Senior Plan Check Engineer

Job Summary

We are seeking a Senior Plan Check Engineer for a direct hire opportunity in Dana Point, CA. This role is ideal for an experienced California Professional Engineer with strong structural plan review expertise and deep knowledge of California Building Codes, Title 24, accessibility, energy regulations, and local municipal requirements.

The Senior Plan Check Engineer will perform advanced technical reviews for residential, commercial, industrial, public works, and development projects. This position serves as a trusted technical resource for staff, contractors, architects, engineers, developers, and the public while helping ensure safe, compliant, and efficient construction outcomes.

This is a strong opportunity to join a stable public sector environment where technical expertise, collaboration, professionalism, and public service are valued. The role offers meaningful community impact, supportive leadership, cross-functional teamwork, and the opportunity to mentor staff while contributing to process improvements and high-quality service delivery.

Key Responsibilities

- Review and approve construction plans, specifications, structural calculations, engineering reports, and related documents for code compliance.
- Interpret and apply California Building Code, Title 24, ADA accessibility requirements, California Energy Regulations, NEC, and related building standards.
- Identify plan deficiencies, prepare technical comments, and provide clear recommendations for corrective action.
- Collaborate with Building Officials, engineers, architects, contractors, developers, city staff, and regulatory agencies on complex projects.
- Attend field meetings, support permit counter operations, and assist with resolving construction-related issues.
- Maintain plan review records, prepare technical documentation, recommend process improvements, and mentor technical staff.

Compensation and Benefits

- Salary range: $150,000 to $180,000 per year.
- Job type: Direct hire.
- Location: Dana Point, CA.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disabled / Protected Veterans

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For temporary assignments lasting 13 weeks or longer, AppleOne is pleased to offer major medical, dental, vision, 401k and any statutory sick pay where required.

We are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact your staffing representative who will reach out to our HR team.

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We also consider for employment qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements, including, if applicable, the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. Pursuant to applicable state and municipal Fair Chance Laws and Ordinances, we will consider for employment-qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records, including, if applicable, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance. For Los Angeles, CA applicants: Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.

Additional Skills

Required Qualifications and Skills

- Perform advanced structural and building plan reviews for residential, commercial, industrial, and public projects.
- Review structural calculations, engineering reports, architectural plans, engineering plans, and construction specifications.
- Provide technical code interpretation and guidance to internal teams, applicants, contractors, architects, engineers, and developers.
- Support permit review processes, field coordination, documentation, and plan review process improvements.

- Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, or a related field.
- Minimum 5 years of professional engineering, structural plan review, or building plan check experience.
- Registered Professional Civil Engineer PE in California or ability to obtain reciprocity within 6 months.
- ICC Plans Examiner Certification or ability to obtain within 6 months.
- Valid California Driver’s License.
- Strong knowledge of California Building Code, Title 24, Uniform Building, Mechanical, and Plumbing Codes, National Electrical Code, ADA accessibility requirements, and California Energy Regulations.
- Proficiency with Bluebeam and permit processing software.
- Strong engineering calculation, plan review, technical writing, code interpretation, and documentation skills.
- Excellent communication, customer service, problem-solving, and conflict resolution skills.
- Ability to work independently, exercise sound professional judgment, and manage complex technical reviews in a fast-paced municipal environment.

Preferred Qualifications

- Municipal, city government, or public sector experience.
- Extensive experience performing structural plan reviews.
- Experience coordinating with multiple departments, public agencies, regulatory bodies, and development stakeholders.
- Experience handling complex code interpretation issues and large-scale development projects.
- Strong mentoring ability and experience serving as a technical resource for engineering, building, or plan review staff.