Principal Civil Engineer

Salary: $162,030.22 - $206,796.18 Annually
Location : City Hall, 130 Cremona Drive, Goleta, CA
Job Type: Full time, exempt
Job Number: 2026-021
Department: PUBLIC WORKS
Opening Date: 07/27/2026
Closing Date: Continuous

Description
This position qualifies for the City's hiring incentive program of 10% of the top of the salary range, paid in three increments over a three-year period.

The City of Goleta invites qualified applicants to apply for Principal Civil Engineer in the Public Works Department.

This recruitment will remain open until filled.

IDEAL CANDIDATE

The ideal candidate is a technically proficient engineering leader with experience in capital project delivery, design oversight, construction management, consultant coordination, and grant administration. The successful candidate builds collaborative relationships, manages complex infrastructure programs and budgets, and delivers projects with professionalism, integrity, and sound engineering judgment.

ABOUT THE POSITION

This position is assigned to the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Division and reports to the Assistant Public Works Director. It is responsible for administering the City's Capital Improvement Program and managing an operating budget of approximately $100 million. The position leads a team of four and oversees complex infrastructure projects from planning and environmental review through design, bidding, construction, and project closeout.

Responsibilities include:

• Managing the planning, design, and construction of public infrastructure projects.
• Directing consultant design work and ensuring quality and regulatory compliance.
• Overseeing construction, inspections, and contractor performance.
• Preparing and reviewing plans, specifications, grading plans, and maps.
• Negotiating and administering professional services and construction contracts.
• Coordinating with City departments, regulatory agencies, utilities, and commissions.
• Securing and managing grant funding.
• Preparing reports and recommendations for City Council and representing the department before elected officials and the community.

Examples of Duties
The following duties are typical for positions in this classification. Incumbents may not perform all listed job functions, nor are all listed duties necessarily performed by everyone in this class depending upon business need and changing business practices:

• Direct and implement the development of departmental goals and operating policies and procedures relative to the areas of capital improvement program, traffic and transportation, or land development engineering services.
• Provide general direction to engineering staff and coordinate all issues needing council approval or policy direction for the division. Assign work activities, projects and programs; monitor workflow review and evaluate projects, methods and procedures.
• Develop and administer the division budget; evaluate staffing needs, equipment, materials, and supplies with key management staff; monitor and approve expenditures.
• Develop and administer the capital improvement budget; review and recommend approval for all construction plans including cost estimates.
• Coordinate engineering activities with those of other departments, governmental agencies and other outside organizations; resolve problems and complaints.
• Direct the preparation of plans and specifications in accordance with established city standards; review and sign plans; review and approve plan revisions.
• Direct and participate in the plan check of improvement plans, grading plans, final maps and associated reports in accordance with city standards; approve plans and maps for city, review and approve plan revisions.
• Negotiate complex agreements. Prepare, review, and interpret agreements and contracts and prepare for signature. Supervise, troubleshoot, and perform quality control related to the work of consultants and contractors performing a variety of complex transportation and/or public works projects.
• Direct and participate in review of land development projects, preparation of development conditions, review of subdivision maps, site development plans, security agreements and conformance with development codes and requirements.
• Prepare, coordinate and review traffic studies and reports.
• Represent the city in land development proposals.
• Attend Planning Commission and City Council hearings for development and/or capital projects.
• Direct and participate in the preparation and evaluation of technical studies, fee studies, reports and analyses related to engineering services; analyze and evaluate study results and implement findings.
• Serve as a member of committees as assigned, including representing the city on regional committees.
• Select, train, motivate, supervise, develop, and maintain a high level of efficiency among assigned staff.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Typical Qualifications
Education, Experience and Training

Any combination of experience and education that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Education:

• A bachelor's degree in engineering from an accredited college or university with major course work in civil engineering or a related field.

Experience:

• Five years of increasingly responsible and varied professional engineering experience, including a minimum of two years of experience in a supervisory capacity.

Knowledge and Abilities

Knowledge of (May vary depending on assignment.):

• Advanced principles and practices of engineering and administration as applied to the design and construction of city facilities and projects.
• Methods of preparing designs, plans, specifications, estimates, reports and Engineering.
• Manager recommendations relating to engineering projects.
• City policies and procedures governing engineering and traffic operations and land development.
• Applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules and regulations related to the engineering, development and construction of projects.
• Principles, practices, and techniques of public administration including budget and personnel administration.
• Principles of supervision, training, and evaluation.
• Principles and methodologies of establishing fees and assessments and spending costs to users, permittees, and property owners.

Ability to (May vary depending on assignment.):

• Plan, organize, motivate and direct the activities of assigned area of responsibility.
• Interpret applicable laws, rules and regulations.
• Develop and administer a division budget.
• Prepare and analyze technical reports, statements, contracts and legal documents.
• Supervise, train and evaluate professional and technical staff.
• Maintain effective work relationships with staff, other governmental agencies, contractors and the general public.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing

Special Requirements

• Possession of a valid Class "C" California driver's license and a satisfactory driving record may be required.

