Associate Principal Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Salary : $155,168.00 - $213,304.00 Annually
Location : 18700 Ward Street, Fountain Valley, CA
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 2026-00026
Department: Engineering
Opening Date: 07/27/2026
Closing Date: 9/1/2026 4:00 PM Pacific
FLSA: Exempt
Bargaining Unit: Orange County Water District Employees Association
Description
Class specifications are intended to present a descriptive list of the range of duties performed by employees in the class. Specifications are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job.
The Senior Engineer is the fourth level in a five-level engineering series. Incumbents are responsible for performing professional-level engineering duties in managing small to moderately complex engineering projects. The Senior Engineer is distinguished from the Associate Engineer and the Engineer by the increased level of responsibility and complexity of assigned work. The Senior Engineer is distinguished from the Principal Engineer, which is responsible for managing larger-scale, more complex engineering projects.
The Principal Engineer is the fifth level in a five-level engineering series. Incumbents are responsible for managing large-scale, complex engineering projects. The Principal Engineer is distinguished from the Assistant Engineer, Associate Engineer, Engineer, and Senior Engineer by responsibility for serving as project manager on the District's most complex engineering projects and providing advanced technical leadership.
Examples of Duties
The following essential job functions are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed job functions and/or may be required to perform additional or different job functions from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices. Management reserves the rights to add, modify, change, or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.

• Manages engineering projects from planning through design, permitting, bidding, construction, and project closeout.
• Plans, organizes, and coordinates project scope, schedules, budgets, consultant services, and construction activities.
• Reviews engineering designs, plans, specifications, calculations, technical reports, and consultant work products for technical accuracy and compliance with District standards.
• Develops requests for proposals; evaluates consultant qualifications and technical proposals; negotiates scopes of work; and manages consultant contracts.
• Monitors project progress, budgets, schedules, and expenditures; identifies project risks and develops recommendations to resolve technical and project-related issues.
• Ensures compliance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations, permits, environmental requirements, and District policies.
• Provides engineering analyses, technical recommendations, and professional advice to management, project teams, and other District departments.
• Prepares and presents technical reports, agenda items, presentations, correspondence, and recommendations to management, committees, regulatory agencies, and the Board of Directors, as assigned.
• Conducts field inspections and observes construction activities to ensure compliance with approved plans, specifications, contract requirements, and safety standards.
• Coordinates with regulatory agencies, consultants, contractors, utilities, and stakeholders throughout project development and implementation.
• Assists in developing, administering, and monitoring capital improvement and departmental budgets.
• Provides technical guidance and mentoring to engineering staff and may review the work of lower-level engineers.
• Handles job stress.
• Interacts effectively with others in the workplace.
• Follows all workplace and job safety rules and policies.
• Performs other duties of a similar nature or level as required.
• Directing engineering research and pilot studies.
• Writing and administering grant and loan applications.
• Pursuing research funding opportunities.
• Managing specialized groundwater treatment and water resource projects.
• Preparing and administering capital improvement program budgets.
• Evaluating existing infrastructure and recommending rehabilitation or replacement strategies.
• Developing engineering standards, specifications, and design criteria.
• Providing technical tours and outreach presentations.
• Reviewing and recommending alternative project delivery methods and engineering solutions.

In addition to the duties listed above, the Principal Engineer may also be responsible for:

• Serving as project manager for the District's largest and most technically complex engineering projects; establishing project strategy and technical direction; resolving highly complex engineering issues; and serving as a technical advisor to executive management.
• Leading multidisciplinary teams, developing engineering standards and best practices, and representing the District before regulatory agencies, professional organizations, governing bodies, and the public.

Typical Qualifications
The following generally describes the knowledge and ability required to enter the job and/or be learned within a short period of time in order to successfully perform the assigned duties.
Knowledge of:

• Applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and permitting requirements.
• Advanced engineering principles, practices, and design standards.
• Engineering economics and life-cycle cost analysis.
• Project management principles and methodologies.
• Construction principles, methods, inspection practices, and contract administration.
• Capital project planning, scheduling, budgeting, and cost control techniques.
• Risk assessment and mitigation strategies.
• Documentation and technical report preparation methods.
• Applicable engineering software, modeling tools, and technologies.
• Procurement and consultant contract administration.
• Public works design and construction practices.

