Assistant/Associate/Senior Engineer

Job Description:

Assistant/Associate/Senior Engineer

Description

Description

This recruitment is open until filled and may close at any time.

Assistant Engineer: $43.30 - $58.29/hour

Associate Engineer: $49.17 - $66.21/hour

Senior Engineer: $54.46 - $73.00/hour

The City of Tustin is seeking talented and motivated engineering professionals to join our Public Works team as an Assistant, Associate, or Senior Engineer. We currently have two (2) vacancies, and appointments will be made at the appropriate level depending on experience and qualifications.

This recruitment offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to a diverse portfolio of capital improvement and infrastructure projects that support a vibrant and growing community. The City’s engineering team is actively delivering projects that enhance transportation mobility, pedestrian safety, water and storm drain infrastructure, and public facilities, many of which are supported by regional, state, and federal grant funding programs.

Current and upcoming initiatives include active transportation improvements, pedestrian bridge projects, roadway rehabilitation, utility undergrounding, water well rehabilitation, park and public space enhancements such as the Old Town parklet, and long-range infrastructure planning efforts including updates to the City’s Bike Master Plan and development of the City’s first Storm Drain Master Plan. These projects span both new development areas such as Tustin Legacy and established neighborhoods including Old Town, offering engineers the opportunity to work on a wide range of infrastructure challenges.

Engineers in these roles will participate in the planning, design, and delivery of complex public works projects, working closely with consultants, contractors, regional agencies such as OCTA, Caltrans, and IRWD, and community stakeholders. Depending on experience and classification level, incumbents will take on progressively responsible assignments including project management, design review, construction coordination, grant-funded project delivery, and interagency collaboration, with opportunities to manage projects from concept through construction.

This is an excellent opportunity for engineers who want to grow professionally while helping shape the infrastructure of one of Orange County’s most dynamic communities.

SELECTION PROCESS:

Application materials will be carefully reviewed to identify those candidates who meet the minimum qualifications for this position. Individuals who are best qualified will be invited to participate in a panel interview. Interviews are tentatively scheduled for the week of April 13, 2026. All candidates who pass the panel interview will earn placement on the eligible list, which may be used for current and future vacancies in the job classification.

Examples of Duties

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

Assistant / Associate Engineer / Senior Engineer:

• Prepares engineering plans, specifications, and cost estimates for the design and construction of public works projects including streets, water, sewer, and storm drain facilities
• Reviews engineering plans and specifications for public works and private development projects for compliance with standards, codes, and regulations; recommends revisions and improvements
• Prepares Requests for Proposals and contract documents; administers and monitors professional service contracts, consultant invoices, and consultant performance
• Manages engineering projects; coordinates and oversees consultants; conducts meetings to establish requirements, review progress, ensure conformance with standards, and resolve procedural and policy issues
• Coordinates engineering activities with developers, consultants, City staff, and other public and private agencies
• Conducts field inspections during construction to ensure compliance with plans, specifications, contracts, codes, and ordinances; investigates and resolves field issues
• Provides technical assistance to customers and the public; responds to inquiries and complaints; explains department policies and procedures
• Researches and analyzes technical data; prepares technical reports, correspondence, and project documentation
• Assists with grant applications, environmental documentation, and compliance with state and federal funding requirements
• Meets with City staff, external agencies, and the public to ensure timely project delivery; may make presentations
• Reviews operational procedures and recommends updates to improve compliance and customer service

Senior Engineer - Additional Duties:

• Provides supervision to engineering staff; assigns work, monitors progress, provides training and technical guidance, and ensures quality and policy compliance
• Assists in developing and implementing goals, policies, procedures, and resource allocation
• Oversee the preparation and review of engineering designs, plans, specifications, and cost estimates
• Interprets and applies applicable codes and regulations; resolves complex engineering and design issues
• Determines project scope; prepares and administers consultant contracts; reviews consultant and contractor work
• Meets with architects, engineers, developers, contractors, and the public regarding City requirements, design review, construction, and maintenance
• Responds to public inquiries and complaints regarding code interpretation and application
• Reviews construction activities and resolve disputes between inspectors, engineers, developers, and contractors
• Prepares technical, statistical, administrative, and grant-related reports and manages grant program compliance
• Assists with the preparation and presentation of reports to the City Council, Commissions, and outside agencies

Minimum Qualifications

A combination of education, experience, and training that has provided the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities is required for entry into the classification. A typical combination includes :

Assistant Engineer:

• Experience and Education: Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering or a related field. No prior experience is required.
• License/Certification Required : Possession of a valid Class C California driver’s license and an acceptable driving record. Possession of a valid Certificate of Registration as an Engineer-in-Training (EIT) issued by the State of California is desirable.

