Utility Worker I/II - Construction CIP Crew

Salary : $69,888.00 - $104,041.60 Annually
Location : 3707 Old Highway 395, Fallbrook, CA
Job Type: Full Time
Department: Operations
Division: Construction
Opening Date: 06/04/2026
Closing Date: 6/28/2026 12:00 AM Pacific
FLSA: Non-Exempt
Bargaining Unit: REA


Water is essential to public health. For over 70 years, Rainbow Municipal Water District has provided safe drinking water and wastewater services to the residents and workers within our 82-square-mile service area in northern San Diego County.

We value innovation, tea mwork, responsibility, integrity, and professionalism. We are proud to be a five-time San Diego Union-Tribune Top Workplace , reflecting a culture where employees feel trusted, supported, and motivated to do their best work.

The Role

Keep the Water Flowing. Build What's Next.
We're looking for a Utility Worker to join our Construction Department and help maintain the infrastructure our customers depend on every day. This recruitment is for the first of six new positions we'll add over the next three years as we build and train the crew.


Qualified candidates who are not selected immediately may be placed on an eligibility list for our planned future openings.

This is more than a maintenance position. While you'll respond to water main breaks, service line leaks, and other emergencies, you'll also help build the District's new in-house Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Construction Crew . This team will focus on proactively replacing aging pipelines, valves, and other critical infrastructure before failures occur.

We're open to hiring at multiple levels based on qualifications and experience. Water Distribution certifications, a Class A CDL, or welding certification may qualify you for a higher-level appointment and higher pay.

• Utility Worker I: $33.60-$45.36/hour
• Utility Worker II: $37.19-$50.21/hour

If you're looking for a hands-on career where you can work outdoors, build infrastructure, and make a visible impact in your community, we'd like to hear from you.

Apply early for immediate consideration. Interviews for the immediate opening may begin any time after June 15, 2026.

How You'll Contribute
No two days are exactly the same, but one thing's for sure- there's never a dull moment.

As part of our construction crew, you're one of the first responders when something goes sideways with the water system. Think burst pipes, busted hydrants, and surprise leaks-your team jumps in to keep water flowing to homes, businesses, and farms across our District.

Here's a taste of what you'll be doing:

• Fixing What's Broken: You'll inspect, repair, and replace all kinds of water system parts-pipes, valves, hydrants, regulators, air vacs, pressure controls, and more. You're the one making sure everything works the way it's supposed to.
• Operating the Big Stuff: From dump trucks and backhoes to trenchers, tampers, and jackhammers-you'll get to handle all kinds of heavy equipment. If it digs, hauls, or lifts, you'll likely use it at some point.
• Getting Sites Ready (and Cleaned Up): Before and after the work, you'll prep job sites and clean them up-whether it's in the middle of a street or out in the field. You'll also help keep the shop and tools in good shape.
• Keeping Things Safe: You'll help manage traffic around work zones, making sure everyone stays safe while the job gets done right.
• Putting It All Back Together: Once the fix is in, you'll backfill trenches, patch roads, and make asphalt and concrete repairs.
• Welding When It's Needed: If you've got welding skills, you'll use them to make pipeline repairs and keep equipment in top shape.
• Hands-On, Team-Oriented, and Outside: This is real work, with real impact-and you'll be doing it shoulder-to-shoulder with a crew that has your back.

Want the full breakdown?
The Ideal Candidate

Is This the Job for You?
Let's find out. This role could be a great fit if you:

• Enjoy working outdoors and don't mind getting your boots dirty.
• Like hands-on, physically active work that keeps essential services running.
• Take pride in solving problems in the field and seeing the results of your work.
• Work well as part of a team and are willing to step up when the community needs you.
• Are comfortable with overtime, emergency call-outs, and on-call duty , including nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Have experience in construction, utilities, pipelines, public works, landscaping, or a related field and are looking for a stable career with opportunities to grow.

What You'll Bring to the Table

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• At least 1-2 years of experience in construction, pipelines, roads, utilities, or a similar field of work.

Preferred (but not required)

• Coursework toward an A.A. degree in Water Distribution or a related field.
• Water Distribution Operator D1 Certificate (required within 6 months of hire).
• Class A Commercial Driver's License with air brake and tanker endorsements.
• AWS D1.1 Welding Certification.
• Experience operating construction equipment such as backhoes or excavators.
• Landscaping, pipeline welding, or GIS experience.

Don't check every box? We still encourage you to apply. We're looking for motivated individuals eager to learn, grow, and build careers in the water industry.

What to Expect
This is a hands-on field position that helps maintain and improve the District's water infrastructure. Most of your work will take place outdoors and in the field.

