Principal Engineer; Temporary

Position: Principal Engineer (Temporary/Hourly)
salary: $64.45 - $86.38 hourly
location : city of watsonville, ca
job type: temporary-hourly (960 hours)
job number:
department: public works & utilities
location: 540 utilities engineering & admin
opening date: 02/04/2026
closing date: continuous

description
reports to: assistant director of public works & utilities
supervision: may oversee lower-level professional and technical engineers, inspectors, and other subordinate staff

job summary:
plans, organizes, directs, assigns, manages, and coordinates the work of an engineering section within the public works & utilities department; directs and coordinates the work of engineering and construction consultants in the design and construction of major public works projects and other projects; applies for, administers, and manages project funding grants; and provides highly responsible and complex staff assistance to the assistant director of public works & utilities.
distinguishing characteristics:
this job class functions at a program/project management level and is responsible for the effective administration of assigned engineering areas as well as for providing general assistance in the administration of the public works & utilities department.

examples of duties

examples of essential duties:
the following duties are performed personally, in cooperation with the city manager, and/or in coordination with other city employees, operating partners, community groups, and other public and private organizations. Additional duties may be assigned.

• plans, organizes, assigns, manages, and evaluates the activities of an engineering section within the public works & utilities department; clarifies roles and responsibilities of staff in meeting an engineering division's goals and facilitates goal setting, scheduling and monitoring of public works projects.

• analyzes complex issues and problems related to areas of responsibility, evaluates alternatives, and develops and recommends effective courses of action.

• participates in the development, planning, financing, design, administration, and construction of significant and complex public works projects.

• directs, assigns, supervises, and reviews the work of subordinate engineering and/or technical support assistants engaged in the preparation of designs, specifications, estimates, and technical reports related to the construction of public works projects.

• performs the most difficult and complex professional engineering assignments in the design and construction of projects

• serves as project manager on the most complex public works construction projects and oversees staff assigned less complex projects; administers project from inception to completion including planning, design, review, public meetings, bidding and construction; develops scope of work; serves as liaison to city staff, developers, engineers, consultants, the general public and external agencies on proposed projects; develops project timelines and sets priorities;

assigns work tasks and oversees the services of consultant staff.

• prepares and reviews specialized technical studies, investigations, reports, contracts, specifications, documents, and correspondence related to division activities and operations and as required by laws, codes, and regulations.

• reviews and evaluates private improvement plans for impact on public works projects; approves plans as appropriate; issues permits as necessary.

• reviews, evaluates, and monitors commercial, industrial, subdivision, or other project development plans for specification compliance; recommends approval/denial.

• prepares and reviews bid request packages; reviews received bids and makes recommendations; reviews contract change proposals.

• reviews and directs the work of consulting engineers and surveyors; ensures conformance with city and state requirements; reviews progress payment requests and administers contract costs.

• may attend and participate in professional organization meetings; maintains awareness of new trends and developments in the field of civil engineering; incorporates new developments as appropriate into programs.

• may function as traffic and/or transportation engineer performing…