Principal Engineering Lead

Essential Job Responsibilities

• 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.
• Technical Interface Management:

• 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.

• Capture lessons learned from engineering and execution phases.
• Contribute to improving SSA Marine's engineering standards, governance, and delivery practices.

• Construction sequencing
• Procurement strategy
• 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

• 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…