Civil Engineer

Civil Engineer

Type: Direct Hire | Full-Time

Location: San Jose, CA | Los Angeles, CA | Bakersfield, CA | Chico, CA

Salary: $119K-$172K DOE

About the Role

We are partnered with one of California's largest investor-owned water utilities to recruit a Civil Engineer focused on water infrastructure capital planning. This role sits within the company's Capital Planning group and is a direct contributor to the preparation and filing of the General Rate Case (GRC) application to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).

The engineer in this role will own the development of short- and long-term capital improvement plans for assigned districts, evaluate infrastructure condition and project need, conduct alternatives analyses, and produce the project justifications that support rate case filings. Work product directly informs how billions of dollars in infrastructure investment is prioritized and defended before regulators.

The right candidate brings a strong foundation in civil engineering applied to water systems, the ability to translate complex technical analyses into clear written justifications, and ideally some exposure to the GRC or rate case process. A California PE license or active EIT registration is strongly preferred.

Key Responsibilities

Capital Planning & Project Development
• Develop short- and long-term capital improvement plans for urban water infrastructure in support of the 2027 General Rate Case filing.
• Evaluate district infrastructure needs, assess critical facilities, and perform life cycle cost analyses to determine optimal project selection.
• Perform preliminary design of water supply, distribution, and transmission facilities to define accurate project scope, schedule, and budget.
• Gather and analyze supply, storage, water quality, and operations data to inform capital improvement proposals.

Project Justification & Rate Case Support
• Prepare clear, well-structured project justification documents that identify need, analyze alternatives, define scope, and establish schedule and budget.
• Evaluate justifications prepared by other stakeholders and perform quality control on project estimates and capital program submittals.
• Work with the Rates Department to understand the companywide rate case process and support GRC filings, including multi-disciplinary meeting coordination.
• Prepare and support responses to CPUC data requests, rebuttals, and settlements; participate in CPUC tours.

Stakeholder Coordination & Field Engagement
• Travel periodically to company districts to visit project sites, document future project needs, and coordinate with district staff.
• Manage and oversee the work of external consultants on assigned capital projects.
• Participate in internal and external presentations on proposed capital projects.
• Train company staff on accessing and creating project justification documentation for proposed capital projects.

Process & Program Improvement
• Participate in developing standardized approaches to capital planning and asset management.
• Analyze capital project completion results and identify recommendations for process improvement.
• Support the company's Continuous Improvement program and related initiatives.

Qualifications

Required
• Bachelor's degree in civil engineering or a directly related engineering discipline.
• Experience in an engineering capacity with water system planning, design, construction, or cost estimating.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to produce clear, concise technical justifications and reports.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office - Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and SharePoint.
• Valid California Driver's License.

Preferred
• California Professional Engineer (PE) license; active EIT registration is strongly preferred.
• Master's or Ph.D. in civil engineering or a related field.
• Knowledge of CPUC/GRC rules, regulations, and rate case filing processes.
• Experience with capital project planning, budgeting, and life cycle cost analysis.
• Knowledge of water systems modeling, hydraulic modeling, and GIS.
• Familiarity with asset management principles.
• Project management experience; knowledge of PMI principles preferred.
• Experience with utility cost estimating and basis of estimate documentation.
• Knowledge of water quality regulations and water treatment facility design, operations, and maintenance.
• Familiarity with electrical equipment used in urban water systems.
• Public presentation and negotiation experience.

Compensation & Employment

Employment Type: The selected candidate will be hired as a full-time employee directly with our client.

Salary: $119,000-$172,000 per year, DOE

Benefits: Comprehensive benefits package offered by the client, including medical, dental, vision, retirement, and paid time off. Details provided during the interview process.

Equal Opportunity

Innovation Consulting LLC is an equal opportunity employer and recruiter. We review candidates without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected characteristic.