Supervising Engineer

City of Santa Barbara; Santa Barbara (CA); On-site; USD 155,000 - 188,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Santa Barbara is seeking a Supervising Engineer for Streets Engineering Construction within the Public Works Department. Under general direction, you will supervise staff, guide construction administration, and manage capital projects including streets, bridges, and pedestrian facilities.

Responsibilities include coordinating Consultants and Contractors, preparing cost estimates, reports, and grant applications, and directing project timelines and budgets.

Qualifications

• Five (5) years of increasingly responsible civil engineering experience including lead supervisory or project management.
• Valid California Driver's license at time of appointment.

Responsibilities

• Supervise and review work of staff on construction administration and management of capital projects.
• Coordinate consultants and contractors, review plans, specs, and bid documents.
• Prepare cost estimates, budgets, reports, and grant applications.
• Attend public meetings and communicate with residents and stakeholders.
• Ensure compliance with Federal, state, and local regulations; stamp drawings if licensed.

Skills

Civil engineering knowledge

Supervisory experience

Project management

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in civil engineering

Job description

SUPERVISING ENGINEER

Streets Engineering Construction

$154,709.10 - $188,050.20 ANNUALLY

(plus 5% for CA Professional Engineer License)

Please note: The original posting has been updated to reflect the salary increase effective 4/4/26.

ABOUT US

At the City of Santa Barbara, the best part of our organization is our people. As a City of Santa Barbara employee, you will work in a collaborative environment with other motivated individuals who are passionate about their work. We strive to provide employees with the support they need to thrive and grow while fulfilling our Mission.

The Mission of the Public Works Department is to provide the community with a sustainable foundation to thrive by delivering quality services and public infrastructure through efficient and fiscally responsible practices.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE

As a City of Santa Barbara employee, the work that you do has a real impact on people in our community. We are about more than the bottom line; our work ensures the health and safety of residents and visitors, protects and preserves our architectural heritage and the natural environment, and enriches lives.

As City employees, we are the stewards of this beautiful place. Our job is to help the elected officials serve everyone in our community and ensure Santa Barbara continues to be a special place for future generations. This is an exciting, and sometimes demanding, responsibility. It is important work that you can be proud to perform. Discover more about us, our values and our organizational culture here.

EMPOLYEE BENEFITS & PAY

Earn an attractive compensation package including competitive pay, comprehensive health and welfare benefits, retirement, paid time off, flexible work policies, commuter support, training and educational reimbursement.

THE POSITION

The City of Santa Barbara Public Works Department is seeking a motivated and knowledgeable Supervising Engineer to support Streets Engineering Construction. Under general direction from a Principal Civil Engineer, this position is responsible for supervising, assigning and reviewing the work of staff responsible for professional and technical engineering work for the Public Works Department, primarily in the area of construction administration and construction management of capital projects, including streets, bridges, pedestrian and bicycle facilities, traffic signals, streetlights, etc. This position establishes priorities and directs the work of consultants and contractors in the design and construction of public improvements. Manages and participates in the construction of capital projects based on plans, specifications, cost and quantity estimates, and bid documents; negotiates terms and fees and approves contractor and consultant pay requests. Prepares analytical and statistical reports, grant applications, and outside consultant contracts; manages, coordinates and schedules projects and oversees the maintenance of records, maps, and construction project documents. Participates in budget preparation and administration, prepares cost estimates, monitors and controls expenditures, tracks staff time and budgets. Responds to public-information inquiries and complaints. Solves controversial and complex technical and logistical problems for engineering staff, developers, builders and the general public. Selects and trains staff. Attends and chairs public meetings and performs other duties as required. If in possession of a valid CA registration as a Professional Engineer, stamps and approves record drawings.

Knowledge of:

Principles of supervision, training, and performance evaluation; principles and practices of civil engineering and administration; principles and practices of project and construction management; principles and practices of engineering design; terminology, methods, practices, and techniques used in technical civil engineering report preparation; principles and practices of budget preparation and control; principles of mathematics as applied to engineering work; recent developments, current literature, and sources of information regarding civil engineering; modern office procedures, methods, and computer equipment and software applications; pertinent Federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations including civil engineering laws and regulations.

Ability to:

Plan, organize, and supervise the work of professional and technical staff; train and evaluate staff; manage large and complex engineering projects; ensure project compliance with appropriate; Federal, state, and local rules, laws, and regulations; coordinate phases of construction projects and prepare progress reports; analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions, and implement recommendations in support of goals; conduct comprehensive engineering studies and develop appropriate recommendations; perform technical research and solve difficult engineering problems; prepare and maintain technical civil engineering records and prepare comprehensive reports; compile rough technical data and prepare statistical and narrative reports from field studies; develop, review and modify civil engineering plans, designs, and specifications. Exercise professional engineering judgment to achieve results consistent with objectives; communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing; establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work; maintain physical condition appropriate to the performance of assigned duties and responsibilities which may include the following: sitting for extended periods of time, operating assigned equipment, and conducting field inspections; maintain effective audio-visual discrimination and perception needed for: making observations, communicating with others, reading and writing, and operating assigned equipment.

Minimum Qualifications - Experience and Training:

Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience:

Five (5)years of increasingly responsible civil engineering experience including some lead supervisory or project management responsibility.

Education and/or Training:

Equivalent to a Bachelors degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in civil engineering or a related field.

License, Certificate and/or Other Requirements:

Valid California Driver's license at time of appointment.

California registration as a Professional Engineer or Engineer in Training is preferred.

Desirable experience:

• Managing multiple concurrent projects and timelines
• Managing and overseeing large-scale infrastructure projects
• Supervising engineering staff at various levels
• Construction management experience and training

Selection Process:

It is important that your application and supplemental questionnaire show all the relevant education, training, and experience you possess which qualifies you for this position. All applications and supplemental questionnaires will be reviewed and the most qualified candidates will be invited to continue in the selection process. Be sure to be thorough in your responses. Statements such as “See application”, “Extensive Experience”, or "See Resume" are not an acceptable substitute for a completed application and supplemental questionnaire. ?

The selection process may consist of an application screening, written exam, computer skills exam and/or an oral interview. The successful candidate's employment history will be thoroughly evaluated prior to appointment.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Communication regarding your application and/or status will be sent to the email address listed on your application. ?Please check your email and spam regularly throughout the recruitment process. You may also log into your governmentjobs.com account to view these emails.

OPEN & CONTINUOUS RECRUITMENT:

Because this recruitment is open and continuous, applicants are encouraged to submit completed applications as soon as possible. The filing period for an open and continuous recruitment may be closed at any time. THE FIRST APPLICATION REVIEW WILL BE MAY 22, 2026. ALL APPLICATIONS (UNCLUDING RESPONSES TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE) RECEIVED BY 5:30 PM ON FRIDAY, MAY 22nd WILL BE CONSIDERED IN THE INITIAL APPLICATION REVIEW PERIOD. THE DEPARTMENT MAY CONTINUE TO REVIEW APPLICATIONS RECEIVED AFTER THE INITIAL APPLICATION REVIEW PERIOD AS NEEDED.