Engineering Inspector I, II, III

City of San Marcos, TX; San Marcos (TX); On-site; USD 45,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

City of San Marcos, TX is seeking an Engineering Inspector to ensure the safety and integrity of water, wastewater, drainage, roadway, and bridge projects. You will supervise inspections, review plans, and provide technical guidance to stakeholders.

The role supports capital projects, maintains specifications, and ensures compliance with City and State standards. A valid Texas driver’s license is required, with opportunities for progression through Inspector I–III levels.

Qualifications

• Bachelor or advanced degree not required; high school diploma or equivalent is required.
• Experience in engineering, construction or operations with knowledge of construction materials and methods.
• Proficiency with Windows software including Word, Excel, and Access.

Responsibilities

• Provide inspection services for development projects and ensure compliance with plans, specs, codes, and permits.
• Document project progress with daily reports, correspondence, and change orders.
• Coordinate with Project Manager and contractors; attend pre-construction and progress meetings.
• Participate in plan reviews for water, wastewater, drainage, and street improvements.

Skills

Engineering principles

Reading plans and specs

Technical writing

Digital file management

Interpersonal communication

Education

High school diploma

Tools

Word

Excel

Access

Job description

Become part of a team that thrives on Professionalism, Innovation, Customer Experience, Integrity, and Teamwork — the values that guide how we serve our community.

The Engineering Inspector ensures the integrity and safety of the City’s infrastructure by inspecting water, wastewater, storm drainage, roadway, and bridge construction for compliance with City and State standards. It supports capital improvement projects through construction administration, plan review and evaluates development activities for adherence to drainage and floodplain regulations. The role also responds to drainage concerns, provides technical guidance to internal and external stakeholders, and helps maintain up-to-date technical specifications to support consistent and high-quality infrastructure development.

The following list highlights the main responsibilities of this position. While it covers the core tasks, it may not include every duty that could be assigned. Employees may be asked to take on other responsibilities as needed to support the team and department.

Inspection Services

• Provides inspection services in relation to development projects.
• Monitors and ensures compliance with contract documents, plans, specifications, codes, regulations, ordinances, and permit requirements.
• Prepares and maintains project documentation including correspondence, daily reports, materials testing results, record drawings, submittals and change orders.
• Record job progress and document project issues daily
• Inspects construction sites to ensure safety practices are in compliance with City standards and OSHA rules and regulations
• Works with property owners and acts as a liaison between those owners and the Contractor
• Conducts weekly meetings with project managers and contractors.
• Attends pre-construction meetings with City personnel, engineers, contractors, and utility company representatives; discusses general project details; obtains 24-hour contact information from contractors.

Communication & Coordination

• Maintains daily communication with Project Manager.
• Investigates, inspects, and provides technical assistance/response to concerns regarding construction activities, drainage complaints, and floodplain ordinances; coordinates inspection activities with other City departments, contractors, consultants, and outside agencies.

Plan Reviews

• Participates in the preparation and review of capital improvement, public improvement and site development plans including water, wastewater, storm drain, and/or street improvements.

ADDITIONAL ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

In addition to Engineering Inspector I, the Engineering Inspector II:

• Provides inspection services in relation to capital improvement (up to 50% of workload) and development projects (rest of workload)
• Verifies quantities in relation to capital improvement project payment requisitions.
• Prepares and maintains project documentation for payment requests.
• Makes decisions under general supervision

ADDITIONAL ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

In addition to Engineering Inspector II, the Engineering Inspector III:

• Provides inspection services in relation to capital improvement (up to 75% of workload) and development projects (rest of workload)
• Makes decisions under limited supervision

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• High school diploma or equivalent is required.
• One (1) year progressively responsible engineering, construction or operations experience with strong knowledge of construction materials and methods.
• Knowledge and experience with various Windows software including Word, Excel, and Access required.
• Valid Texas driver's license with an acceptable driving record is required.

ADDITIONAL MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

In addition to Engineering Inspector I, the Engineering Inspector II:

• Three (3) years progressively responsible engineering, construction or operations experience with strong knowledge of construction materials and methods
• Must obtain one of the following licenses:
  • Water Operator – Class D or higher from TCEQ required
  • Wastewater Collection Operator – Class I or higher from TCEQ

ADDITIONAL MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

In addition to Engineering Inspector I, the Engineering Inspector II:

• Five (5) years progressively responsible engineering, construction or operations experience with strong knowledge of construction materials and methods
• Must obtain two of the following licenses:
  • Water Operator – Class D or higher from TCEQ required
  • Wastewater Collection Operator – Class I or higher from TCEQ

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Completion of a minimum of 60 college hours plus experience in construction supervision, engineering design or surveying equivalent to 2 years of college (two years additional experience may substitute for one year of college).

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Knowledge of engineering principles, construction methods, and applicable City and State standards related to water, wastewater, drainage, roadway, and bridge infrastructure.
• Knowledge of technical documents, including engineering manuals, survey notes, maps, drawings, construction plans, specifications, contractor submittals, and shop drawings.
• Skill in reading, interpreting, and reviewing construction plans, technical data, and engineering specifications for compliance.
• Skill in writing clear and accurate correspondence, inspection reports, plan review comments, change orders, and bid-related documents.
• Skill in applying trigonometry, algebra, and engineering formulas to evaluate construction conditions and verify measurements.
• Skill in maintaining organized records, including plans, reports, estimates, drainage complaints, maps, drawings, and digital files.
• Ability to follow and provide technical written and verbal instructions, visualize spatial relationships, and correlate proposed construction with existing conditions.
• Ability to provide technical direction to contractors and City staff while maintaining a professional and customer-focused demeanor.
• Ability to complete required technical training and travel as needed for professional development.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

This position requires the ability to lift up to 50 pounds occasionally. The physical requirements of the job include the ability sit, talk, kneel, bend at both the waist and knee, reach with the arms over the head, and hear, both on the telephone and in person, using regular conversational tones; vision requires the ability to focus and read printouts, computer, screens, and the written material, as well as, the ability of hand/finger usage to perform essential functions, such as computer typing.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Working conditions involve frequently working outdoors in all types of weather conditions; exposure to extreme weather conditions such as heat, cold, wind, rain; exposure to conditions at construction sites such as dirt dust, caustic substances, loud noise; heat from liquid asphalt while taking measurement, rocky and uneven terrain and heavy brush during construction inspections and site assessments.

This is a safety-sensitive position.