Job Details

Are you construction savvy and ready for a challenge? 

The County of Santa Cruz, CDI, is seeking a Resident Engineer with strong field experience who thrives in fast-paced environments. As part of our Public Works team, you`ll oversee public construction projects and private site improvements, ensuring quality, safety, and conformance with engineering standards. If you enjoy problem-solving in the field and take pride in keeping projects on track, we want to hear from you! Join the County of Santa Cruz and come work where you can make a difference! 

THE JOB: Under direction, to perform the more difficult and complex office and field engineering tasks related to design, land surveying, traffic engineering, construction plan review, contract administration or inspection of County construction projects, landfill facility improvements, related facilities; and to do other work as required.

The current vacancy is in the Construction Management Division of the Department of Community Development & Infrastructure, Public Works division.

The Construction Management section is responsible for construction management of public construction projects overseen by Public Works as well as inspection of sub-division and private commercial site improvements. Engineering Associates in this section may work as a Resident Engineer on construction projects overseeing the contract administration, ensuring conformance with plans, specifications and engineering standards, and other related duties.

The list established from this recruitment will also be used to fill upcoming vacancies during the life of the eligible list for the various sections of the Department of Community Development & Infrastructure, Public Works division, which may include Road Design, Sanitation Engineering, Encroachments, Surveying, Permit Engineering, and Stormwater Management. Below is a description of the other sections:

Road Design

The Road Design section is responsible for design work of various County transportation capital improvement projects, as well as storm damage road repair projects and bridge rehabilitation projects. Engineering Associates may be responsible for drafting, design, and reviewing projects; preparing RFP`s; updating design standards and criteria; reviewing engineered projects, improvement plans and other projects for conformance to engineering standards, conditions of the development permit; and other related duties.

Sanitation Engineering

The Sanitation section is responsible for overseeing public sewer and water systems, including engineering, permitting, and operations. Engineering Associates in this section may be responsible for drafting, designing, and reviewing projects; preparing RFP`s; working with the Public on sewer or water related issues; inspection of sewer or water improvements; updating design standards and criteria; reviewing engineered projects, improvement plans and other projects for conformance to engineering standards, conditions of the development permit; and other related duties.

Encroachments

The Encroachment section regulates work in the County Road right-of-way by the public or other agencies and issues permits for this work. Typical permitted projects include driveways, utility work, street improvements, and tree work within the County right-of-way. The Encroachments section also conducts construction site inspections related to permitted work, investigation of reported illegal encroachments, and correspondence with other County staff, permittees, and members of the public.

  Survey

The Surveying section is overseen by the County Surveyor and is responsible for checking and recording Records of Survey, County Surveys, parcel maps and subdivision maps; maintaining survey records; determining boundaries of County owned properties, including roads, rights of way, easements, and County controlled areas. The Surveying section also has a survey crew that performs field studies for engineering staff as well as construction staking. Engineering Associates in this section typically work on the survey crew and use state-of-the-art surveying equipment and software and have knowledge of survey research, analysis of boundaries and right of way deeds, mapping and surveying documents, and other related duties. 

Permit Engineering 

Permit Engineering is a newer section established primarily to review building and development permits for site development engineering, geotechnical and geologic standards, and review and approval of sub-divisions and associated improvement plans. Engineering Associates in this section may be responsible for reviewing development applications for conformance with Public Works County Design Criteria, County Grading and Erosion Control codes; and inspect improvements on private developments as well as subdivisions; and other related duties.

Stormwater Management

The Stormwater Management section is responsible for ensuring that development meets the stormwater management requirements of the Public Works County Design Criteria. This section is also responsible for reporting NPDES requirements to the RWQCB. Engineering Associates in this section may review stormwater management aspects of building permits and development applications; and be involved in complex post construction compliance and inspections; and other related duties. 

THE REQUIREMENTS: Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain this knowledge and abilities would be: 

Four years technical engineering experience performing construction inspection, design, contract administration or related engineering work.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT: Possess and maintain a valid California Class C Driver`s License. 

Knowledge: Working knowledge of engineering mathematics, science and hydraulics; the nomenclature, symbols, methods, practices, techniques, instruments and equipment used in drafting, construction inspection, hydraulics, sanitary engineering and surveying; the physical properties and uses of chemicals and materials used in construction and public works related projects including appropriate hazardous materials handling and principles of safety; the principles and techniques used in the design of roads, drainage, water and sewer systems, pumping stations and related public works facilities; and contract administration. Some knowledge of the application of data processing to engineering studies and design.

Ability to: Interpret or prepare blueprints, maps, change orders, construction plans and specifications including cost estimates, bid documents and complex technical engineering reports; design and evaluate engineering plans for roads, drainage, water and sewer systems and other public works projects; inspect large and complex construction projects and enforce compliance with plans, specifications, change orders, and laws; review, evaluate, recommend, and approve solutions to unusual field conditions not specified in plans or specifications; administer large and complex construction contracts including measuring and calculating quantities to determine progress payments; prepare written reports and  correspondence, recommend changes in local fees or ordinances, assist in budget preparations and make oral presentations; establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work; input, access, and analyze data using a computer terminal.

THE EXAMINATION:  Your application and supplemental questionnaire will be reviewed to determine if you have met the education, experience, training and/or licensing requirements as stated on the job announcement.  If you meet these criteria and are one of the best qualified, you may be required to compete in any combination of written, oral and/or performance examinations or a competitive evaluation of training and experience as described on your application and supplemental questionnaire. You must pass all components of the examination to be placed on the eligible list. The examination may be eliminated if there are ten or fewer qualified applicants.  If the eligible list is established without the administration of the announced examination, the life of the eligible list will be six months, and your overall score will be based upon an evaluation of your application and supplemental questionnaire. If during those six months it is necessary to administer another examination for this job class, you will be invited to take the examination to remain on the eligible list.

HOW TO APPLY: Apply online at www.santacruzcountyjobs.com or mail/bring an application and supplemental questionnaire to: Santa Cruz County Human Resources Department, 701 Ocean Street, Room 510, Santa Cruz, CA 95060. For information, call (831) 454-2600. Hearing Impaired TDD/TTY: 711. Applications will meet the final filing date if received: 1) in the Human Resources Department by 5:00 p.m. on the final filing date, 2) submitted online before midnight of the final filing date.