Principal Engineer

Principal Engineer

The City of Santa Clara's Public Works Department is seeking a Principal Engineer to lead the Land and Property Development Division. This position will also manage the Department's role for a high-profile, multi-year, multi-billion-dollar development in a public-private partnership between the City of Santa Clara and Related Santa Clara.

The City of Santa Clara is a "full service" city – one of only a few communities in the Bay Area that has its own police, fire, library, recreation, and electric, water, and sewer utilities, as well as all of the other departments and civic amenities expected in a thriving community. Santa Clara is a family-oriented and business-friendly city, led by a city government that has developed an award-winning ethics program and a commitment to fostering public trust. Located in Santa Clara County at the southern tip of San Francisco Bay, about 45 miles south of San Francisco, Santa Clara is a strategic regional hub, with convenient access to freeways, airports, railroads, expressways, light rail, and other public transportation.

The City of Santa Clara's Department of Public Works seeks a result-oriented and innovative principal engineer to serve out the Department's mission to provide the highest quality public works services to the residents of Santa Clara, the development community, and our customers in a responsible and efficient manner. The ideal candidate will have extensive engineering experience, excellent project management and organizational skills, and a strong oral and written communication background. Additionally, the ideal candidate will have experience working in a team environment on significant projects, including working collaboratively with developers, contractors, technicians, field staff, outside agency staff, and the general public. The Department has focus areas that include Engineering Services and Operations and Maintenance. Engineering Services is comprised of five divisions: Administration, Traffic, Design, Land and Property Development and Field Services. For more information about the Department of Public Works please visit the department website.

This position is responsible for leading the Department's Land and Property Development Division which is responsible for providing efficient and effective engineering services to support private development projects during the entitlement/planning, design, and construction phases. The division works closely with customers, developers, utility companies and the community to ensure projects comply with City standards. The division is also responsible for reviewing and approving encroachment permits, easement dedications, street/easement abandonments, subdivision maps, processing encroachment agreements, and collecting development-related fees. Additionally, the division provides customer counter services to the public at the City's permit center.

In addition to leading and managing the Land and Property Development Division, the principal engineer will also manage the Department's role in coordinating, facilitating and permitting for a high- profile, multi-year, multi-billion-dollar development in a public-private partnership between the City of Santa Clara and the Related Santa Clara development. This development is directly across Tasman Drive from Levi's Stadium and is the result of a public-private partnership between the City of Santa Clara and Related Santa Clara. The 240-acre project consists of 9.2 million square-feet of development and is primarily built on the closed Santa Clara landfill on City property

Overall, the successful incumbent should have experience with 1) the development and design review of encroachment permit improvements and planning level documents for private development projects, 2) management of multi-phase, long-term projects, and 3) performing high-level, fast-paced engineering work relating to the permitting, design, and construction of work within the public right-of-way and on City property.

The Principal Engineer will report to the Assistant Director/City Engineer and will be responsible for all aspects of private development review/approval, encroachment permits, and managing a division of comprised of engineering staff, including staff supervision, budget preparation and monitoring, project oversight, consultant and contractor management and administration, project database oversight, community outreach, project programming and reporting, presentations at the City committees, commissions, and Council, staff mentoring and training and assuring all projects are being implemented and constructed in accordance with plans, specifications and standards.

As a member of the City's Unclassified Service, this is an "at-will" position and the incumbent serves at the discretion of the City Manager.

Applications must be filled out completely (e.g. do not write "see resume, NA, or personnel file."). To receive consideration for the screening process, candidates must submit a 1) Cover Letter and, 2) Resume. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Applications packets may be submitted online through the "Apply Now" feature on the job announcement at Applications must be submitted by the filing deadline of July 31, 2026 at 4:00 PM. This recruitment may be used to fill multiple positions in this, or other divisions or departments besides the positions listed above. If you are interested in employment in this classification, you should apply to ensure you are considered for additional opportunities that may utilize the applicants from this recruitment. Meeting the minimum qualifications does not guarantee admittance into the examination process. Only the most qualified candidates who demonstrate the best combination of qualifications in relation to the requirements and duties of the position will be invited to test or interview. Applicants will be considered for positions adhering to all applicable city policies, including but not limited to CMD 033- EMPLOYMENT OF RELATIVES.

The annual salary range for this position is $207,730.56 - $268,829.52. This position may be filled at or near the minimum of the salary range.