Senior Civil Engineer, Water

Job Description:

Senior Civil Engineer, Water

Description

Description

PLEASE READ THIS BULLETIN IN ITS ENTIRETY

THE POSITION
This recruitment is being conducted to fill two full-time vacancies. The list established by this recruitment may be used to fill future full-time, part-time, limited term, and temporary vacancies for up to one year.

The City of Vallejo is seeking qualified candidates for the role of Senior Civil Engineer. As collaborative members of the City’s Water Department, the Senior Civil Engineer is responsible for planning, organizing, and supervising professional and technical engineering operations for an assigned section, i.e., current development, water, traffic, or capital improvement. They oversee the preparation of complex engineering designs, plans, specifications, and reports and manages assigned construction projects.

The ideal candidate for Senior Civil Engineer will possess fours years of increasingly responsible experience working on civil engineering projects, including the design and/or construction of public works and/or water utilities systems and facilities, at least two years of which were at a level equivalent to an Associate Civil Engineer and some lead or supervisory experience. In addition, they will possess a Bachelors degree with major course work in Civil Engineering or a related field.

The Department is seeking to fill two Senior Civil Engineer positions to provide leadership within the Engineering Division. One position will lead the Development Section, supporting growth and development review activities, while the other will lead the Capital Improvement Program (CIP), advancing critical infrastructure investments and delivery of complex water system projects.

THE DEPARTMENT
The Vallejo Water Department is a dynamic organization engaged in growth and positive change for the benefit of our customers and community. The Department provides potable water to 121,000 customers through a highly complex system including multiple raw water sources, three treatment plants, a Sludge Dewatering Facility, 600 miles of distribution pipes, 8 pressure zones,27 pump stations, and 37,000 service connections. Vallejo Water is a Treatment-5/Distribution-5 system. In 2017, Vallejo water services transitioned from a division of Public Works, to a standalone Water Department reporting directly to the City Manager. This change gives drinking water-related operations and issues greater visibility and strategic direction for the benefit of rate-payers. The Water Department’s strategic goals include: infrastructure reliability, public trust, sustainability, organizational performance, and financial viability.
The Water Department has six Divisions: Treatment Operations, Distribution, Facilities, Administration, Engineering, Water Resources, and Water Quality.
The Vallejo Water Department operates as an Enterprise Fund, meaning it is fully supported by ratepayer revenues rather than the City’s General Fund. This structure allows the Department to maintain a dedicated focus on long-term infrastructure investment, regulatory compliance, and reliable water service delivery to the community.
THE CITY OF VALLEJO
The City of Vallejo is located in Solano County and has a population of approximately 121,000 residents. Vallejo is a rapidly changing, highly diverse community located midway between the cities of San Francisco and Sacramento. It is a friendly, active waterfront community that attracts innovative, hardworking people and takes great pride in its 148-year history and maritime heritage. Residents of Vallejo are situated to take advantage of the best of what the area has to offer. Golf, museums, performing arts, boutique shopping, brewpubs and a wide selection of restaurants are all available in Vallejo. Residents and visitors alike enjoy Vallejo's delightful historical downtown area, weekly downtown farmer's market, and beautifully restored Victorian homes and business facades. Vallejo is also home to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, one of America's only combination wildlife, oceanarium and theme parks.

DISTINGUSHING CHARACTERISTICS:
This is the advanced journey level class within the (Civil) Engineering series. Employees within this class are distinguished from the Associate Civil Engineer by the overall responsibility for major and/or complex engineering projects or assignments, by the level, breadth, depth, complexity, and impact of administrative and supervisory responsibilities, and/or by the level of professional specialization and expertise required. Senior Civil Engineer handles the most complex and sensitive work and has full supervisory authority over lower-level engineers. The Senior Civil Engineer class is responsible for planning, coordinating, managing, and evaluating an engineering section and/or engineering projects.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

• Receives general direction from management staff.
• Exercises direct supervision over professional and technical engineering staff.

