Principal Project Engineer

Metro Associates; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Profit-sharing and 401(k) programs

Life and disability insurance

Personal leave

Holiday events and team-building

Job summary

Metro Associates in San Diego, CA seeks an experienced Principal Project Engineer/Manager to lead civil engineering and land development projects. You will direct design teams, manage budgets, schedules, and client coordination through all project phases.

The role requires strong leadership, project management, and client-facing skills, with a track record of delivering from concept through construction support in a multidisciplinary setting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering (BSCE) or equivalent.
• California Professional Engineer (PE) registration or ability to obtain within ~6 months.
• 8–12 years of civil engineering experience or 12–15 years of equivalent industry experience.
• Minimum 3 years of management experience supervising technical staff.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage civil engineering and land development projects.
• Provide direction, planning, and oversight for design and technical support teams.
• Manage construction documents, contracts, schedules, budgets, and project deliverables.
• Prepare contracts, fee proposals, scopes of work, and related project documentation.
• Oversee construction support services and field coordination.
• Establish and maintain relationships with clients, public agencies, consultants, and staff.

Skills

Project management

Leadership

Client relations

Strategic planning

Budgeting

Education

BSCE or equivalent

California PE registration or eligible within 6 months

Tools

AutoCAD

Civil 3D

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Principal Project Engineer / Manager to join a multidisciplinary engineering team in San Diego, CA. This role offers an opportunity to lead impactful civil engineering and land development projects while working closely with clients, public agencies, and internal technical teams.

The ideal candidate will bring strong civil engineering expertise, project management experience, leadership capabilities, and a proven ability to manage projects from conceptual design through construction support.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage civil engineering and land development projects.
• Provide direction, planning, and oversight for design and technical support teams.
• Manage construction documents, contracts, schedules, budgets, and project deliverables.
• Prepare contracts, fee proposals, scopes of work, and related project documentation.
• Oversee construction support services and field coordination.
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with clients, public-agency personnel, consultants, and internal staff.
• Provide technical and managerial leadership throughout project development and execution.
• Make independent decisions and establish realistic project goals and priorities.
• Support project teams through regulatory approvals, design development, and construction.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering (BSCE) or equivalent.
• California Professional Engineer (PE) registration, or ability to obtain California registration within approximately 6 months.
• 8–12 years of relevant civil engineering experience, or approximately 12–15 years of equivalent industry experience.
• Minimum 3 years of management experience supervising technical staff.
• Demonstrated leadership, supervisory, and project management abilities.
• Strong experience working with clients, public agencies, and multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong understanding of civil engineering design principles, techniques, and procedures.

Technical Experience

Experience should include:

• Conceptual and preliminary engineering design studies.
• Land use and zoning considerations.
• Assessment of site constraints and infrastructure requirements.
• Identification and evaluation of potential regulatory issues.
• Preparation and processing of regulatory plans.
• Preparation and processing of public improvement plans for both private and public projects.
• Constructability reviews.
• Construction support services and field coordination.
• Knowledge of California and regional jurisdictional codes, standards, and procedures is strongly preferred.
• AutoCAD / Civil 3D experience is required.

Leadership & Management Skills

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Strong independent judgment and decision-making abilities.
• Proven leadership and team-supervision skills.
• Ability to manage project schedules, budgets, resources, and priorities.
• Strong knowledge of strategic planning, resource allocation, and production procedures.
• Experience with interviewing, hiring, and coordinating technical personnel.
• Ability to effectively negotiate and resolve project-related issues.
• Strong time-management and organizational skills.
• Ability to provide and respond appropriately to constructive feedback.
• Ability to build trust, respect, and confidence among coworkers, clients, and public agencies.

Communication & Business Skills

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong client-facing and interpersonal abilities.
• Thorough understanding of jurisdictional processing and approval procedures.
• Ability to effectively negotiate with clients, agencies, consultants, and project stakeholders.
• Ability to use CAD effectively for preparing exhibits, studies, and final engineering plans.
• Understanding of business and management principles related to project delivery and team leadership.

Benefits & Perks

• Comprehensive benefits package
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Profit-sharing and 401(k) programs
• Life and disability insurance
• Personal leave
• Holiday events and team-building activities
• Alternative work schedule options
• Opportunities for professional growth and career development