Principal Engineering Lead

Location: This position supports a long-term, multi-phase project across several locations. During the initial phase (estimated 2–3 years), employees may work from the Seattle, WA office or travel from Southern California to Seattle at least once per month. For the following phase, candidates must be willing to relocate to or reside near Long Beach, CA. Relocation assistance available.

Salary range: $200,000–$250,000 per year.

About the Role

As SSA Marine's technical authority within an Owner-led Progressive Design-Build (PDB) model, this role ensures the development of a robust, optimized, and constructible technical baseline aligned with project objectives for cost, schedule, operability, and risk. The Principal Engineering Lead oversees the Engineering & Design Criteria Document (DCD) Integrator, ensures engineering maturity at each FEL stage-gate, and drives integration between design, permitting (CEQA/NEPA), procurement, and construction. The role is critical to de-risking the project prior to GMP/Lump Sum conversion and ensuring engineering supports safe and efficient execution.

Responsibilities

• Act as SSA Marine's technical authority for the POLA Cruise Terminal Project across all engineering disciplines.
• Establish and enforce engineering standards, design criteria, and quality expectations aligned with SSA Marine and industry best practices.
• Ensure engineering deliverables comply with project requirements, regulatory frameworks, and applicable codes and standards.
• Lead engineering activities across FEL2 (Preliminary Engineering), FEL3 (Definition), and EPC execution.
• Ensure engineering deliverables meet required maturity levels for stage-gate approvals and investment decisions.
• Support preparation of engineering deliverables for FEL reviews, including design basis, technical reports, cost estimates, and engineering schedules.
• Apply engineering maturity tools to ensure readiness for execution and procurement.
• Direct and manage the Engineering and DCD Integrator as the primary engineering delivery partner.
• Define scope, priorities, deliverables, and performance expectations for the DCD Integrator.
• Monitor engineering progress, resource allocation, and deliverable quality across disciplines.
• Ensure timely development of a fit-for-purpose Design Criteria Document (DCD) to support CEQA and procurement.
• Ensure alignment between engineering and the Design-Builder during Progressive DB phases.
• Validate constructability, phasing strategies, and technical solutions with real-time contractor input.
• Support development of cost estimates and technical inputs required for GMP/Lump Sum negotiations.
• Define and manage engineering execution plans, schedules, and deliverable requirements.
• Ensure timely issuance of engineering documentation to support procurement, fabrication, and construction (IFC readiness).
• Lead multidisciplinary coordination across civil, structural, marine, electrical, mechanical, and systems engineering.
• Ensure engineering supports operational requirements, maintainability, and lifecycle performance.
• Lead technical interfaces with:
  • Engineering & DCD Integrator
  • Design Architect – design intent alignment
  • Design Builder
  • CEQA/NEPA consultants – environmental inputs
  • POLA stakeholders – regulatory and compliance alignment
  • SSA internal functions (Operations, Procurement, Sustainability, Safety, Technology)
• Resolve cross-functional and cross-party technical conflicts efficiently.
• Own engineering input into CAPEX development, cost estimates, and value engineering initiatives.
• Drive optimization of design solutions balancing cost, performance, operability, and risk.
• Prevent overdesign and ensure practical, constructible, and cost-effective solutions.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate technical and design risks across all project phases.
• Integrate engineering risks into the overall project risk management framework.
• Lead technical reviews, constructability reviews, and assurance processes.
• Ensure engineering supports construction sequencing, procurement strategy, and field execution requirements.
• Coordinate closely with the Construction Manager and Procurement teams to ensure readiness.
• Support resolution of technical issues during construction, commissioning, and start-up.
• Capture lessons learned from engineering and execution phases.
• Contribute to improving SSA Marine's engineering standards, governance, and delivery practices.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Civil, Structural, Mechanical, Electrical, or related discipline). Advanced degree (MBA, MSc) or professional certifications (PE, PMP) preferred.
• Minimum 12–15 years of progressive engineering and project delivery experience in large infrastructure, port, marine terminal, or heavy industrial projects.
• Proven experience leading engineering delivery for projects exceeding USD 500M+.
• Strong experience in Owner, EPCM, Design-Build, or hybrid delivery models.
• Demonstrated experience in FEL stage-gate processes and engineering governance frameworks.
• Experience working within U.S. regulatory environments, including CEQA/NEPA processes preferred.
• Strong understanding of:
  • Multidisciplinary engineering coordination
  • Constructability and contractor-driven design
  • Cost estimation and value engineering
• Experience managing engineering consultants and multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong technical leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Proven ability to resolve complex technical challenges and interface issues.

Work Environment

• Required job duties are normally performed in a climate-controlled office environment but may require occasional work in extreme outdoor temperatures.
• Exposure to computer screens and potential operational hazards in a safety-sensitive environment with moving equipment.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• Travel to project sites, multiple regions, and extended off-site stays may be required.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance for eligible employees and their families.
• Basic life and accidental death insurance.
• Paid disability insurance, including paid parental leave if eligible.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Paid sick and vacation time, plus company holidays.
• Paid bereavement leave and jury duty.
• 401k plan and retirement plan enrollment.
• Eligibility for discretionary and/or metric-based bonuses.