Senior Project Engineer

Job Title: Senior Project Engineer

Location: San Diego, CA
Employment Type: Full-Time
Compensation: $160,000 – $180,000 per year (Based on Experience)
 

About the Organization

Our client is a well-established civil engineering and land development consulting firm recognized for delivering innovative infrastructure and site development solutions throughout California. The organization specializes in residential, commercial, mixed-use, and public infrastructure projects, providing comprehensive services from planning and entitlement through engineering design, permitting, and construction support. With a collaborative culture, strong technical expertise, and long-standing relationships with public agencies and private developers, the company offers excellent opportunities for professional growth, leadership development, and long-term career advancement.

Role Overview

We are seeking an experienced Senior Project Engineer to lead complex land development and civil engineering projects throughout the San Diego region. This leadership role is responsible for overseeing projects from conceptual planning through construction, while managing project budgets, schedules, regulatory approvals, client relationships, and multidisciplinary engineering teams.

The ideal candidate will possess strong technical expertise in land development, demonstrated leadership abilities, and a passion for mentoring junior engineers while contributing to business development and long-term organizational growth.

Key Responsibilities

Project Leadership & Delivery

• Lead and manage civil engineering and land development projects from planning through construction completion.
• Develop and manage project schedules, budgets, contracts, scopes of work, and fee proposals.
• Oversee preparation of construction bid packages, specifications, and contract documents.
• Coordinate construction support activities, field observations, and project execution.
• Conduct conceptual and preliminary engineering studies, including land use evaluations, infrastructure planning, zoning analysis, and site feasibility assessments.
• Prepare and oversee regulatory plans, public improvement plans, and private off-site improvement plans.
• Perform constructability reviews and provide engineering support throughout construction.

Client & Agency Coordination

• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, developers, consultants, public agencies, and internal project teams.
• Coordinate with regulatory agencies to obtain project approvals and ensure compliance with California jurisdictional requirements.
• Represent the company during client meetings, agency coordination meetings, and project presentations.
• Negotiate effectively with clients, consultants, and public agencies while maintaining exceptional customer service.

Leadership & Business Development

• Mentor, supervise, and develop junior engineers, designers, and technical staff.
• Participate in recruiting, interviewing, training, and performance development initiatives.
• Support business development efforts by preparing proposals, participating in client presentations, and identifying new project opportunities.
• Contribute to strategic planning and long-term organizational growth initiatives.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering (BSCE).
• Active California Professional Engineer (PE) license.
• Minimum 15 years of civil engineering experience (or equivalent industry experience).
• Minimum 5 years of experience leading engineering teams and supervising technical staff.
• Strong experience managing land development projects from planning through construction.
• Comprehensive knowledge of California permitting processes, engineering standards, and jurisdictional requirements.
• Proven experience managing project budgets, schedules, contracts, and multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong client relationship management and business development experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience managing land development projects within San Diego County or Southern California.
• Established relationships with local municipalities, public agencies, and private developers.
• Active participation in professional engineering organizations.
• Experience preparing proposals, fee estimates, and supporting business development initiatives.

Technical Skills

• Proficiency in AutoCAD Civil 3D.
• Strong understanding of land development design principles and engineering standards.
• Experience preparing:
  • Public Improvement Plans
  • Grading Plans
  • Utility Plans
  • Storm Drain Systems
  • Construction Documents
  • Regulatory and entitlement packages
• Knowledge of construction support, field coordination, and constructability reviews.
• Strong understanding of CAD applications for engineering design and project documentation.

Core Competencies

Technical:

• Land Development Engineering
• Civil Engineering Design
• Project Planning & Execution
• Infrastructure Planning
• Regulatory Compliance
• Construction Support
• Budget & Schedule Management

Professional:

• Leadership & Team Development
• Client Relationship Management
• Business Development
• Strategic Planning
• Communication & Negotiation
• Problem Solving
• Cross-Functional Collaboration