Senior Water Systems Planning Engineer

Washington Water Service; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

California Water Service Group (Cal Water) invites you to contribute as an advanced journey level Engineer. You will supervise projects, provide technical leadership, and liaise with public agencies to advance infrastructure improvements.

The role supports the company in capital budgeting and regulatory filings across multiple CA locations, including San Jose, Bakersfield, or Torrance. The position requires six years in water utility engineering, strong modeling skills, and PE-related

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering or related field; Master's preferred.
• Minimum of six (6) years of progressively responsible engineering experience in water utility engineering or related fields.
• California Engineer in Training certification preferred
• California Professional Engineer registration preferred
• Experience with hydraulic analyses or modeling for water systems preferred
• Knowledge of capital planning, project development, budgeting, and asset management principles.
• Knowledge of utility regulatory requirements, including drinking water regulations and PUC rate case processes preferred.

Responsibilities

• Assesses, analyzes, and solves problems related to job functions.
• Organizes, attends, and leads meetings with Cal Water staff and public agencies to assess problems and determine solutions.
• Conducts research on existing infrastructure using databases, maps, drawings, photos, and paper files.
• Independently locates or develops needed data.
• Performs engineering calculations to solve advanced problems.
• Creates solicitation documents and reviews bids; selects the most appropriate bidder.
• Directs the work of technicians and interns.
• Presents information in public forums to state or local government agencies.

Skills

Hydraulic modeling

Capital planning

Project management

Regulatory knowledge

Public agencies liaison

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering

Master's degree preferred

Tools

InfoWater

Job description

California Water Service Group (Cal Water) invites you to build a meaningful career with the third largest publicly traded water utility in the United States. Guided by our mission to be the leading provider of water and wastewater services, we are dedicated to improving the quality of life for the customers, communities, and employees we serve. Our culture is grounded in core values-integrity, quality, service, value, health and safety, respect and collaboration, and corporate citizenship-and is reflected in our recognition as a Top Workplace®, a Great Place to Work®, and a J.D. Power leader in customer satisfaction for multiple years. Join Cal Water and be part of a purpose driven organization where your work makes a lasting impact.

This is the advanced journey level position in this classification series. Engineer will exercise full technical and functional supervision of assigned projects; and may serve as a resource for technical expertise. Requires independent judgment in performing tasks listed under the job function. Provides direction to junior level engineers in a lead capacity on engineering projects and technical review of the work of others. Shall make presentation to districts and outside agencies; may represent the company in meetings with outside agencies to negotiate and address complex issues. This position can be located in San Jose, Bakersfield or Torrance, CA.

Essential Functions:

• Assesses, analyzes, and solves problems related to job functions
• Organizes, attends, and leads meetings relating to their primary job function with other Cal Water staff members and public agencies to assess problems and determine solutions
• Conducts research on existing infrastructure using databases, maps, drawings, photos, and paper files
• Independently locates or develops needed data
• Performs engineering calculations to solve advanced problems using logical assumptions
• Creates solicitation documents (Request for Bids, Proposals, Qualifications, or Information) specific to the scope of work for each project and reviews contractor or consultant bids. Selects the most appropriate bidder
• Provides updates to maps, drawings, and databases to reflect new projects or fix errors
• Prepares data tables, graphs, cost estimations, justifications, and reports required for evaluating projects
• Assesses solutions to problems presented by others, assists in planning and prepares projects for the Company's capital budget and Public Utility Commission (PUC) rate case filings including cost estimating and justification for complex projects, as well as data requests, tours, rebuttal, and settlement support
• Directs the work of technicians and interns
• Operates a provided company vehicle for travel to field locations
• Participates in Continuous Improvement (CI) activities to improve all aspects of the company's operations
• Conducts project safety planning and develops project safety documentation
• Presents information in a public forum to state or local government agencies, special districts, or local communities
• Makes project related decisions based on lowest life cycle cost calculations
• Routinely directs and trains other engineers. Occasionally reviews the work of other engineers
• Manages project resource
• Routinely reviews policies, procedures, specifications and standard drawings and researches new technologies. Makes necessary revisions to these documents to stay current with technology and company changes
• Performs other duties as assigned, as appropriate for the classification
• Performs work on site in assigned office location

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering or related field and or equivalent relevant experience; Master's degree preferred
• Minimum of six (6) years of progressively responsible engineering experience in water utility engineering, hydraulic modeling, system planning, operations engineering, infrastructure planning, engineering design, or related fields.
• California Engineer in Training certification preferred
• California Professional Engineer registration preferred
• Demonstrated ability to independently assess complex water systems and translate identified needs into actionable capital improvements.
• Knowledge of water system planning, design, operations, and infrastructure improvement programs.
• Experience performing hydraulic analyses or developing, reviewing, or interpreting hydraulic models for water systems .
• Experience with hydraulic modeling software such as InfoWater, or similar platforms preferred.
• Knowledge of capital planning, project development, prioritization, budgeting, and asset management principles.
• Knowledge of utility regulatory requirements, including drinking water regulations and Public Utilities Commission rate case processes preferred.
• Ability to assess infrastructure needs, develop planning-level solutions, and prepare project scopes and justifications.
• Ability to analyze technical, operational, regulatory, and financial info