Principal Engineer (Project Coordinator)

Fairfax County; Fairfax (VA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a skilled project manager to oversee complex building design projects that significantly impact critical structures. The ideal candidate will lead a diverse team of engineers, ensuring effective project management and compliance with regulatory standards. This role requires strong leadership and communication skills, as well as a background in engineering or architecture. Join a dynamic team dedicated to delivering high-quality projects that enhance community infrastructure and meet strategic goals. If you're passionate about managing impactful projects and leading talented professionals, this opportunity is perfect for you.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of experience in land planning, engineering, or architecture.
• Professional Engineering (PE) license required.

Responsibilities

• Manage complex building design projects and ensure on-time, on-budget delivery.
• Lead teams and coordinate with multiple stakeholders on project logistics.

Skills

Project Management

Communication Skills

Risk Management

Team Leadership

Technical Expertise in Engineering

Education

Bachelor's degree in Urban/Regional Planning

Bachelor's degree in Architecture

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

Project Management Software

Job description

This position manages a large scale of highly complex, and/or high-profile building design projects, primarily impacting occupied critical structures and associated sub-systems, project identification and development, due diligence, shared infrastructure, financial oversight, design, construction, and handover to operations.

The successful candidate will develop and manage budgets and budget documents for projects as required. May prepare, sign and seal design work, technical studies, etc. as required. Provides management and supervisory oversight as well as lead and develop assigned branch consisting of multiple teams of high-performing licensed mechanical, electrical, structural, etc., engineers (P.E s). Ensures effective management and delivery of on-budget, on-time completion of branch's assigned projects which meet agency requirements and/or overall county goals and strategic plan.

Duties include:

• Directs, coordinates, and manages branch project logistics with multiple agencies, community stakeholders, and project-based matrix organizational teams and resources from a variety of internal and external sources including technical, legal, financial, and other specialty fields.
• Leads a diverse team of project stakeholders in the successful management of assigned projects using a team-based approach and supports project efforts by working closely with other departments/agencies, and organizations to determine more effective processes and tools.
• Maintains positive relationships with regulatory and process development agencies.
• Coordinates project designs, schedules and outcomes with regulatory agencies, senior leadership, state and federal organizations, and all other stakeholders and special interest groups.
• Appraises and profiles the associated project risks and phasing to maintain continuity of business, mitigating operational impacts and preventing closure of services/building. Identifies, communicates, and manages all issues and risks, and develops implements solutions to correct applicable revisions.
• Communicates project status to internal and external project team members, stakeholders, and others timely and accurately. Responds to information requests from elected and appointed officials.
• Serves as the FMD technical expert for coordination, response, resolution, and design of complex engineering solutions for existing, occupied, critical commercial structures.
• Prepares and makes presentations to boards and commissions, as required.

This position description is not intended to be all inclusive. Employees may perform other related duties to meet the ongoing business needs of the organization.

Note: This position is designated as essential personnel; the employee in this position must fulfill emergency services duties.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following:
(Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for "Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to")

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor's degree in Urban/Regional Planning, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Engineering, or a related field, and six years of progressively responsible experience in or affiliated with land planning and/or redevelopment, engineering or architecture, or management of large and complex construction or maintenance projects.

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:

• Valid driver's license
• Professional Engineering (PE) license in the Commonwealth of Virginia or PE license in another state with ability to obtain reciprocity within 6 months in Commonwealth of Virginia.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check and driving record check to the satisfaction of the employer.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Professional Mechanical, Electrical, or Structural Engineer License in Commonwealth of Virginia.
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited University in Engineering.
• At least 10 years’ experience in the engineering and design industry, with at least 3 years in a leadership role as a Senior Engineer or Principal in leading commercial building MEP+ design and strategy for public facilities.
• Experience delivering effective and persuasive presentations on commercial building critical subsystem replacement project documents and information to employees, clients, top management and/or public groups.
• Excellent communication skills both written and spoken.
• Proven track record of 3+ years of experience in a leadership role as a senior Professional Engineer or Principal leading and managing teams of mechanical, electrical, and structural professional engineers in the study, assessment, design, permit, and construction administration of commercial building critical subsystems replacements.
• 3+ years of experience as the primary Professional Engineer leading, developing, reviewing, and approving commercial building critical subsystem replacement assessments, studies, design, permit, and construction projects (over $2M).
• 3+ years of proven experience and track record in leading conversations and directing the execution and prioritization of projects with executive level staff.
• 3+ years of experience directly supervising and accountable for a team of 4+ Professional Engineers in the execution of design, permit and construction administration of commercial building subsystems and subsystems replacement.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Ability to hear normal building equipment and construction alarms and verbal warnings on active construction sites and occupied buildings. Ability to produce handwritten and electronic typed documents. Able to safely climb construction ladders up to 15 feet or more per floor with the potential of multiple floors and able to go up and down stairs for multi-story buildings of at least 12 stories. Dexterity to use hand tools. Must be able to physically negotiate rough terrain and typical construction sites to perform field inspections at project construction sites or potential sites for future initiatives. Ability to access tight spaces, crawl, reach, lift up to 25lbs, push 25lbs, etc. Specific vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, color vision, and depth perception. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

SELECTION PROCEDURE:

Panel interview and may include written exercise.

This job announcement is listed with a closing date of July 11, 2025, and interested applicants are advised to submit their applications as soon as possible. Interviews will be conducted on a regular basis throughout the recruitment with candidates whose qualifications best fit our needs. If your application is received later in the recruitment process, it may not be reviewed or considered. The application process may close prior to the currently advertised closing date when the position has been filled.

The population of Fairfax County is very diverse where 38.7% of residents speak a language other than English at home(Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and others) and we encourage candidates bilingual in English and a foreign language to apply to this opportunity.

Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.

Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. TTY [e-mail] EEO/AA/TTY.

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