In this role, you can expect to:

• Work outdoors year-round in a variety of conditions, including sun, heat, cold, rain, rough terrain, overgrown vegetation, and occasional wildlife encounters.
• Operate around construction activities, water system facilities, heavy equipment, and moving machinery.
• Be exposed to conditions common in utility operations, including dust, noise, vibration, fumes, odors, and chemicals.
• Travel throughout and beyond the District using District vehicles and equipment to reach work sites.
• Spend time both in the field and in an office environment , depending on the assignment.
• Communicate regularly with coworkers, contractors, customers, and other stakeholders in person, by phone, radio, and in writing.
• Perform physically active work that may involve walking, standing, climbing, bending, kneeling, reaching, lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling tools, materials, and equipment.
• Participate in a rotating on-call schedule for weekends and holidays and respond to after-hours emergencies as needed.
• Serve as a Disaster Service Worker , supporting emergency response efforts when required.

Apply Today
Positions may close earlier than the posted closing date if a sufficient number of applications is received. To be considered, select the Apply button at the top of this page and submit a complete online application. Resumes may be attached but are not accepted in lieu of a fully completed application and any required supplemental materials.

Selection Process
Applications will be reviewed, and candidates whose qualifications most closely match the position requirements may be invited to participate in the selection process. The process may include job-related assessments, interviews, or review of work samples, depending on the position. Applicants will be notified by email as decisions are made.

Equal Employment Opportunity & Accommodations
Rainbow Municipal Water District is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants who need a reasonable accommodation to participate in the application or selection process should contact Human Resources to request assistance.
No matter who you are or what stage of life you are in, you are welcome here. We endeavor to support all of our team members to thrive at work and home, so our full-time employee benefits include not only medical care but a variety of mental health resources, fertility benefits, same-sex family-building options, adoption assistance, gender-affirming care, tuition assistance and student loan repayments, and generous retirement plans.

Health and welfare insurance benefits include:

• Medical Insurance: The District offers a variety of health insurance plans that include some that are covered 100% for the employee and dependents and some that include a premium cost-share.
• Health Savings Accounts: When employees choose a qualifying health plan, the District funds up to $2,800 into a Health Savings Account at the beginning of the plan year. Employees may contribute additional funds up to IRS limits.
• Vision and Dental Care: 100% for employees and dependents.
• Life, AD&D, Short Term, and Long Term Disability Insurance: 100% District paid for employee coverage.

Programs to help you save money and become retirement-ready:

• CalPERS (Public Employees Retirement System): 2.5% at 55 for Classic Members and 2% at 62 for New Members - employee contributions required.
• $100 per pay period 457(b) plan matching: Tax-deferred retirement savings plan with the District matching up to $100 of employee contributions to the plan per pay period.
• $50 per pay period 401(a) plan matching: Post-tax retirement savings plan with the District matching $50 per pay period to start, with increased matching based on length of service.
• Education Assistance: The District reimburses non-exempt employees up to $2,500 per year for approved educational costs, including student loan repayments, with reimbursements increasing to $5,250 after three years.
• Computer Purchase Program: The District offers interest-free loans to help employees purchase computer equipment.
• Generous PTO Cash-Out: Qualifying employees can cash out up to 280 hours of accumulated unused PTO time each year.

Enhance the quality of your work-life balance with these programs:

• 9/80 Schedule -- RMWD employees enjoy an alternative work schedule that includes nine workdays per pay period, with alternating Fridays off work.
• Paid Time Off (PTO) -- Non-exempt positions begin accruing PTO at a rate of 7.7 hours per pay period, which is equivalent to 200 hours per year to use for vacation, personal illness, kin-care, or bereavement purposes.
• Paid Holidays -- RMWD offers 12 paid holidays per year.
• Comp Time -- Non-exempt employees may elect to accumulate up to 50 hours of compensatory time off in lieu of overtime pay in accordance with the applicable MOU.

01


How many years of experience do you have working outdoors, performing physical work, or working on roads, pipelines, underground utilities, or similiar enviornments?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to three years of related experience
• Three to five years of related experience
• More than 6 years of related experience

02


Which of the following qualifications do you have now, or have you had in the past (select all that apply):

• Commercial Class B License
• Commercial Class A License
• Experience in pipeline welding
• AWS D1.1 Welding certificate
• Experience with GIS software
• Associates Degree or Certificate in Water Technology
• Water Distribution D1
• Water Distribution D2
• Water Distribution D3
• Water Distribution D4
• Water Distribution D5
• Water Treatment T1
• Water Treatment T2
• None of the above

03


Please indicate all of the following that you have hands-on experience installing and repairing:

• Water main pipelines
• Service Laterals
• Fire Hydrants
• Valves and Cla-Val control valves
• Pressure Regulators
• None of the above but I can learn!

04


Please indicate below all of the construction vehicles hat you have experience oprating:

• Dump trucks
• Skip loaders
• Excavation equipment
• Hydraulic shoring equipment
• Jackhammers
• Digging spades
• Pneumatic tamps and compactors
• Asphalt zippers
• None of the above but I can learn!

05


Are you able to perform the essential functions of this position, which include lifting up to 50 pounds regularly, with or without reasonable accommodations?

• Yes
• No

06


Are you available to work an on-call rotating duty for weekends and holidays, which is subject to 24-hour emergency calls in the water industry?

• Yes
• No

Required Question