Assistant Engineer

Salary : $116,148.23 - $141,172.80 Annually
Location : Santa Rosa, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 26/10-1011-O
Department: Sonoma County Public Infrastructure (SPI)
Opening Date: 10/06/2026
Closing Date: 10/20/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
Bargaining Unit: 21


Position Information
Advance your career and shape the future of public infrastructure as an Assistant Engineer with the County of Sonoma!
Starting salary up to $67.64/hour ($141,172/year) and a competitive total compensation package!*

Sonoma Public Infrastructure (SPI) is currently recruiting to fill a full-time position at either the Assistant Engineer or Engineer level. If you are interested in being considered at the Engineer level of this opportunity, you must apply to the separate concurrent recruitment being conducted for each level.
Note: Possession of an Engineer-in-Training Certificate with the State of California is required for the Assistant Engineer level. If you have a valid license as a Professional Engineer issued by the State of California, you should apply to the Engineer recruitment.

At the County of Sonoma, Assistant Engineers work independently, perform complex calculations, site evaluations, and inspections. They perform a wide variety of field and office professional-level engineering work of average difficulty. They ensure plans and specifications are compliant with county codes, standards, and regulations. As a subject matter expert, they may train and assist staff. Within SPI, this Engineer will primarily focus on road repair designs, retaining walls, drainage improvements, and a variety of projects for the department. Additional responsibilities include:

• Managing and overseeing diverse construction projects, including transportation facilities, traffic improvements, slope-stabilization and other infrastructure repairs, and community infrastructure improvements
• Applying engineering judgment and construction-management expertise to review plans, specifications, cost estimates, schedules, constructability, and proposed field changes
• Administering and overseeing construction contracts, including contractor coordination, progress meetings, submittals, requests for information, change orders, payment applications, claims, and project documentation
• Monitoring project budgets and schedules, identifying risks or delays, and coordinating corrective actions to keep projects within approved scope, cost, and schedule
• Conduct construction-site inspections to verify that work conforms to engineering plans, specifications, permit requirements, safety expectations, and applicable standards
• Coordinating with design consultants, contractors, utility providers, regulatory agencies, resource agencies, and other County departments to resolve technical and construction-related issues
• Supporting the planning, design, permitting, procurement, and delivery of transportation improvements
• Supporting the planning and construction of stormwater infrastructure, drainage improvements, erosion-control measures, and flood-mitigation projects
• Coordinating environmental reviews and permitting requirements while maintaining alignment with project objectives and construction schedules

The ideal candidate will possess one of more years of experience in engineering, the ability to shift gears quickly, and thrive in a fast-paced environment. In addition, you will possess intellectual curiosity, an interest in research, have a logical mindset, and possess many of the following:

• Engineering knowledge relevant to the planning, design, construction, inspection, and maintenance of public infrastructure
• Experience managing public works or civil construction projects through design, permitting, procurement, construction, and closeout
• Knowledge of construction-management practices, including constructability review, cost estimating, scheduling, contract administration, change orders, payment applications, quality assurance, and risk management
• Experience interpreting engineering plans, technical specifications, construction contracts, reports, and applicable codes and standards
• Strong collaboration, negotiation, conflict-resolution, and problem-solving skills
• Experience coordinating consultants, contractors, inspectors, utility providers, regulatory agencies, and internal departments
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local requirements applicable to publicly funded infrastructure projects, including permitting, procurement, documentation, reimbursement, and regulatory compliance
• Experience with federally funded or reimbursable projects, particularly FEMA-related infrastructure repairs and hazard-mitigation projects, is highly desirable
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare technical documentation and explain engineering and construction matters to technical and nontechnical audiences
• The ability to lead project meetings and hold consultants and contractors accountable for project requirements, schedule, quality, and deliverables

Assistant Engineers occasionally work in the evening, on weekends, and rarely on holidays. Emergency work may be required based on construction activities, public meetings, inspections, and project needs. Work is performed in both office and active construction-site environments. Field assignments may involve exposure to traffic, heavy equipment, noise, dust, uneven terrain, and inclement weather.

