DESCRIPTION/RESPONSIBILITIES:
The actual salary shall be determined by the final candidate’s qualifications and experience. In addition to the starting salary, employees in the Principal Engineer classification shall also receive an approximate five percent (5%) ongoing non-pensionable compensation pay.
ESD is seeking a Principal Engineer to join the Regional Wastewater Facility (RWF) Capital Improvement Program (CIP) division. The division is staffed by 50 full-time professionals that include engineers, technicians, analysts, staff specialists, and other support staff. In addition, the division is supported by a team of program management consultants and construction management staff from the Department of Public Works who are co-located at the RWF. The division is responsible for delivering a 10-year capital improvement program estimated at $1.4 billion at the RWF. The RWF is one of the largest wastewater treatment plants on the west coast and serves approximately 1.3 million residents and a 300-square mile service area. The RWF has been in continuous operations for more than 60 years old and in need of a significant rehabilitation and upgrade. This capital improvement program is an exciting opportunity that stands among one of the largest public improvement efforts in the South Bay.
The Principal Engineer for CIP reports to the Deputy Director and is responsible for managing a suite of capital improvements projects at the RWF. This position works closely with the Program Management Consultant (PMC) team in an integrated Program Management Office (PMO). The Principal Engineer is responsible for leading and managing in-house and consultant staff to deliver a wide range of capital improvement projects as described in the Adopted 2020-2023 Water Pollution Control Plant Capital Improvement Program budget. Projects in the current adopted CIP include but are not limited to: New Headworks, Nitrification Clarifier Rehabilitation, Aeration Tanks & Blower Rehabilitation, Filter Rehabilitation, Digester and Thickener Facilities Upgrade, Digested Sludge Dewatering Facility, Energy Generations Improvements, Advanced Control and Meter Replacement, Facility Wide Water Systems Improvements, Flood Protection, Stormwater Improvements, Support Building Improvements, Yard Piping and Road Improvements, and Various Infrastructure Decommissioning.
The Principal Engineer is responsible for planning and directing the implementation of medium to large-scale wastewater capital improvement projects organized under one of the following technical areas, i.e., Project Packages:
1. Liquids Treatment Package
2. Solids Treatment Package
3. Power & Energy Package
4. Support Facilities Package
The Project Packages vary in size from approximately $50 million to over $500 million and projects need to be implemented over the next five to ten years.
The Principal Engineer is primarily responsible for performing duties and responsibilities as follows:
Capital Planning, Design Development, and Construction
The Principal Engineer provides technical direction and leadership through all phases of project planning and implementation from preliminary engineering/conceptual planning through start-up and commissioning. Duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to developing project work plans, scopes of work, project schedules and budgets, selecting project delivery method, analyzing project alternatives, providing technical direction to staff and designers, reviewing technical documents, plans, specifications, and estimates, developing recommendations and council memos, etc. The Principal Engineer serves as a resource leader to provide technical expertise and direction in preparation of construction documents for municipal wastewater treatment systems design, wastewater technology evaluation and selection, cost estimates and schedules. The Principal Engineer also oversees and coordinates stakeholder interactions with the RWF Operation and Maintenance (O&M) division, other ESD divisions and City departments, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders as required.
Professional Services Procurement & Contract Management
The Principal Engineer leads and participates in consultant procurements, including but not limited to preparation of Requests for Qualifications/Request for Proposals (RFQs/RFPs), evaluation of Statement of Qualifications (SOQ), contract negotiations, preparation of award recommendation memos/reports, and contract administration. He/she will oversee and manage all aspects of the consultant(s) performance including but not limited to providing technical direction, reviewing project deliverables, ensuring schedule and budget performance, reviewing and approving invoices, etc. Experience with different types of contracts (i.e., purchase orders, professional services, construction, design-build) and working knowledge of both traditional design-bid-build and alternative project delivery methods (i.e., design-build, progressive design-build) is highly desirable.
Wastewater Subject Matter Expertise
The Principal Engineer provides subject matter technical expertise in the areas of municipal wastewater treatment system planning, design, construction and operations. He/she will participate in the development, review, and/or approval of engineering studies, design guidelines and standards, design criteria, equipment specifications, technology selection, process control strategies, operational strategies, plans & specifications development, etc. Strong working knowledge of the practices and principle of wastewater engineering with hands-on capital planning and design experience in the areas of preliminary treatment, primary treatment, secondary biological nutrient removal treatment, tertiary filtration and disinfection, anaerobic digestion and solids management, cogeneration, advanced automation and controls, and/or odor mitigation is highly desirable.
Resource Management and Budget Development
The Principal Engineer is responsible for program-level resource planning. He/she will be responsible for developing staffing proposals, hiring, training, and supervising engineering and other support staff. The Principal Engineer works closely with budget and fiscal teams to develop and update staffing plans and the five-year capital improvement program budget on an annual basis. The Principal Engineer works to integrate, support, and develop his/her assigned staff with the goal of transitioning out of program management consultant services over the next six years.
Communications
The Principal Engineer represents the division at key meetings including but not limited to executive leadership meetings, Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) meetings, Treatment Plant Advisory Committee (TPAC) meetings, Transportation and Environment (T&E) Committee meetings, Council meetings, community/stakeholder group meeting, professional association meetings, and other meetings as required. Level of participation may involve preparation and delivery of staff reports, council memorandums, and presentations; responding to questions from executive leadership, elected officials, partner agencies, non-governmental agencies, and community members; and/or participating in local/regional/public-private partnerships and regulatory committees. The Principal Engineer provides regular updates to the ESD leadership team on activities and progress related to his/her assigned Project Package and stays current with the latest developments in the wastewater industry to identify opportunities and challenges.
This recruitment may be used to fill multiple positions in this, or other divisions. 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.
Selection Process
The selection process will consist of an evaluation of the applicant's training and experience based on the application and responses to the Job Specific Questions. Only the candidates whose backgrounds best match the position will be invited to proceed in the selection process. Additional phases of the selection process will consist of one or more interviews.
You will be prompted to answer the following job-specific questions during the online application process:
-If you have a valid Professional Engineer license, please specify the state from which it was issued, the engineering discipline, the license number and expiration date.
-Please describe your 8 years of progressively responsible, directly related professional experience including at least 3 years of experience at a level equivalent to Senior Engineer? In your response, please specify the job title(s), your responsibilities, dates of employment, and name of employer(s). Your response should be consistent with your work history.
-Please describe your experience with managing and implementing capital improvement projects at an active/operational water, wastewater, or industrial facility. Describe up to 3 projects that you worked on, your specific role and responsibilities on the project.
-Please describe your experience with resource planning on a major capital improvement project and/or program. In your response, discuss your approach for developing staffing plans, schedules and budgets.
-Please describe your experience with developing and evaluating Requests for Qualifications/Request for Proposals (RFQs/RFPs) for professional engineering services. Describe the size and type of contracts you managed and your experience with managing and reviewing consultant performance and work products.
You must answer all job-specific questions in order to be considered for this vacancy or your application will be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration.
If you have questions about the duties of these positions, the selection or hiring processes, please contact My Truong, Sr Employment Analyst at Myphuong.truong@sanjoseca.gov.
