Associate Engineer

Fairfield-Suisun Sewer District; Fairfield (CA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Fairfield-Suisun Sewer District is seeking an Associate Engineer to lead capital improvement projects from planning through construction. You will collaborate with stakeholders, review designs and reports, and ensure adherence to industry standards for wastewater infrastructure.

The ideal candidate is a licensed Professional Engineer (CA) with strong project-management and communication skills, capable of balancing multiple priorities in a dynamic municipal setting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Civil, Environmental, Mechanical, or Construction Engineering or related field.
• Four years of progressively responsible experience in planning, design and construction of civil projects, preferably water/wastewater.
• Licensed as a Professional Engineer in California and a valid CA Class C driver's license.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, evaluation and construction of wastewater infrastructure and related facilities.
• Serve as Project Manager on medium complexity CIP projects, coordinating with inspectors, staff and contractors.
• Review engineering reports, drawings and calculations to ensure compliance with codes and regulations.

Skills

Project management

Communication

Team collaboration

Problem solving

Written & technical reporting

Education

Bachelor of Science in Civil, Environmental, Mechanical, or Construction Engineering

Job description

The District is excited to recruit for an Associate Engineer to join the Engineering Department.

Make an Impact. Lead Projects. Build the Future.

Join a collaborative team where you’ll lead meaningful projects that shape the future of the District’s wastewater treatment, collection and conveyance, recycled water, stormwater, and related infrastructure. This is an opportunity to take ownership of complex projects, work with experienced industry professionals, and grow your career while making a lasting impact on the community.

We're seeking a licensed Professional Engineer who is eager to make a lasting impact on the community through safe, reliable, and sustainable wastewater infrastructure. The ideal candidate is a proactive problem solver, effective communicator, and collaborative team member who thrives in a dynamic environment.

In this role, you'll lead capital improvement projects from planning through construction, partner with a wide range of stakeholders, and support key District initiatives. Success in this position requires strong time and project management, organizational, and communication skills, along with the ability to balance multiple priorities and deliver practical, high-quality solutions.

Over several decades, the District has evolved from a technical engineering entity to a valuable resource manager, partner in local economic development, and active member of the watershed community. The District has taken numerous actions to shift conventional thinking about the way wastewater utilities are run.

• We are an award-winning facility, including winner of the 2024 Water Environment Federation Utility of the Future Award, 2022 California Water Environmental Association (CWEA) California Plant of the Year Award and the 2022 National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) Platinum Peak Performance Award.
• Over the years many of our employees have been recognized as operator of the year, laboratory person of the year, and mechanical technician of the year (to name a few).
• We are always looking for innovative solutions and often participate in various research pilots, which offers unique opportunities for our staff.
• We strive to obtain as much energy as possible from waste product and renewable energy through solar power, wind turbines, and cogeneration engines.
• We have a history of creative partnerships to address the issues we face, such as our partnership with Lystek International, who constructed a biosolids-to-fertilizer processing plant at our wastewater treatment facility.

At the Fairfield-Suisun Sewer District, we work together and break down barriers to accomplish major projects and facilitate successful daily operations of the facility. The District is a highly collaborative organization. By fostering a relatively flat organizational structure, minimizing bureaucracy, and promoting employee empowerment, the District achieves a high degree of cooperation and partnership between departments to seek out the best overall solutions to shared challenges. At the heart of the District’s progress is an organizational culture that continues to embrace positive change. We have a leadership team that supports the growth and needs of the employees and encourages ongoing feedback to make the District an employer of choice.

Here at the District, we are dedicated to providing what we believe to be an excellent work environment. We strive to maintain good wages and benefits, open communications and opportunities for creativity, ownership and fun.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

Under direction, the Associate Engineer performs journey level professional engineering work in the design, evaluation and construction of wastewater treatment plant, wastewater collection system, storm water system, and related facilities; serves as a project manager on medium complexity projects; reviews engineering reports, drawings, specifications, and calculations for sewers and other facilities to ensure compliance with current industry practices, codes, regulations, and ordinances; develops and demonstrates a full understanding of all applicable policies, procedures and work methods associated with assigned duties; performs other related duties as required.

The Associate Engineer serves as a lead Project Manager and/or Construction Manager for projects within the District Capital Improvement Program (CIP), working closely with construction inspectors, Operations & Maintenance staff, District staff, contractors, consultants, and community partners to deliver critical infrastructure renewal, replacement, and capacity projects.

The position also supports the District’s Planning and Development program by reviewing proposed developments and coordinating with external agencies and development teams. Additional technical responsibilities include preparing and reviewing engineering reports, calculations, designs, specifications, and plans in accordance with applicable industry practices, codes, regulations, and ordinances.

To review the complete job description click HERE.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

Bachelor of Science degree in Civil, Environmental, Mechanical, or Construction Engineering or related field.

AND

Experience:

Four years of progressively responsible experience in the planning, design, and construction of civil engineering projects, preferably related to water/wastewater.

