Associate Engineer (Design Option)

City of Chula Vista; Chula Vista (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Chula Vista is seeking a professional Civil Engineer for the Design section of the Engineering & Capital Projects Department. This full journey level role handles complex designs, cost estimates, and coordination of capital improvement projects, with opportunities to lead staff and interface with the public and developers.

The position emphasizes preparing plans, reviewing subdivision maps, and supporting bidding and contract awards, while offering growth within a busy public works

Qualifications

• Two years of civil engineering experience and training equivalent to a bachelor's degree.
• Possession of Engineer-in-Training Certificate in the State of California.
• Ability to prepare plans and specifications and review estimates.

Responsibilities

• Prepare complex engineering designs and cost estimates for storm drains, streets, and sewers.
• Coordinate project bidding and contract awards for CIP projects.
• Review plans for compliance with local ordinances and state laws.
• Communicate with the public, contractors and other engineers on project issues.
• Assist in staff training and maintain positive working relationships.

Skills

Communication skills

Leadership ability

Education

Bachelor's degree in civil engineering

Engineer-in-Training Certificate (EIT)

Tools

CAD software

Job description

To perform professional complex engineering work on various projects, capable of acting at a more independent level and may be assigned specific project or programs to complete; coordinate the work of other professional and technical staff as needed; and to perform other duties as assigned. This is the full journey level class in the Engineer series and it is distinguished from the Assistant Engineer level by the ability to perform the full range of duties assigned with only occasional instruction or assistance as unusual or unique situations arise. Positions in this class are flexibly staffed and are normally filled by advancement from the Assistant Engineer level, or when filled from the outside, have prior experience.

Current vacancy is within the Design section of the Engineering & Capital Projects Department. The Design section is responsible for the design and delivery of the City’s Capital Improvement Projects, including preparation and review of engineering plans, specifications, and cost estimates, as well as coordinating project bidding and contract awards.

This recruitment may be used to fill various vacancies in the Engineering & Capital Projects Department.

Note: This position is scheduled to receive a 5% salary adjustment the first full pay period of January 2027.

Essential Functions:

Functions may include, but are not limited to, the following: perform complex engineering designs for the preparation of preliminary and final engineering plans, specifications and cost estimates for the construction and/or improvement of storm drains, streets, sanitary sewers and related structures; perform engineering calculations for hydrology and hydraulic structures, land surveys and highway and street alignments; prepare and supervise the preparation of legal descriptions and grant deeds for easements and street rights-of-way; participate in right-of-way negotiations and acquisitions; investigate and check tentative and final subdivision maps for accuracy, design, completeness and conformance to the local sub-division ordinance and the State of Subdivision Map Act; design and coordinate the construction of improvement projects; review improvement and grading plans for composition and accuracy; provide written and oral information to the public, contractors, developers and other engineers on related issues; attend meetings and make presentations to various committees, commissions, professional and community groups; write Council agenda statements, reports and correspondence as required; conduct studies related to planning public works facilities; may assist in providing training to staff; build and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers, other City employees and the public using principles of good customer service; and perform related duties as assigned.

When assigned to Traffic Engineering:

Maintain the city's traffic signal computer system; repair and maintain complex electronic traffic control equipment; troubleshoots communication lines between microprocessors in the field and microcomputer in the office; review and analyze traffic characteristics in the system; prepare timing plan and strategies; study traffic flow at intersections and calculate plan at the system control level; respond to emergency traffic situations studies when requested; repair printed circuit boards and replace components on the traffic signal equipment; monitor the computer system and upload or download control parameters when necessary; maintain the computer database of traffic signal timing parameters; evaluate system effectiveness according to the results of the Moving Vehicle Survey conducted under the City's Traffic Monitoring Program; perform troubleshooting and testing on traffic signal safety monitor modules to assure they meet City specifications; assist Traffic Devices Technicians on the pre-installation tests of equipment for new traffic signal installations; prepare signal timing documentation sheets of traffic signals as archive to central computer's database; provide training to Traffic Signal and Lighting Technicians in traffic signal timing and control equipment test/ repair; prepare training course material; recommend appropriate hardware modules and test devices for intersection controllers; may assist in providing training to staff; build and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers, other City employees and the public using principles of good customer service; and perform related duties as assigned.

