Senior Engineer/Geologist, Zone 7

Alameda County; Oakland (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical – HMO & PPO

Dental – Plans

Vision

Retirement Plan

Paid holidays

Paid vacation

Employee Wellness

Commuter benefits

Job summary

Alameda County Zone 7 Water Agency seeks a Senior Engineer/Geologist to lead professional and technical teams in water resources, flood control and treatment facilities. The role combines project leadership with hands-on engineering/geology work, overseeing staff and contracted services.

The ideal candidate has strong supervisory skills, broad civil/geological knowledge, and a track record of delivering reliable water infrastructure solutions in a dynamic environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Geology or related field; two years’ experience as Associate Civil Engineer/Professional Geologist, Zone 7, OR three years’ progressive experience post-registration with supervisory duties.
• Willingness to work outdoors in all weather; able to respond to emergencies.
• Valid California Driver’s License and California PE or PG license.

Responsibilities

• Perform difficult professional civil/geological work related to water resources, flood control, water supply and treatment facilities.
• Supervise professional and technical staff and manage projects and contracted services.
• Prepare plans, designs, estimates and specifications; oversee construction and operation activities.
• Apply engineering/geological principles to solve problems and interpret data.

Skills

Leadership

Supervision

Project management

Civil eng knowledge

Hydrology

Education

BSc in Civil Eng/Geology

Tools

AutoCAD

GIS

Excel

Job description

Introduction

THIS IS A NEW ASSEMBLED EXAMINATION. The eligible list resulting from this examination will cancel any existing list and may last approximately one year but can be extended.

Supplemental Questionnaire: A properly completed Supplemental Questionnaire must be submitted with each application. Failure to submit the Application or Supplemental Questionnaire will result in disqualification.

Applications and supplemental questionnaires must be in the possession of the Human Resource Services Department by 5:00:00 p.m. on the Last Day for Filing.

Applications and Supplemental Questionnaire for this recruitment will only be accepted online.

DESCRIPTION

THE AGENCY Zone 7 Water Agency is located in the Tri-Valley region of the eastern San Francisco Bay Area. It provides water on a wholesale basis to the cities of Pleasanton, Livermore, Dublin and the Dougherty Valley area of San Ramon, and flood-protection services to all of eastern Alameda County.

Zone 7 employs approximately 116 full-time employees and operates on an annual budget of $80.3 million dollars.

The Agency’s administrative offices are located in Livermore, CA, the easternmost city of Alameda County, which is bordered by Contra Costa County to the north and San Joaquin County to the east. Livermore, California’s oldest wine region, is known for the science and technology of its national laboratories, a historic downtown area, and the surrounding farmlands and ranches that mirror the Valley’s western heritage.

Zone 7 employees are committed to providing a reliable supply of high-quality water and an effective flood control system to the Livermore-Amador Valley in a fiscally responsible, innovative, proactive and environmentally sensitive way. We invite you to acquaint yourself with our dynamic Agency and its exciting employment opportunities.

For more information regarding the Alameda County Flood Control and Water Conservation District, Zone 7 please visit their website at www.zone7water.com.

THE POSITION

Under general direction, performs difficult professional civil and technical engineering/ geological work related to water resources, flood control, water supply, and water treatment facilities and systems; supervises professional and technical staff; and performs related work as required.

This is a working first-line supervisory class in the professional engineering/geologist series. Individuals in this class are usually project engineers/geologists or have major responsibilities for system operation and management involving the supervision of other engineering/geologist, technical, operations and management staff. Assignment may be in water resources, flood control, water supply or water quality or operations and maintenance. This class is distinguished from the Principal Engineer/Geologist, Zone 7, which is a section head responsible for a major engineering function. This class is distinguished from the Associate Engineer/Geologist, Zone 7 class, in that the Senior Engineer/Geologist has supervisorial responsibility over professional and technical staff and the Associate Engineer/Geologist, Zone 7, performs the more complex office and field engineering work.

For more detailed information about the job classification, visit: Senior Engineer/Geologist, Zone 7 (#4967)

IDEAL CANDIDATE

In addition to meeting the minimum qualifications, the ideal candidate will be a highly qualified geologist who demonstrates the following competencies:

• Strong leadership skills, including the ability to exercise sound judgment, take initiative, and make decisions independently when appropriate.
• A high level of accountability and follow-through, with a demonstrated commitment to meeting responsibilities and delivering results.
• Integrity and professionalism, including a willingness to take responsibility for mistakes and make appropriate corrections.
• The ability to recognize priorities, take appropriate action, and move work forward with minimal direction.
• A continuous learning mindset, with the ability to learn from challenges and apply lessons learned to future situations.
• The ability to build trust, encourage shared responsibility, and support the growth and development of team members.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

TO QUALIFY FOR THE COMPETITIVE ASSESSMENT PROCESS, YOU MUST MEET THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS BY FULFILLING ONE OF THE PATTERNS LISTED BELOW (I or II).

EITHER I Experience: The equivalent of two years’ full-time experience in the class of Associate Civil Engineer/Professional Geologist, Zone 7.

OR II Education: Possession of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Civil Engineering, Geology or a closely related field. And Experience: The equivalent of three years’ full-time progressively responsible professional engineering/geologist experience subsequent to Professional Registration that included the equivalent of two years of supervisory or administrative experience.

Other Requirements: Must be willing and able to work in exposure to chemical, mechanical and electrical hazards, and outdoors in all weather conditions. May be required to respond to emergencies in off-hours.

Licenses: Possession of a valid California Driver’s License and a valid California Certificate of Registration as a Professional Engineer OR a Professional Geologist issued by the California Board for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors.

