Senior Civil Engineer

See NOTES below for future wage increases and/or additional compensation opportunities.

Senior Civil Engineer positions plan, direct, and coordinate, through subordinate engineering staff, the work of a major engineering section; develop feasibility studies, designs, specifications, and estimates for municipal or utility engineering projects; inspect public works projects for conformance with plans, specifications, applicable codes, and engineering principles; plan and coordinate all aspects of project design, construction, and operation to completion; perform highly complex and sensitive engineering projects or functions; act as a department representative in meetings with citizen groups, architects, engineers, contractors or government agencies; estimate construction costs; develop and manage project budgets; monitor consultant contracts, evaluate contractor and consultant performance, negotiate scope of work, and ensure contract compliance; review engineering plans, studies, and maps for subdivisions and public improvement for private development projects; assist in the development of Capital Improvement Projects; plan, review, and provide engineering support to public works and/or utility operations and maintenance; interview, select, assign, and evaluate the work of subordinate employees; and perform other duties as assigned.

 
NOTES:

• Employees in job classifications represented by Municipal Employees Association (MEA) are scheduled to receive the following general wage increases:
  • 3.5% effective 7/1/27
  • 2% effective 7/1/28
  • 2% effective 1/1/29
• Eligible benefitted employees originally hired on or after July 10, 2021, will be automatically enrolled in the San Diego City Employees Retirement System (SDCERS).
• Senior Civil Engineer employees with valid State of California registration as a Professional Civil Engineer are eligible for 31% additional pay.

You must meet the following requirements on the date you apply, unless otherwise indicated.

 
EXPERIENCE: Three years of full-time professional civil engineering experience.

NOTE:

• City of San Diego employees using Out-of-Class Assignment (OCA) experience to qualify must submit written documentation signed by their appointing authority or payroll specialist, detailing the work performed, dates, and total number of qualifying OCA hours. OCA experience without the required documentation will NOT be considered.

REGISTRATION: A valid registration as a Professional Civil Engineer with the State of California.

 
LICENSE: A valid California Class C Driver License may be required at the time of hire.

 
HIGHLY DESIRABLE:

• Lead and/or supervisory experience over professional engineers, consultants, and/or contractors.
• Experience in infrastructure asset budget and schedule development and management. 
• Experience in structural engineering and water system design and project management.
• Knowledge of the City of San Diego Design Guidelines, Standards, and Land Development Code; State of California Uniform Building Code; California Water Code; California Solid Waste Regulations; Local, State, and Federal Water Quality Regulations.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS (MUST SUBMIT WITH APPLICATION):

• Proof of registration as a Professional Civil Engineer with the State of California.
• For City of San Diego employees, proof of Out-of-Class Assignment (OCA), if utilized to meet the minimum requirements. 

Required documents should be attached electronically to your application. If you are unable to attach at the time of application submittal, you must submit them as soon as possible via fax: View phone number on click.appcast.io; or to the Employment Information Center: City of San Diego Personnel Department, 1200 Third Avenue - Suite 300, San Diego, CA 92101. Include your name and the title of the position for which you are applying.
Please ensure all information is complete and accurate as the responses you provide on the supplemental questions will be reviewed using an automated evaluation system. If you are successful in this initial screening process, your application will be reviewed for applicable education, experience, and/or training to ensure all minimum requirements have been met. Successful candidates will be placed on a list which will be used to fill position vacancies during the next six months (180 days). For each vacancy, only those candidates with the most appropriate qualifications will be contacted by the hiring department for an interview.
PRE-EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS: Employment offers are conditional pending the results of all screening processes applicable to this position, which may include the following: confirmation of citizenship or legal right to work in the United States; completion of a pre-employment medical review and exam (which may include drug and alcohol testing); reference checks; and fingerprinting. Fingerprints will be submitted to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the California Department of Justice for a conviction record report. Certain positions may require additional screening processes, including a polygraph examination and/or background investigation. All screening processes must be successfully completed before employment begins. A positive test result for alcohol, cannabis/marijuana, illegal drugs, or inadequately explained prescription drugs, or misrepresentation, falsification, or omission of pertinent facts in any step of the screening or selection process, may constitute cause for disqualification or termination of employment. Nothing in this job posting constitutes an express or implied contract for employment with the City of San Diego. Candidates must notify the Personnel Department of any change in their name, mailing address, email address, or phone number, otherwise they may miss employment opportunities.
Rev. 2 July 24, 2026 (New Recruitment Date)

Compensation details: 65.2-78.83 Hourly Wage

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