Superintendent - Underground Utilities & Civil Construction

Some superintendents manage projects. The right person for this role builds them — from mobilization through final inspection — with the technical depth to solve problems in the field before they become schedule or cost issues. Our client is a well-established Southern California general engineering contractor with over five decades of public works experience, serving public agencies, regional utility companies, and major GCs across the region. They run serious underground infrastructure work — sewer, storm drain, waterline, vaults, conduit, and cable systems — and they need a Superintendent who's done it long enough to lead without a manual.

What You'll Own

• Direct all field operations on underground utility and general engineering projects from groundbreaking through project closeout
• Manage daily crew coordination, subcontractor activity, equipment deployment, and site logistics to keep schedule and budget on track
• Serve as the primary field point of contact for public agency inspectors, utility owners, and client representatives
• Enforce jobsite safety standards and lead toolbox talks — this is a hands-on safety culture, not a paperwork exercise
• Identify and resolve field conflicts — design issues, utility conflicts, changed conditions — before they escalate
• Coordinate with estimating and project management on RFIs, change orders, and schedule impacts
• Mentor field foremen and crew leads; set the standard for how work gets done on your jobs

Requirements

• Extensive field leadership experience in underground utility construction — sewer, storm drain, waterline, conduit, or pipeline — California experience is required
• Demonstrated track record on public works projects with public agency oversight (municipal, county, utility district, or similar)
• Ability to read and interpret civil construction drawings, specifications, and geotechnical reports in the field
• Working knowledge of California OSHA standards, trench safety, and shoring requirements — this is non-negotiable in underground work
• Strong command of scheduling, daily reporting, and crew management for multi-phase public works jobs
• 10+ years in the field with at least 3–5 years in a superintendent or senior foreman role leading underground or heavy civil scopes
• California-based; familiar with Southern California's permitting environment, inspector culture, and prevailing wage job requirements

Benefits

• Competitive compensation commensurate with experience (to be disclosed to qualified candidates)
• Consistent workload backed by long-term, multi-year on-call contracts with major public agencies across Southern California
• Owner-led organization where the work is steady, the culture is no-nonsense, and strong performance gets recognized
• The opportunity to bring real leadership to the field on infrastructure projects that matter to the communities they serve