Senior Water Systems Planning Engineer

California Water Service; United States; On-site; USD 113,000 - 177,000; Full time

Job summary

California Water Service Group seeks an advanced journey level Civil Engineer to oversee complex water infrastructure projects across San Jose, Bakersfield, or Torrance. You will supervise engineers, conduct hydraulic modeling, and prepare cost justifications for capital improvements.

The role requires independent judgment, strong communication with agencies, and ability to manage multiple projects while ensuring regulatory compliance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering or related field; Master's degree preferred.
• Six years of progressively responsible engineering experience in water utility engineering or related fields.
• California Engineer in Training certification preferred.
• California Professional Engineer registration preferred.
• Ability to independently assess complex water systems and translate needs into capital improvements.
• Knowledge of water system planning, design, operations, and infrastructure improvement programs.
• Experience with hydraulic modeling software such as InfoWater or similar platforms.
• Proficiency with MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
• Public speaking and presentations to government agencies and communities.

Responsibilities

• Assess, analyze, and solve problems related to engineering functions.
• Lead meetings with Cal Water staff and public agencies to assess problems and determine solutions.
• Perform hydraulic analyses and develop/ review hydraulic models.
• Direct the work of technicians and interns and manage project resources.
• Prepare data tables, graphs, cost estimates, and project justifications.
• Present information in public forums and to regulatory bodies.
• Support capital budgeting, rate filings, and data requests.
• Ensure safety planning and maintain project documentation.

Skills

Project management

Public speaking

Written communication

Verbal communication

Multi-tasking

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree (Civil Engineering)

Master's degree preferred

Tools

GIS

InfoWater

Job description

California Water Service 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 information to support capital investment decisions.


• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare reports, project justifications, presentations, procedures, and technical documentation.


• Ability to communicate effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders and maintain effective working relationships.


• Ability to manage multiple assignments, priorities, and deadlines in a collaborative environment.


• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.


• Experience with GIS, asset management systems, capital planning systems, project management software, or related engineering applications preferred.


• Public speaking and presentation skills.


• Valid California Driver License

Salary Range: Bakersfield, CA - $112,581.62 - $173,150.07 (DOE) Torrance, CA - $115,283 - $177,305.68 (DOE) San Jose, CA - $115,058.42 - $176,959.38 (DOE)

The Equal Opportunity Policy of the Company is based upon the philosophy that all people should be treated fairly and with dignity. California Water Service, Hawaii Water Service, New Mexico Water Service and Washington Water Service do not discriminate against any applicant or employee because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or any other protected class. The Company makes all employment decisions in a non-discriminatory manner. EOE, VET, DISABILITIES.

California Water Service Group invites you to pursue a career in the water industry with the third largest publicly traded water utility in the United States. Our mission is to be the leading provider of water and wastewater services. We're committed to improving the quality of life for our customers, communities, stockholders, and employees. To achieve that, we align our hiring strategies with the company’s core values of integrity, service, value, health and safety, respect and collaboration, and corporate citizenship so that we can provide quality, service, and value to all of these groups. Our commitment to our employees is evident, as we have been named a Top Workplace in the Bay Area and designated as a Great Place to Work, and Cal Water was ranked \"Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Water Utilities in the West\" by J.D. Power in its inaugural water utility satisfaction study.