Engineer - Assistant

Placer County is comprised of over 1,400 square miles of beautiful and diverse geography, ranging from the residential and commercial areas of South Placer, through the historic foothill areas of Auburn, Foresthill, and Colfax, and to the County's jewel of the North Lake Tahoe basin. Placer is a great place to live, work, play, and learn! For more information about Placer County, please visit www.placer.ca.gov.

This classification is scheduled to receive a general wage increase of 4.0% in July 2024.

Placer County offers a comprehensive benefits package to employees. The following information represents benefits currently available to permanent Placer County employees and may be subject to change. Applicants should inquire as to the most current benefit package during hiring interviews or by contacting the Human Resources Department.

Click here to view Placer Public Employees Organization (PPEO) benefits.

For more information regarding the benefits Placer County has to offer, please visit Placer County's Human Resources website.

To perform professional and technical engineering work in the office and in the field related to public works/civil engineering projects and programs of the Public Works Department. 

This is the full journey level class within the Engineer series.  This class is distinguished from the Junior Engineer by the assignment of the full range of duties.  Employees at this level receive only occasional instruction or assistance as new or unusual situations arise and are fully aware of the operating procedures and policies within the work unit.  Positions in this class are flexibly staffed and are normally filled by advancement from the entry level.

This class is distinguished from the Associate Civil Engineer in that the latter performs highly complex professional civil engineering duties requiring a high level of skill and independent judgement and exercises direct supervision over professional staff. 

Receives direction from an Associate Civil Engineer.

May exercise technical and functional supervision over less experienced professional positions and technical staff.

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Perform professional and technical engineering work relative to assigned area of responsibility such as design, construction, land development, transportation and traffic planning, surveying and mapping, solid waste and landfill operations, assessment district engineering, and storm control and flood control engineering.
• Design and prepare plans and specifications for public works projects including roads, storm drains, utility lines, landfill, and related projects; develop revised design and construction standards for public works structures and appurtenances; research project design requirements; perform calculations and prepare estimates of time and material costs.
• Administer design and construction contracts; coordinate and review the work of outside consultants; review and recommend payments and billing for contracted services related to assigned projects; negotiate prices and schedules, as necessary; perform as resident engineer on construction projects as assigned.
• Participate in the plan check, review, processing, and permitting of plans for private developments affecting County roads, drains and related public works facilities; assure compliance with appropriate codes, ordinances, rules and regulations.
• Participate in environmental review of proposed land development projects; represent the Department at various public hearings and meetings; and set conditions of approval.
• Review proposed land development relative to impact on County transportation system; identify and formulate short and long term roadway needs, including traffic forecasting; gather and analyze a variety of data related to roadway conditions and traffic; and  evaluate funding mechanisms and develop traffic impact fee systems.
• Perform traffic engineering services relative to existing and proposed roads including signing and striping needs and review and investigation of accidents and claims; participate in preparation and maintenance of road and accident record systems; and perform traffic studies.
• Request and participate in the collection of survey and mapping data.
• Oversee County landfill and other solid waste disposal facilities, including active, inactive and closed sites; review operators' contract compliance and administer consultant contracts; authorize progress payments; submit required regulatory reports; and make recommendations regarding operation and/or closing as appropriate.
• Coordinate activities relative to the formation and administration of benefit assessment districts and dependent special districts; develop and monitor project financing; administer related consultant contracts including engineering, financial, and bond counsel; prepare and administer annual district budgets and administer vendor contracts to provide district services.
• Conduct engineering studies related to hydrologic and hydraulic engineering, including flood routing analyses, storage, and retention, and methods of storm runoff collection; conduct erosion control analyses and administer erosion control programs.
• Coordinate public works activities with other County departments, divisions, and sections and with outside agencies.
• Interface with and respond to the public in a variety of settings, including public meetings, in the office or in the field, and by telephone or through written correspondence; prepare technical and engineering reports and studies and visual presentations.
• Train and lead subordinate staff as assigned.
• May approve designs.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers, other County employees and the public using principles of good customer service.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Experience and Training

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

Experience:  Two years of responsible professional engineering experience performing duties similar to a Junior Engineer with Placer County.

Training: Equivalent to a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in civil engineering or a related field.

Required License or Certificate:

• Possession of an Engineer-in-Training (EIT) certificate.
• May need to possess a valid California driver's license as required by the position.  Proof of adequate vehicle insurance and medical clearance may also be required.

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of civil engineering as applied to the planning, design, construction, and inspection of public works facilities.
• Methods, materials, tools and equipment used in engineering construction.
• Civil engineering design and drafting methods and equipment, including basic computer-aided-design (CAD) techniques and technology. 
• Strengths, properties and uses of engineering construction testing materials; hydrology and hydraulics.
• Basic surveying and the principles of algebra, geometry and trigonometry and their application to engineering.
• Technical report preparation and graphic presentation.
• Computer software applications, including word processing, spreadsheets, graphics, data bases, and project scheduling and management.
• English usage, spelling, punctuation and grammar.
• Modern office procedures, methods, and computer equipment.
• General county and public works engineering policies and procedures.
• Applicable laws and regulatory codes applicable to areas of assigned responsibility, including design, construction, land development, transportation and traffic planning, surveying and mapping, solid waste and landfill operations, assessment district engineering, and storm control and flood control engineering.
• Cost estimating, budget preparation and administration, and project management.

