Senior Civil Engineer

Job Description:

Senior Civil Engineer

Description

Description

The Position:

The City of Santa Clara is seeking to fill multiple Senior Civil Engineer positions to perform high-level civil engineering tasks to manage and support capital improvement projects. Projects can range across water, sewer, storm systems, public-right-of-way infrastructure, transportation infrastructure planning and implementation, parks and recreation facilities, and other city-owned infrastructure. Under direct supervision of the principal engineer or other manager, the Senior Civil Engineer will work independently as a hands-on contributor to the engineering team’s work and will be in charge of engineering, construction, maintenance, and related activities. Senior Civil Engineers also have responsibility for the quality and quantity of the work of an engineering unit, as well as other supervisory duties, as distinguished from the next lower level, Associate Civil Engineers, who generally have responsibility for projects.

The Departments:

Water and Sewer Utilities Department

Santa Clara Water & Sewer Utilities' mission is to provide customers a dependable supply of safe, potable water, environmentally-sound wastewater collection, treatment, and disposal. Furthermore, recycled water is offered for approved uses including irrigation and industrial processes, where available. Programs and services are designed and implemented with economic and environmental benefits in mind. For more information about the Water & Sewer Utilities Department, please visit the department website .

The City of Santa Clara's Water and Sewer Utilities Department seeks an experienced Senior Civil Engineer with excellent project management skills; strong oral and written communication skills; and a proven track record of designing and delivering utility projects and administering consultant and construction contracts. The qualified candidate will have experience working in a team environment on major construction projects, including working collaboratively with contractors, technicians, utility operations staff, outside agency staff, and the public. The Senior Civil Engineer delivers projects with widely varied scopes, from small, customer-focused, residential projects, to large, high-profile capital improvements with City and Region-wide implications for the delivery of services well into the future. An operator certificate in Water Distribution (D2 or above), Water Treatment (T2 or above), or Sewer Collection (C2 or above) is desirable.

Under direct supervision, the Senior Civil Engineer performs the following duties:

• Perform high-level, fast paced engineering work relating to the permitting, design and construction of water, sewer, and other utilities projects within the City.
• Review proposed public and/or commercial utilities projects for compliance with City, County, State and Federal government construction and environmental standards, design criteria, rules and regulations.
• Be a part of a dynamic small team of engineering professionals, working on delivering projects in the Water, Sewer, and Recycled Water Utilities through their entire project life cycle, including research and design, plan review, construction, operation and maintenance.
• Assist the Principal Engineer in the planning, organizing and management of the work of the Utilities Engineering Division.
• Perform technical and administrative tasks and exercise a high degree of independent judgment and decision making in resolving problems.

Department of Public Works

The City of Santa Clara's Department of Public Works seeks a results-oriented and innovative engineer to serve out the Department's mission to provide the highest quality public works services to the residents and businesses of Santa Clara, the development community, and other stakeholders in a responsible and efficient manner. The Department has focus areas that include Engineering Services and Operations and Maintenance. Engineering Services is comprised of five divisions: Administration, Traffic, Design, Land and Property Development, and Field Services. Operations and Maintenance include public roadways, parkways and boulevards, City trees, street sweeping, environmental programs, storm drain systems, fleet, solid and mixed waste/recyclables, and City facilities. For more information about the Department of Public Works please visit the department website . Currently, DPW has one (1) open position in the Design Division.

DESIGN DIVISION

The Design Division leads and manages capital improvement project delivery for a variety of City infrastructure projects related to transportation, roadways, pedestrians and bicycles, storm drains, sanitary sewers, buildings, libraries, public safety facilities, and parks to implement the City’s capital improvement program The division also manages capital improvement planning and programming related to pavement management, storm drain facilities, and sanitary sewer systems and also coordinates with the Federal Emergency Management Agency on the City’s Community Rating System (CRS) program to maintain or improve the City’s current Class 7 rating.

Under direct supervision of the Principal Engineer, the Senior Civil Engineer performs the following duties:

• Management and administration of projects from inception to award of construction contracts
• Preparation of budgets and cost monitoring related to CIP projects
• Procurement of consultant support services such as engineers and architects
• Management of technical programs such as Pavement Management, Sanitary Sewer Master Planning.
• Coordination with internal & external stakeholders
• Supervision and training of engineering staff
• Preparation of City Council agenda reports and engineering reports

FIELD SERVICES DIVISION

The Field Services Division provides construction management, construction inspection, materials testing, and surveying for capital improvement projects such as pavement rehabilitation, traffic signals, storm and sanitary sewers, parks, building improvements and other public improvements. The division also provides construction inspection and coordination for developer/utility/private construction of public improvements within the City’s right-of-way.

