Demo

Principal Engineer

City of Glendale AZ
Glendale, AZ Full Time
POSTED ON 9/26/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 10/25/2026
Description

Salary:This position is a Grade 418 with an annual salary between $113,333 - $170,000.About Us and the Role:

The City of Glendale's Transportation Department provides quality public roadway facilities and services that support and enhance a safe and high quality of life for our residents, while helping to improve and sustain the environment.

Under general direction, the Principal Engineer performs administrative and advanced professional engineering work and performs a variety of technical tasks relative to area of assignment.

The ideal candidate for the role will have a Bachelor’s Degree in an Engineering specialty such as Civil, Water Resources or Transportation, and five years of increasingly responsible experience as a professional engineer in the area of assignment including one year of lead or supervisory experience.

Benefits

The City of Glendale offers a generous benefits package with competitive rates that become effective the 1st of the month following 30 days of employment. You can review the FY26-27 Benefits Guide (Download PDF reader) or visit the City of Glendale’s Benefits pagefor more information.Holiday, Vacation, and Sick Leave:

Regular Status Position’s Offer

  • The City of Glendale observes 10.5 holidays per year, and full-time employees are also granted an additional 12 hours of holiday special leave per calendar year to celebrate their cultural or religious holidays.
  • Vacation leave accrues at 5.33 hours per pay period (138 hours per year), and increases to 6.12 hours after 5 years, and to 7.6 hours after 10 years of service.
  • Sick leave accrues at 4.4 hours per pay period (114 hours per year).

Retirement:

  • This position participates in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS).
  • Contribution is mandatory, and the current contribution rate is 11.98%.

Essential Functions

Note: Specific functions, required knowledge, skills and abilities may vary depending on assignment.

  • Follows personnel and department policies and operating procedures; demonstrates respect, tact, and courtesy to coworkers, contractors, consultants, and general public.
  • Plans, organizes, and manages the activities of assigned staff within department.
  • Reviews, evaluates, and approves civil engineering studies, designs. or plans for area of assignment.
  • Coordinates city projects with other departments, municipalities, and agencies.
  • Prepares written and oral reports for City management, City Council, other departments and the public.
  • Coordinates communication of engineering issues within the department and organization.
  • Maintains technical or professional knowledge through such means as attending seminars, reviewing professional publications, attending classes or participating in developmental activities.
  • Represents the City on professional and technical committees.
  • Depending on area of assignment, operates city vehicles.
  • Performs other related duties as assigned.

Transportation

  • Responsible for Transportation engineering projects and acts as the City’s technical expert in area of assignment.
  • Responsible for the short-and long-range planning, budgeting, and implementation of the roadway programs.
  • Participates in the planning process for new development and redevelopment of existing commercial and industrial developments. Provides recommendations during the development pre-application review, design review and plat approval processes.
  • Responds to and resolves citizen inquires and complaints regarding roadway condition projects, infrastructure, signing, striping, and traffic mitigation.
  • Seeks regional funding for the City’s transportation projects when a call for project is made.
  • Coordinates field inventory for street and right of way areas. The field inventory will encompass the City's major arterial, collector, and residential street networks.
  • Manages outside consultant and contractor work.
  • Performs and supervises research, analyzes findings, and prepares recommendations for roadway infrastructure needs.
  • Ensures adherence to city and regional technical specifications.
  • Manages the Streets and Right of Way divisions.
  • Manages the City's Pavement Management Program.

Minimum Qualifications/Special Requirements/Success Factors

Bachelor’s Degree in an Engineering specialty such as Civil, Water Resources or Transportation, and five years of increasingly responsible experience as a professional engineer in the area of assignment including one year of lead or supervisory experience.

Knowledge Of

  • The theory, principles and practices of civil engineering
  • Professional literature and sources of information for the discipline in area of assignment
  • Research and statistical methods and procedures applied to discipline in area of assignment
  • Project contracts and project delivery methods to include, job order contracting, construction manager at risk, design bid build etc.
  • Project management and supervisory practices
  • Public works design, standards and construction methods, materials and techniques used in the construction of public works projects
  • City and state laws, ordinances, statutes and regulations governing municipal engineering
  • City’s public works infrastructure
  • Basic contract law, bond and insurance requirements
  • Maintaining and managing budgets

Ability To

  • Effectively supervise and evaluate the work of subordinate personnel
  • Prepare and monitor a division and/or project budget
  • Prepare or review plans, designs, and project specifications
  • Sign and seal engineering plans and documents
  • Make decisions regarding project priorities, costs, and alternatives
  • Perform research, analyze findings, prepare and present reports to city management
  • Effectively communicate both orally and in writing with internal and external customers
  • Establish and maintain effective working relationships with city staff, contractors, counterparts in other agencies, and the public
  • Operate a computer and engineering applications
  • Able to use Bluebeam software
  • Operate city vehicles, depending on area of assignment

Special Requirements

  • Registration as a Professional Engineer at time of application.
  • Registration as a Professional Engineer in the State of Arizona within six months of hire.
  • Depending on area of assignment:
    • Valid Arizona Driver’s License.
    • This position is classified as safety-sensitive which requires candidates to successfully undergo drug and alcohol testing prior to employment. They will be subject to further drug and alcohol testing throughout their period of employment in accordance with the City of Glendale Substance Abuse policy. A post-offer physical assessment is required. The City of Glendale will incur the cost of all required testing.
Success Factor Classification Level - Professional/Supervisory

To view the success factor definitions please click here. (If needed, click here to download PDF reader).

