Associate Engineer (2 Positions and PE not required)

Valley Water; San Jose (CA); Hybrid; USD 151,000 - 193,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid telework program

Job summary

Valley Water in San Jose, CA seeks an Associate Engineer (2 positions, PE not required) to perform primary technical review of land development and infrastructure plans, focusing on hydraulic and geotechnical analyses to protect water resources and facilities.

The ideal candidate has four years of engineering experience, strong writing and communication skills, and demonstrates leadership in supervising staff and coordinating with cities and the county; hybrid telework options are available and

Qualifications

• Four (4) years of professional engineering experience with public works or land development.
• Ability to review and impose conditions for approval of projects with CEQA implications.
• Strong knowledge of hydraulic, geotechnical, and geomorphological analyses.
• Experience interpreting construction plans and engineering documents.
• Ability to coordinate with cities, county, and internal units on permits and right of way.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate encroachment permits, ensure CEQA compliance and land rights scope.
• Lead primary technical review of land development and infrastructure plans.
• Represent Valley Water in public meetings and supervise assistant engineers.
• Respond to public records requests and prepare Board communications.
• Negotiate licenses, cost-share agreements, and land rights transfers.

Skills

Staff supervision

Project management

Engineering principles

Water resources

Construction plans

Engineering studies

Engineering calculations

Technical reports

Regulatory compliance

Technical research

Software proficiency

Multi-tasking

Decision making

Communication

Stakeholder relations

Education

Bachelor's degree in civil engineering or related field

Engineer-in-Training (EIT) certificate or equivalent

Job description

Associate Engineer (2 Positions and PE not required)

Valley Water

Salary: $151,049.60 - $193,377.60 Annually

Job Type: Full-Time

Job Number: 02036-E

Location: 5750 Almaden Expressway, San Jose, CA, CA

Department: Watersheds Stewardship and Planning

Closing: 11/19/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

While not required, if selected candidate has a P.E. license, a 2.5% differential would apply.

Overview: The Community Projects Review unit receives, reviews, and responds to external land development and public works projects, California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) documents, feasibility studies, and master plans to determine compliance with Valley Water's Water Resources Protection Ordinance and impacts to Valley Water interests, including water supplies and water utility, watershed and stream stewardship facilities. The Associate Engineer performs primary technical review, and leads agency wide review, of land development and infrastructure plans focusing on hydraulic, geotechnical, and geomorphological analysis, to evaluate impacts to Valley Water facilities and land rights; provides input on city and regional planning documents to protect Valley Water's water supply, flood protection, and stream stewardship interests; and provides technical assistance to cities and the county in reviewing hydraulic analyses and complying with National Flood Insurance Program requirements. This position coordinates with various Valley Water business units to develop solutions, negotiate agreements, issue permits, and support right of way transactions; assign tasks and projects to assistant engineers; and oversees work assigned to assistant engineers, and may directly supervise assistant engineers.

Our Commitment: We are committed to building and sustaining a working environment where all individuals are respected and valued. We believe every member of our team brings unique perspectives that enhance our ability to serve the public effectively. By fostering a workplace with employees from the communities we serve, we broaden our collective understanding of the world around us and strengthen our mission to equitably provide safe, clean water, natural flood protections, and environmental stewardship.

About Valley Water: Valley Water's mission is to provide Santa Clara County with safe, clean water for a healthy life, environment, and economy. The FY 2026-27 Adopted Budget of $1.284 billion supports approximately 876 employees. With headquarters in San José, Valley Water provides water supply, enhances streams and watersheds through creek restoration and habitat protection, provides flood protection for homes, schools, businesses and roadways, and partners with other agencies to provide trails and open space for the community.

Key Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Evaluate encroachment permit requests and prepare permits ensuring appropriate conditions, land rights, CEQA compliance, invoicing and insurance requirements are met in accordance with Valley Water's Water Resources Protection ordinance. Review land development proposals and external projects or planning documents impacting Valley Water facilities and provide technical assistance to cities and the county in reviewing hydraulic analysis and complying with NFIP requirements.
• Perform primary technical review of land development and infrastructure plans, environmental documents, feasibility studies, master plans of various complex land development projects with engineering aspects focusing on hydraulic principles and analyses and geotechnical and geomorphological knowledge to interpret, evaluate and analyze the impacts to Valley Water facilities and land rights.
• Act as Valley Water representative in various meetings with public in conjunction with assigned projects, assign tasks and projects to assistant engineers, and supervise and/or provide oversight of work assigned to assistant engineers.
• Respond to public record requests through internal system, Access Valley Water. Compose Board correspondence and respond to public inquiries related to flooding information, land rights, land use restrictions and use of Valley Water right of way.
• Negotiate, review and prepare licenses, cost-share agreements and land rights transfers for non-capital projects related to issuance of encroachment permits. Review and/or approve plat and legal descriptions, right of way agreements, deed language, and prepare CEO approval and/or Board agenda packages.