Under direct supervision of the Principal Engineer, the Senior Civil Engineer performs the following duties:

• Contract Administration
• Preparation of budgets and cost monitoring related to CIP projects
• Construction Management
• Labor Compliance Program Management
• Supervision and training of field construction activities and engineering staff
• Coordination of public works construction projects with residents and businesses

LAND & PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT DIVISION

The Land & Property Development Division is responsible for providing efficient and effective engineering services to support private development projects during the entitlement, design, and construction phases. The division works closely with customers, developers, utility companies and the community to ensure projects comply with local, state and federal standards. The division is also responsible for reviewing and approving encroachment permits, easements, street/easement abandonments, subdivision maps, processing encroachment agreements, collecting development-related fees, and collaborating with other Public Works divisions, as well as other City departments throughout all project phases. Additionally, the division provides customer counter services to the general public at the City’s permit center.

Under direct supervision of the Principal Engineer, the Senior Civil Engineer performs the following duties:

• Reviewing plans submitted by private engineers and other public agencies for compliance with City standards and the City’s Engineering Design Criteria
• Coordination of engineering activities with other City departments and other public agencies having interest in the proposed work
• Supervision and training of engineering staff
• Preparation of City Council agenda reports and engineering reports
• Review of subdivision maps, easement documents, and other title documents
• Calculation and collection of development fees
• Management of the City’s Encroachment Permit Program
• Preparation and coordination of engineering conditions of approval for proposed development
• Distribution and presentation of technical information to other City departments and to the general public

TRAFFIC DIVISION

The Traffic Engineering Division provides traffic engineering, traffic impact analysis reviews, bicycle and pedestrian improvement planning, grant administration, and traffic signal maintenance and operation services for the City. The division also investigates resident/business inquiries related to street parking, traffic calming, intersection control, and bicycling and pedestrian travel on public streets. Finally, the division coordinates with other agencies such as the Valley Transportation Authority, County of Santa Clara Roads and Airports, Caltrans, and the cities of San Jose, Cupertino, and Sunnyvale related to projects, programs, and grant opportunities.

Under direct supervision of the Transportation Manager, the Senior Civil Engineer performs the following duties:

• Preparation and management of preliminary, final design, and contract documents (plans, specifications, and cost estimates)
• Implementation of transportation plans and programs (i.e. Bicycle Master Plan, Pedestrian Master Plan, Complete Streets Policy, and Vision Zero)
• Completion of studies and analyses of traffic engineering projects or problems, and prepares technical reports
• Coordination of transportation related engineering activities with other City departments and other public agencies
• Preparation of budgets and cost monitoring related to projects
• Operation and management of the City’s traffic signals, intelligent transportation systems, and other traffic control devices.
• Development and implementation of traffic signal timing parameters and coordination timing plans
• Supervision and training of engineering staff
• Review of plans submitted by private engineers and other public agencies for compliance with City standards related to public transportation facilities and infrastructure
• Preparation and administration of grant funding applications and reports
• Conducting field and office work
• Supporting the City’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee
• Working with the public and consultants on various projects and transportation related inquiries.

Additional Information:

Applications must be filled out completely (e.g. do not write “see resume, NA, or personnel file.”). To receive consideration for the screening process, candidates must also submit a Resume. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Application packets may be submitted online through the “Apply Now” feature on the job announcement at www.santaclaraca.gov . Applications must be submitted by the filing deadline of Monday June 2, 2025 at 4:00 PM.

THIS RECRUITMENT MAY BE USED TO FILL MULTIPLE POSITIONS IN THIS, OR OTHER DIVISIONS OR DEPARTMENTS BESIDES THE POSITIONS LISTED BELOW. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN EMPLOYMENT IN THIS CLASSIFICATION, YOU SHOULD APPLY TO ENSURE YOU ARE CONSIDERED FOR ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT MAY UTILIZE THE APPLICANTS FROM THIS RECRUITMENT. MEETING THE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS DOES NOT GUARANTEE ADMITTANCE INTO THE EXAMINATION PROCESS. ONLY THE MOST QUALIFIED CANDIDATES WHO DEMONSTRATE THE BEST COMBINATION OF QUALIFICATIONS IN RELATION TO THE REQUIREMENTS AND DUTIES OF THE POSITION WILL BE INVITED TO TEST OR INTERVIEW.

