Principal Engineering Lead

The Principal Engineering Lead position is responsible for the overall engineering strategy, technical governance, and delivery of all engineering activities for the POLA (Port of Los Angeles) Cruise Terminal Project from FEL2 through EPC execution, commissioning, and handover.

This position supports a long-term project occurring in multiple phases and locations. For the first phase of the project (estimated for 2-3 years), the employee may either work from our Seattle, WA office or travel to this office location at a minimum once per month. Candidates must be willing to relocate to the Los Angeles, CA area for the subsequent phase of the project.

$200,000-$250,000 yr

Yes

Acting 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.

This role 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.

• Act as SSA Marine's technical authority for the POLA 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.
• 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.
• Ensure engineering decisions support efficient procurement packaging and construction execution.

• 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,…