EXAMPLES OF IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices .

General Duties (for all assignments):

• Plan, develop, prioritize, assign, supervise and review the plans, designs, standards, specifications, computations and other engineering or related documents included in providing engineering services in traffic, current development, capital improvement, and water resources management sections of the Public Works Department Engineering Division and the Water Department Engineering Division.
• Participate in the selection of professional and technical engineering staff; provide or coordinate staff training; manage employees effectively; contribute to regular performance evaluations of professional and technical staff implement discipline procedures in coordination with the Human Resources Department.
• Prepare various reports on operations, activities, funding opportunities, state, federal, and other policies impacting the section’s function, and other relevant content. Example reports include staff reports and council updates.
• Recommend and assist in the implementation of goals and objectives; establish schedules and methods for providing, current development, water, traffic, or construction engineering services; implement policies and procedures.
• Participate in budget preparation and administration; prepare cost estimates for budget recommendations; monitor and control expenditures; and assist with bond proposals, and implementation and other funding opportunities such as grants.
• Coordinate, manage, and perform work for design projects with department staff, other City departments, county and state highway departments, and other relevant agencies or parties.
• Plan, prepare, coordinate, and administer consulting, construction and other contracts and agreements, including RFQ/RFPs, costs reports, change orders, determination of payment for work accomplished, etc.
• Manage contracts in progress, including progress of the work, costs reports, change orders, determination of payment for work accomplished; accept or reject methods, performance or completed work.
• Oversee the maintenance of office records, including maps, construction project documents, related records, reports, data, etc.
• Supervises professional, technical and support staff on a day-to-day or project basis, including determining workloads and schedules, developing, implementing and interpreting policies and procedures, evaluating and training staff and making hiring termination recommendations.
• Attend City council meetings, planning commission meetings and other sessions as directed.
• Exercise professional engineering judgment in accordance with current accepted practice of civil engineering and appropriate laws and codes.
• Manage, monitor and control performance of consultants, contractors, and staff in conformance with assigned objectives, plans, schedules and budgets; account for variances and implement necessary corrective action.
• Resolve or defend controversial and complex technical problems involving engineering and inspection staff and developers, builders, stake holders, and the general public.
• Support public awareness and engagement by providing technical information in support of the Water Department’s public engagement and public outreach such as providing project timelines, scope, photos, FAQs; answer questions and providing general information to the public or specific customers; attend neighborhood and community meetings; investigate complaints, help coordinate follow up, and recommend corrective actions as necessary to resolve complaints.
• Monitor new developments, proposed/new legislation, activities of other agencies, etc., related to civil engineering, construction methods, water systems, water resources, water infrastructure, contract administration, and economic analysis techniques. Recommend modifications to contracts, operations, and procedures to utilize new data/technologies and comply with new regulations.
• Participate on project teams, in Engineering and on multi-disciplinary teams, as lead or as contributing member, and take actions in support of team success.
• Perform related duties and responsibilities as required.

WHEN ASSIGNED TO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS

• Oversee and participate in the preparation of plans, specifications, cost and quantity estimates, and bid documents for public works construction projects; oversee the planning, design, construction and inspection of capital improvement projects, including but not limited to traffic, building and structure related improvements.
• Participate in the initial planning of projects to be proposed and assist in establishing schedules and budgets.
• Assign and schedule projects such as street and traffic improvements, water system infrastructure improvements and replacements, parks projects and other systems of similar complexity; coordinate with other departments, districts and/or agencies to establish such specifications as pipe sizes, alignments, and street widths.

WHEN ASSIGNED TO CURRENT DEVELOPMENT

• Consult with developers, builders and other contractors to coordinate the design and construction of public improvements in the City.
• Review and prepare comments and conditions for public works aspects of planning permits including general plans, specific area plans, planned unit developments and other planning permits.
• Review development projects (including Maps, agreement requirements, dedications, and development rights,) in relation to Subdivision Map Act (SMA).
• Review development projects for Flood zone compliance with National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and local ordinances as a floodplain administrator to interpret flood zone requirements to project proponent.
• Review development projects storm water control plan for C.3 compliance with Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) and local ordinance.
• Prepare and execute development agreements.
• Assist in providing information to various departments/districts.
• Oversee construction inspection of current development projects.

