Principal Engineer

Role Overview

The City of Watsonville seeks a seasoned, solutions‑driven Principal Engineer to lead development review and land use engineering. You will guide private applications from commercial, industrial, mixed‑use, and residential projects through entitlement, planning permits, maps, and subdivision improvements in close partnership with Community Development. The Principal Engineer is embedded in development services, ensuring projects meet City standards, stormwater/NPDES‑LID requirements, and applicable California laws (Subdivision Map Act, CEQA interfaces).

The role sets and applies infrastructure standards, negotiates conditions of approval, improvement agreements, easements, and right‑of‑way dedications, and coordinates with Caltrans, PG&E, Santa Cruz County, and regional partners. The position supervises staff and consultants and collaborates with the City’s CIP (approximately $65 million) where private improvements interface with public facilities.

• Lead development review and land use engineering, guiding private applications from commercial, industrial, mixed‑use, and residential projects through entitlement, planning permits, maps, and subdivision improvements.
• Ensure projects meet City standards, stormwater/NPDES‑LID requirements, and applicable California laws (Subdivision Map Act, CEQA interfaces).
• Oversee city staff and on‑call plan‑check consultants.
• Set and apply infrastructure standards; negotiate conditions of approval, improvement agreements, easements, and right‑of‑way dedications.
• Coordinate with Caltrans, PG&E, Santa Cruz County, and regional partners.
• Supervise staff and consultants and collaborate with the City’s CIP ($65 million) where private improvements interface with public facilities.

Annual Salary: $ – $ DOE/DOQ* (COLA increase anticipated in July 2026).
Competitive Sign‑On Bonus: up to $20,000.
Benefits Package: Generous benefits including health, dental, vision, retirement, and paid time off.