Senior Civil Engineer

Position Description

RECRUITMENT OVERIVEW - Help Shape the Future of Tulare

Are you a Professional Engineer (PE) ready to step into a high-level leadership role? We are seeking a Senior Civil Engineer to serve as a cornerstone of our Engineering Division. This is a managerial-level position where you will oversee entire functions—from multi-million dollar Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) to the complex world of land development and traffic engineering.

Why This Role?

As a Senior Civil Engineer, you aren’t just reviewing plans; you play a crucial role in planning and developing the City’s infrastructure. You will have the authority to manage diverse programs involving streets, water systems, and transportation, while serving as a key advisor to the City Engineer and Deputy City Engineer. If you enjoy the challenge of solving "the most complex and difficult" engineering puzzles and want to leave a lasting mark on a growing community, this is your next step.

What You’ll Do:

• Drive Major Projects: Lead the design, planning, and construction of vital City infrastructure and capital improvement programs.
• Master Land Development: Oversee the review and approval of subdivision maps and private development projects, ensuring they meet the highest standards of safety and efficiency.
• Influence Policy: Assist in setting department goals, drafting ordinances, and monitoring changes in state and federal laws that impact municipal engineering.
• Lead & Mentor: Directly supervise and develop a professional team, providing technical guidance on the most technical aspects of the job.
• Represent the City: Make presentations on behalf of the Engineering Department at City Council meetings and public commissions, and serve as a designated participant on regional advisory committees.

Who You Are:

• A Registered Professional: You hold a current California Professional Civil Engineer (PE) license and have a deep understanding of civil and traffic engineering principles.
• A Proven Leader: You have at least 5 years of professional experience in design and construction, with a track record of managing staff or leading projects.
• A Strategic Thinker: You can navigate the complexities of budget preparation, grant applications, and contract administration with ease.
• An Exceptional Communicator: Whether you’re writing a technical staff report or presenting to the City Council, you communicate with clarity, tact, and authority.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil or Structural Engineering (or a related field).
• Five (5) years of professional experience in civil/traffic engineering, including supervisory experience.
• Possession of a valid Registration as a Professional Civil Engineer in the State of California.
• Possession of or ability to obtain, a valid Class C California Driver’s License.

Build More Than Just Infrastructure

If you are looking for a role that offers significant professional responsibility and the chance to lead a division, we want to meet you. Join us and help build a stronger, more efficient city.

The City of Tulare is a vibrant and steadily growing community with a population of 70,693 located in the heart of California's Central Valley. The organization, staffed with 400 full-time employees, enjoys a culture of fiscal conservatism, collaboration, teamwork and dedication to public service and our community.

APPLICATION & INTERVIEW PROCESS

To be considered for this position applicants must submit an application with detailed information in each section of the application: Education, Work Experience, Certificates and Licenses, and Skills. In addition to submitting a detailed application, applicants are required to respond to the supplemental questions associated with the application. Your responses to the supplemental questions will be used to help us evaluate your qualifying knowledge, skills, and abilities. Resumes may be attached but will not be accepted in lieu of a complete, detailed application or in lieu of detailed responses to the supplemental questions.

Applicants that meet the minimum qualifications will be invited to participate in the interview process. Additional details will be sent via email once our screening process is complete (on or before May 22nd at 5:00 p.m.).

POSITION OVERVIEW:

Under general direction, performs the most complex and difficult professional field and office civil engineering work related to the planning, design, construction and maintenance of City capital improvement projects and infrastructure, traffic and transportation related engineering issues, and supervising the processing and approval of land development projects; confers with developers, contractors and representatives of other agencies regarding facility and infrastructure development; administers professional services and construction contracts; provides professional assistance to the City Engineer; performs a variety of studies and prepares and presents staff reports; signs drawings, submits reports and performs similar work within state guidelines; and performs related work as required.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Receives general direction from the City Engineer and Deputy City Engineer. Exercises general and direct supervision over assigned staff.

CLASS CHARACTERISTICS

This is the highest-level class in the professional engineering series with managerial responsibility for either an entire function of the engineering division, such as capital improvement design, traffic and transportation engineering, land development projects, or engineering program responsibilities. Incumbents perform the most complex professional and technical work in the preparation of plans, specifications, designs, estimates, schedules, inspections, and project management activities for construction or maintenance programs. This class is distinguished from the Deputy City Engineer and the City Engineer in that they have overall responsibility for the Engineering Division in addition to handling the most complex and sensitive engineering projects.

