Assistant Engineer

City of Palmdale; Palmdale (CA); On-site; USD 69,000 - 88,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Palmdale is seeking an Assistant Engineer to perform professional and technical engineering work in civil, land development, or capital improvement projects. The role involves independent work on routine assignments with guidance for unusual cases.

You will assist with design, plan review, and coordination with other departments, consultants, and agencies, while developing cost estimates and schedules for multiple concurrent projects.

Qualifications

• Two years of engineering, planning development, construction, or closely related field.
• Equivalent to a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in civil engineering or closely related field.
• May require knowledge of GIS systems

Responsibilities

• Perform professional and technical engineering work relative to assigned area of responsibility, including design, land development, and capital improvements.
• Investigate field problems affecting property owners, contractors, and maintenance operations; resolve problems or refer as appropriate.
• Administer contracts; coordinate and review outside consultants; review payments and billing for contracted services.
• Prepare estimates and feasibility reports for new or modified services and structures.
• Manage multiple projects from conception through construction, including schedules and budgets; obtain permits and maintain files.
• Review plans for private developments affecting City streets, sewers, drains and related public works facilities; ensure compliance with codes and regulations.
• Provide technical support for GIS systems.
• Coordinate public works activities with other City departments and outside agencies.

Skills

Engineering fundamentals

Public works knowledge

Cost estimation

Project coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree in civil engineering

Tools

GIS

Job description

The full salary range for this position is as follows:$49.93- $63.73, Expected salary range is $49.93- $55.05

The Assistant Engineer performs professional and technical engineering work in assigned area of responsibility including, but not limited to, design, land development, or capital improvements.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

This is the entry level class in the professional engineering series. Incumbents perform engineering assignments of a routine nature. Incumbents work independently, seeking assistance only as new or unusual situations arise.

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Essential and other important responsibilities and functions may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Perform professional and technical engineering work relative to assigned area of responsibility, including but not limited to design, land development, and/or capital improvements.
• Investigate field problems affecting property owners, contractors, and maintenance operations; resolve problems or refer as appropriate.
• Administer contracts; coordinate and review the work of outside consultants; review and recommend all payments and billing for contracted services related to assigned projects.
• Request and/or participate in the collection of survey and mapping data.
• Prepare estimates and feasibility reports for new or modified services and structures.

• Prepare Requests for Qualifications and Requests for Proposals including specifications; assist in the selection of consultants; manage consultant contracts; review consultants’ work and provide technical guidance.

• Manage a variety of projects simultaneously, from conception through construction, which involves developing project schedules, monitoring project progress and budget, obtaining necessary permits, preparing and maintaining project files, monitoring quality of projects, and ensuring deadlines are met.
• Perform plan check, review, and processing of plans for private developments affecting City streets, sewers, drains and related public works facilities; assure compliance with appropriate codes, ordinances, rules and regulations.
• Provide technical support for GIS systems.
• Review video inspections of utility pipes, identify and rate defects, assess condition of pipes and prioritize repairs.
• Prepare visual presentations and reports.
• Prepare staff reports, correspondence, and special engineering studies and reports.
• Coordinate public works activities with other City departments, divisions and sections and with outside agencies.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION

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

Experience:

Two years of increasingly responsible experience in engineering, planning development, construction, or closely related field.

Education:

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

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge of:

• Basic principles and practices of engineering as applied to public works, utilities, transportation or land development.
• Applicable laws and regulatory codes relevant to assigned area of responsibility.
• Methods, materials, tools and equipment used in engineering construction.
• Principles of algebra, geometry and trigonometry and their application to engineering.
• Principles and practices of engineering as applied to public works, utilities, transportation or land development.
• May require knowledge of GIS systems

Ability to:

• Learn to check engineering plans and specifications; prepare and check engineering reports and studies.
• Learn to prepare accurate cost estimates and make related recommendations.
• Interpret and explain City policies, procedures, regulations and engineering policies and procedures.

• Respond to issues and concerns from the community and internal clients.
• Understand and follow instructions.
• Communicate accurately, clearly and concisely in writing, orally and electronically.
• Read and interpret essential technical information including maps and drawings.
• Perform basic mathematical calculations.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Obtain appropriate licenses and certifications.
• Prepare plans and drawings neatly and accurately.

• Check engineering plans and specifications; prepare and check engineering reports and studies.
• May require ability to provide technical support to GIS systems.
• Analyze and prepare technical reports.
• Prepare accurate cost estimates and make related recommendations.

• Work independently and make sound decisions.

LICENSE OR CERTIFICATE

Possession of a valid California driver's license by time of appointment is required.

Engineer-In-Training Certificate issued by the State of California, highly desirable.

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL REQUIREMENTS

Mobility: frequent use of keyboard; frequent sitting for long periods of time; occasional climbing, bending and squatting.

Lifting: frequently up to 10 pounds; occasionally up to 25 pounds.

Vision: constant use of overall vision; frequent reading and close-up work; occasional color and depth vision.

Dexterity: frequent repetitive motion; frequent writing; frequent grasping, holding, and reaching.

Hearing/Talking: frequent hearing and talking, in person and on the phone.

Emotional/Psychological: frequent decision-making and concentration; frequent public and/or coworker contact; occasional working alone.

Environmental: frequent exposure to noise.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Work is performed in a typical temperature controlled office environment subject to typical office noise and environment. Positions may require occasional overtime, weekend work and travel is rare.

Revised October 2026

FLSA: Overtime exempt