Principal Plan Check Engineer (FT

About the role

The Principal Plan Check Engineer operates at the core of plan review execution for CSG Consultants ensuring rigorous technical validation of construction documentation. This role owns the comprehensive review and evaluation of construction documents for a diverse portfolio encompassing new residential, multifamily, commercial, and industrial projects. The position mandates the consistent application of engineering judgment to verify design adequacy relative to life-safety, structural integrity, and code compliance requirements. The hire will be deeply responsible for interpreting and applying the California Building Standards Codes and all referenced standards with precision. Collaboration with internal teams and external stakeholders will be essential to resolve plan check findings efficiently and professionally. This role demands a high level of accountability for the accuracy and thoroughness of all review deliverables produced.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Conduct exhaustive technical evaluations of construction documents, calculations, and soils reports to confirm adherence to California Building Standards Codes.
• Apply advanced engineering judgment to determine the adequacy of structural, life-safety, and other critical design aspects within submitted plans.
• Perform detailed reviews for new residential, multifamily, commercial, industrial, and other structure types to ensure full regulatory compliance.
• Interpret and enforce compliance with construction inspection and plan review protocols, policies, and procedures established by the firm.
• Analyze construction diagrams, electronic plans, maps, and specifications to verify conformity with all applicable codes and ordinances.
• Read and interpret complex plan check documents, construction drawings, and regulatory references with a high degree of accuracy.
• Generate clear, effective plan check correction notices and communicate design coordination requirements to engineering teams.
• Assess design coordination opportunities and propose alternate forms of compliance when standard applications do not resolve code requirements.
• Maintain sound judgment in all plan check activities to ensure consistent and defensible review outcomes.
• Support client locations and business-related sites as required, understanding that driving may be a regular component of the role.

Requirements

• Must possess a strong understanding of California Building Standards Codes and referenced standards as they apply to plan review.
• Must be responsible for the technical review of construction documents related to new residential, multifamily, commercial, industrial, and other structures.
• Must review drawings, calculations, soils reports and other documents for conformance with the requirements of the California Building Standards Codes and Reference Standards.
• Must use engineering judgment to assess the adequacy of a design to address life-safety review, structural review, or other aspects of the code.
• Must have a thorough knowledge of construction inspection and plan review protocols, policies, and procedures.
• Must be able to read and interpret maps, construction diagrams, electronic plans, and specifications of projects and evaluate them for compliance with California Building Standards Codes, Reference Standards, and other governing Codes and ordinances.
• Must understand design discipline coordination, plan development and writing effective plan check correction notices.
• Must exhibit sound judgment reading and interpreting code requirements and suggesting alternate forms of compliance with codes and ordinances.
• Must be required to visit client locations, job sites, or other business-related locations in the course of duties and must possess a valid driver's license if driving is part of the assignment.
• Must be available for positions where employees may be required to drive as part of job responsibilities and must maintain compliance with this requirement.

Nice to have

No additional preferred qualifications are specified in the source material beyond the stated requirements and responsibilities.

Practical notes

Employees may be required to visit client locations, job sites, or other business-related locations in the course of their duties. In addition, employees may be assigned to clients whose business needs require driving as part of the employee's job responsibilities. Accordingly, employees assigned to positions requiring business-related driving must possess and maintain a valid driver's license. Exact compensation may vary based on skills, experience, and location. We only consider candidates living locally or within the State of CA. We do not pay any relocation expenses.