When assigned to Inspection Services and Building Construction

Manage routine public works construction projects, including overseeing and implementing the requirements in the plans and specifications, and coordinating and communicating with City departments, residents, and other constituencies; provide engineering support for construction work in progress, including conducting site investigations, to ensure compliance with approved plans, specifications, and material standards; review construction submittals for compliance with plans and specifications; respond to requests for information from contractors; prepare construction contract change orders; prepare estimates for payments to contractors and consultants; review land development plans and grading plans to ensure completeness and compliance with City standards; prepare engineering correspondence, interoffice memos, written reports, cost estimates, construction contract documents, and requests for proposals for building and construction projects; supervise and direct consultant work; manage project budgets; build and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers, other City employees and the public using principles of good customer service; and perform related duties as assigned.

• Two years of civil engineering experience and training equivalent to a bachelor's degree from an accredited college with major course work in civil engineering or a related field; or possession of Engineer-in-Training Certificate in the State of California.

Note:

All Assistant Engineers, Associate Engineers, Assistant and Associate Land Surveyors, or Plan Check Engineers who become registered by the State of California as a Professional Civil Engineer, Professional Traffic Engineer, Land Surveyor or Licensed Architect when registration is not a requirement of the position held, shall receive five percent (5%) additional compensation.

Knowledge of

basic principles, practices and facilities used in civil or structural engineering, soil engineering, municipal engineering, design, construction and maintenance and topographical construction surveying; state laws and local ordinances relating to engineering projects; English usage, spelling, grammar and punctuation; computer equipment and software applications related to assignment.

When assigned to Traffic Engineering:

Traffic signal control strategies and optimization theory including fundamentals of traffic signal timing; electrical and electronic theory and practices, including analog and digital solid-state devices; maintenance practices for computerized traffic timing and control devices; safety precautions related to complex electrical and electro-mechanical equipment; English usage, spelling, grammar and punctuation; computer equipment and software applications related to assignment.

Ability to

prepare plans and specifications; review estimates; collect, analyze and interpret data pertaining to engineering projects; read and interpret laws, ordinances and other related documents; read and interpret maps and blueprints; operate computer equipment and software applications related to assignment; communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing; follow oral and written instructions; establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work; work with various cultural and ethnic groups in a tactful and effective manner.

When assigned to Traffic Engineering:

Perform complex maintenance and adjustment of the city's traffic signal computer systems using electronic test and soldering equipment; plan, estimate, coordinate, and monitor computer system maintenance; operate and maintain equipment used in the traffic signal timing system; read and interpret instructions, technical manuals, schematics, plans, and specifications; make recommendations for optimization of traffic signal timing to meet the traffic flow; make use of the traffic signal optimization software such as SYNCHRO and LINKVIEW; make recommendations for traffic signal system selection and upgrade; troubleshoot computer signal timing systems; make necessary signal timing adjustments; read and interpret laws, ordinances and other related documents; read and interpret maps and blueprints; operate computer equipment and software applications related to assignment; communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing; follow oral and written instructions; establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work; work with various cultural and ethnic groups in a tactful and effective manner.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions:

On an intermittent basis, sit at desk for long periods of time; intermittently walk, stand, bend, squat, twist and reach while retrieving and/or returning files; perform simple grasping and fine manipulation; use telephone and use a keyboard to communicate through written means; review information and enter/retrieve data; see and read characters on computer screen; and lift light weight. See in the normal vision range with or without correction; hear in the normal range with or without correction. Work is performed indoors in a carpeted and air-conditioned office environment with fluorescent lighting and moderate noise level. Some movement is required from office to office and there is exposure to the external environment when going to outlying offices, meeting, or performing field inspections. Work is frequently interrupted by the need to respond to in-person and telephone inquires.

Recruitment No. 26601710

Unless otherwise noted, a passing score must be achieved at each step of the selection process in order to have your name placed on the eligibility list for hiring consideration. The examination materials for this recruitment are validated, copyrighted and/or inappropriate for review. The eligibility list established as a result of this recruitment will be for a duration of six (6) months, unless otherwise extended.