Public Works Civil Engineer I / II

Salary : $89,772.80 - $114,587.20 Annually

Location : San Luis Obispo, CA

Job Type : Permanent - Hourly

Job Number : 1025KS-000640-01

Department : Public Works

Division : 40508 PW Design & Construction

Opening Date : 11 / 01 / 2025

About the Position

The County of San Luis Obispo is offering an exciting career opportunity for Engineers I and II to join our APWA-accredited Public Works Department, which currently has seven Engineer vacancies across five divisions :

• Water Resources
• Development Services
• Design and Construction
• Water Utilities
• Project Delivery

The Water Resources

This Division manages the development of water supply and flood management technical studies, sustainability plans, and public engagement programs in order to understand conditions, set sustainability goals, identify solutions for achieving the goals, and facilitate the initial implementation of those solutions.

Engineers in the Water Resources Division are responsible for leading the following efforts. Multi-disciplinary skillsets are needed to be successful, combining strong communication and collaboration skills with technical expertise and knowledge application of water-related engineering, hydrology, and regulatory concepts :

The Water Resources Division is seeking a staff-level engineer with a passion for sustainable water management to support the County's mission of achieving long-term water resource resilience. The ideal candidate will bring technical knowledge and experience in land use-based water supply and demand analysis, groundwater and watershed modeling concepts and applications, and alternatives analysis and implementation of water supply and flood / drainage projects / programs.

The ideal candidate will also possess service-based leadership skills, such as collaborative negotiation skills, team facilitation, and public speaking and engagement necessary to facilitate transparent, collaborative decision-making processes. Personal qualities like integrity, reliability, and a team-oriented, solutions-focused mindset are also essential.

Contact : Angela Ford at 805-781-5139 or

to learn more about the Public Works Water Resources Division.

Development Services

Representative duties include ( in addition to those listed in the description for Engineer I / II) :

The ideal candidates will demonstrate the following characteristics :

Contact : JR Beard at 805-781-4073 or

to learn more about the Public Works Development Services Division.

Design and Construction Division

Engineers in the Design and Construction Division are part of a 20-person office and field staff team with various roles ranging from project management, plan / spec / contract development, and construction management. This vacancy is for either an office-based design engineer tasked with designing County transportation and utility projects, or a predominantly field-based construction engineer tasked with construction management and construction administration.

The design engineer will be responsible for developing plans, producing quantity / engineers estimates and technical specifications to be included in our construction contracts. The construction engineer will be responsible for ensuring contractor compliance with the contract documents, consultant management, and compliance.

The design engineer candidate should have a high level of design experience using AutoCAD / Civil 3D, enjoy working in an office setting designing public transportation and utility projects with necessary field visits sprinkled in. The construction engineer should have a high level of construction knowledge, understanding public entity contracts, especially Caltrans, and enjoy field work.

Depending upon experience and qualification, an engineer could be utilized in either role based on work-load requirements.

Contact : Ryan Monie at 805-781-5523 or rmonie@co.slo.ca.us

to learn more about the Public Works Design and Construction Division.

Water Utilities Division

The Department of Public Works has an immediate opening for a Water Systems Engineer III within its Water Utilities Division, which is responsible for the water supply management, operation, maintenance, and capital improvements of our water utility systems, including two water treatment plants, four retail water distribution systems, three water supply dams and reservoirs, and four wholesale water distribution systems.

The Water Utilities Division is seeking a staff-level engineer to support professional engineers by performing technical engineering work related to water supply planning and system operations, including reservoir operations, water treatment and distribution. Duties may include assisting with implementation of small capital improvement projects.

The ideal candidate has experience with water system hydraulics (storage, pumps, pipelines, etc.), demonstrates a strong interest in state and local water challenges, shows initiative, and values being part of a collaborative team. They bring strong analytical and decision-support skills to assist in water supply planning, system modeling, and operational analysis, along with excellent communication skills and experience preparing and presenting technical reports, correspondence, and planning documents to varied audiences.

Water Systems Engineers in the Utilities Division are responsible for :

Focus Areas

The Water Systems Engineer will join the team responsible for managing wholesale water supplies with regional stakeholders. Key responsibilities include developing Excel-based decision support tools to guide water supply forecasting, storage optimization, and strategic water management actions (e.g., water transfers), as well as evaluating conveyance and storage opportunities. These efforts support the County's management and operation of :

A key focus area for the Water Systems Engineer's team involves developing and implementing water management supply programs and partnerships. These efforts include engineering and financial analyses, negotiations, public engagement, and contract development and administration.

Contact : Wes Thomson at (805) 788-2101 or wthomson@co.slo.ca.us

to learn more about the Public Works Water Utilities Division.

Project Delivery Division

Transportation Project Engineer : The Transportation Project Delivery Team within the Project Delivery Division is responsible for the planning, management, programming, design, and construction of capital improvement projects for County-wide transportation infrastructure. Project Delivery staff manage and facilitate project scope, schedule, and budget to ensure the successful delivery of capital improvement projects on County-owned roads. The Teams responsibilities for transportation capital projects include : Project Management and Oversight : Procurement, administration, and management of Local, State, and Federal funds for Capital Improvement Projects during the planning, design, bidding and construction phases of projects. Including allocation of project staff and / or consultants. Project Outreach and Coordination : Project presentations / outreach to stakeholders, community advisory groups, community service districts, cities, various County divisions and departments, state / federal agencies, and funding organizations. Administration of Project Funding : Contract administration and coordination of local, state, and federal processes, procedures, documents, authorizations, approvals. Overall management of project funding.

Contact : Aaron Yonker at 805-781-4644 or ayonker@co.slo.ca.us

to learn more about the Public Works Project Delivery Division.