NOTE: The Civil Service Commission may modify the above Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of civil engineering as applied to a water agency, including design and construction, surveying and drafting, materials engineering and soil mechanics, environmental impact analysis and stress analysis.
• Principles of hydrology, hydraulics, hydrogeology and water resources management.
• Principles of project management and contract administration, including planning, organizing, delegating, scheduling and controlling.
• Principles of supervision, including selection, training and performance evaluation.
• Engineering mathematics, economics and statistical analysis.
• Construction methods, material, specifications and codes.
• Computer software application related to engineering/geological.
• Applicable codes, regulations and standards relating to water resources, water quality, and civil engineering.

Ability to:

• Train and supervise professional and technical support staff.
• Effectively manage large-scale and/or complex engineering/geological projects, studies and contracted services.
• Prepare and oversee preparation of plans, designs, sketches, estimates and specifications.
• Apply engineering principles and computer programs to the solution of engineering/geological problems.
• Conduct engineering studies, investigations and analyses.
• Analyze and interpreting complex data and reports reaching sound conclusions and forecasts.
• Read, understand and interpret engineering/geological data, maps, survey notes, legal descriptions, and other material.
• Prepare clear, concise and accurate reports and correspondence.
• Maintain accurate data and records.
• Deal tactfully and effectively with public, other agencies, developers, engineering firms and contractors and other employees.

EXAMINATION COMPONENTS

THE EXAMINATION WILL CONSIST OF THE FOLLOWING STEPS:

• A review of applicants' application to verify possession of minimum requirements. Those candidates who possess the minimum requirements for the class will move on to the next step in the examination process.
• A review of the supplemental questionnaire to determine the best qualified that will be weighted as qualifying only (pass/fail). Supplemental screening is an internal departmental exam process and does not require or involve candidate participation. Candidates who pass the best qualified exam component will move on to the final step in the examination process.
• An oral examination which will be weighted as 100% of the candidates' final examination score. The oral examination may be administered virtually and may contain situational exercises.

Candidates must attain a qualifying rating on each portion of this recruitment.

WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE ANNOUNCED EXAMINATION STEPS.

RECRUITMENT AND SELECTION PLAN

Applicants will be informed via email with reasonable notice in advance of any examination process which will require their attendance.

TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT PLAN

Deadline for Filing: 5:00:00 PM, Friday, October 2, 2026

Review of Applications for Minimum Qualifications: October 5, 2026

Notification to applicants: October 9, 2026

Review of Questionnaire for Best Qualified: Week October 26, 2026

Civil Service Oral Examination: Week November 9, 2026

The combined oral examination/hiring interview, in addition to establishing an eligibility list, may serve as the final selection interview for vacancies in this classification. Candidates selected to participate in the oral exam will receive an email notification at least 10 business days in advance of the exam date.

Notification of Exam Results: 1-2 weeks after oral exam

TENTATIVE SELECTION PLAN

Department Selection Process: TBD

WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE ANNOUNCED RECRUITMENT & SELECTION PLAN.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

Alameda County and the Human Resource Services Department will make reasonable efforts in the examination and/or selection process to accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities and/or medical conditions in accordance/compliance with the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and Alameda County’s Reasonable Accommodation Policy and applicable statutes. To request an accommodation due to a disability/medical condition during this or other phases of the examination/selection process, please contact the assigned Human Resources Representative listed on the job announcement no later than the recruitment filing deadline. If this is a continuous open recruitment without a filing deadline, please contact the assigned Human Resources Representative listed on the job announcement within ten (10) business days of submitting your application. Unless your disability is readily apparent (for example, you use a wheelchair and need wheelchair-accessible spaces), Alameda County requires applicants to provide supporting documentation to substantiate a request for reasonable accommodation. In order to qualify for a reasonable accommodation, applicants must have a disability/medical condition pursuant to the ADA, FEHA and applicable statutes.

For more information regarding our Reasonable Accommodation procedures, please visit our website, Reasonable Accommodation | HRS.

BENEFITS

• Medical – HMO & PPO Plans
• Dental – HMO & PPO Plans
• Vision or Vision Reimbursement
• Share the Savings
• Basic Life Insurance
• Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage for eligible employees)
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance
• County Allowance Credit
• Flexible Spending Accounts - Health FSA, Dependent Care and Adoption Assistance
• Short-Term Disability Insurance
• Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Voluntary Benefits - Accident Insurance, Critical Illness, Long-Term Care, Hospital Indemnity and Legal Services
• Employee Assistance Program
• Retirement Plan - (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)
• Deferred Compensation Plan (457 Plan or Roth Plan)
• 12 paid holidays
• Floating Holidays
• Vacation and sick leave accrual
• Vacation purchase program
• Management Paid Leave**
• Catastrophic Sick Leave
• Pet Insurance
• Commuter Benefits Program
• Guaranteed Ride Home
• Employee Wellness Program (e.g. At Work Fitness, Incentive Based Programs, Gym Membership Discounts)
• Employee Discount Program (e.g. theme parks, cell phone, etc.)
• Child Care Resources
• 1st United Credit Union

*Eligibility is determined by Alameda County and offerings may vary by collective bargaining agreement.

**Employees in management-designated classifications may be entitled to management paid leave. Refer to the applicable MOU or Salary Ordinance for more information.

Conclusion

All notices related to County recruitments for which you have applied will be sent/delivered via email. Please add [e-mail], @jobaps.com, acgov.org and [e-mail] as accepted addresses to any email blocking or spam filtering program you may use. If you do not do this, your email blocking or spam filtering program may block receipt of the notices regarding your application for recruitments. You are also strongly advised to regularly log into your County of Alameda online application account to check for notices that may have been sent to you. All email notices that will be sent to you will also be kept in your personal online application account.