1

Senior Principal Engineer Jobs in Riverside, CA (NOW HIRING)

EEC Environmental is actively seeking a creative, growth-focused and ambitious Senior Principal Engineer to serve in a leadership role in our Orange County office. In this role, you will be ...

Sr. Principal AMS Verification Engineer Posting Start Date: 6/15/26 Job Location(s): Austin, Cedar Rapids, Irvine, Newbury Park, San Jose If you are looking for a challenging and exciting career in ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

Senior Principal Engineer information

See Riverside, CA salary details

$85.5K

$162.2K

$223.8K

How much do senior principal engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 11, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior principal engineer in Riverside, CA is $162,155.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $130,900.00 and $180,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a senior principal engineer?

A Senior Principal Engineer is a highly experienced technical leader who is responsible for guiding the overall engineering direction and strategy within an organization. They typically possess deep expertise in their field, provide mentorship to other engineers, and influence major architectural and technical decisions. Senior Principal Engineers often collaborate with cross-functional teams, ensure best practices are followed, and play a critical role in driving innovation. Their work has a significant impact on the company's products and technical vision.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a senior principal engineer?

To excel as a Senior Principal Engineer, you need deep technical expertise in your engineering discipline, advanced problem-solving abilities, and typically a bachelor's or master's degree in engineering or a related field. Proficiency with industry-standard design and simulation software, project management tools, and relevant certifications (such as PMP or PE) are often required. Exceptional leadership, strategic thinking, and strong communication skills distinguish top performers in this role. These competencies are vital for leading complex projects, driving innovation, and effectively guiding engineering teams to achieve organizational goals.

What does a senior principal engineer do?

Senior Principal Engineers often serve as technical leaders on cross-functional projects, collaborating closely with product managers, architects, and development teams to define technical direction and ensure architectural consistency. They provide deep expertise to solve complex engineering challenges, mentor other engineers, and help align project goals with the organization's strategic vision. Their role frequently involves facilitating communication between different departments and ensuring technical decisions support both immediate project needs and long-term scalability.

What is the difference between Senior Principal Engineer vs Lead Engineer?

AspectSenior Principal EngineerLead Engineer
CredentialsTypically requires a bachelor's or master's degree in engineering, with extensive industry experienceSimilar educational background, often with additional certifications or specialized training
Work EnvironmentFocuses on high-level technical strategy, innovation, and mentorship across projectsLeads specific projects or teams, overseeing technical execution and coordination
Industry UsageCommon in large corporations and R&D settingsFound in both startups and established companies, often in project-based roles

While both roles require strong technical expertise, the Senior Principal Engineer typically focuses on strategic technical leadership and innovation at an organizational level, whereas the Lead Engineer manages project execution and team coordination. The Senior Principal Engineer often operates at a higher, more strategic level within the engineering hierarchy.

What are popular job titles related to Senior Principal Engineer jobs in Riverside, CA? For Senior Principal Engineer jobs in Riverside, CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Senior Principal Engineer jobs in Riverside, CA look for? The top searched job categories for Senior Principal Engineer jobs in Riverside, CA are:
What cities near Riverside, CA are hiring for Senior Principal Engineer jobs? Cities near Riverside, CA with the most Senior Principal Engineer job openings:
Infographic showing various Senior Principal Engineer job openings in Riverside, CA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 5% Part Time, and 7% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $162,155 per year, or $78 per hour.

Senior Principal Engineer

EEC Environmental

Orange, CA โ€ข On-site

$150K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 10 days ago


Job description

EEC Environmental is actively seeking a creative, growth-focused and ambitious Senior Principal Engineer to serve in a leadership role in our Orange County office. In this role, you will be responsible for managing the execution of water/wastewater treatment, utility design projects, and/or site development while mentoring a group of talented engineers and technical professionals. You will be expected to demonstrate excellent leadership, problem-solving skills, and produce high-quality deliverables. This position also offers a Principal level position or clear path for advancement to Principal, recognizing individuals who demonstrate strong leadership, client development, and organizational impact.

The ideal candidate is an experienced self-starter who is comfortable leading design teams and facilitating staff development. Client development is an expected component of this position. Candidates with a positive attitude and strong initiative will fit well with our existing group of outstanding professionals. Occasional business travel may be required.

Project Management Responsibilities

Oversight and execution of project tasks to ensure timely and high-quality deliverables.

Manage project schedules, budgets, costs, subcontractors, project quality, and client satisfaction.

Preparing for and participating in meetings with clients, regulatory personnel, and other parties.

Recruiting, managing and mentoring junior staff and mid-career engineers and scientists.

Participate in local and national technical associations (e.g. ASCE, WEF, AWRA, GRA, etc.).

Engineering Responsibilities

Manage a wide range of design and design-build projects including industrial pretreatment systems, collection and conveyance systems, pump stations, storage and treatment facilities, and wellhead treatment systems.

Project management and oversight of design, planning and permitting, troubleshooting, and system optimization including design-build projects.

Reviewing and preparing technical reports, construction documents, and specifications.

Occasional fieldwork including contractor oversight and process troubleshooting tasks.

Conduct feasibility studies and due diligence assessments for potential projects.

Prepare technical reports and documentation for project review and approval.

Approves drawing packages, exhibits and documents assembled.

Qualifications

BS in Engineering with 10+ years of demonstrated experience in the consulting industry with private and public projects.

Valid Professional Engineer (PE) license (California or other).

Demonstrated experience with: Industrial and municipal clients in water supply, water/wastewater treatment, and water re-use projects.

Working knowledge of Federal and California regulations.

Experience with managing multi-disciplinary project teams.

Ability to succeed in a fast-paced consulting environment, handling multiple project assignments, meeting strict deadlines, and traveling to client facilities as needed.

Valid U.S driver’s license and a satisfactory driving record for business travel.

Proficient with MS Office software.

Experience with ACAD and/or Civil 3D.

Strong oral and technical writing skills.

Job Type: Full-time

Job Location: Orange, CA (on site daily)

Required Education: Bachelor’s Degree or Higher

Compensation: $150K – $200K commensurate with experience

Benefits offered:

Medical, Dental, Vision

Life/Long Term Disability

Generous PTO policy

10 Paid Holidays

401(k) with match

Profit Sharing Plan

Discretionary Bonus Program

Our principals and senior management team bring more than a century of experience to each project, making EEC a leading national full-service firm, offering one-stop, turn-key solutions for projects of all sizes.

“EEC provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.”