PRINCIPAL ENGINEER/ PRINCIPAL GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEER

At San Bernardino Valley Water Conservation District, we value diverse backgrounds and experiences. If you’re passionate about this role but don’t meet every requirement, we encourage you to apply. We believe that skills, potential, and attitude are a critical component of success alongside experience.

Meets or exceeds all Skills, Abilities, License Requirements, Education and Training, and Special Requirements. Meets or exceeds most Knowledge and Experience examples. Success in this role will include contributing Skills, Abilities, Education and Training, and Knowledge and Experience to support achieving District strategic goals while learning about the District’s long-term operations, facilities, and on-going capital and environmental projects.

Salary Range: $145,934 to $192,633

POSITION OVERVIEW

Under minimal supervision, performs advanced professional field and office engineering and hydrogeology work related to the planning, design, construction, and maintenance of groundwater recharge facilities and capital improvement projects requiring use of specialized engineering, GIS, CAD, and other software and related equipment; serves as project manager and provides contract administration; provides senior professional staff assistance to the General Manager and District staff in the planning, design, construction, and maintenance of the District’s capital improvement projects, land development, infrastructure, and departmental operations; supports groundwater recharge operations through frequent collaboration with the District’s Field Operations and Natural Resources teams; confers and collaborates with engineers, contractors, and representatives of project partners; represents the District on regional water planning, policies, and projects; provides advanced engineering expertise and analysis as needed for operational, legal, and administrative matters, including permitting, litigation support, groundwater modeling, and real property matters; and performs related duties as assigned.

Supervision

Receives direct supervision from the General Manager. May supervise Senior, Associate, and/or Assistant Engineer, Interns, and consultants. General Manager frequently delegates their discretionary approval authority over contractor performance, review and approval of change orders, progress payments, and contractual, code, and standards compliance matters on District capital or maintenance projects to the Principal Engineer.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Skills

Collaborative, team-based approach founded in strong interpersonal skills, kindness, and a positive attitude.
Excellent communication and customer service skills.
Strong time management skills, including the ability to plan and schedule work in advance of Board and Committee meetings to deliver products on time.
Demonstrated ability to effectively manage, coach, and mentor employees, fostering professional growth and team success using evidence-based approaches rooted in modern organizational practices and inclusive workplace values.
Excellent budgeting, record keeping, project management, and contract administration skills.
Strong techniques for preparing and delivering detailed technical reports and presentations, as well as written and verbally presented high level summaries for non- technical audiences.
Superb math, technical, and problem-solving skills.
Knowledge of proper uses of English spelling and grammar.
Bilingual Spanish language skill is desirable, but not required.

Abilities

Conduct comprehensive engineering and water rights studies and prepare reports with recommendations.
Prepare, understand, and interpret engineering plans, specifications, and other contract documents.
Review plans, specifications, designs, cost estimates, and legal descriptions for construction projects.
Manage engineering consultants and construction contractors to complete planning, design, and construction projects on-time and within budget.
Oversee preparation and modification of databases, engineering drawings, maps, improvement plans, and illustrative graphics using GIS, CAD, or other appropriate software.
Prepare and present clear, concise, and logical written and oral reports, correspondence, policies, procedures, and other written materials using proper grammar and punctuation.
Interpret, apply, explain, and ensure compliance with federal, state, and local policies, procedures, laws, and regulations, technical written material, and District engineering policies and procedures.
Establish and maintain a variety of filing, record-keeping, and tracking systems.
Make sound, independent decisions within established policy and procedural guidelines.
Organize and prioritize a variety of projects and multiple tasks in an effective and timely manner; organize own work, set priorities, and consistently meet critical time deadlines.
Lead Engineering Team and participate in multi-disciplinary team with the Operations and Natural Resource Teams to deliver effective, efficient infrastructure and maintenance projects.
Adapt to evolving regional, District and/or project needs and foster a culture of continuous improvement.
Operate field measurement and survey tools.
Effectively use computer systems, specialized software applications, and modern business equipment to perform a variety of work tasks.

Knowledge and Experience

Principles and practices of civil engineering as applied to the planning, design, cost estimating, construction, installation, and inspection of a wide variety of capital improvement projects and maintenance of District facilities.
Groundwater management principles, including hydrology, hydraulics, groundwater modeling, hydrogeology, geotechnical engineering, groundwater recharge processes.
Groundwater recharge methods and technical operations support, including equipment and infrastructure used for water diversion and recharge such as culverts and percolation basins.
Practices of researching engineering and design issues, evaluating alternatives, making sound recommendations, and preparing and presenting effective technical and staff reports and presentations.
Project construction cost estimating and overall project budgeting over single and multiple fiscal years.
Engineering plan preparation, review practices, and permit filing and approval procedures.
Project scheduling from concept phase through construction with knowledge of time required for each significant element of work.
Construction methods, including inspections, management, and water quality control principles and reporting/permitting requirements.
Participation in collaborative interdisciplinary work teams to develop efficient, effective projects and deliver strategic goals and objectives.
Participation in collaborative inter-agency groups to address regional water issues.
Use of evidence-based approaches rooted in modern organizational practices and inclusive workplace values to manage employees, foster professional growth, and ensure team success.
Applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulatory codes, ordinances, and procedures relevant to assigned areas of responsibility.
Modern developments, current literature, and sources of information regarding engineering.

Education and Training
Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:

Equivalent to a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in civil or geotechnical or environmental engineering or a related engineering field or hydrogeology and fifteen (15) years of professional engineering experience.

License Requirements

Possession of a valid California Driver’s License to be maintained throughout employment.
Possession of a valid Professional Engineer (PE) license in the state of California in accordance with state engineering registration requirements.

Special Requirements
Essential duties require the following physical skills and work environment:

See in the normal visual range with or without correction
Hear in the normal audio range with or without correction
Lift up to 25 pounds to eye level
Ability to work in a standard office environment
Ability to work under field and construction conditions
Frequent interaction with staff and public

San Bernardino Valley Water Conservation District jobs

Principal Engineer/Principal Geotechnical Engineer