What We Offer

Working at the County of Sonoma offers expansive opportunities for growth and development, the ability to be a part of a challenging and rewarding work environment, and the satisfaction of knowing you're working to better our communities. You can also look forward to flexible work arrangements and excellent benefits* including:

• Hybrid Telework - A schedule that meets the needs of our staff, department operations, and the communities we serve may be available depending on the assignment
• Salary Advancement - A salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range
• Career Advancement - With time and good performance, the opportunity for advancement to Engineer (up to $77.78/hour)
• Paid Time Off - Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year
• County Paid Health Premium Contributions - 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan options
• Staff Development/Wellness Pay - Annual benefit allowances of up to $1,500 and ongoing education/training opportunities
• Post-Retirement Health Reimbursement Arrangement - County contributions to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits
• Retirement - A pension fully integrated with Social Security
• Paid Parental Leave - May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) after 12 months of County employment
• Additional Benefits - Excellent dental, vision, disability, life insurance, employee assistance program, professional development, and more
• Student Loan Debt Relief - County employees may be eligible for through the U.S. Department of Education

*Salary is negotiable within the established range. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found in the Western Counsel of Engineers Memorandum Of Understanding (WCE MOU) and our


This employment list may also be used to fill future full-time, part-time, or extra-help (temporary) positions as they occur during the active status of the list. Qualified County employees who wish to be considered for future positions should consider applying to this recruitment.

Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire to be completed.

Minimum Qualifications

Experience and Education: Any combination of education and/or training which would provide an opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed. Normally, graduation from a four-year college or university with major coursework in engineering and one year of full-time, professional engineering experience at a level comparable to Junior Engineer.

License: Possession of a valid driver's license at the appropriate level including special endorsements, as required by the State of California, may be required depending upon assignment to perform the essential job functions of the position. The position advertised on this announcement requires possession of a valid California Driver's License.

Professional Certification: Possession of an Engineer-in-Training Certificate with the State of California.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Working knowledge of: the principles, practices and techniques of civil engineering, traffic engineering, electrical engineering, or mechanical engineering depending upon assignment; statistics and advance mathematics including algebra and analytic geometry; topographic and construction surveying, stress analysis, analytical mechanics and the strength, properties and uses of construction materials; common methods and equipment utilized in engineering construction and of inspection methods used in reviewing such work; real property descriptions; engineering design and drafting methods and equipment and computer-aided design (CAD) software.

Knowledge of: the principles, practices and techniques of training.

Ability to: prepare designs and make accurate drawings and maps; make accurate mathematical calculations and neat and accurate field notes; apply principles of logic and scientific reasoning to develop and evaluate alternative courses of action and determine appropriate solutions; read, understand and interpret complex technical and legal documents, maps, technical drawings and plans; listen attentively and participate in negotiations by providing required data and information; adjust workload changes and work under stress to meet deadlines; develop and maintain effective working relationships with all levels of representatives from governmental and private agencies, construction and consultant contractors, coworkers and the public; write clearly and concisely in order to prepare technical reports, correspondence, and maintain records.

Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying

• Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
• You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
• You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
• Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.

Please visitto review more detailed information about the hiring process, including the application process, examination steps, and department selection process.

Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire to be completed.

Responses to supplemental questions will be scored using position-specific criteria. Please provide specific and detailed responses of a reasonable length to allow for a thorough assessment of your qualifications. Responses that state, "See Resume" or "See Application" may be considered insufficient and therefore may not be scored.

The selection procedure will consist of the following examination:

An Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (weight 100%) will be conducted to evaluate each applicant's application and supplemental questionnaire for satisfaction of minimum qualifications (pass/not pass); and for educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities which relate to this position. Personally identifiable information (PII) is removed from the standard application fields and applicable attachments. This PII blind screening practice redacts a candidate's personal information that could potentially influence or bias the scoring process. Personal information includes the applicant's name, former last name, address, phone number, email, driver's license number, school name, education start and end dates, age, date of birth, gender, and race. This PII blind screening practice helps contribute to a fair and equitable examination process.

Each applicant will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Relevance of work history, related experience, and achieved level of education and/or training as described in the application and responses to the supplemental questions.

Candidates demonstrating possession of the minimum qualifications will be placed on an employment list in order of most qualified to least qualified based on the achieved score received in the Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination which evaluates the education, training, experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, and other qualifications that you demonstrate in your application and/or response to the supplemental questionnaire. Please be aware that resumes and cover letters are not typically evaluated in the Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination. Scores may be adjusted based on such factors as the number of candidates, anticipated vacancies, past practice, and natural breaks in the scores achieved by this group of candidates.