Associate Engineer:

• Experience and Education: Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering or a related field; and two (2) years of professional engineering experience.
• License/Certification Required : Possession of a valid Class C California driver’s license and an acceptable driving record. Possession of a valid Certificate of Registration as an Engineer-in-Training (EIT) or Professional Engineer (PE) issued by the State of California is highly desirable.

Senior Engineer

• Experience and Education: Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering or a related field; and four (4) years of professional civil engineering experience, including one (1) year of project management responsibility.
• License/Certification Required: Possession of a valid Class C California driver’s license and an acceptable driving record. Possession of a Certificate of Registration as a Professional Engineer (PE) issued by the State of California.

Special Requirements:

Satisfactory results from background investigation, physical examination and administrative screening.

Working Conditions & Physical Demands

For a full job class specification, please click on the links below for the respective positions:

Assistant Engineer
Associate Engineer
Senior Engineer

The City of Tustin is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities.

The City of Tustin offers a comprehensive compensation and benefit program that includes:

FLEXIBLE BENEFIT PLAN
The City provides a specific dollar amount to each employee to use toward the purchase of individual or family health coverage, dental plans, vision coverage, additional life insurance, deferred compensation, and other optional benefits. Currently, the flexible benefit amount for Employee + 2 is $2050 per month.

The City contracts through CalPERS medical program (PEMHCA) which offers multiple PPO and HMO options for health insurance providers. Employees also have the choice of Delta Dental PPO or HMO plans.

RETIREMENT
Employees will be enrolled in a defined benefit (pension) plan with the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS). CalPERS determines the retirement plan in which a new employee will be enrolled based on the individual's membership status with CalPERS or a reciprocal retirement system on the individual's first day of employment with the City.

Classic CalPERS members will be enrolled in the 2% @ 60 plan, with an employee contribution of 10% (pre-tax). New CalPERS members, as defined by the Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013 ("PEPRA"), will be enrolled in the 2% @ 62 plan, with an employee contribution of 7.25% (pre-tax). The City does not participate in Social Security, though participation Medicare is mandatory (1.45% employee contribution).

DEFERRED COMPENSATION
Employees may defer earnings, on a pre-tax basis, into a 457 deferred compensation program. This is an optional program and the City contracts with Nationwide Retirement Services.

GENERAL LEAVE
General Leave may be used for vacation and/or illness. Annual accrual amounts increase from 160 to 248 with years of service.

HOLIDAYS
The City has 13 paid holidays per calendar year.

LIFE INSURANCE
Full-Time employees receive a $100,000 life insurance policy.

LONG-TERM DISABILITY
The Long-Term disability program provides 60% of the employees' income when the employee becomes disabled because of an illness, injury or accident.

ALTERNATIVE WORK SCHEDULE
The 9/80 alternative work schedule is available for most full-time positions.

RETIREE HEALTH INSURANCE
Employees who retire from the City of Tustin with ten (10) years of full-time service and continue enrollment in the City's health plan are eligible for reimbursement of $250 per month toward retiree health insurance costs. Employees first hired into a benefitted position with the City of Tustin prior to July 1, 2011 are eligible for this benefit after five (5) years of service.

TUITION REIMBURSEMENT
After passing the probationary period, employees may request reimbursement up to a maximum of $4000 per calendar year for tuition and related expenses when attending a community college or four year university.

EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
Employees are enrolled in an Employee Assistance Program that provides a variety of legal and counseling services.

MEDICARE
All newly hired employees contribute a portion of gross salary for Medicare coverage. The employee contribution to Medicare is 1.45%.

SECTION 125 MEDICAL & DEPENDENT CARE PROGRAM
The section 125 program is optional for employees and provides a method to pay medical and dependent care expenses on a pre-tax basis.

SPECIALITY PAY
The City has specialty pay for designated positions. Examples of specialty pay include Bilingual Pay, Water Certificate Pay, Stand-by Pay, Call-Back Pay, and Shift Differential.

Closing Date/Time: Continuous

Salary:

See Position Description