Construction Inspector

Salary : $105,000.48 - $127,630.88 Annually
Location : Throughout the County of Santa Clara, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 26-N32-A
Department: County-Wide Recruitment
Opening Date: 08/03/2026
Closing Date: 8/18/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
Bargaining Unit: 01


Description
Under general supervision, to perform work in the contract administration and technical inspection of the construction and contracted maintenance work on roads, parks, airports, bridges, major buildings, related major public works, transit construction and land development projects.

Typical Tasks

• Assures contractor's conformance to plans, specifications and applicable safety regulations;
  
  
• Assumes responsibility for the quality control of concrete, soil, mechanical and electrical equipment or other materials used on County construction projects;
  
  
• Arranges for construction surveys;
  
  
• Estimates and measures work completed;
  
  
• Collects and records tallies of materials used or delivered;
  
  
• Investigates complaints relating to construction projects;
  
  
• Initiates progress payments to contractors;
  
  
• Acts as project inspector on less complex projects;
  
  
• Inspects encroachment, moving, and land grading operations performed under County permit;
  
  
• Reviews permit applications, determines proper conditioning, issues permits and collects fees;
  
  
• Determines Improvement Security (bond) amounts and types, and releases project bond;
  
  
• Prepares reports, records and as-built drawings;
  
  
• Schedules final inspections and recommends acceptance of projects;
  
  
• Inspects to assure adherence by contractors to safety rules;
  
  
• May provide lead supervision to lower level personnel;
  
  
• May be assigned as a Disaster Service Worker, as required;
  
  
• Performs related work as required.

Employment Standards


Sufficient education, training and experience to demonstrate the possession and direct application of the following knowledge and abilities:

Training and Experience Note : The knowledge, skills and abilities required to perform this function are acquired through possession of a high school diploma or equivalent


AND


Two (2) years of construction or field engineering or inspection experience or two (2) years of related journey-level construction trade field experience.
Possession of a valid California driver's license prior to appointment and the ability to qualify for and maintain a County driver's authorization.


Knowledge of:

• Construction and inspection practices, procedures and techniques;
  
  
• Principles, practices, techniques and terminology of engineering;
  
  
• Mathematics, including algebra and geometry;
  
  
• Construction methods, materials and equipment;
  
  
• Safety practices in the construction industry;
  
  
• Laws, codes, ordinances and standards applicable to the construction industry;
  
  
• Computer applications such as word processing, spreadsheet and email.

Ability to:

• Inspect materials, workmanship, and the construction and installation of various systems;
  
  
• Read and interpret engineering and architectural plans and specifications, laws, ordinances and appropriate codes;
  
  
• Plan and lead the work of others;
  
  
• Make engineering computations;
  
  
• Prepare reports and keep comprehensive records;
  
  
• Use level and transit to establish and check elevations;
  
  
• Understand and follow oral and written communications;
  
  
• Communicate effectively with contractors, contractor's personnel, the general public, property owners, engineers, and agency representatives;
  
  
• Interpret, coordinate and enforce a variety of codes, ordinances, and special requirements;
  
  
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work;
  
  
• Measure and calculate quantities accurately for preparation of progress payments.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand for long periods of time, walk over rough terrain, and climb ladders.

The County offers comprehensive first-class medical, dental, and vision benefits plans for County employees and their dependents, including plans with no deductibles, no co-pays, no co-insurance, and no prescription drug co-pays. Learn more


The County also offers generous paid time off with significant vacation, sick time, and 13 paid County holidays annually! Details are included in the with the bargaining unit applicable to the job classification.

In addition to the amazing perks above, the County also offers the additional benefits below.

Retirement Benefits
The County offers robust retirement plans including a (similar to the private sector's 401(k) plan) and the In addition to lifetime retirement income available through the CalPERS pension plan, the 457(b) Deferred Compensation plan provides a great way to save for retirement and supplement the defined benefit pension available to employees. These plans help our employees build a plan for their future and contribute to their family's long-term financial well-being.

Health Flexible Spending Account
The empowers employees to manage healthcare expenses efficiently with tax-free contributions (up to $3,200 for the 2024 calendar year). Secure tax-free solutions for your healthcare expenses and enjoy the flexibility to manage your healthcare finances effectively with the HFSA.

Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP)
The enables employees to utilize tax-free funds for dependent care services, facilitating a convenient and cost-effective approach for managing your dependent care expenses. The County also offers the , an employer-funded DCAP, for employees with annual income under $120,000.

Life and AD&D
The County offers life and disability benefits including , Insurance, These benefits ensure financial security and income support when you and your family need it most.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
The County prioritizes employee mental health and well-being and offers a top-tier through Concern providing confidential counseling sessions covering stress, anxiety, relationships, grief, as well as financial/legal services, personal coaching, child and elder care referrals, and comprehensive crisis support.

Employee Wellness
The offers free wellness programing, fitness classes and resources; including Elevate My Wellness an all-in-one platform designed to elevate your well-being journey.

Education Reimbursement
A generous program is available, including Education Reimbursement for employees seeking additional training and professional development.

NOTE : Benefit and Retirement information may vary from bargaining unit to bargaining unit. Due to changes in State Law, current pension provisions described in the union contracts are not automatically applied. Specific pension benefits for new hires who start on or after January 1, 2013 may be different than indicated in the union contracts.

Click here to access all Memoranda of Understanding and most recent Summary of Changes.
01


Please answer the following questions. Completion of the following supplemental questions is REQUIRED for your application and is an integral part of the evaluation process. Initially, it will be used to determine minimum qualifications. For those applicants meeting the employment standards, this information will be critical in the subsequent competitive assessment to identify those candidates to be invited to continue in the examination process. Your responses to the questions may also be reviewed and scored in a Competitive Rating evaluation process based on pre-determined rating criteria. Your answers should be as complete as possible, as no additional information will be accepted from applicants once the Competitive Rating evaluation has begun. A response of "see resume" or "see application" will deem your application incomplete. Please include the name of employer, job title, dates of employment and hours worked per week for questions asking about your work experience.
Do you understand these requirements?

• Yes
• No

02


Do you possess a high school diploma or GED equivalent?

• Yes
• No

03


How many years of construction inspection and/or field engineering inspection experience do you possess?

• No experience
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five to less than six years
• Six years or more

04


Please describe your construction inspection and/or field engineering inspection experience.
Please include the following information in your response: Employer name, job title, dates of employment, total hours worked per week, and job duties. If no experience, type n/a.
05


How many years of relevant journey-level construction trade field experience do you possess?

• No experience
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five years or more

06


Please describe your relevant journey-level construction trade field experience. Please include the following information in your response: Employer name, job title, dates of employment, total hours worked per week, and job duties. If no experience, type n/a.
07


Select the area(s) in which you have construction inspection experience in construction and/or contracted maintenance work (select all that apply):

• Roads
• Park Lands and/or Open Space
• Airports
• Bridges
• Major buildings
• Transit construction
• Land development projects
• Clean Water
• Utility Infrastructure
• Grading and drainage site improvements
• Vegetation Management
• Related major public works
• None of the above

08


Please describe your construction inspection and/or field engineering inspection experience for each of the areas selected in the previous question, including documenting the construction means, methods, and techniques.
Please include the following information in your response: Employer name, job title, dates of employment, total hours worked per week, and job duties. If no experience, type n/a.
09


Describe your experience working with contractors and assuring their conformance to plans, specifications, and applicable safety regulations.
Please include the following information in your response: Employer name, job title, dates of employment, total hours worked per week, and job duties. If no experience, type n/a.
10


Do you possess an Inspector Certification in any of the trades from a recognized state, national, or international association?

• Yes
• No

11


If you answered "yes" to the question above, please indicate the following:
a) Certification title, b) Certification number, c) Name of issuing agency, d) Date obtained, e) Date of expiration. If you answered "no," please indicate "N/A".
12


How did you find out/hear about this job?

• In Person Job Fair
• Contacted by County Recruiter
• Email Newsletter
• Virtual Event
• Community Event
• Social Media: Facebook or Instagram
• County of Santa Clara Job Interests Email Notification
• Student Career Center
• Handshake
• Professional Association
• Contacted by an External Staffing Firm
• Hospital Website
• Search Engine (Google, Bing, online search, etc.)
• Governmentjobs.com
• LinkedIn
• Indeed
• Employee Referral: Friends, Families and Coworkers
• County of Santa Clara Career Website
• Other (Specify in the next question)

13


How did you find out about this job? If "Other" is selected: Please describe how you heard about this job.
Required Question