Additional Information

A background investigation is required prior to employment. Candidates referred to departments for a selection interview are typically required to sign authorization and release forms enabling such an investigation. Failure to sign prescribed forms will result in the candidate not being considered further for that vacancy. Reference information will not be made available to candidates.

Additional requirements, such as successful completion of a physical exam, drug screen, etc., may apply, depending on the duties and responsibilities of the position. If you receive a conditional job offer for the position, the requirements upon which the offer is contingent will be outlined in the conditional job letter. You may also review theto determine the requirements for this position.

How to Apply

Applications are accepted online atPaper applications may be submitted in person, fax View phone number on click.appcast.io), email, or through the mail. All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job announcement must be received by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.

The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.

HR Analyst: JT

HR Technician: VH
Important Note: Benefits described herein do not apply to Extra Help positions.

County of Sonoma Benefits: General*

These are some of the excellent benefits the County offers:

Paid Time Off: Competitive vacation accrual and sick leave accruals; additional management leave annually; 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year; and may be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of County employment.

Health Plan: Choose from nine health plans (three HMOs, three deductible HMOs, and three HSA-qualifying plans) with a generous County contribution to the premium (the contribution amount varies by bargaining unit). For more information, please see the appropriate MOU.

Retirement: Fully integrated with Social Security. For more information regarding eligibility, retirement contributions, and reciprocity with prior public service, please visit


IRS 457 Plan: Pre-tax employee contribution up to the IRS annual maximum.

Retiree Medical: County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits.

Student Loan Debt Relief: County employees may be eligible for through the U.S. Department of Education.

Plus, excellent dental, vision, disability, life insurance, professional development, and more.

For answers to specific questions regarding the employment process and more details about benefits or retirement, please contact Human Resources at View phone number on click.appcast.io. Additional details about benefit and compensation packages can be found in the MOUs located at For specific information about health and welfare benefits, including plan options, coverage, and premium amounts, go to or contact the Human Resources' Risk Management-Benefits Office at or View phone number on click.appcast.io.

*Important Notes: Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice.
01


How did you first learn about this opportunity?

• Careers in Government
• College or University
• County of Sonoma Human Resources Office
• DiversityJobs
• Employee of Sonoma County
• Facebook
• Glassdoor
• GovernmentJobs.com
• Handshake
• Indeed
• Instagram
• Job Fair
• Latino Service Providers
• LinkedIn
• Los Cien
• Press Democrat
• sonoma-county.org/
• Start Here!
• X (Twitter)
• Veterans Services Office
• Women's Organization or Group
• Other Internet Site
• Other Publication

02


Please indicate if you would also be interested in future part-time or extra-help (temporary, intermittent, or seasonal employment) positions should they become available. Check all that apply.

• I would also like to be considered for future part-time positions
• I would also like to be considered for future extra-help positions
• I am only interested in full-time positions

03


This eligible list may be used for future bilingual (English/Spanish) positions. Please indicate if you are interested in bilingual positions and your level of proficiency.

• Yes, I have basic (conversational) English/Spanish bilingual skills
• Yes, I have fluent (reading, writing, and conversational) English/Spanish bilingual skills
• No, I do not have English/Spanish bilingual skills, and/or I do not wish to be considered for a bilingual position

04


Do you hold any of the following certificates? If so, please place a check by the certificate(s) you hold and note the expiration date and any other pertinent details in the Certifications section of your application.
A valid certificate of registration issued by the State of California board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors as a:

• Professional Mechanical Engineer
• Professional Traffic Engineer
• Professional Civil Engineer
• Engineer-in-Training

05


For this question and all subsequent questions, please provide sufficient information to allow for a thorough evaluation of your qualifications. Responses to supplemental questions may be scored using specific criteria and may be reviewed by hiring managers.
Please detail how you meet the minimum qualifications for this position, which normally includes a combination of:

• One year of full-time, professional engineering experience at a level comparable to Junior Engineer; and
• Graduation from a four-year college or university with major coursework in engineering

For your years of experience, include your job title(s), employer's name(s), dates of employment (mm/yy - mm/yy), and a description of your responsibilities. 06


Please describe a complex engineering project you worked on. Detail your specific role and responsibilities, the challenges you faced, who the stakeholders were, and the outcome.
07


Please describe your experience reading, understanding, and analyzing plans related to engineering. Highlight the type of plans, the level of difficulty, and the audience you were working with.
Required Question