Principal Construction Inspector

Reports to: Director, Engineering 

Status:  Exempt

Schedule: 9/80 (Every other Friday off)

Pay: $155,000 - $170,000 annually 

General Description:

The Principal Inspector is a senior-level position responsible for overseeing, coordinating, executing inspection, and ensuring contract compliance duties for various Capital Improvement Projects and Tenant Improvement projects. The position would require exercising best judgment and considerable discretion to ensure that airport facilities and construction comply with federal, state, and local regulations, contract specifications, safety standards, and airport policies. The position will serve as a technical subject matter expert and point of contact for inspection matters.

Essential Job Functions:

Typical Tasks

• Plan, supervise, coordinate and/or perform inspection activities for airport capital improvement projects, minor projects, and tenant improvement projects, for both horizontal and vertical facilities, i.e., airside pavements, runways/taxiways, aprons, lighting & signage, utilities, terminal building, parking structures, hangars, and other facilities and infrastructure. 
• Ensure compliance with applicable regulations, FAA Advisory Circulars, Airport Rules and Regulations, local building codes, environmental and safety laws, contract documents, specifications, project plans, airport operating procedures, etc.
• Perform both routine and complex construction inspections and approve or reject work/materials as appropriate.
• Review construction plans, project specifications, change orders, and shop drawings for constructability, compliance, safety, and enforceability.
• Coordinate with planning, engineering, operations, maintenance, SMS, security, environmental, and other internal/external stakeholders to resolve non-conformances, safety issues, or regulatory findings.
• Prepare, maintain, and ensure adequate documentation of inspection reports, logs, deficiency reports, noncompliance findings, and follow-ups.
• Lead or assist in construction incident/investigation reviews (e.g., pavement failures, lighting outages, safety incidents) and recommend corrective or preventive actions.
• Manage contractor compliance during construction and maintenance; oversee quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) processes.
• Assist other departments with various facility inspections required for compliance with Airport Rules and Regulations, stormwater permits, leases, and other contract documents.
• Supervise, train, mentor, and/or evaluate junior staff, as required.
• May serve as liaison with federal, state, and local jurisdictions, contractors, vendors, and community stakeholders about inspection standards and safety concerns on construction. 
• Coordinate efforts for area and utility shutdown with various stakeholders and affected parties.
• Required to work standard business hours during the day and to adjust to night or weekend schedules as needed to accommodate construction activities, operational requirements, and coordination with project and office staff.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

Employment Standards

• At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in inspection, construction, and/or facilities management in an airport or comparable infrastructure setting (e.g., major public works, transportation facility, utilities).
• Experience supervising or leading inspection staff and/or contractors. 
• Demonstrated experience reviewing construction plans, specifications, contracts, and change orders, enforcing compliance.
• Experience with quality assurance / quality control in construction or maintenance, and ability to detect deviations from plans or safety standards and drive remediation.
• Requires a creative approach in formulating responses and making recommendations under high pressure environment. 
• Possession of a valid California Driver’s license
• Obtain and maintain security clearance as required by role and TSA regulations.
• Occupational safety training and certifications
• ICC (International Code Council) inspector certifications (for electrical, mechanical, building, etc.) a plus
• Prior airport inspection experience in commercial airports a plus

Supplemental Information:

Knowledge of:

• Principles of Airport, Civil, Mechanical, Plumbing, Electrical Engineering, Architecture, and other related fields.
• Construction safety standards.
• Environmental principles, hazardous material handling, and stormwater best management practices. 
• FAA Advisory Circulars, California Building Codes, and other local and state requirements.
• Part 139 Airport operational requirements as it relates to facility development.
• Construction and inspection techniques and strategies for horizontal and vertical improvements for public works, commercial, and/or industrial settings. 

Ability to:

• Read and interpret complex technical documents, design drawings, project specifications, and perform constructability review.
• Exercise best judgement and considerable discretion to address challenges. Must have strong decision-making skills, especially in safety-critical context. 
• Foster collaboration and cross coordination among project stakeholders.
• Orally communicate via public speaking, tenant communications, and meetings.
• Maintain integrity and discretion necessary to safeguard confidential data managed or obtained as regular part of the job.
• Operate motor vehicles, and ability to walk around construction sites, exposure to weather conditions, use of personal protective equipment and hand and arm dexterity to operate computers, printers, and telephones. 
• Ability to work outdoors, often in varying weather conditions; walk long distances on uneven/rough terrain; climb ladders or work at height where necessary.
• Ability to respond to off-hours emergencies, construction work interruptions, urgent safety concerns.
• Ability to lift or carry equipment/data up to a certain amount (e.g., 25-50 lbs.), use cameras and measurement tools.

Interested candidates may apply by clicking the link below and completing the online assessments:

https://www.ondemandassessment.com/o/JB-71G4NNVLR/landing?u=137146&source=Paylocity