Senior Engineer / Senior Geotechnical Engineer

At San Bernardino Valley Water Conservation District, we value diverse backgrounds and experiences. If you’re passionate about this role but don’t meet every requirement, we encourage you to apply. We believe that skills, potential, and attitude are a critical component of success alongside experience. 

Meets all Skills, Abilities, License Requirements, Education and Training, and Special Requirements. Initially may have moderate Knowledge and Experience. Success in this role will include increasing education, knowledge and experience through training and on-the-job experience in order to accomplish all elements of the position.

Salary Range: $126,063 to $166,404

POSITION OVERVIEW

Under general supervision, performs professional field and office engineering and hydrogeology work related to the planning, design, construction, and maintenance of groundwater recharge facilities and capital improvement projects requiring use of specialized engineering, GIS, CAD, and other software and related equipment; provides project management and administration, where assigned; provides professional staff assistance to the General Manager and District staff in the planning, design, construction, and maintenance of the District’s capital improvement projects, land development, infrastructure, and departmental operations; supports groundwater recharge operations through frequent collaboration with the District’s Field Operations and Natural Resources teams; confers and collaborates with engineers, contractors, and representatives of project partners and other agencies on regional water planning, policies, and projects; provides engineering expertise and analysis as needed for operational, legal, and administrative matters, including permitting, litigation support, groundwater modeling, and real property matters; and performs related duties as assigned.

Supervision

Receives direct supervision from the Principal Engineer or General Manager. May supervise Assistant Engineer, and provides technical and functional direction to interns and consultants. May be delegated General Manager’s discretionary approval authority over contractor performance, review and approval of change orders, progress payments, and contractual, code, and standards compliance matters on District capital or maintenance projects.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

 Skills

• Collaborative, team-based approach founded in strong interpersonal skills, kindness, and a positive attitude.
• Excellent communication and customer service skills.
• Strong time management skills, including the ability to plan and schedule work in advance of Board and Committee meetings to deliver products on time.
• Strong techniques for record keeping, writing, and report preparation.
• Superb math, technical, and problem-solving skills.
• Knowledge of proper uses of English spelling and grammar.
• Bilingual Spanish language skill is desirable, but not required.

Abilities

• Conduct comprehensive engineering and water rights studies and prepare reports with recommendations.
• Prepare, understand, and interpret engineering plans, specifications, and other contract documents.
• Review plans, specifications, designs, cost estimates, and legal descriptions for construction projects.
• Manage engineering consultants and construction contractors to complete planning, design, and construction projects on-time and within budget.
• Prepare and modify databases, engineering drawings, maps, improvement plans, and illustrative graphics using GIS, CAD, or other appropriate software.
• Prepare and present clear, concise, and logical written and oral reports, correspondence, policies, procedures, and other written materials using proper grammar and punctuation.
• Interpret, apply, explain, and ensure compliance with federal, state, and local policies, procedures, laws, and regulations, technical written material, and District engineering policies and procedures.
• Establish and maintain a variety of filing, record-keeping, 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 consistently meet critical time deadlines.
• Operate field measurement and survey tools.
• Effectively use computer systems, specialized software applications, and modern business equipment to perform a variety of work tasks.

Knowledge and Experience

• Principles and practices of civil engineering as applied to the planning, design, cost estimating, construction, installation, and inspection of a wide variety of capital improvement projects and maintenance of District facilities.
• Groundwater management principles, including hydrology, hydraulics, groundwater modeling, hydrogeology, geotechnical engineering, groundwater recharge processes.
• Groundwater recharge methods and technical operations support, including equipment and infrastructure used for water diversion and recharge such as culverts and percolation basins.
• Practices of researching engineering and design issues, evaluating alternatives, making sound recommendations, and preparing and presenting effective technical and staff reports and presentations.
• Project construction cost estimating and overall project budgeting over fiscal years.
• Engineering plan preparation, review practices, and permit filing and approval procedures.
• Project scheduling from concept phase through construction with knowledge of time required for each significant element of work.
• Construction methods including inspections, management, and water quality control principles and reporting/permitting requirements.
• Applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulatory codes, ordinances, and procedures relevant to assigned areas of responsibility.
• Modern developments, current literature, and sources of information regarding engineering.

 Education and Training

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

•  Equivalent to a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in civil or geotechnical or environmental engineering or a related engineering field or hydrogeology and eight (8) years of professional engineering experience.

License Requirements

• Possession of a valid California Driver’s License to be maintained throughout employment.
• Possession of a valid Professional Engineer (PE) license in the state of California, or the eligibility and commitment to obtain licensure within nine months of hire, in accordance with state engineering registration requirements.

Special Requirements

Essential duties require the following physical skills and work environment:

• See in the normal visual range with or without correction
• Hear in the normal audio range with or without correction
• Lift up to 25 pounds to eye level
• Ability to work in a standard office environment
• Ability to work under field and construction conditions
• Frequent interaction with staff and public

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

SBVWCD strives to provide generous compensation with the following benefits for employees:

• Sick and vacation pay
• 12 paid annual holidays
• 100% of employee health benefit contributions
• 75% of family health benefit contributions
• Vision and dental benefits with minimum employee contributions
• $20,000 family building benefit through Progeny
• Flex or 9/80 work schedule
• 1-2 remote workdays/week
• Annual Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA)
• Annual merit-based raise opportunity
• CalPERS retirement package
• PEPRA for new employees
• 2.5% at 55 years of age for Classic plan members
• Retiree healthcare for former employee and spouse from 60 years of age until both qualify for Medicare (after five years of District service)
• Educational Assistance for education related to job duties
• Reimbursement of educational expenses up to $2,500 per calendar year for full-time employees
• Work at SBVWCD counts toward the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program

 For full job description and application requirements, please visit our website job posting at Career Opportunities – San Bernardino Valley Water Conservation District (sbvwcd.org)