Principal Civil Engineer

Salary: $90,317.00 - $149,023.00 Annually
Location : City Hall -111 Maryland Ave, Rockville, MD 20850, MD
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number:
Department: Department of Public Works
Division: Engineering
Opening Date: 10/20/2026
Closing Date: 11/5/2026 7:59 PM Eastern

Job Summary
The Principal Civil engineer joins the Department of Public works and reports to an Engineering Supervisor. The successful candidate will have significant responsibility managing major capital improvement program (CIP) initiatives for our water treatment plant (WTP) and distribution system. This includes various WTP process and equipment upgrades, water main rehabilitation, lead and copper rule regulation compliance, and advanced metering infrastructure implementation. Responsibilities in this role are broad and cover every aspect of work related to the Water Fund such short and long-term planning, budget preparation, system modeling, community outreach, determination of development requirements, bidding and contract administration, construction support, and public presentation.

Whether you already have local government engineering experience o coming from an Engineering Consulting (billable) environment, this could be a welcome career change. The position will offer a hybrid and flexible work schedule. Employment with the city presents an exceptional and unique work environment in which you will play a critical part in supporting the lives of our 70,000 residents, businesses, and countless visitors. Our generous benefits package includes significant retirement programs, ample annual and sick leave, membership at the city's Swim and Fitness Center, tuition reimbursement and training. We also offer a family friendly work/life balance, and various opportunities for employees to participate in Health and Wellness programming.

Essential Job Functions
Essential Job Functions

Functions of all Principal Civil Engineers

• Supervises and coordinates the preparation and review of construction plans, specifications, computations, and contract documents for the Public Works Capital Improvement Projects and development permits prepared by consulting engineers and City staff.
• Performs reviews of complex engineering plans, reports, and computations for compliance with engineering principles and applicable city, county, state, and federal codes, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Assists reviewing laws, regulations, requirements, and standards of the federal government, the state, and non-governmental bodies (such as AWWA or LEED) to identify and assesses changes and recommend changes to the Rockville City Code.
• Reviews the impact of development projects on City water and wastewater infrastructure for conformance with the Adequate Public Facility Standards and recommends improvement to the water and wastewater systems to ensure system integrity.
• Conducts studies; recommends policies, regulations, and procedures; and analyzes fees and rates to achieve division goals.
• Interprets designs and advises on intent issues as they arise, refines or revises designs or adds designs, as necessary, and may resolve design/construction conflicts during the construction phase.
• Prepares and reviews complex construction plans, studies, plats, easements, specifications, and estimates for projects ranging from new construction to repair/modification of existing infrastructure.
• Schedules, mentors and reviews the work of other engineers to ensure design quality and compliance with City standards, specifications, and good engineering practice, and maintains a status report on all projects.
• Coordinates projects and obtains permits from appropriate City departments, outside agencies, and private utility companies.
• Reviews standards, specifications, ordinance requirements, and regulations within the City to recommend modifications and advise on their probable impact.
• Assists and provides advice to inspection personnel to resolve field problems and respond to contract administration inquiries.
• Answers public inquiries regarding projects and other engineering matters; attends and acts as City representative at citizen and community meetings.
• Evaluates proposed development and establishes water, wastewater, and SWM requirements through the Water and Sewer Authorization and the Stormwater Concept approval process to ensure development complies with the City, State, and federal codes, including the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance.
• Drafts proposed legislation for the City Code to stay current with modern standards and practices, and local, state, and federal regulations.
• Receives and resolves inquiries regarding complex complaints from interested parties involving issues that are the purview of the department's codes.
• Assists division chief in the preparation of the operating and CIP budgets and other administrative and personnel duties.
• Manages individual engineering projects and provides estimates for CIP planning, budgeting, and design purposes.
• Supervises engineers and consulting engineers in project execution for the Engineering Division.
• May be required to attend meetings after hours and respond to emergencies.

Functions of CIP Construction

• Manages the planning and implementation of Programs with a primary focus in the Water Distribution Rehabilitation Program. Program management includes recommending funding levels; identifying, planning and implementing Capital projects; and applying GIS to implement an Asset Management program.
• Manages the A&E contract to ensure adequacy of the A&E firm's work, timeliness, accuracy of construction cost estimates, and appropriate coordination with others, including governmental bodies in the design phase.
• Prepares request for proposal for engineering projects and serves as staff liaison to consultants on Public Works design projects.
• Plans and designs public infrastructure improvements including water, sewer, stormwater, and bridges implemented through the Capital Improvement Program.

Qualifications

BS or MS in civil or environmental engineering from an accredited university or college, seven (7) or more years of progressively responsible experience in civil engineering, or any combination of substantially equivalent education and experience. Candidates ideally will have direct experience in the project management of water distribution or water treatment plant engineering.