The annual salary range for this position is $159,544.68 - $203,727.36. This position may be filled at or near the minimum of the salary range.

Typical Duties

Follow this link to view the entire Class Specification, which includes more information on Typical Duties and Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.

Minimum Qualifications

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Minimum Qualifications
• A Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering from a college or university that is accredited by the Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology (ABET)
• Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in civil engineering office and field work performing professional level engineering work, and

Possible Substitutions
• A Master's Degree in any branch of Civil Engineering from an accredited college or university may be substituted for one (1) year of experience

LICENSES& CERTIFICATION
• Possession of a valid California Class C driver's license is required at time of appointment and for duration of employment
• Registration as a Civil Engineer in the State of California is required at time of appointment and for duration of employment
• Other licenses and certificates directly related to the Civil Engineering field (e.g. Geotechnical Engineer, Traffic Engineer, Structural Engineer, Land Surveyor, Qualified Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan Developer (QSD), Qualified Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan Practitioner (QSP))is desirable
• Current city employees appointed to Senior Civil Engineer prior to September 1, 2015 are waived of the required Registration as a Civil Engineer in the State of California

OTHER REQUIRMENTS
• Must be able to perform all of the essential functions of the job assignment
• May be required to work shifts, weekends, and odd and unusual hours in the performance of duties and emergency situations

Candidates must attain a passing score on each phase of the examination process to qualify for the Eligible List. A department interview may be required prior to appointment.

Federal law requires all employees to provide verification of their eligibility to work in this country. Please be informed that the City of Santa Clara will not sponsor, represent, or sign documents related to visa applications/transfers for H1B or any other type of visa which requires an employer application.

PERMANENT CITY EMPLOYEES PREFERENCE POINTS: Current permanent employee candidates who receive a passing score on the examination will have an additional five (5) points added to their final score.

The City of Santa Clara is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants for all job openings will be considered without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status or any other consideration made unlawful under any federal, state or local laws. The City of Santa Clara is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to job applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at (408) 615-2080 or HumanResources@santaclaraca.gov .

City of Santa Clara Benefit Summary Overview for Bargaining Unit #4
Professional Engineers

This summary provides a brief overview of the City of Santa Clara’s benefits available to Bargaining Unit #4 employees in 2025. In the event of any conflict between the information in this summary and the applicable official plan documents, City Manager’s Directives (CMDs), Personnel and Salary Resolution, or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the applicable official plan documents, CMDs, Personnel and Salary Resolution, or MOU will prevail over this summary. Benefits are subject to change.

Retirement:

• Membership in the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS)
  • Classic Employees: 2.7% @ age 55 formula - employee pays 8.00% of gross pay, minus $61 bi-weekly
  • New Employees: 2.0% @ age 62 formula - employee pays 7.00% of gross pay
• Medicare and Social Security (FICA)
  • Employee pays 6.20% up to $10,918.20 (Social Security) and 1.45% (Medicare) of gross pay

Health Insurance:

• The City contributes up to 100% of the premium of the Kaiser (Region 1) plan for Employee Only and Employee + 1 Dependent plans, and up to 90% of the premium of the Kaiser (Region 1) plan of the Employee + 2 or More Dependents plan
• Employees electing health coverage with premiums above the City health contribution will pay additional premium costs from salary on a pre-tax basis
• No cash difference is paid if an employee elects a plan cheaper than the max City contribution
• To be eligible for the City’s contribution toward health, employees must be on a paid status for at least 80 hours in the month prior to the month of coverage
• Coverage is effective as early as the first day of the month after date of hire
• Employees hired on or after 1/1/2024 who opt-out of City-offered health insurance and provide annual attestation and acceptable proof of alternative required coverage for themselves and their tax family, if applicable, are eligible for a cash-in-lieu amount of $250/month. Contact Human Resources for more details

Dental Insurance:

• Choice of two Delta Dental plans; enrollment is mandatory
• City pays lowest cost employee only plan; additional cost is paid by employee
• Coverage is effective as early as the first day of the month after date of hire

Vision Insurance:

• Choice of two VSP plans
• City pays lowest cost employee only plan; additional cost is paid by employee
• Coverage is effective as early as the first day of the month after date of hire

Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association (VEBA):

• City contributes $50.00 a month toward employee’s VEBA account
• Account funds may be used to pay for qualified medical expenses after separation from the City and after age 50 (pre-tax)

Life Insurance:

