SoCal Land Development Principal Engineer | Growth Leader

Wood Rodgers; Orange (CA); On-site; USD 129,000 - 162,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Unique culture

Teamwork

Learning & development

Job summary

Wood Rodgers is seeking a Principal Engineer to build and lead a Southern California land development practice in Orange, CA. You will drive client development, pursue opportunities, and recruit a local team, leveraging our multidisciplinary resources.

You will provide executive oversight of project delivery, ensuring quality, profitability, and strong client satisfaction while expanding Wood Rodgers' regional presence. This is a strategic, exempt leadership role with significant growth impact.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering and active California Professional Engineer license.
• Extensive leadership experience in Southern California land development with a strong network.
• Deep understanding of entitlement, agency approvals, infrastructure, permitting, and project delivery.
• Proven ability to recruit, mentor, and lead high-performing teams while building long-term client relationships.
• Strong business acumen, negotiation, communication, and relationship-management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the growth of Southern California land development practice through strategic business development and market expansion.
• Develop and maintain relationships with developers, homebuilders, public agencies, and other key clients to secure new projects.
• Direct project pursuits, including proposal development, scope and fee preparation, and client presentations.
• Collaborate with leadership and multidisciplinary teams to identify market opportunities and deliver exceptional client service.
• Provide executive oversight of project delivery, ensuring quality, profitability, client satisfaction, and risk management.
• Recruit, mentor, and build a high-performing local team while representing Wood Rodgers in the industry.

Skills

Leadership

Business development

Client relationships

Market growth

Project delivery

Education

Civil Engineering degree

California PE license

Job description

Wood Rodgers is seeking a Principal Engineer to build and lead a Southern California land development practice in Orange, CA. You will drive client development, pursue opportunities, and recruit a local team, leveraging our multidisciplinary resources.

You will provide executive oversight of project delivery, ensuring quality, profitability, and strong client satisfaction while expanding Wood Rodgers' regional presence. This is a strategic, exempt leadership role with significant growth impact.