way divisions.
• Manages the City's Pavement Management Program.

Skills

Civil engineering

Project management

Supervisory experience

Oral & written communication

Bluebeam software

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Tools

Bluebeam

Job description

Posting number: 2026-04808

Department: Transportation

Division: Street Maintenance

Job classification: Principal Engineer

Posting type: Open & Promotional

Categories: Engineering, Transportation

Summary

Salary: This position is a Grade 418 with an annual salary between $113,333 - $170,000.

About Us and the Role:

The City of Glendale's Transportation Department provides quality public roadway facilities and services that support and enhance a safe and high quality of life for our residents, while helping to improve and sustain the environment.

Under general direction, the Principal Engineer performs administrative and advanced professional engineering work and performs a variety of technical tasks relative to area of assignment.

The ideal candidate for the role will have a Bachelor’s Degree in an Engineering specialty such as Civil, Water Resources or Transportation, and five years of increasingly responsible experience as a professional engineer in the area of assignment including one year of lead or supervisory experience.

Benefits:

You can review the FY26-27 Benefits Guide or visit the City of Glendale’s Benefits pagefor more information.

Holiday, Vacation, and Sick Leave:

• The City of Glendale observes 10.5 holidays per year, and full-time employees are also granted an additional 12 hours of holiday special leave per calendar year to celebrate their cultural or religious holidays.
• Vacation leave accrues at 5.33 hours per pay period (138 hours per year), and increases to 6.12 hours after 5 years, and to 7.6 hours after 10 years of service.
• Sick leave accrues at 4.4 hours per pay period (114 hours per year).

Retirement:

• This position participates in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS).
• Contribution is mandatory, and the current contribution rate is 11.98%.

Examples of duties

Note: Specific functions, required knowledge, skills and abilities may vary depending on assignment.

1. Follows personnel and department policies and operating procedures; demonstrates respect, tact, and courtesy to coworkers, contractors, consultants, and general public.
2. Plans, organizes, and manages the activities of assigned staff within department.
3. Reviews, evaluates, and approves civil engineering studies, designs. or plans for area of assignment.
4. Coordinates city projects with other departments, municipalities, and agencies.
5. Prepares written and oral reports for City management, City Council, other departments and the public.
6. Coordinates communication of engineering issues within the department and organization.
7. Maintains technical or professional knowledge through such means as attending seminars, reviewing professional publications, attending classes or participating in developmental activities.
8. Represents the City on professional and technical committees.
9. Depending on area of assignment, operates city vehicles.
10. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Transportation:

1. Responsible for Transportation engineering projects and acts as the City’s technical expert in area of assignment.
2. Responsible for the short-and long-range planning, budgeting, and implementation of the roadway programs.
3. Participates in the planning process for new development and redevelopment of existing commercial and industrial developments. Provides recommendations during the development pre-application review, design review and plat approval processes.
4. Responds to and resolves citizen inquires and complaints regarding roadway condition projects, infrastructure, signing, striping, and traffic mitigation.
5. Seeks regional funding for the City’s transportation projects when a call for project is made.
6. Coordinates field inventory for street and right of way areas. The field inventory will encompass the City's major arterial, collector, and residential street networks.
7. Manages outside consultant and contractor work.
8. Performs and supervises research, analyzes findings, and prepares recommendations for roadway infrastructure needs.
9. Ensures adherence to city and regional technical specifications.
10. Manages the Streets and Right of Way divisions.
11. Manages the City's Pavement Management Program.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s Degree in an Engineering specialty such as Civil, Water Resources or Transportation, and five years of increasingly responsible experience as a professional engineer in the area of assignment including one year of lead or supervisory experience.

Knowledge of:

• The theory, principles and practices of civil engineering
• Professional literature and sources of information for the discipline in area of assignment
• Research and statistical methods and procedures applied to discipline in area of assignment
• Project contracts and project delivery methods to include, job order contracting, construction manager at risk, design bid build etc.
• Project management and supervisory practices
• Public works design, standards and construction methods, materials and techniques used in the construction of public works projects
• City and state laws, ordinances, statutes and regulations governing municipal engineering
• City’s public works infrastructure
• Basic contract law, bond and insurance requirements
• Maintaining and managing budgets

Ability to:

• Effectively supervise and evaluate the work of subordinate personnel
• Prepare and monitor a division and/or project budget
• Prepare or review plans, designs, and project specifications
• Sign and seal engineering plans and documents
• Make decisions regarding project priorities, costs, and alternatives
• Perform research, analyze findings, prepare and present reports to city management
• Effectively communicate both orally and in writing with internal and external customers
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with city staff, contractors, counterparts in other agencies, and the public
• Operate a computer and engineering applications
• Able to use Bluebeam software
• Operate city vehicles, depending on area of assignment

Special Requirements:

• Registration as a Professional Engineer at time of application.
• Registration as a Professional Engineer in the State of Arizona within six months of hire.
• Depending on area of assignment:
  • Valid Arizona Driver’s License.
  • This position is classified as safety-sensitive which requires candidates to successfully undergo drug and alcohol testing prior to employment. They will be subject to further drug and alcohol testing throughout their period of employment in accordance with the City of Glendale Substance Abuse policy. A post-offer physical assessment is required. The City of Glendale will incur the cost of all required testing.

Success Factor Classification Level - Professional/Supervisory

This position description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the position change.

Supplemental information

Depending on area of assignment, enters, exits, and operates city vehicles. Climb stairways, ladders, and work on elevated structures. Traverse uneven surfaces. Traverse long distances during workday with or without an accommodation. Work in stationary position for considerable periods of time. Work at a desk or computer station for prolonged periods. Extensive reading and close vision work. Most work is performed in a City office setting with some work performed outdoors on site moving over rough and/or uneven terrain. Exposure to heat, cold, dampness, dust, pollen, odors, fumes, etc. Exposure to hazards of electrical shock, falls, noise, equipment operations, etc. Occasional work next to live traffic.