Associate Engineer / Associate Civil Engineer

The City of Poway is known for its professionalism and commitment to excellent customer service delivered by a talented and dedicated workforce. The Land Development Engineering Division of the Development Services Department supports the City’s growth by reviewing private development projects, ensuring compliance with City standards and the Poway Municipal Code. Land Development Engineering staff work closely with developers, consulting engineers, agencies, and the public to review plans, issue permits, address field issues, and guide projects from design through construction while maintaining high-quality service and regulatory compliance.If you are an engineering professional who enjoys technical problem-solving, values innovation, and wants to contribute to a team committed to delivering high-quality public works projects, we encourage you to apply!

The City is in the fifth year of a six-year agreementand future negotiated increases for this position include:
7/1/2026 - 5% wage increase
**Potential for this position to telecommute one day per week once trained/approved by the supervisor as the telecommuting policy allows**

Associate Engineer:Performs professional field and office engineering work related to the management, planning, design, construction, and maintenance of the City’s Capital Improvement projects, land development, traffic engineering, City public works infrastructure, and daily departmental operations; provides project management and administration; confers with developers, contractors, and representatives of other agencies regarding facility and infrastructure development; administers professional services and construction contracts; administers Federal and State grant funds associated with construction projects; provides staff assistance to the assigned supervisor and the City Engineer, other departments, and the public in areas of expertise; performs a variety of studies and prepares and presents staff reports.
Associate Civil Engineer:Performs professional civil engineering work of a difficult and responsible nature, in assigned areas of responsibility including planning, design, and management of the City’s Capital Improvement projects or land development projects. Serves as a project or division engineer, coordinates or supervises major engineering, development or construction projects, conducts field operations, and construction services. Provides technical staff assistance to higher-level engineering staff and manages consultants, projects, and contracts; administers Federal and State grant funds; provides staff assistance to assigned supervisor and City Engineer; presents staff reports.
Examples of ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS (Illustrative Only)
Management reserves the right to add, modify, change or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.

• Plans, designs, and inspects all phases of civil engineering public works construction projects, including defining the scope of the project, securing adequate funding from Federal and State grant programs and other funding sources, coordinating with permitting and public utility agencies, performing historical document research and review, surveying and engineering analysis of alternatives, preparing plans, specifications, and cost estimates, performing research, map, and field studies and surveys, drafting site plans with specialized computer software, applying engineering principles and practices to specific problems, coordinating construction schedules with other projects and agencies, preparing and reviewing cost estimates and inspecting construction of projects to ensure compliance with construction documents; and other related planning and design work.
• Reviews construction plans prepared by consulting engineers and private contractors to verify compliance with City sidewalk, public utility, and improvement requirements; checks plans for conformance with regulations regarding line, grade, size, elevation, and location of structures; reviews engineering calculations of other engineers or engineering technicians; participates in pre-design, construction, and utility coordination meetings and issues construction permits.
• Investigates field problems affecting property owners, contractors, and maintenance operations; responds to citizen inquiries and complaints; provides information to the public at the front counter in person, via telephone, or other means of communication regarding grading, encroachment permits, right-of-way and property line information, utility information, slope stability and groundwater issues, improvement plan check, and payment processes.
• Maintains all project files and track projects utilizing City software through design, construction and project completion. Maintain spreadsheets for project coordination, overall department workload, project status and scheduling. Reviews and prepares legal documents including public utility easements, encroachment removal agreements, stormwater facilities maintenance agreements, boundary adjustments, lot mergers and private road maintenance agreements.
• Attends meetings, conferences, workshops, and training sessions and reviews publications and audio-visual materials to become and remain current on principles, practices, and new developments in assigned work areas.
• Communicates and coordinates regularly with appropriate others to maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of interdepartmental operations and activities.
• May provide technical direction and training to other engineering and technical staff.
• Maintains attendance and punctuality that is observant of scheduled hours on a regular basis.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Knowledge of:

• Civil engineering principles, techniques, policies, and procedures.
• Methods, materials, and techniques used in the construction of public works projects, including water and wastewater systems, stormwater, street, and traffic systems design.
• Basic principles, practices, procedures, and standards related to City public works and engineering infrastructure development and maintenance.
• Basic principles and practices of capital improvement program budgeting, cost estimation, funding, project management, and contract administration.
• General design, layout, and construction practices for public improvements such as streets, storm drains, grading, and landscaping.
• Subdivision engineering, plan review, mapping, and construction practices.
• Bidding requirements for public works projects.
• Project management and contract administration principles and techniques.
• Engineering plan types, review practices, and permit filing and approval procedures.
• Applicable Federal, State, and local laws, regulatory codes, ordinances, and procedures relevant to assigned area of responsibility.
• Modern office practices and technology, including personal computer hardware and software applications related to the work, such as computer-aided drafting (CAD) concepts and applications, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) programs.
• Modern developments, current literature, and sources of information regarding engineering.
• Principles of advanced mathematics and their application to engineering work.
• Practices of researching engineering and design issues, evaluating alternatives, making sound recommendations, and preparing and presenting effective staff reports.
• Methods and techniques of effective technical report preparation and presentation.
• English usage, grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and punctuation.
• Techniques for effectively representing the City in contacts with governmental agencies, community groups, various business, professional, educational, and regulatory organizations and with property owners, developers, contractors, and the public.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors and City staff

Ability to:

• Conduct complex civil engineering research projects, analyze complex problems, evaluate alternatives, make sound recommendations, and prepare effective technical staff reports.
• Prepare, understand, and interpret engineering construction plans, specifications, and other contract documents.
• Conduct comprehensive engineering studies and prepare reports with recommendations.
• Assist in and develop and administer contracts for professional services and construction in a public agency setting.
• Read, interpret, apply, and explain technical written material and complex laws, codes, regulations, ordinances, and City engineering policies and procedures.
• Design engineering projects.
• Read and understand technical drawings and specifications.
• Perform mathematical and engineering computations with precision.
• Recognize discrepancies from as-built to contract specifications and recommend reconciliation of any discrepancies.
• Effectively represent the department and the City in meetings with governmental agencies, community groups, and various businesses, professional, and regulatory organizations and individuals.
• Direct the work of contract consultants.
• Prepare and present clear, concise, and logical written and oral reports, correspondence, policies, procedures, and other written materials.
• Establish and maintain a variety of filing, recordkeeping, and tracking systems.
• Make sound, independent decisions within established policy and procedural guidelines.
• Organize and prioritize a variety of projects and multiple tasks in an effective and timely manner; organize own work, set priorities, and meet critical time deadlines.
• Operate modern office equipment including computer equipment and specialized software applications programs.
• Exercise good judgment, flexibility, creativity, and sensitivity in response to changing situations and needs.
• Use English effectively to communicate in person, over the telephone, and in writing.
• Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy, procedural, and legal guidelines.
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and harmonious working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Any combination of the following education and experience which demonstrates the ability to perform the duties of this classification.Experience:
Associate Engineer:
Three years of experience in professional engineering design, plan review, and project administration experience, preferably in a public agency setting.
Associate Civil Engineer:
Three years of experience in professional engineering design, plan review, and project administration experience, preferably in a public agency setting.
Education/Training:
Associate Engineer/Associate Civil Engineer:A Bachelor's Degree or equivalent education (i.e., minimum completed California units = 120 semester/180 quarter) from an accredited educational institution with major coursework in civil engineering or a related engineering field.Licenses and Certifications:Assistant Engineer/Associate Engineer/Associate Civil Engineer: A valid class C driver’s license or the ability to arrange alternate and timely means of transportation in the performance of assigned duties.
Associate Engineer:Certification as an Engineer-In-Training, desired.
Associate Civil Engineer:Possess and maintain a Registered Professional Civil Engineer License in the State of California.
Physical DemandsMust possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer, to inspect City development sites, including traversing uneven terrain, climbing ladders, stairs, and other temporary or construction access points; to operate a motor vehicle, and to visit various City and meeting sites; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person, before groups, and over the telephone. This is primarily a sedentary office classification although standing in work areas and walking between work areas may be required. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard or calculator and to operate standard office equipment. Positions in this classification occasionally bend, stoop, kneel, reach, push and pull drawers open and closed to retrieve and file information. Employees must possess the ability to lift, carry, push and pull materials and objects weighing up to 25 pounds.
Environmental ElementsEmployees work in an office environment with moderate noise levels, controlled temperature conditions, and no direct exposure to hazardous physical substances. Employees may work in the field and occasionally be exposed to loud noise levels, cold and hot temperatures, inclement weather conditions, road hazards, vibration, mechanical and/or electrical hazards, and hazardous physical substances and fumes. Employees may interact with upset staff and/or public and private representatives in interpreting and enforcing departmental policies and procedures.