City Engineer

City of Des Plaines; Des Plaines (IL); On-site; USD 144,000 - 176,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Des Plaines is seeking a City Engineer to supervise the Engineering Division, directing planning, design, and construction of transportation systems and capital improvement projects.

Reporting to the Director of Public Works & Engineering, you will lead staff, ensure regulatory compliance, coordinate with agencies and developers, and deliver high‑quality infrastructure for residents and businesses.

Responsibilities

• Oversees engineering planning, design, and construction for the city.
• Manages staff, consulting agreements, and departmental budgets.
• Coordinates with local, state, and federal agencies and stakeholders.

Job description

Career Opportunities with City of Des Plaines

A great place to work.

Careers At City of Des Plaines

Current job opportunities are posted here as they become available.

Expected Starting Rate: $160,000 +/- Qualifications and Experience

The City Engineer oversees and directs engineering planning, design, and construction functions for the City, including transportation systems, capital improvement projects, and development review. This position supervises the Engineering Division, manages professional staff and consulting agreements, administers budgets, and ensures compliance with municipal and state regulations. Reporting to the Director of Public Works & Engineering, the City Engineer exercises professional and technical judgment to deliver high-quality infrastructure solutions while engaging with residents, agencies, and stakeholders.

Works under the guidance and direction of the Director of Public Works and Engineering or their designee. Oversees the Engineering Division staff and various contractor contracts as assigned.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Manages, directs, and organizes the day-to-day operations of the engineering staff. Performs administrative, supervisory, and professional engineering work; reviews and approves plans and specifications developed by engineers and architects for private developments. Performs other duties and special projects as assigned.

Acts as the City’s Signatory on official documents that require a professional engineer’s seal.

Directs and participates in the review of plans and specifications for new developments; advises developers, consulting engineers, contractors, and others of City ordinances and procedures governing development; negotiates development agreements and ensures that all legal requirements are met; provides written recommendations to and advises the City Council and Plan Commission on new developments.

Plans, organizes, and supervises technical engineering work in the evaluation and design of public works improvements including the construction or maintenance of streets, water distribution system, sanitary and storm sewer systems, sidewalks, and drainage structures; supervises the preparation of long-range capital improvement plans.

Directs the work of subordinates engaged in surveying, traffic studies, drafting, construction inspection, and other field and office work; controls field work in progress through on-site inspections, reviews of reports, and conferences; directs the final acceptance inspection of projects.

Provides technical engineering advice and assistance to other divisions of the department and other City departments as requested; coordinates construction and engineering activities with other local, state, and federal agencies as necessary, administers contracts for public works improvements in which the City has financial participation.

Must be able to work well with other governmental or regulatory agencies, such as MWRD, Cook County Highway Department, US Army Corps of Engineers, USEPA, IEPA and I.D.O.T.

Serve as liaison between the City and other governmental agencies for coordination of joint projects. Coordinate, apply and secure outside funding with the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP), Northwest Municipal Conference (NWMC), State, and other Federal agencies; prepare intergovernmental agreements; prepare project budgets, manage multiple funding sources, prepare and obtain required village or outside agency signatures for approvals, permits and documentation; prepare final paperwork for Federal projects utilizing grant funding, Motor Fuel Tax (MFT) funding and other funding sources; prepare