• City pays for $50,000 of Basic Life Insurance coverage
• Coverage is effective the first of the month after one calendar month of employment
• Additional optional insurance may be purchased by the employee for the employee, spouse, domestic partner, and/or dependent children

State Disability Insurance (SDI):

• Employee pays 1.2% of gross pay (includes Paid Family Leave)
• 7 day waiting period. Weekly paid leave for absences due to non-work related injuries/illnesses. Benefit is based on past earnings. Refer to edd.ca.gov for more information

Paid Family Leave (PFL):

• Up to 8 weeks of benefits within a 12-month period to care for a family member or to bond with a new child
• No waiting period. Weekly paid leave benefit. Benefit is based on past earnings. Refer to edd.ca.gov for more information

Deferred Compensation:

• Voluntary plan through Nationwide Retirement Solutions
• Employee may contribute up to the lesser of the IRS maximum or 100% of gross compensation into a pre-tax 457(b) account or a post-tax Roth 457(b) account (or a combination of the two accounts) subject to IRS rules
• Additionally, the City contributes $166.00 a month toward the 457(b) plan for employees in classifications not in SVP. The City contributes $330.00 a month toward the 457(b) plan for employees in classifications in SVP. This dollar amount will factor into the above mentioned IRS rules and limits

Flexible Spending Account (IRS Section 125 Plan):

• Employee may contribute up to $3,300 per year in pre-tax dollars to a health care spending account
• Employee may contribute up to $5,000 per year in pre-tax dollars to a dependent care spending account
• Employee may contribute up to $325 per month in pre-tax dollars to a commuter benefit plan

Vacation:

• Vacation is accrued bi-weekly, cannot use vacation during first 6 months of City service
  • For 1 - 4 years of service: 10 days (80 hours)/year
  • For 5 - 9 years of service: 15 days (120 hours)/year
  • For 10 - 15 years of service: 21 days (168 hours)/year
  • For 16 - 20 years of service: 22 days (176 hours)/year
  • For 21+ years of service: 24 days (192 hours)/year
• Maximum vacation accrual is 400 hours
• Once per year, employees can elect to convert up to 60 hours of accrued vacation to cash to be paid out the following calendar year

Sick Leave:

• Sick leave is accrued bi-weekly for equivalent of 96 hours per calendar year with no maximum accrual
  • Up to 48 hours/year of accumulated sick leave may be used for family illness
  • Up to 32 hours/year of accumulated sick leave may be used for personal leave
• Employee may convert sick leave to vacation once per calendar year (annual maximum conversion is 96 hours sick to 48 hours vacation)
• Partial sick leave payoff provision on retirement depending on years of service

Compensatory Time Off (CTO):

• Employees may accrue CTO in lieu of overtime hours up to a maximum of 240 hours
• 16 hours of PCTO is credited to employees each January 1st (prorated if hired after January 1st)

Holidays:

• Seventeen paid eight-hour holidays per year (13 & 4 holidays between 12/25 to 1/1 of following year and an additional 32 hours of floating holiday for calendar year 2025

Personal Safety Equipment Reimbursement:

• Reimbursement up to $200/calendar year toward the purchase or repair of specified protective personal safety equipment (per MOU)

Professional Registration:

• The City will pay cost of Professional Engineer registration fee. Employees eligible for $3,600 per year in premium pay for attaining and continued maintenance and possession of Professional Engineering Certification

Tuition Reimbursement Program:

• Up to $2,000 per fiscal year for tuition reimbursement

Employee Assistance Program:

• Confidential counseling to employees and dependents. Up to maximum of five (5) consultations per family member per incident per year
• City paid benefit

Retiree Medical Reimbursement Program:

• Employees who retire from the City with at least ten (10) years of service shall receive reimbursement to help cover retiree single health insurance premiums. The reimbursement maximum includes the PEMHCA minimum.
• Up to age 65, retirees are eligible for reimbursement up to$425/month in 2025 (amount adjusted annually)
• After age 65, retirees are eligible for reimbursement up to $254/month in 2025 (amount adjusted annually)

Alternate Work Schedule:

• An employee, subject to the conditions of the employee’s job assignment, may propose an alternate work schedule as described in City Manager’s Directive #71. Proposal must be made to the Department Head through the immediate supervisor

Resident Status:

• Engineers will be permitted to pay the “resident” rate rather than the non-resident rate for City programs and activities so long as the employee’s sign-up or participation will not interfere with a resident’s access to or ability to participate in the applicable program or activity

Closing Date/Time: 6/2/2025 4:00 PM Pacific

Salary:

$159,544.68 - $203,727.36 Annually