WHEN ASSIGNED TO TRAFFIC

• Oversee the review of traffic studies to evaluate the impact of new development on existing traffic flows; recommend appropriate mitigation to reduce traffic impacts.
• Direct, plan and coordinate various projects such as traffic circulation and traffic safety studies, traffic signal coordination program and bikeway planning.
• Review and approve construction traffic control plan. Assist in permit process for items such as encroachment permits, fencing, driveways, etc. Coordinate with maintenance department to establish upgrades to traffic signal system.

WHEN ASSIGNED TO WATER DEPARTMENT

• Direct, plan and coordinate various water system infrastructure Capital Improvements and replacements of water systems projects including the planning, design, cost analysis, and construction of infrastructure, including but not limited to pipelines, pump stations, tanks, reservoirs, pressure regulating stations, bridges, dams, spillways, and reservoir/dam appurtenances (such as lake outlet structures, retaining walls, piezometers, etc).
• Perform, manage, and review complex analyses relating to hydraulics, seismic, geotechnical, water quality, cost estimating, water rates, and other fields required to manage the water system as directed by management.
• Direct and supervise Water Department staff in the operation of water system facilities in emergency situations. Plan, schedule and coordinate the operation of the water system to meet demands, reduce likelihood of pipe breaks, decrease pumping costs, and other activities that improve the operational efficiency of the water system.
• Assist the Department Engineering Manager and Department Director and other senior Water managers in building and maintaining relationships with state and federal water resources management agencies, and other water system regulatory agencies such as Department of Safety of Dams, Bureau of Reclamation, State Water Resources Control Board, Department of Water Resources, and the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Association, and the Department of Fish and Wildlife.
• Oversee and review water system capital improvement projects to include among others, pump stations, reservoirs and pipeline plans for new projects including subdivisions, additions, commercial centers, and various other projects.
• Prepare or direct the preparation of water supply and water demand forecasts.
• File, manage, and/or review permits, right-of-way agreements, water rights, Environmental Impact Reports, Environmental Assessments, and other legal documents.
• Perform and/or oversee development reviews including plan checks, water fixture counts, customer calls, permitting, and other activities required to approve permits for new developments in the water service area.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES / MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of supervision, training, and performance evaluation.
• Principles and practices of civil, traffic, and water engineering and administration.
• Pertinent Federal, State, and local laws, codes, and regulations including civil engineering laws and regulations.
• Principles and practices of street, water and sewer system design and construction.
• Terminology, methods, practices, and techniques used in technical civil engineering report preparation.
• Principles and practices of budget preparation and control.
• Principles of mathematics as applied to engineering work.
• Recent developments, current literature, and sources of information regarding civil, traffic and water engineering.
• Principles and practices of project and construction management.
• Modern office procedures, methods, and computer equipment.

Ability to:

• Plan, organize, and supervise the work of professional and technical staff.
• Train and evaluate subordinate staff.
• Manage multiple large and complex engineering projects.
• Ensure project compliance with appropriate Federal, State, and local rules, laws, and regulations.
• Coordinate phases of construction projects and prepare progress reports.
• Analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions, and implement recommendations in support of goals.
• Conduct comprehensive engineering studies and develop appropriate recommendations.
• Perform technical research and solve difficult engineering problems.
• Prepare and maintain technical civil engineering records and prepare comprehensive reports.
• Compile rough technical data and prepare statistical and narrative reports from field studies.
• Develop, review and modify civil engineering plans, designs, and specifications.
• Manage multiple projects and priorities.
• Exercise professional engineering judgment to achieve results consistent with objectives.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Have specialized knowledge of the principles, practices and methods of hydraulics, hydrology, water supply, hydraulic structures, drainage and flood control. Be familiar with laws and regulations pertaining to these subjects, as well as to ground and surface waters and water distributing agencies.

