ASSOCIATE CIVIL ENGINEER

Associate Civil Engineer

The application filing period will begin on June 2, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. (PT) – Continuous. We will keep accepting applications until the position is filled. The application window may close unexpectedly once we have enough qualified candidates.

Why work for us?

With more than 10 million residents, Los Angeles County has the largest population of any county in the nation! As the largest employer in Southern California, with more than 42 diverse departments and over 2,300 different job descriptions, the County offers a lifetime of opportunities and careers. We are Los Angeles County Public Works, the largest municipal public works agency in the nation. With more than 4,000 employees, Los Angeles County Public Works offers over 500 different types of career opportunities that promote professional and personal growth as well as a rewarding and exciting work environment!

For more information about the outstanding benefits offered by Los Angeles County, please visit here. If you have questions about working for Los Angeles County, including current open recruitments, tips on crafting a resume or acing an interview, career planning, or any other general information, please visit our website.

Required experience must be fully met at the time of filing, and clearly indicated on the application.

Essential Job Functions

An Associate Civil Engineer is responsible for performing a combination of the following essential job functions:

• Applies the principles and practices of civil engineering including the methods and materials used in the design and construction of varied civil engineering projects, budget preparation, principles and techniques of personnel management and supervision; and laws and regulations pertaining to public works construction and design.
• Plans, coordinates, and oversees engineering activities, programs, or projects, and reviews and evaluates progress and results for technical quality and for conformity to established standards.
• Keeps management informed throughout the project span.
• Organizes and expresses information in comprehensive reports and may be required to organize and express conclusions in the form of oral presentations.
• Participates in engineering research work involving investigation of specific problems and the development of new engineering methods, procedures, and systems.
• Analyzes and prepares contracts and specifications for major engineering projects.
• Serves as resident engineer during the construction of bridges and other projects, assigning and evaluating the work of subordinates and recommending changes in plans and procedures as necessary.
• Designs public works projects or supervises as project engineer or squad leader, the preparation of plans and specifications for such engineering projects as buildings, small dams and debris basins, flood control channels, traffic signals, roads, highways, or sewer systems.
• Reviews plans submitted by outside engineers for conformity to code and for structural integrity.
• Determines sewer and sanitary design requirements for new subdivisions.
• Assists in the supervision of waterworks improvements and design, the coordination of long-range planning projects and state and federal aid programs, the inspection of construction materials, the development of sewer master plans, the planning of pollution control projects or research into such problems, or the review and analysis of subdivision and parcel maps, as needed.
• Supervise the engineering work involved in ground water research, road maintenance, design, water or material quality testing, the establishment of lighting districts, the operation and maintenance of pumping plants, dams and other flood control facilities, water conservation or erosion control studies, or in the investigation and approval of various construction-related permits, as needed.
• Assists in the supervision of a section engaged in the analysis of boundary, centerline, and section line surveys, coordinating activities with other divisions and outside agencies, as needed.

Requirements

Requirements to qualify:

A Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited engineering college or university. A valid California State Certificate of Registration as a Civil Engineer. A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions. Physical Class 2 – Light: This class includes administrative and clerical positions requiring light physical effort that may include occasional light lifting to a 10-pound limit and some bending, stooping, or squatting. Considerable ambulation may be involved.

In order to receive credit for a bachelor's degree or higher, you must include a legible copy of your official diploma, official transcript, or letter/certificate from an accredited institution within 5 business days of filing your application. The document should show the date the degree was conferred and be in English; if not in English, then translation is required. International degrees must be evaluated for equivalency to U.S. standards if not listed in the International Handbook of Universities or World Higher Education Database.

Applicants must provide a copy of their valid California State Certificate of Registration within five (5) business days from the date of application filing. A printout from the State of California Consumer Affairs website will be accepted. Applications submitted without the required certificate of registration will be rejected as incomplete. Registration will be subject to verification before being appointed.

Additional Information

This examination will consist of TWO (2) parts.

PART I: Multiple-choice and/or simulation assessments, weighted at 50%, assessing:

• Reading Comprehension
• Deductive Reasoning
• Responsibility
• Accepting Others
• Showing Courtesy
• Working Relationships
• Analyzing Information
• Learning Quickly
• Working to High Quality Standards
• Compliance with Rules and Regulations
• Adapting to Change
• Controlling Emotions
• Working Energetically
• Achievement
• Willingness to Learn
• Management Potential

MULTIPLE-CHOICE AND/OR SIMULATION ASSESSMENT(S) ARE NOT REVIEWABLE BY CANDIDATES PER CIVIL SERVICE RULE 7.19.

PART II: An Evaluation of Training and Experience, weighted at 50%, assessing:

• Experience assisting in the design and/or implementation of engineering activities and/or projects
• Experience giving technical presentations
• Experience using software applications and/or database management systems
• Relevant certifications, licenses, and/or advanced degrees possessed

Applicants must meet the requirements and achieve 70% or higher on the combined score of Parts I and II in order to be placed on the eligible list.

Testing Accommodation: If you require an accommodation to fairly compete in any part of the assessment process, you will be given the opportunity to make a request when completing your application. Please note, you may be required to submit documentation from a qualified medical provider or other qualified professional to support your request for a testing accommodation.

Transfer of Test Components: If you have taken identical components recently for other exams, your responses may be automatically transferred to this examination. This exam contains test components that might be used on future exams, and your responses could be transferred to that exam. Scores cannot be given over the telephone. Test Preparation: We provide study guides and other test preparation resources to help candidates prepare for employment tests. While the guides may help in preparing for the test, we recommend reviewing all related materials that seem necessary. Various information can be found on our website at the section dedicated to test preparation. Online practice tests are available at.

Eligibility and Vacancy Information: Applicants who passed the assessment(s) are placed on a list in the order of their score group for a period of twelve (12) months. Applications will be processed as they are received and added to the list accordingly. We will use this list to fill vacancies in the Public Works as they occur. NO PERSON MAY COMPETE FOR THIS EXAMINATION MORE THAN ONCE EVERY TWELVE (12) MONTHS.

Application and Filing Information: We only accept applications filed online. Applications submitted by U.S. mail, fax, or in person are not accepted. Apply online by clicking on the "Apply" green button at the top right of this posting. This website can also be used to get application status updates.

We may verify information included in the application at any point during the examination and hiring process, including after an appointment has been made. Falsification of information could result in refusal of application or rescission of appointment. Copying verbiage from the Requirements or class specification as your work experience will not be sufficient to demonstrate meeting the requirements. Doing so may result in an incomplete application and may lead to disqualification.