Assistant Engineer I/II & Associate Engineer

Summary/Class Characteristics

Assistant Engineer I/II
Associate Engineer

The Public Works Department is recruiting to fill one (1) position at the Assistant Engineer I, Assistant Engineer II, or Associate Engineer level, depending on the experience and qualifications of the selected candidate. This recruitment may also be used to fill future Assistant Engineer I, Assistant Engineer II, or Associate Engineer vacancies that may occur over the next 12 months.

SALARY AND BENEFITS PACKAGE

• SALARY RANGE :
  Assistant Engineer I: $90,667.20 - $110,198.40 annually
  Assistant Engineer II: $104,270.40 - $126,713.60 annually Associate Engineer: $119,912.00 - $145,745.60 annually
• FOR YOUR HEALTH AND WELL BEING:
  • MEDICAL INSURANCE: Choice of a variety of CalPERS Health Plans. City pays ~95% of the Bay Area Kaiser premium for employee & eligible dependents; or alternative option to receive Medical Cash Back (if you have medical coverage elsewhere). Please see the 2026 Health Plan Contribution Memo
  • DENTAL & VISION INSURANCE: Coverage for employees & eligible family members, paid for by the City.
  • LIFE INSURANCE: 1.5x annual compensation up to maximum of $200,000. Option to purchase additional insurance. Long-Term Disability up to 60% of your current monthly salary after eligibility requirements are met and subject to maximum amounts.
  • EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM: Support and benefits, for you and eligible family members, paid for by the City.
  • WELLNESS BENEFIT: $500 annual allowance (is subject to the annual budget approval process and may change in the future.)
• FOR YOUR FINANCIAL FUTURE:
  • CALPERS RETIREMENT PACKAGE
    • 2% at 60 for classic CalPERS members
    • 2% at 62 for PEPRA CalPERS members
  • DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN: Voluntary participation in your choice of three plans.
• FOR YOUR WORK / LIFE BALANCE (annual amounts):
  • Vacation: 80 Hours, increasing with years of service, up to 5 years service credit towards vacation accrual rate for prior qualifying employment.
  • Sick Leave: 96 hours
  • Holidays: 12 fixed and 1 floating
• Other Exceptional Benefits:
  • Paid Parental Leave - up to 8 weeks of paid time for qualifying family bonding
  • Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program Employer

For more information regarding the benefits associated with this position, visit our website and look at the Memorandum of Understanding and Employee Benefits .

Summary

Depending on assignment, perform professional engineering work in the design, plan review, site investigations, field inspections, construction, and related work of public facilities, public infrastructure, water resources, community development, and/or traffic projects.

Class Characteristics

Direction is provided by a higher-level supervisor or manager; responsibilities may include the direct or indirect supervision of professional, technical, and/or clerical staff.

Assistant Engineer I

This is the entry-level class in the professional engineering series not requiring registration as a professional engineer. Incumbents perform the least complex office and field engineering work under supervision. Assignments are generally routine or closely related within a framework of established procedures. As experience is gained, incumbents work with greater independence of action within established guidelines. This class is alternately staffed with Assistant Engineer II and incumbents may advance to the higher level after gaining experience and demonstrating proficiency that meets the qualifications for the higher-level class.

Assistant Engineer II

This is the journey-level class in the professional engineering series not requiring registration as a professional engineer and may serve as project manager on a limited basis. This class is alternately staffed with Associate Engineer and incumbents may advance to the higher level after gaining experience, demonstrating proficiency that meets the qualifications for the higher-level class, and obtaining registration.

Associate Engineer

This is the journey-level class in the professional engineering series requiring registration as a professional engineer. It is distinguished from the Assistant Engineer II by the assignment of the full range of professional engineering duties which include serving as project manager on assignments requiring considerable professional knowledge of engineering principles and technical engineering analysis, providing direction to engineering and technical personnel, and requiring registration as a Professional Engineer (PE) or as a Traffic Engineer (TE).

All of these classes are distinguished from that of the higher-level Senior Civil Engineer and Senior Traffic Engineer in that the latter are the advanced journey level responsible for the more complex engineering duties and exercise direct supervision over assigned staff.

Duties

While majority of the duties assigned to a position typically fall within one of the following areas, incumbents may also be assigned duties that cross multiple areas:

All positions:
Participate in the preparation of plans and specifications for the design, construction, and maintenance of traffic systems, streets, wastewater collection, storm drains, potable water, recycled water systems, facilities, and/or related public works projects or traffic systems, depending on assignment.

Coordinate assigned activities with other City departments, divisions and sections, and with outside agencies; provide information over the counter and telephone.

Perform moderately difficult calculations and prepare estimates of time and material costs.

Respond to inquiries and complaints from members of the public, developers, engineers, contractors, other city departments, utility agencies, and various other sources.