Ideal Candidate's Background Includes:

Applicants whose experience and background best match the ideal experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, and education are considered ideal candidates for the position. To determine the top candidates, each applicant will be assessed based on the ideal candidate criteria as listed below.

Ideal Experience:

Four (4) years of professional engineering experience reviewing and setting conditions for approval of public works, utility, transit, or other land development projects.

Ideal Skills and Abilities:

• Plan, organize, schedule, assign, train, review, and evaluate the work of staff.
• Recommend and implement work plans and effectively manage engineering projects and project teams.
• Apply engineering principles, practices, concepts, and standards to engineering problems.
• Apply water resources principles, practices, concepts, and standards to water supply planning, operations, and management, groundwater monitoring, contamination, and protection, and water quality problems.
• Prepare, understand, and interpret construction plans, specifications, drawings, and other engineering documents.
• Independently conduct comprehensive engineering studies, investigations, and analyses.
• Perform engineering calculations and statistics.
• Prepare clear and concise reports, correspondence, and other written materials.
• Analyze, interpret, summarize, and present technical engineering information and data.
• Interpret, apply, explain, and ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local policies, procedures, laws, and regulations, and District engineering policies and procedures.
• Conduct engineering research projects, evaluate alternatives, make sound recommendations, and prepare effective technical reports.
• Use office equipment including computer equipment and specialized software applications programs.
• Organize and prioritize multiple tasks in an effective and timely manner; organize own work, set priorities, and meet critical time deadlines.
• Make sound, independent decisions within established policy and procedural guidelines, and best engineering practices.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Ideal Knowledge:

• Principles and practices of employee supervision, including work planning, assignment, review and evaluation, and the training of staff in work procedures.
• Principles, practices, concepts, and standards of civil engineering as applied to assigned field/specialty of engineering, water resources management, natural resource management and planning, engineering, hydrogeology, geology, hydrology, hydraulics, and/or environmental sciences.
• Principles and techniques for providing customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and District staff.
• Principles and practices of numerical modeling and analysis, natural resource modeling, forecasting and risk analysis, and statistical analysis.
• Principles, practices, theories, and methods of water supply planning, operations, and management, groundwater monitoring, contamination, and protection, water quality, and long-term water supply modeling and analysis.
• Principles of advanced mathematics and its application to civil engineering work.
• Principles and practices of project budgeting, cost estimation, funding, project management, and contract administration.
• Practices of researching engineering and design issues, evaluating alternatives, making sound recommendations, and preparing and presenting effective and technical reports.
• Recent and on-going engineering related developments, including information technology, current literature, and sources of information related to the operations of assigned area of responsibility.
• Applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulatory codes, ordinances, and procedures relevant to assigned area of responsibility.
• Office practices, methods, and computer equipment and applications related to the work.
• English usage, grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and punctuation.
• Each employee shall possess a reasonable understanding of their roles and responsibilities as defined in the District's Injury and Illness Prevention Program.

Ideal Training and Education:

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in civil engineering or a field related to assigned functional area(s).

Or

Possession of a valid California Engineer-in-Training (EIT) Certificate with two (2) years of associated paraprofessional engineering experience.

Required License or Certificate

Possession of, or ability to obtain, an appropriate, valid California driver's license. Individuals who do not meet the driver's license requirement due to a disability will be considered for reasonable accommodation on a case-by-case basis.

Community Projects Review Unit (Position Code 407 & 403)

Valley Water Telework Program: Eligibility for telework will depend on the type of work performed, operational needs, and the ability for the employee to perform the essential functions of their job duties while teleworking. Employment with Valley Water requires employees to live within 150 miles of their primary physical work location located in San Jose, California by their start date.

This position is eligible for a hybrid telework schedule, typically working 40% remote and 60% onsite.

Selection Process

• (1) The selection process may include one or more of the following: application review, application assessment, performance exercise, written exercise and/or interview.
• (2) The Employment Application, Qualifying Information Questions and/or Supplemental Questions will be evaluated based on the ideal candidate criteria listed above. Resumes are highly recommended.

NOTE: Position and start date is subject to availability of funds. Valley Water retains the right to repost this position as deemed necessary.

Consideration may be given to existing applicant pools within the same classification.

Valley Water's Equal Opportunity Non-Discrimination Policy is available for review upon request.

Valley Water will make reasonable efforts in the examination process to accommodate persons with disabilities. Please advise Human Resources in advance of any special needs by calling 408-630-2260.

Please be aware that once submitted all application materials become the property of Valley Water and will not be returned. Human Resources staff are not authorized to make copies of application materials for applicants.