Click here to view detailed job description for Engineer I.

Click here to view detailed job description for Engineer Il.

For more information regarding the Public Works Department, please visit our website at Public Works - County of San Luis Obispo.

Note : This recruitment may be used to fill future permanent, substitute, limited term, and temporary positions, both full-time and part-time throughout the County.

The Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate will have the ability to : analyze engineering problems; make viable and sound technical recommendations; prepare reports; prepare plans and specifications; coordinate and manage the work and contracts of professional, technical, or specialty consultants; work effectively and maintain positive working relationships with others, including those of diverse perspectives using interpersonal skills; communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing; operate computer systems such as Computer Aided Design and Geographic Information System or database systems; work with community stakeholders and clearly present technical information to the public and decision makers.

Education and Experience

A combination of education, training, and experience resulting in the required knowledge, skills, and abilities. Examples of qualifying education and experience include :

Engineer I :

or

2. Possession of an Engineer in Training (E.I.T.) Certificate or Land Surveyor in Training (L.S.I.T.) Certificate AND four years of paraprofessional level civil engineering, traffic engineering, or land surveying experience.

Engineer II :

or

2. Possession of an Engineer in Training (E.I.T.) Certificate or Land Surveyor in Training (L.S.I.T.) Certificate AND four years of paraprofessional level civil engineering, traffic engineering, or land surveying experience AND one year of professional level civil engineering, traffic engineering, or land surveying experience.

How to Apply

This is a continuous recruitment; however, the posting can close at anytime without notice, therefore, prompt application is encouraged.

Applications, including answers to supplemental questions, must be submitted online. Apply for this position at Most County recruitments require you to respond to supplemental questions as part of the application process. We recommend that you review these questions prior to beginning your application.

An initial application review will be conducted. Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications and are best qualified will be invited to participate in selection activities which may include online assessments, performance exams, written exams, and interviews.

Final candidates will be required to have an in-depth background review performed before proceeding in the process. Please note that references will not be contacted until the end of the process.

If you have questions or would like to discuss the opportunity further, please contact Human Resources at hr@co.slo.ca.us. Confidential inquiries are welcomed.

For further information regarding the County of San Luis Obispo, visit our website at

Reasonable Accommodation Notice

Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job or to perform your job. Examples of reasonable accommodation include making a change to the application process or work procedures, providing documents in an alternate format, using a sign language interpreter, or using specialized equipment. Please call 805-781-5959 for assistance or e-mail hr@co.slo.ca.us for more information.

Veteran's Preference Points

If you are applying for employment with the County of San Luis Obispo and you served in the United States Armed Forces, you may be eligible for veteran's preference points as part of the recruitment process. Some dependents and survivors of eligible veterans may also be eligible for preference points. for more information and to learn how to apply for this benefit. Please note that Veteran's credits must be on file with the County of San Luis Obispo Veterans Services Office prior to the recruitment closing date indicated on the job announcement.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The County is an equal opportunity employer. Objectives are directed toward assuring equal opportunity in selection / promotion, pay, and job assignments. Recruitment and selection procedures have been established to ensure non-discrimination on the basis of political or religious opinions or affiliations, age, sex, race, color, national origin, marital status, disability, sexual orientation or other non-merit factors. In addition, the County complies with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act in hiring and retaining employees. For more information contact the Human Resources Department at (805)781-5959.

Make a Difference

Employees of the County of San Luis Obispo are public servants who impact the lives of our community every day. From supporting efforts to reduce homelessness, keeping our drinking water clean, or serving the families in need in the community, County employees make a difference.

Compensation and Benefits

Your annual salary is supplemented by a generous benefit package.

For additional information regarding the benefits listed that may be available to you, visit the associated .

Some benefits include :

The County of San Luis Obispo has been recognized as a Diamond Level Family Friendly Workplace by San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce. We support our employees through : childcare assistance, flexible scheduling practices, paid and unpaid leave, comprehensive health benefits, flexible spending accounts, and employee assistance programs.

Pension Benefit and Employee Contribution Rates :

The County's pension is a defined benefit plan that provides a guaranteed monthly pension payment for life based on your time in service, wages, and other factors. The County is the primary contributor to the pension fund, but the health of the pension fund also depends on mandatory employee contributions. Employees are required to pay a percentage of their base pay towards the pension fund, ranging from 5% to 19%. This amount is deducted from your paycheck pre-tax every pay period. To find out how much will be deducted from your paycheck should you be hired for this position, please contact Pension Trust at (805) 781-5465.

Healthcare Benefits and Cafeteria Contributions :

The County offers comprehensive medical coverage to you and your family, along with two dental plan options and vision coverage. All permanent employees receive a monthly employer contribution (or 'cafeteria' contribution) to help them pay for their portion of the medical, dental, and vision insurance premiums. The amount of the cafeteria contribution varies by Bargaining Unit (BU) and the extent to which employees enroll their dependents. If the cafeteria amount is greater than your selected premiums, the remainder of the cafeteria is paid out to you in your paycheck as taxable income. If the cafeteria amount is less than your monthly premiums, you pay the remainder of the premiums with pre-tax wages.

To estimate your out-of-pocket costs (or cashback from extra cafeteria),

Learning and Development

The County prioritizes your learning, personal and professional development, and career growth. Employees have access to over 1500 on-demand courses, instructor led courses, and job-specific trainings.

Employees can take courses to upskill to make themselves more competitive for promotional opportunities and further their career growth. Examples of courses include :

Student Loan Forgiveness

Did you know that if you are employed by a government agency you may be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program

County employees also have access to GotZoom, a program that offers tools and support to navigate your federal student loans.

Homebuyer assistance program

Employees have access to the "Assist-to-Own" program sponsored by to get a loan for the down payment.