This position description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the position change.

Physical Requirements/Working Conditions

Depending on area of assignment, enters, exits, and operates city vehicles. Climb stairways, ladders, and work on elevated structures. Traverse uneven surfaces. Traverse long distances during workday with or without an accommodation. Work in stationary position for considerable periods of time. Work at a desk or computer station for prolonged periods. Extensive reading and close vision work. Most work is performed in a City office setting with some work performed outdoors on site moving over rough and/or uneven terrain. Exposure to heat, cold, dampness, dust, pollen, odors, fumes, etc. Exposure to hazards of electrical shock, falls, noise, equipment operations, etc. Occasional work next to live traffic.

Benefit information is outlined here: https://www.glendaleaz.gov/Your-Government/Connect/Departments/Human-Resources-Risk-Management/Benefits

01

This position requires a minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree in an Engineering specialty such as Civil, Water Resources or Transportation, and five years of increasingly responsible experience as a professional engineer in the area of assignment including one year of lead or supervisory experience. Do you meet this requirement?

  • Yes
  • No

02

Do you have at least one year of lead or supervisory experience?

  • Yes
  • No

03

How many years of project management experience do you have?

  • 10 or more years
  • 7 to 10 years
  • 5 to 7 years
  • Less than 5 years
  • None

04

How many years of pavement management experience do you have?

  • 10 or more years
  • 7 to 10 years
  • 5 to 7 years
  • Less than 5 years
  • None

05

How many years of experience do you have managing budgets?

  • 10 or more years
  • 5 to 10 years
  • Less than 5 years
  • None

06

How many years of supervisory experience do you have?

  • 10 or more years
  • 5 to 10 years
  • Less than 5 years
  • None

07

Please select which certifications you currently have that pertain to the Principal Engineer position (select all that apply).

  • Project Management Professional (PMP)
  • Professional Engineer (PE)
  • Engineer in Training (EIT)
  • None of the above
  • Required Question

Salary : $113,333 - $170,000

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution. Compensation Planning
Enhance your organization's compensation strategy with salary data sets that HR and team managers can use to pay your staff right. Surveys & Data Sets

What is the career path for a Principal Engineer?

Sign up to receive alerts about other jobs on the Principal Engineer career path by checking the boxes next to the positions that interest you.
Income Estimation: 
$162,237 - $199,353
Income Estimation: 
$222,110 - $256,974
Income Estimation: 
$224,976 - $270,947
Income Estimation: 
$205,834 - $254,869
Income Estimation: 
$242,530 - $287,120
Income Estimation: 
$162,237 - $199,353
Income Estimation: 
$222,110 - $256,974
Income Estimation: 
$224,976 - $270,947
Income Estimation: 
$205,834 - $254,869
Income Estimation: 
$242,530 - $287,120
Employees: Get a Salary Increase
View Core, Job Family, and Industry Job Skills and Competency Data for more than 15,000 Job Titles Skills Library

Job openings at City of Glendale AZ

  • City of Glendale AZ Glendale, AZ
  • Description Salary: This position is a Grade 408 with an annual salary between $69,576-$104,364. About Us and the Role: The City of Glendale's Transportati... more
  • 2 Days Ago

  • City of Glendale AZ Glendale, AZ
  • Description Salary: This position is a Grade 313 with an annual salary between $49,446-$74,169. About Us and the Role: The City of Glendale's Transportatio... more
  • 3 Days Ago

  • City of Glendale AZ Glendale, AZ
  • Location: Glendale, AZ Company: Sir Speedy Printing, Signs & Marketing Sir Speedy Glendale is looking for a dependable, motivated Production Specialist to ... more
  • 8 Days Ago


Not the job you're looking for? Here are some other Principal Engineer jobs in the Glendale, AZ area that may be a better fit.

  • Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) Phoenix, AZ
  • Company Maricopa Association of Governments Closes The position is open until filled. Status Full time Pay Rate Salary Title Range $99,866.76 - $149,800.13... more
  • 7 Days Ago

  • Sonatafy Technology Phoenix, AZ
  • Job Description. Job Description. Salary: 1. THIS POSITION IS FOR CANDIDATES BASED IN PHOENIX, AZ. (This role requires up to 10% travel annually, including... more
  • 1 Month Ago

AI Assistant is available now!

Feel free to start your new journey!