Ability to:

• Perform professional engineering work not requiring registration as a Civil Engineer.
• On a continuous basis, know and understand all aspects of the job; intermittently analyze work papers, reports and special projects; identify and interpret technical and numerical information; observe and problem solve operational situations and technical policies and procedures; and explain regulations and procedures to consultants, contractors, developers, the general public, representatives of other public agencies and other County staff.
• On a continuous basis, sit at desk for long periods of time; intermittently bend, squat, climb, kneel and twist while performing field work; intermittently reach equipment surrounding desk; perform simple grasping and fine manipulation; use telephone, and write or use  a keyboard to communicate through written means; regularly lift moderate weight.
• Prepare and check engineering plans and specifications; and prepare and check engineering reports and studies. 
• Learn and understand County engineering policies and procedures.
• Learn applicable laws and regulatory codes applicable to areas of assigned responsibility, including design, construction, land development, transportation and traffic planning, surveying and mapping, solid waste and landfill operations, assessment district engineering, and storm control and flood control engineering.
• Learn to prepare accurate cost estimates and/or budgets, project schedules, and personnel resources needed for project completion/program accomplishment.
• Learn to prepare effective technical reports with recommendations and findings.
• Work with various cultural and ethnic groups in a tactful and efficient manner.
• Obtain information through interview and to deal firmly and courteously with the public.
• Analyze situations quickly and objectively and to determine proper course of action.
• Use a computer, calculator, telephone, manual and computer aided drafting equipment, and basic surveying equipment.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Train, assign and review the work of subordinate personnel as assigned.
• Prepare detailed plans and specifications; and perform technical research and prepare detailed analyses.
• Research and develop project design requirements, including design review; perform complex calculations and prepare time and material costs; ensure compliance with County regulations and standards. 
• Prepare and administer project budgets; administer contracts and coordinate and review the work of consultants and contractors.
• Prepare complete and comprehensive technical reports.

Training & Experience Rating (100%)

Based upon responses to the supplemental questionnaire, the applicant’s education, training, and experience will be evaluated using a pre-determined formula. Scores from this evaluation will determine applicant ranking and placement on the eligible list.

Prior to the date of hire, applicants must undergo a fingerprint test by the Department of Justice, pass a medical examination (which may include a drug screening and possibly a psychological evaluation), sign a constitutional oath, and submit proof of U.S. citizenship or legal right to remain and work in the U.S.  For some positions, applicants may also be required to submit proof of age, undergo a background investigation (which may include a voice stress analysis and/or a polygraph), and/or be bonded. Additionally, positions in law enforcement classifications and those supporting law enforcement functions will be required to complete a conviction history questionnaire prior to or during the interview process. Applicants for positions with access to Medi-Cal billing software or who are licensed providers must clear the Federal Exclusion List, credentialing, and social security verification. Failure to clear these requirements may result in an employment offer being withdrawn.

The eligible list resulting from this recruitment may be certified as a substitute list for a substantially similar classification. For this purpose, a substantially similar classification is one at a lower level in the same classification (example: entry level vs. journey level) and/or a similar classification (similar work performed, similar training and experience qualifications required). If you are contacted for an interview by a County department, you will be informed of the classification and other relevant information. If you choose not to interview for a substantially similar classification, you will remain on the eligible list for which you originally applied.

Placer County offers an expedited process for qualifying certain applicants for interviews. Candidates currently employed, or employed within the last year, by a public agency operating under a personnel civil service or merit system may be eligible to be placed on a Public Agency Eligible List and certified as eligible for appointment to a similar job assignment without going through the examination process. For more information on the Public Agency Eligible List, to download forms, or to apply, please click here.

Thank you for your interest in employment with Placer County. Placer County is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to an active nondiscrimination program. It is the stated policy of Placer County that harassment, discrimination, and retaliation are prohibited and that all employees, applicants, agents, contractors, and interns/volunteers shall receive equal consideration and treatment. All terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, transfer, and promotion will be based on the qualifications of the individual for the positions being filled regardless of gender (including gender identity and expression), sexual orientation, race (including traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists), color, ancestry, religion (including creed and belief), national origin, citizenship, physical disability (including HIV and AIDS), mental disability, medical condition (including cancer or genetic characteristics/information), age (40 or over),  marital status, military and/or veteran status, sex (including parental status, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), reproductive health decision making, political orientation, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law. Please contact the Human Resources Department at least 5 working days before a scheduled examination if you require accommodation in the examination process. Medical disability verification may be required prior to accommodation.