Construction Management Project Engineer

Construction Management Engineer/Engineering Associate II, III

The Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts invites applications for the position of Construction Management Engineer/Engineering Associate II, III. Are you ready to elevate your engineering career and make a lasting impact on critical infrastructure? The Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts are seeking skilled and driven Engineers and Engineering Associates for our Construction Management section to support the oversight of large-scale sewer, landfill, and treatment plant projects that serve millions of residents. This role offers a hands-on, field-based engineering experience, where you will spend a significant portion of your time at active construction sites—observing work in progress, resolving complex engineering challenges in real time, negotiating change orders, tracking project progress, and coordinating with contractors, inspectors, and stakeholders to ensure successful project delivery. In this dynamic environment, you will play a key role in maintaining the highest standards of quality, safety, and efficiency across critical infrastructure projects. We are looking for self-motivated professionals with strong technical writing, analytical, and project management skills who thrive in fast-paced, hands-on settings. Our ideal candidate brings a solid engineering foundation, construction management experience, and the ability to make sound decisions in the field. This is your opportunity to contribute to impactful projects, collaborate with experienced professionals, and support the sustainable development of our communities. If you are ready to take on challenging, high-visibility work and play a direct role in construction operations, apply today and join a team committed to excellence in public service.

Our mission is to protect public health and the environment through innovative and cost-effective wastewater and solid waste management, and in doing so convert waste into resources such as recycled water, energy and recycled materials.

The Engineering Department, Construction Management Section is looking for candidates for the following levels:

• Engineering Associate II, III: The work performed in these classes are normally a prerequisite to qualify for the Professional Engineer (PE) licensure examinations.
• Engineer: This level differs from the Engineering Associate level classes by requiring a Professional Engineer (PE) license, handling more complex engineering assignments, and demonstrating a higher level of proficiency.

Job Summary: The major job responsibilities are listed below. For more detailed information, please review the job description. Under the general supervision of a Supervising Engineer, the incumbent will primarily perform duties related to the management of construction contracts. These duties include:

• Overseeing construction activities
• Investigating and resolving construction and engineering problems
• Reviewing and negotiating contractors' extra work claims and change proposals
• Reviewing construction project schedules
• Tracking work progress and preparing pay estimates
• Evaluating the impact of project progress on Districts' operations and making recommendations on any necessary course of action
• Coordinating with other Districts' departments and other agencies as needed to ensure satisfactory project progress
• Preparing project monthly progress reports

In addition to an emphasis on the need to maintain positive rapport with construction project stakeholders, including consultants, engineers in this field assignment need to be self-motivated to manage and see-through-to-completion significant contracts as well as possess the written communication skills necessary to document conflicting points of view regarding construction matters. Construction contracts include sewer, landfill and treatment plant projects and may span a large geographical area, require night work, overtime or overnight stays.

Notes:

• This is a field-oriented engineering position. Incumbents are expected to spend a significant portion of their time at active construction sites and should be comfortable working in outdoor environments and in proximity to ongoing construction operations.
• The work schedule is Monday – Friday 7:00am – 3:30pm; some night work and overtime as required by project.
• This position is not eligible for telework/working from home policies.

Minimum Qualifications: Candidates must possess all of the following:

• A valid California Class C driver license
-AND- Engineering Associate II Level:
• Option 1: A bachelor's degree and master's degree both in a pertinent engineering discipline from an accredited and recognized college or university
• Option 2: A bachelor's degree from an accredited and recognized college or university in a related science with an Engineer-In-Training Certificate and a master's degree from an accredited and recognized college or university in a pertinent engineering discipline
• Option 3: Two (2) years of professional engineering experience subsequent to earning a bachelor's degree in engineering from an accredited and recognized college or university
Engineering Associate III Level:
• Option 1: Two (2) years of experience as an Engineering Associate II
• Option 2: Four (4) years of professional engineering experience subsequent to earning a bachelor's degree in engineering from an accredited and recognized college or university.
Engineer Level:
• Possession of a Certificate of Registration as a Professional Engineer with the California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists
• AND:
• Option 1: Six (6) years of professional engineering experience subsequent to earning a bachelor's degree in engineering from an accredited and recognized college or university
• Option 2: A master's degree in engineering from an accredited and recognized college or university -AND- Three (3) years of professional engineering experience
• Option 3: A PhD in engineering from an accredited and recognized college or university -AND- two (2) years of professional engineering experience

Desirable Qualifications: The ideal candidate will have:

• Five (5) or more years of experience in construction management
• A master's degree in a pertinent engineering field
• Certified Associate Construction Manager and/or Certified Construction Manager certification
• Superior technical writing and communication skills, analytical skills and project management skills
• Experience with the following:
• Cost estimating and scheduling
• Construction administration for large industrial facilities such as advanced processes and treatment facilities
• Electrical power distribution improvements
• Pumping plant facility replacement
• Sewer construction/rehabilitation involving slip lining and CIPP
• Software including Microsoft Project, Primavera P6, Oracle Unifier and/or ProCore
• Working with the public, handling resident complaints regarding construction or facility operations
• Managing sewer repair projects
• Troubleshooting complex problems involving project construction
• Ability to be on call at night and during weekends to support construction projects as needed
• Ability to seamlessly transition between office work - handling RFIs, change orders, claims, and project closeouts - and on-site construction oversight, providing input during the construction process and ensuring projects are completed efficiently

Examples of Assessment Criteria: The competitive selection process for ALL LEVELS may include:

Knowledge of:

• Complex professional engineering theory and practices
• Concepts and practices of physics, chemistry and higher mathematics used in professional engineering work
• Hydraulics, engineering mechanics and stress analysis
• Strength, properties and uses of engineering construction materials
• Complex engineering construction projects
• Chemistry, bacteriology and environmental engineering principles
• Complex investigation, research and survey methods
• Large-scale public project financing methods
• Project management methods
• Principles of administration, economics, organization, training and project leadership

Ability to:

• Design complex projects in technical fields of engineering
• Analyze large-scale, complex engineering problems and develop appropriate solutions
• Prepare, review, check or interpret engineering plans and specifications
• Apply appropriate engineering principles
• Plan, organize and monitor the effectiveness of the work of operations, repair, maintenance and engineering staff, consultants and vendors
• Coordinate and administer complex engineering projects
• Interpret and apply applicable laws, regulations, policies and procedures
• Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing