Principal Engineer, PE

About the Role

As a Principal Engineer, you will provide hands-on technical expertise and direction to the Alternative Fuels team, designing and value-engineering programs while upholding the highest engineering ethics and standards. This role involves production, coordination, planning, organizing, directing, and quality control, as well as mentoring technical professionals to support their training and development. Fiedler Group is seeking a highly motivated Civil Engineer passionate about joining the growing Alternative Energy industry.

Responsibilities

• Provide hands-on direction and coordination of all civil design activities, identifying potential design and scheduling issues and implementing cost-effective solutions.
• Manage and evaluate direct reports and outside consultants (civil, survey, landscape, geotechnical, etc.).
• Complete Conceptual and Preliminary Site Plan development, including:
  • Determination of Civil/Stormwater design requirements.
  • Entitlement design submittals.
  • Design coordination of outside consultants (civil, survey, landscape).
  • Construction document development.
  • Development of WQMP, SWPPP, NOI plans, and applications.
  • Bid and construction support.
• Prepare and review basis of design reports, design memos, construction specifications, and other project-related documents.
• Define scope of work for each project, interpret and organize tasks, and approve all drawing packages, exhibits, and documents.
• Prepare and distribute cost estimates, proposals, schedules, timelines, and project deliverables (e.g., status reports, meeting reports, site-specific reports, conceptual and preliminary plans, drawings).
• Recognize cost over-runs, communicate out-of-scope work, and provide accurate design services proposals or change orders.
• Schedule, coordinate, and attend meetings with project teams, clients, and review agencies, ensuring timely preparation of required documents.
• Engage in negotiations to acquire project permit approvals on behalf of clients.
• Develop novel approaches and solutions to technical problems and recommend improvements to plans and programs.
• Share experiences and insights with the design team to ensure deliverables adhere to local design standards and engineering practices.
• Provide technical advice and counsel to clients, helping them understand project issues.
• Review and approve employee timecards and consultant invoices for accuracy.
• Perform quality control checks on calculations, designs, evaluations, and specifications developed by design staff.
• Ensure all deliverables are accurate, complete, and comply with customer standards, specifications, and applicable codes.
• Manage all aspects of assigned civil projects, including control, organization, planning, and communication with internal and external teams, jurisdictional agencies, and client representatives.
• Lead the preparation of proposals, RFP bid submittals, and contracts.
• Directly supervise the Civil Design Team, including interviewing, hiring, training, coaching, performance appraisals, and resolving employee issues.
• Perform other related duties as assigned by management.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Directly supervise civil engineering and design employees in the California office.
• Carry out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with organizational policies and applicable laws.

Competencies

• Intellectual/Analytical: Collects and researches data; uses intuition and experience to complement data; designs workflows and procedures.
• Problem Solving: Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; gathers and analyzes information skillfully; develops alternative solutions.
• Project Management: Develops project plans; coordinates projects; communicates changes and progress; completes projects on time and within budget.
• Technical Skills: Assesses strengths and weaknesses; pursues training and development opportunities; shares expertise with others.
• Customer Service: Manages difficult customer situations; responds promptly to needs; solicits feedback to improve service.
• Interpersonal Skills: Focuses on solving conflict; maintains confidentiality; listens without interrupting; remains open to others’ ideas.
• Oral Communication: Speaks clearly and persuasively; listens and responds well to questions; participates in meetings and presentations.
• Written Communication: Writes clearly and informatively; edits work for spelling and grammar; presents numerical data effectively.
• Teamwork: Balances team and individual responsibilities; contributes to a positive team spirit; supports team goals.
• Leadership: Displays passion and optimism; inspires respect and trust; mobilizes others to fulfill the vision.
• Change Management: Develops workable implementation plans; communicates changes effectively; builds commitment and overcomes resistance.
• Delegation: Delegates work assignments; matches responsibility to the person; monitors delegated activities.
• Managing People: Includes staff in planning and decision-making; provides regular performance feedback; develops subordinates’ skills.
• Quality Management: Looks for ways to improve and promote quality; demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness.
• Business Acumen: Understands business implications of decisions; aligns work with strategic goals.
• Cost Consciousness: Works within approved budget; develops and implements cost-saving measures.
• Ethics: Treats people with respect; works with integrity and upholds organizational values.
• Strategic Thinking: Develops strategies to achieve organizational goals; analyzes market and competition.
• Judgment: Displays willingness to make decisions; exhibits sound and accurate judgment.
• Motivation: Sets and achieves challenging goals; demonstrates persistence and overcomes obstacles.
• Planning/Organizing: Prioritizes and plans work activities; uses time efficiently; develops realistic action plans.
• Professionalism: Approaches others tactfully; reacts well under pressure; accepts responsibility for actions.
• Adaptability: Adapts to changes in the work environment; manages competing demands; deals with frequent change or unexpected events.
• Dependability: Follows instructions; responds to management direction; commits to long hours when necessary.
• Initiative: Volunteers readily; seeks increased responsibilities; takes independent actions.
• Innovation: Displays original thinking and creativity; generates suggestions for improving work.

Business Contacts

• Client representatives.
• Various Fiedler Group consultants.
• Various City, County, and State jurisdictional representatives.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.