OR

An equivalent combination of training, education and experience which has provided the required knowledge, skills/abilities, and attributes and is able to perform the work (with reasonable accommodation, if needed).

License/Certificate:

• Licensed as a Professional Engineer in the State of California.
• Possession of a valid California Class C driver’s license and safe driving record.

Failure to possess and maintain the required license(s) and/or certificate(s) may be cause for discipline up to and including termination.

PHYSICAL, MENTAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL WORKING CONDITIONS

• Mobility and Dexterity: Positions in this class typically require stooping, kneeling, reaching, standing, walking, fingering, grasping, feeling (i.e., sense of touch), and repetitive motion.
• Lifting, Carrying, Pushing and Pulling: Employees in this class will be exerting up to 40 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.
• Vision: Positions in this class require the employee to have close visual acuity, with or without correction, to prepare and analyze data and figures, transcribe, view a computer terminal, read, etc. Positions in this class also requires employees to have depth perception to operate a motor vehicle.
• Hearing/Talking: Positions in this class require the employee to perceive the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction and have the ability to receive detailed information through oral communication. Positions in this class require the employee to express or exchange ideas by means of the spoken word.
• Working Conditions: While some work will be in an office setting, visits to outdoor worksites will require an employee in this class to work outside and be subject to a variety of weather conditions, walking on uneven terrain, and working around vehicles in operation and around machinery with moving parts. Employees in this class may be required to operate a vehicle and thus will be subject to traffic hazards while driving.
• Work in a Wastewater Treatment Facility: Employees in this class will be working in a wastewater treatment facility and thus will be subject to exposure to chemicals, toxic agents, blood and other bodily fluids, and communicable diseases. There may also be occasional exposure to extreme temperatures, inadequate lighting, and workspace that restricts movement. Employees in this class may be required to work in an industrial area and outdoors and thus will be subject to exposure to moving mechanical parts, electrical currents, fuel, oil, gases, smoke, fumes, odors, pollens, dust, vibrations, and intense noises as well as field conditions including rainy, windy, cold, or hot weather.
• Working at Heights: Employees in this class may be required to work at heights 15 feet and more above the ground on equipment and structures.

Some of these requirements may be accommodated for otherwise qualified individuals requiring and requesting such accommodations, absent undue hardship.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• Background Checks: The District may conduct a background check and a reference check on candidates prior to appointment to a position within this class.
• Independent Travel: Incumbents are required to travel independently, for example, to perform work at other work sites, to attend meetings with other District employees, to attend meetings with community organizations, etc.
• Hours of Work: Incumbents may be required to work weekends, holidays, irregular hours, and after normal business hours.

SELECTION PROCESS

November 10, 2026 – Tentative dates for onsite hiring interviews (please ensure you are available)

Supplemental questions may be used as a screening and examination tool to determine eligibility for advancement in the recruitment process. Depending on the number of applications received, applicants may be required to complete and submit supplemental question responses within a specified timeframe after the recruitment closes. Applicants are responsible for monitoring their email for these communications. Responses should be treated as examination responses.

All applicants meeting the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the recruitment process

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Applicants receiving a conditional offer of employment must successfully complete the pre-employment process for this position before a final offer will be extended. Pre-employment assessments for this position include a background, pre-employment physical, and pre-employment drug screen.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

It is the policy of Fairfield-Suisun Sewer District to consider all applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, ancestry, medical condition, genetic information, military or veteran status, or other protected category under the law.

ABOUT FAIRFIELD-SUISUN SEWER DISTRICT

The Fairfield-Suisun Sewer District is a wastewater special district serving approximately 149,000 customers in Central Solano County, California, about 40 miles northeast of San Francisco. The District safeguards public health and helps protect the Suisun Marsh, the nation’s largest brackish water marsh and the largest remaining contiguous wetland on the Pacific Coast of North America.

The District has a vision, mission, and core values that we strive towards every day our employees show up for work.

Vision: Our vision is to be a recognized leader in our industry and community.

Mission: Fairfield-Suisun Sewer District protects public health and the environment for the communities we serve in an effective, responsible and sustainable manner.

Core Values: As we strive to realize our vision of the future, all our actions and efforts will be guided by a certain set of values. These core values are our pledge to each other and to the community as to how we will conduct business.

• Sustainability: We commit to environmental, social, and fiscal responsibility, managing our resources with a focus on long-term sustainability and balancing costs with outcomes.
• Transparency: We uphold the highest standards of integrity and ethical behavior in all our actions, fostering a culture of honesty and trust within our workplace and our community.
• Excellence: We strive for the highest quality in our work, embracing creativity and global thinking to achieve outstanding results and set standards in our industry, while ensuring a safe workplace and infrastructure.
• Positive Working Relationships: We foster strong, respectful relationships while emphasizing responsibility, proactivity, and ownership in our collaborations both within our team and with our external partners, promoting a cooperative and supportive work environment.
• Solution Driven: We are driven by innovation and dedicated to solving problems, by finding and implementing effective solution(s).

Visit our website at www.FSSD.com