Associate Engineer

Job Title

Associate Engineer

Job Description

The full salary range for this position is as follows: $55.58 to $70.93. Expected hiring range is as follows: $55.58 to $61.28.

To oversee and participate in the activities of a major engineering unit within the Public Works Engineering or CIP Division and/or serve as project manager on a major engineering project; and perform the more complex professional and technical engineering tasks within the unit.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:

This is the advanced journey level class in the professional engineering series. Associate Engineers possess the applicable educational and training background required for the professional engineering series, including appropriate certificates and licenses in the field, as well as practical work experience.

The Associate Engineer class is distinguished from the Assistant Engineer II by the responsibility assumed for overseeing a major engineering unit or program within the Engineering or CIP Division, or serving as a project manager on a major engineering project which involves supervision of full-time staff and direct coordination of project activities. Incumbents typically perform the more complex duties and tasks assigned to positions within the assigned unit.

The advanced journey level position may be filled either through open internal recruitment as a promotional opportunity or through a full external recruitment process. Lower levels are not flexibly staffed into the advanced journey level position.

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Essential and other important responsibilities and functions may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Oversee and participate in the operation of a major unit or program within the Public Works Engineering or CIP Division, and/or serve as project manager on a major engineering project.
• Perform the more complex professional and technical engineering tasks within the unit or on the assigned project.
• Administer a special program or work unit within the engineering division.
• Supervise a team of professional and technical staff in the development of designs, plans, specifications, and estimates for the construction of assigned projects.
• Develop revised design and construction standards for public works structures and appurtenances.
• Perform plan check, review, and processing of plans for private developments affecting City streets, sewers, drains and related public works facilities; assure compliance with appropriate codes, ordinances, rules and regulations and make recommendations for revision and improvement.
• Prepare estimates and feasibility reports for new or modified services and structures.
• Prepare Requests for Qualifications and Requests for Proposals; assist in the selection of consultants; manage consultant contracts; review consultants' work and provide technical guidance.
• Manage a variety of projects simultaneously, from conception through construction, which involves developing project schedules, monitoring project progress and budget, obtaining necessary permits, preparing and maintaining project files, monitoring quality of projects, and ensuring deadlines are met.
• Administer contracts; coordinate and review the work of outside consultants; review and recommend all payments and billing for contracted services related to assigned projects.
• Develop and maintain the online GIS website, including the creation of new reports and maps; and maintain all GIS data sets used throughout the City, including creation of new data sets as needed.
• Conduct investigations of technical nature and prepare engineering and staff reports as required in areas of assigned responsibility.
• Confer with contractors, consulting engineers, subdividers, and members of the public relative to assigned area of responsibility.
• Review and accept documents relating to the transfer/dedications, property line adjustments, and subdivision of real property including easements, grant deeds, road deeds, lot line adjustments, lot mergers, and final tract and parcel maps; prepare documents for City Engineer/ Director of Public Works acceptance of real property.
• Design and prepare or review and approve plans and specifications for public works projects including pumping stations, streets, storm drains, sewer lines, street, street lighting and related projects; research project design requirements; perform calculations and prepare estimates of time and material costs.
• Prepare special engineering studies and reports.
• Represent the City and serve as staff on various boards, commissions, and committees relative to assigned area of responsibility.
• Supervise, train, and evaluate the work performed by assigned staff.
• Perform related work as assigned.

Qualifications

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of civil engineering and its administration.
• Modern methods and techniques used in the design, construction and surveying of a variety of public works engineering projects, including street, sewer, traffic, and storm drain projects.
• Hydraulic and structural designs of street and highway drainage structures.
• Applicable laws and regulatory codes relevant to design and construction in the areas of assignment.
• Principles and techniques of supervision and training.
• Principles and techniques of project management and construction management.

Ability to:

• Calculate complex engineering computations and to check, design, and supervise the construction of a variety of public works projects.
• Respond to issues and concerns from the community and internal clients.
• Administer contracts.
• Prepare specifications and write technical reports.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Coordinate and oversee the work of assigned staff.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing.
• Supervise and train professional and technical engineering staff

Education and Experience:

Any combination of education and experience that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:

Education:

Equivalent to a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in Civil Engineering or closely related field.

Experience:

Two years of increasingly responsible and varied professional Civil Engineering experience comparable to an Assistant Engineer II with the City of Palmdale.

License or Certificate

Possession of or ability to obtain and maintain a valid California driver's license, or the ability to use alternative transportation methods to perform the essential duties of the position.

Possession of certification of Engineer-in-Training by the time of appointment.

Registration with the Board for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors in either Civil or Traffic Engineering is preferred.

Working Conditions

Physical Demands:

Mobility: frequent use of keyboard; frequent sitting for long periods of time; occasional climbing, bending and squatting.

Lifting: frequently up to 10 pounds; occasionally up to 40 pounds.

Vision: constant use of overall vision; frequent reading and close-up work; occasional color and depth vision.

Dexterity: frequent repetitive motion; frequent writing; frequent grasping, holding, and reaching.

Hearing/Talking: frequent hearing and talking, in person and on the phone.

Emotional/Psychological: frequent decision-making and concentration; frequent public and/or coworker contact; occasional working alone.

Environmental: frequent exposure to noise.

Work Environment: Work is performed in a typical temperature-controlled office environment subject to typical office noise and environment.

May be required to work overtime on an occasional basis; weekend work and travel is rare.

Revised March 2026

FLSA: Overtime exempt