Experience and Training Guidelines
Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience:
Four years of increasingly responsible experience working on civil engineering projects, including the design and/or construction of public works and/or water utilities systems and facilities, at least two years of which were at a level equivalent to an Associate Civil Engineer and some lead or supervisory experience.

Education:
Equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in civil engineering or a related field or meet the qualifying experience requirements outlined in Business and Professions Code sections 6751(c) and 6753 and Title 16, California Code of Regulations section 424.

Licenses and/or Certificates:
Possession of a current and valid Certificate of Registration as a professional engineer issued by the California Board of Registration for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors and Geologist.

Possession of a valid California Driver's License and satisfactory driving record as a condition of initial and continued employment.

*Any license, certification, or registration required for this position shall be maintained (i.e. active and in good standing) at all times during employment with City of Vallejo. For continued employment with City of Vallejo, you must maintain such license, certification, or registration to meet the minimum qualifications of this position.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

The Recruitment & Selection Process
1. Applications are due by 5:00 P.M. on Monday, May 11, 2026. Applicants must submit a completed City of Vallejo online application, including all responses to the Supplemental Questionnaire (Resume/Cover Letter Optional), by the posted deadline in order to be considered.

NOTE: If you have problems creating a user account, obtaining your already created account information, or submitting your online application, please contact governmentjobs.com applicant support directly at 855-524-5627. City of Vallejo staff are unable to assist with these issues.

2. Applications will be screened for overall qualifications in the week of May 11, 2026.

3. Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will have their supplemental responses scored by Subject Matter Experts the Week of May 18, 2026. The most qualified applicants from the scoring of the supplement questions will be invited for an Oral Panel Interview.

4. Oral Panel Interviews are tentatively scheduled to take place in the week of June 1, 2026. Oral Panel Interviews are weighed at 100% of the candidates' score. Candidates must achieve a minimum passing score of 70%. Those achieving 70% or higher will be placed on the Register of Eligibles (eligible list) and may be considered to fill positions for up to one year.

The City reserves the right to limit the number of candidates to those determined to be best qualified based upon all requested application materials, including training and experience, current resume, and responses to supplemental questions.

5. Candidates placed on the Register of Eligibles (eligible list) will be referred to the department for final interviews based on their performance in the exam. The number of candidates referred for a hiring interview is at the discretion of the hiring department.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS
The City of Vallejo is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application, assessment or selection process may contact the Human Resources Department to request an accommodation. Please contact Anabela Rivera at (707) 645-2620 or send an email to: [email protected] no later than May 11, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.

PRIOR TO HIRE
The selected candidate will be required to: 1) Submit to reference checks 2) Submit to and successfully pass a pre-employment background check, including fingerprint check. 3) Successfully complete a job-related pre-placement medical exam. 4) Provide proof of legal right to work in the United States.

Disaster Service Workers - All City of Vallejo ("City") employees are designated Disaster Service Workers ("DSW") by state law (California Government Code Section 3100-3109). Employment with the City requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to complete all DSW-related training as assigned and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

Veteran's Preference - Veteran's preference points will be applied in accordance with Civil Service Rule 24. A copy of the DD 214 form must be filed at the time of application.

Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) - The City of Vallejo is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of the City of Vallejo to provide equal employment opportunity for all qualified persons. All applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, ancestry, medical condition (cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, or denial of medical and family care leave, or any other non-job-related factors.

Note: The provisions in this bulletin do not constitute a contract, expressed or implied, and any provisions contained in this bulletin may be modified or revoked without notice

Click here for benefit information for International Brotherhood Of Electrical Workers Employees (IBEW):

Closing Date/Time: 5/11/2026 5:00 PM Pacific

Salary:

$126,006.61 - $153,161.42 Annually