Engineer, Principal - Development Services Utility Reviews

Salary : $92,049.00 - $153,724.00 Annually
Location : Public Utilities, 730 East Broad Street, Richmond, VA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number:
Department: Public Utilities
Opening Date: 11/13/2026
Closing Date: 11/27/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

Description
The anticipated hiring range is $92,049 - $122,887.

The City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities, is seeking a qualified Engineer, Principal for Development Services Utility Review. This position is responsible for oversight and execution of the Department of Public Utilities' reviews and permitting of development projects for water and wastewater utility connections and minor utility extensions. Job duties include performing reviews; overseeing, mentoring, providing process improvement, and providing quality control for a team performing reviews; working closely with Operations and Maintenance to execute or inspection the connection work; and coordinating closely with administrative staff to provide a strong customer experience from permit application to closeout. This position requires strong understanding of the development and utility permitting process, strong technical understanding of City standards and regulations, critical thinking to guide reviews towards designs which make sense for both the applicant and the City, and strong people management skills to empower and lead staff.

Duties include but are not limited to

• Supervises and develops a team of utility plan reviewers who support utility permit reviews for development and redevelopment projects. Supervision includes assigning work; conducting performance evaluations; ensuring staff is trained and employees follow policies and procedures; maintaining a safe work environment; and making/implementing hiring, termination, and disciplinary recommendations.

• Directs the prioritization, execution, and QA/QC of utility permit reviews. Plans, directs, oversees, and coordinates the operational activities of the assigned area. Manages reviews, systems, work processes, or work plans. Compiles, verifies, and assembles performance information and reports for leadership. Provides guidance and support related to complex technical projects and studies,and recommends implementation methods and solutions. Provides customer service and communication of problem resolutions for complex issues. Serves as key point of contact/liaison with internal/external departments or agencies. Helps the Development Services team implement process improvements, especially related to timely process flow between program administrative, technical review, and contractor/inspection staff to deliver timely, accurate, fair, and reasonable permit reviews and work to support development. Contribute to or lead annual updates to DPU standards for utilities.
• Performs permit reviews, including more difficult reviews, in a timely and accurate manner in accordance with City, state, and federal codes, rules, regulations, standards, policies, and procedures. Keeps up to date with potential changes.
• Maintains logs, tracking systems, and specialized databases. As assigned, enters, retrieves, and analyzes data. Prepares and presents reports; enters routine, technical, and specialized data into department computer systems. Generates routine documents such as correspondence, manuals, electronic mail, requisitions, and purchase orders.

Qualifications, Special Certifications and Licenses
MINIMUM TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Construction Management, Environmental Science, or a related field.
• Five years of professional engineering experience

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master's degree
• Professional Engineering License

LICENSING, CERTIFICATIONS, and OTHER SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Some assignments may require a valid Driver's License with a satisfactory driving record and a valid Commonwealth of Virginia Driver's License within 30 days of hire

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
TYPICAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: These are a representative sample; position assignments may vary.

Knowledge (some combination of the following):

• Strong understanding of design, operation, and regulatory requirements for connection and extension of municipal water distribution and wastewater/stormwater collection systems

• Strong understanding of general requirements and workflows for municipal permitting of utility connections and extensions for development.
• GIS
• Federal and state laws for project implementation
• Construction management

Skills (some combination of the following):

• Computer proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite

• Reading and interpreting GIS maps and AutoCAD plans
• Mathematics including geometry, calculus, and statistics
• Oral and written communication
• Project Management
• Managing and supervising others

Abilities (some combination of the following):

• Navigate through and manage difficult situations working with diverse groups of individuals
• Motivate and engage employees

ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS: Working conditions may include exposure to travel to other locations within the City of Richmond as well as outside of the City of Richmond; exposure to hazardous physical conditions such as mechanical parts, electrical currents, vibrations, etc.; atmospheric conditions such as fumes, odors, dusts, gases, and poor ventilation; inadequate lighting; intense noise; and environmental hazards such as disruptive people, imminent danger, and a threatening environment.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT: Due to the nature of work assignments, incumbents must be able to perform detailed work on multiple, concurrent tasks, with frequent interruptions and under time constraint. While performing the essential duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to finger (pick, pinch, type or otherwise work primarily with fingers), talk, see, hear and use substantial repetitive motions of the wrists, hands, and fingers. The employee is frequently required to stand, walk, and feel; and the employee is occasionally required to climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, and reach extending hands and arms in any direction, push, pull, or lift. In terms of the physical strength to perform the essential duties, this classification is considered to be sedentary, exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, and a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to move objects.

* Internal use: HR Generalist to review.