License or Certificates:

• Possession of a valid license as a Registered Civil Engineer issued by the State of California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors and Geologists.
• For the assignment to the area of traffic/transportation, possession of a valid license as a Traffic Engineer issued by the State of California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors and Geologists is highly desirable, and may substitute for the state engineer registration above. In this case, the "Civil" will be dropped from the incumbent's working title. (i.e., Principal Engineer or Engineering Manager will be used)

Supplemental Information
PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDS/WORKING CONDITIONS

The physical and mental demands herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential job functions.

• Mental function: Includes reading, writing, mathematical computations, operating a computer, problem solving, managing multiple projects, calmly handling complaints and problems from irate citizens or contractors, and decision making under stressful conditions.
• Productivity: Incumbents must perform work in an efficient, effective and timely manner with minimal direction.
• Mobility: Incumbents require sufficient mobility to work in an office setting and operate office equipment. Incumbents may be required to perform light lifting and carrying, file documents in various locations and heights, and sit, stand, walk, remain seated, and work at a video display terminal for prolonged periods of time.
• Vision: Vision sufficient to read small print, computer screens, and printed documents, and to operate assigned equipment.
• Hearing: Incumbents are required to hear in the normal audio range with or without correction.
• Environment: Normal office setting with some travel to attend meetings. Incumbents may be exposed to noise and/or dust.
• Other factors: Incumbents will be required to work extended hours including evenings and weekends. Incumbents may be required to travel outside City boundaries to attend meetings.

9/80 WORK SCHEDULE: Optional and subject to Department Director approval.
HYBRID WORK SCHEDULE: Subject to approval. Employees must work a minimum of two days in-person, allowing up to three days remote,
HOLIDAYS: 13 fixed holidays (at 8 hours each); one floating holiday (8 hours).
VACATION: Annual vacation leave accrual of 88 hours and up to 176 hours after 15 years of service with a maximum accrual of 352 hours. Pursuant to eligibility requirements, employees may have the option to cash out up to 100 hours per fiscal year.
SICK LEAVE: Sick leave accrual of 12 days (96 hours) per year with no maximum accrual.
MANAGEMENT LEAVE: 80 hours per fiscal year, allocated on July 1st and prorated the first year based on date of hire.
BENEFIT PLAN: The City Flexible Benefit Plan provides an allowance for the payment of health, dental, and vision insurance premiums through the City's benefit program, in the following monthly amounts: $1,560 for "employee-only" plans, $1,620 for "employee-plus-one" plans, and $1,640 for "employee-plus-family" plans. Alternatively, participants may receive $1,033.34 for participation in a qualified plan elsewhere.
GROUP LIFE INSURANCE: Benefit level equivalent to 1x annual salary to a maximum of $200,000. Premium paid by the city.
VOLUNTARY LIFE INSURANCE: Voluntary life insurance coverage is available for employees, spouses, and dependents. Premium paid by employee.
RETIREMENT PLAN: The City participates in the California Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) and does not participate in Social Security. New PERS members receive 2% at age 62, average of 3 years' final compensation benefit level and contribute 7.75% of their salary to pension costs. Classic members receive 2% at age 55, single-highest year benefit formula and pay 7.00% of their salary toward pension costs
LONG-TERM DISABILITY: Paid by City.
SHORT -TERM DISABILITY: Paid by City.
DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN: Employee-paid deferred compensation plan is available. For participation in the City's deferred compensation plan, the City will match up to $25 per pay period.
FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNT PROGRAMS: Employee-paid Flexible Spending Account Programs for medical and dependent care expenses are available.
COASTAL HOUSING PARTNERSHIP: The City is a member of the Coastal Housing Partnership, which offers home loan assistance and rental reductions.
PAID SUPPLEMENTAL PREGNANCY DISABILITY LEAVE AND SUPPLEMENTAL PAID PARENTAL LEAVE: The City of Goleta will pay the difference between any benefit the employee receives through state SDI or other City-offered group disability insurance plan and 100% of the employee's base salary (not to exceed ten weeks for pregnancy disability and not to exceed six weeks for parental bonding).
TRANSPORTATION DEMAND MANAGEMENT PROGRAM: Through participation in the City's Transportation Demand Management (TDM) program, employees may be eligible to receive a per-diem benefit of $7.50 per day.
01

Do you possess a valid Certificate of Registration as a Professional Engineer issued by the State of California? If so, please provide your license number and expiration date.
02

Describe your experience managing a Capital Improvement Program. Include the approximate annual capital budget, number of projects, and your responsibilities.
03

Describe your experience delivering public infrastructure projects from planning and environmental review through design, bidding, construction, and project closeout.
04

Describe your experience administering consultant and construction contracts. What role did you have in negotiations, change orders, budget management, and contractor oversight?
05

Describe your experience obtaining and administering state or federal grant funding for capital projects.
06

Describe your experience presenting recommendations to elected officials, executive management, or public commissions.
Required Question