Coordinatereview,approval,andconstructionofprojectswithstaff,otherdepartments,applicable outside agencies, and members of the public; may serve as the City's representative to other governmental agencies.

Maintain records, maps, plans, and files; research and prepare clear and concise technical reports as assigned.

Investigate field problems affecting property owners, contractors, and maintenance operations; order survey, mapping, and data collection.

Make field inspections and site investigations of engineering projects and perform engineering analysis and calculations as assigned.

Plan and conduct engineering studies, write clear and concise reports and plans with recommendations and conclusions, and make appropriate modifications as directed.

Make presentations and serve as staff support to City Council, commissions, and review boards as required or assigned.

May assist in the training and direction of professional and technical staff as assigned; participate in the selection and direction of engineering contract professionals; coordinate support services such as survey crew, engineering technicians, and field crews.

Utilize computer applications related to the work.

Perform related duties as assigned.

At the Assistant Engineer II level, may act as project manager on limited design and construction contracts, including preparing progress reports, and recommending progress payments and change orders as necessary; administer a wide variety of construction contracts.

Associate Engineer ( in addition to the duties listed above) :
Direct the preparation of and review plans, designs, specifications, and other related documents.

Serve as project manager on design and construction contracts, including preparing progress reports, and recommending progress payments and change orders as necessary; administer a wide variety of construction contracts.

Perform technical analysis and design, project management, and construction administration; sign plans and drawings as the responsible project manager; may also stamp plans, specifications and documents as approved by their supervisor; manage technical programs and provide advice and technical support on related matters.

Research and recommend general civil administration policies and procedures; review policies and operating procedures for conformance to established standards; ensure the City’s compliance with various codes, and applicable laws; review operational conditions in the field.

Review engineering elements of environmental impact reports for compliance with city policies, rules, and regulations.

Capital Improvement Program (in addition to the list for all positions):
Participate in the review and processing of plans for public works projects affecting streets, water, sewers, storm drain, and related public works facilities and ensure conformance to City standards; coordinate public works and utility activities with other City departments, divisions and sections, and with outside agencies.

Contact other agencies and utilities to review field problems related to the design, construction, operations, and maintenance of wastewater collection and treatment facilities, storm drain systems, recycled water systems, and potable water systems.

Development Engineering (in addition to the list for all positions):
Review development applications including reports, tentative and final maps, easements, right of ways, and legal descriptions and prepare reports and/or conditions of approval for development applications.

Traffic (in addition to the list for all positions):
Receive, review, and process requests, designs, and the implementation and construction for traffic control device changes and for ADA/traffic calming; collect and analyze data to evaluate requests and prepare recommendations; perform intersection traffic control analyses to determine needs for traffic control measures.

Participate in and develop cost estimates for traffic engineering projects, including traffic studies, striping and signage improvements, ADA improvements, bicycle facilities, and traffic signal upgrades.

Monitor traffic signal systems; make appropriate timing modifications as directed; prepare new signal timing plans.

Qualifications

Education and Experience

Any combination equivalent to the education and experience likely to provide the required knowledge and abilities would be qualifying. A typical way to gain such knowledge and abilities would be:

Assistant Engineer I/II/Associate Engineer

Education:

A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in engineering or a related field.

Certifications/Licenses:

Possession of a valid California Class C driver’s license.

Assistant Engineer I

Experience:

Experience in engineering work is desirable.

Assistant Engineer II

Experience:

Two years of professional civil or traffic engineering experience equivalent to Assistant Engineer I with the City of Petaluma.

Certifications/Licenses:

Possession of an Engineer-In-Training certificate is desirable.

Associate Engineer

Experience:

Two years of professional civil or traffic engineering experience equivalent to Assistant Engineer II with the City of Petaluma. Experience in a municipal or public setting is desirable.

Certifications/Licenses:

Civil Engineer Assignment

Registration as a Professional Engineer with good standing is required from any US state, or from any other country with comparable registration requirements as approved by the Director. Acquiring registration as a Professional Engineer in California is desirable, supported, and encouraged.

Traffic Engineer Assignment

Registration as a Traffic Engineer (TE) with good standing in the State of California is required.

Physical Demands and Working Environment

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit for extended periods to read, write reports and talk or listen. The employee is occasionally required to conduct field investigations and operate standard office machines, (i.e. blueprint, photocopiers and computer terminals) and talk or listen. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. The employee is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions and must operate an automobile to attend various meetings and workshops. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

The City of Petaluma offers a wide-ranging, comprehensive benefit package including CalPERS retirement, medical, dental, vision, life, LTD, etc. For moreinformation regarding the benefits associated with this position, visit our website: https://cityofpetaluma.org/employee-benefits-information/

Closing Date/Time: 3/5/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

• 

• City of Petaluma

• 707-778-4534

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