Ability and Skills in:

• Managing multiple engineering projects simultaneously.
• Planning, organizing, and prioritizing complex engineering assignments.
• Reading and interpreting engineering plans, specifications, and technical documents.
• Reviewing engineering calculations and consultant work for technical accuracy.
• Developing project scopes, schedules, budgets, and technical specifications.
• Conducting engineering studies and preparing technical reports.
• Inspecting construction projects and resolving field issues.
• Analyzing technical information and developing practical engineering solutions.
• Presenting complex technical information to management, regulatory agencies, elected officials, and the public.
• Negotiating consultant agreements and coordinating multidisciplinary teams.
• Establishing facts, exercising sound engineering judgment, and making defensible recommendations.
• Using computers and engineering software applications.
• Communicating effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Building and maintaining effective working relationships with coworkers, consultants, contractors, regulatory agencies, and the public.

Principal Engineer additionally requires the ability to:

• Provide technical leadership, mentor engineering staff, lead multidisciplinary teams, and serve as the District's subject matter expert on highly complex engineering projects and programs.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE GUIDELINES
Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:
Education/Training: Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering or another engineering discipline is required. Registration as a Professional Engineer in the State of California in the appropriate engineering discipline is required. Master's degree preferred.
Experience:
Senior Engineer: Minimum six (6) years of related experience and/or training, preferably at the professional level in pipeline, water and wastewater treatment, pump stations, or related engineering work. Ability to prepare technical studies and manage large projects is required; or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above.
Principal Engineer: Ten (10) years of progressively responsible professional-level engineering experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above.
License: Valid California Class "C" Driver's License.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT
The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.
Physical: Positions in this class typically require reaching, lifting, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing, seeing and repetitive motions. Medium Work: Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Incumbents may be subjected to moving mechanical parts, electrical currents, fumes, odors, dust, poor ventilation, chemicals, workspace restrictions, intense noises and travel. Incumbents require sufficient physical ability to work in an office setting; stand or sit for prolonged periods of time; operate office equipment including use of a computer keyboard; push, pull, lift, and/or carry light amounts of weight; verbally communicate to exchange information.
Vision: See in the normal visual range with or without correction; vision sufficient to read computer screens and printed documents; and to operate assigned equipment.
Hearing: Hear in the normal audio range with or without correction.
DISASTER SERVICE WORKERS
All Orange County Water District employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state law (California Government Code Section 3100-3109). Employees are required to complete all related training as assigned, and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.
Supplemental Information
Candidates given an offer of employment will be required to pass a medical examination and background check. You must submit an OCWD online employment application to be considered. Please visit to complete an application. A valid California driver's license and proof of automobile insurance is required. Applications will be accepted until a sufficient number apply. EOE
Please visit the website below to view a summary of employee benefits:
NOTE: The provisions of this post do not constitute an expressed or implied contract. Any provision contained in this posting may be modified and/or revoked without notice.
01
Do you hold a bachelor's degree and/or master's degree in engineering? If so, please indicate the degrees and major.
02
Do you hold a California Professional Engineer (PE) registration in civil engineering? If so, please indicate below.
03
How many years of professional-level engineering experience do you have?
04
Please describe your project management engineering experience with Public Works projects in water and wastewater treatment, pump stations, and/or pipelines.
05
Do you currently possess a valid California Class "C" Driver's License?For out-of-state applicants: Currently possessing the equivalent of a California Class "C" driver's license from another state and having the ability to readily obtain a Class "C" driver's license in the State of California would temporarily suffice this requirement.

• Yes
• No

06
I hereby understand and declare that the statements on this supplemental questionnaire are true and complete to the best of my knowledge. As applicable, I hereby authorize the Agency and/or designees to contact the references listed to verify the information I have supplied. I hereby release from liability all persons and organizations furnishing such information. I understand that the Agency reserves the right to validate information received on the supplemental questionnaire and that I will be subject to disqualification and/or termination if any statement in this supplemental questionnaire is found to be untrue or determined to be misleading.

• Yes
• No

Required Question