Assistant Engineer (Water)

Salary : $97,367.00 - $121,708.00 Annually
Location : Pasadena City Hall, CA
Job Type: Full -Time
Job Number: 26-167
Department: Water & Power
Opening Date: 05/14/2026
Closing Date: 6/4/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

The Pasadena department is excited to announce its vacancy for Assistant Engineer in the Water Division. The Assistant Engineer will perform a variety of routine engineering work in the office and/or field with a focus on water quality and all that entails supporting necessary operations.


The ideal candidate will perform administrative and analytical duties in support of water quality and regulatory compliance. Incumbents are comfortable navigating and interpreting state and federal regulations as they apply to the Water Division. Incumbents will develop and maintain a good working relationship with various regulatory agencies and keep abreast of upcoming legislation and policy. Generally, duties are of a routine nature with projects where incumbents may serve in a lead capacity and exercise professional judgement.


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Essential Functions


The duties listed below are intended only as the various types of work that may be performed. For additional information please click here:

• Conducts environmental studies and prepares reports; works with City staff in conducting studies and recommending appropriate solutions to relevant issues.
• Collects, reviews, and maintains data associated with City's water resources; Prepares reports consisting of laboratory and operational data to comply with regulatory requirements from various agencies.
• Investigates, documents; responds to complaints of water quality complaints and recommends solutions; ensures safety requirements and standards.
• Coordinates, schedules, assigns, trains and evaluates the work of professional and para-professional personnel. Applicable to current NO-DES operations.
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with contractors, vendors, outside agencies, the public, and City staff; attends meetings; makes presentations; responds to complaints and claims against the City. Provides information to the public and departmental staff with regards to regulatory implementation and water quality.
• Gathers technical data required for planning a wide variety of water engineering projects; provides technical assistance to others on, major projects and programs; makes recommendations.
• Performs analysis on administrative and operational processes related to water supply, quality, treatment, and distribution. Collaborates with City staff in conducting studies and recommending appropriate solutions to relevant issues. Examples of relevant duties include, but are not limited to, generation/revision of sampling schedules, sampling plans, blending plans, and chain of custody forms.
• Regular attendance is an essential function of this classification.

COMPETENCIES

The following list represents the core competencies needed for success in the position.
Self-Management - Showing personal organization, self-discipline, and dependability.

Attention to Detail - Focusing on the details of work content, work steps, and final work products.

Teamwork - Collaborating with others to achieve shared goals.

Analyzing & Interpreting Data - Drawing meaning and conclusions from quantitative or qualitative data

Fact Finding - Obtaining facts and data pertaining to an issue or question.

Legal & Regulatory Navigation - Understanding, interpreting, and ensuring compliance with laws and regulations.

Qualification Guidelines

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Graduation from college with a bachelor's degree in any of the following: water resources engineering, environmental engineering, environmental science or closely related field.


Desirable Qualifications:
Possession of a valid California State Water Resources Control Board Grade 2 Water Treatment Operator Certificate and/or Grade 2 Water Distribution Operator Certificate is desirable.

SELECTION PROCESS
The selection process will consist of an evaluation of training and experience. The most highly qualified candidates may be invited to participate in a written, oral, or performance examination. To help ensure the best fit for both you and our team, all candidates will complete a brief soft-skills assessment during the selection process. This assessment provides insight into your core interpersonal skills, behavioral traits, and preferred work environment-helping us support your success in the role.

Probationary period is one year.


VACANCY INFORMATION
There is currently one vacancy in the water division of the Water and Power department.


The resulting eligibility list from this recruitment may be used to fill this vacancy and similar vacancies in the future.

Special Requirements


Possession of or ability to obtain a Class C California driver's license and a satisfactory driving record.

FLSA = Exempt
The City of Pasadena contracts with the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) to manage our defined benefits program for eligible employees. CalPERS manages the pension and health benefits to more than 1.6 million public employees, retirees, and their families and more than 3,000 employers.
Effective January 1, 2013, new members to CalPERS will be subject to the provisions of the Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA) and will receive the 2% @ 62 benefit formula (if a miscellaneous employee) and 2.7% at 57 benefit formula (if a safety employee).
Employees who are deemed "Classic" members of CalPERS or a reciprocal system such as the Los Angeles County Employees' Retirement System (LACERA) or Los Angeles City Employees Retirement System (LACERS) will receive the 2.5% @ 55 benefit formula (if a miscellaneous employee) or 3% at 55 benefit formula (if a safety employee). A CalPERS "Classic" member is a member who previously worked for a California public agency and meets the following criteria:

1. First established CalPERS membership or membership in a CalPERS reciprocal agency prior to January 1, 2013,
2. And is hired by the City of Pasadena after a break in service of less than six months
3. And did not have concurrent (overlapping) service with the other agency.

01


Do you have a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university?

• Yes
• No

02


Do you possess a California State Water Resources Control Board Grade 2 Water Treatment Operator Certificate and/or Grade 2 Water Distribution Operator Certificate?

• Yes
• No

03


Pasadena Water & Power must comply with the requirements of its Permit to Operate issued by the Division of Drinking Water (DDW), including: 1. Blending plans, 2. General regulations issued by DDW, and 3. Requirements issued under various National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permits. Please describe the differences between these different sets of requirements and any relevant experience complying with them. Include job titles, duties performed, types of work product produced, and the name of the applicable regulatory agency.
04


The Water Quality Section must coordinate its efforts and frequently interact with operations, maintenance, and engineering staff in Pasadena Water & Power and the city. Please describe your professional experience working with many different individuals and groups.
05


Do you have any experience working in the water industry? If yes, briefly describe your specific role and duties regularly performed. If no, please indicate N/A.
Required Question