Special Qualifications:
Licensed Professional Engineer (PE) and/or certification from the Project Management Institute as a Project Management Professional (PMP), or ability to obtain one or both of these credentials within a reasonable period of time as determined by the city.
Must possess or have the ability to obtain a valid Maryland state driver's license.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Considerable knowledge of the principles and practices of civil engineering.
• Considerable knowledge of the appropriate standards and procedures used in the design and construction of roadway, water, wastewater, storm drainage, stormwater management, sediment control, and other public works construction.
• Considerable knowledge of information sources, research techniques, and reporting standards used in public works engineering.
• Knowledge of government procurement practices, policies, and procedures.
• Skill in program leadership and dealing with a variety of individuals and groups, at all levels, including stakeholder outreach and explaining technical aspects of programs to citizens and groups.
• Skill in critical strategic thinking and project planning.
• Skill in the use of personal computers, GIS, and design software (AutoCAD and/or Microstation).
• Skill in the use of specialized engineering software for water, wastewater, or stormwater modeling.
• Skill in good communication, both written and verbal and excellent human relations skills.
• Skill in making engineering computations, estimates, and designs.
• Skill in the use of word processing and data processing equipment.
• Ability to complete difficult engineering computations and to design a variety of public works projects quickly and accurately.
• Ability to review complex engineering plans, specifications, and documents and to discern and correct errors in design and criteria.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other engineers, employees, contractors, and other persons contacted in the course of work.
• Ability to plan and assign work for contract engineers, inspectors, surveyors, and lower-level engineers.

Summary of Employee Benefits
The City of Rockville offers a wide range of health and wellness benefits to full-time, regular employees. Part-time, regular employees working more than 20 hours per week may be eligible for benefits on a pro-rated basis. Benefits are not available to temporary employees.

HEALTH BENEFITS Medical Insurance Participation is available in one of several types of health plans. The city contributes toward each plan. Participation is optional. Employees may elect to participate in plans offered through Aetna or Kaiser Permanente. Benefit coverage is available beginning on date of hire.

Dental Insurance Employees may enroll in the City's dental program offered through Guardian Dental. The city contributes a portion of the cost of each employee's dental coverage. If dental coverage is waived, the City's contribution is reallocated toward the employee's health plan cost. Start date of coverage is the first of the month following date of hire. Vision The city offers a vision plan with VSP. The city contributes a portion of the cost of each employee's vision coverage. Start date of coverage is the first of the month following date of hire.
GROUP LIFE INSURANCE
The City provides life insurance equal to one and one-half times an employee's base salary. There is no cost to the employee for this benefit. Employees have the option of purchasing additional supplemental life insurance coverage for self, spouse and dependent child(ren). RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN Participation in the City of Rockville's retirement plan is mandatory. There are two parts to the retirement plan: 1) the Pension Plan and 2) the Thrift Plan. The City of Rockville Pension Plan (all employees) is a defined benefit plan that provides the participant with a specific monthly benefit at retirement. Monthly benefits are calculated based on a participant's salary and length of credited service. Employees are fully vested in the pension plan after 10 years of credited service and are always 100% vested in the amounts they contribute. The City of Rockville Thrift Plan (administrative and union employees only) is a defined contribution plan subject to the IRS code 401(a). Employees make pre-tax contributions and investment decisions. No specific amount of money is guaranteed at retirement. The benefits available are based on the amount contributed and are also affected by income, expenses, gains and losses. Deferred Compensation/457(b) Plan - The 457(b) plan, administered by Lincoln Financial, is an optional retirement plan. Contributions to this plan are made entirely by the employee. Both pre-tax and post-tax (Roth) options are available.
LEGAL RESOURCES
Through Legal Resources, participating employees and their eligible family members can get free advice, consultation, and courtroom representation for common legal services.

EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
The City provides free, confidential counseling, assessment, and referral services to help employees deal with personal matters. The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is also available for family members who are eligible health insurance plan dependents.

LONG-TERM DISABILITY PROGRAM
The City's Income Protection Plan provides long-term disability benefits for both on and off the job injuries or illnesses. Coverage for off the job injuries or illnesses is provided after one year of employment with the city.
PAID LEAVE

• Vacation (16 - 23 days accrued annually; accrual rate based on years of service)
• Sick Leave (13 days accrued annually; unlimited accrual)
• Paid Parental Leave (up to 8 weeks in rolling 12-month period for eligible employees) to care for newborn/newly adopted/newly placed child or family member
• Holidays (11 holidays observed each year)
• Jury duty, bereavement leave, military leave

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS

• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Employer paid Basic Life and AD&D Insurance
• Long-Term Disability & Workers' Compensation Insurance
• Multilingual Stipend
• Tuition Assistance
• Healthy Lifestyle Incentives
• Employee Assistance Program
• First-Time Homebuyer Assistance
• Credit Union and Direct Deposit
• Recreation & Leisure Opportunities & Discounts

For additional Health and Wellness Benefits information:
01

Do you currently hold a PMP Certification from Project Management Institute?

• Yes
• No

02

Do you currently have a Professional Engineers (PE) license?

• Yes
• No

03

Briefly describe any related experience with water treatment plant and/or water distribution systems.
Required Question