Examples of Essential Functions

(Illustrative Only) Management reserves the rights 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. The duties listed below represent the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them if the work is related or a logical assignment to this class.

• Manages, develops, and completes a wide variety of engineering projects and programs involving streets, storm drains, transportation and traffic, grading, and sanitary sewer and water systems.
• Participates in City long- and short-range capital improvement and preventive maintenance activities.
• Examines public and private engineering plans, subdivision maps, specifications, designs, cost estimates and legal descriptions for a variety of construction and maintenance and/or private development projects to ensure compliance with engineering standards and specifications.
• Oversees the Engineering Department's review, processing, and approval of land development projects and applications, including preparation of engineering conditions of approval, plan checking, preparation of development agreements, computation and collection of fees, and coordination of developer reimbursements.
• Reviews and comments on proposed development plans with regards to traffic generation figures, street light placement, traffic control devices, potential traffic safety issues, and ingress and egress design/placement.
• Provides technical support and coordination of transportation and traffic related issues with other City departments, including Police, Fire, and Streets.
• Performs engineering work for the more complex designs for public works construction projects.
• Performs the more complex construction inspections to confirm contractual compliance to engineering and construction standards.
• Conducts field reviews and follows-up on problems, complaints, and concerns.
• Prepares, and/or supervises the preparation of, special studies, projects, and reports with regards to traffic and transportation related issues, development impact fees, and other engineering related matters as directed.
• Assists in the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies, standards, and priorities within the Engineering Department.
• Confers with property owners, developers, engineers, contractors, architects, and the general public concerning interpretation and application of Engineering Department rules and procedures.
• Makes presentations to the public, City Council, and commissions.
• Supervises the preparation and maintenance of Engineering Department records, plans, maps, files, and related materials.
• Interprets and administers applicable ordinances relating to project requirements, prepares engineering reports, legal descriptions, and project related correspondence; acts as project engineer when dealing with other departments, other jurisdictions, and agencies and responds personally or in writing to questions related to projects and engineering policy.
• Prepares contract specifications and requests for proposals for capital improvement projects; submits projects for competitive bids; analyzes bids and makes recommendations for acceptance.
• Represents the Engineering Department at various City, County, and State commissions, boards, committees, and organizations on engineering matters, as directed (including the Tulare County Association of Governments Technical Advisory Committee).
• Assists with the preparation of grant applications, and other special funding sources, and the implementation and administration of said grants, as directed.
• Maintains and directs the maintenance of working and departmental automated and manual files.
• Monitors changes in laws, regulations and technology that may affect departmental operations; implements policy and procedural changes after approval.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Qualifications / Requirements

Knowledge of:

• Principles, practices, procedures, and standards of civil engineering design and construction related to City public works and infrastructure development and maintenance.
• Principles, practices, procedures, and standards of traffic engineering and transportation planning such as trip generation and distribution and traffic modeling.
• General design principles and construction techniques for the design and construction of various municipal projects, such as streets, sewer, water, drainage, and traffic control devices.
• Various municipal, engineering, and traffic codes, manuals, and standards as well as Federal and State laws and programs related to the areas of work assignments.
• Principles and practices of project management and evaluation, including goal setting and the development of objectives, work planning, and organization.
• Principles and practices of capital improvement cost estimation and contract administration.
• Basic supervisory principles and practices.
• Computer applications related to the work, including computer-aided drafting concepts and applications.
• Recent developments, current literature, and informational resources regarding municipal development and capital improvement projects.
• Basic budgetary principles and practices.
• Practices of researching engineering and design issues, evaluating alternatives, making sound recommendations, and preparing and presenting effective staff reports.
• 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 dealing effectively with the public, vendors, contractors, and City staff, in person and over the telephone.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service to public and City staff, in person, and over the telephone.

Ability to:

• Research, analyze data, draw valid conclusions, and make recommendations; coordinate work with other agencies and departments.
• Make complex engineering computations and check, design, and supervise the construction of a wide variety of public works projects.
• Research, design, prepare and evaluate plans, subdivision maps and specifications for accuracy and conformance with accepted engineering standards and compliance with appropriate laws, codes, regulations, and community needs.
• Examine public and private engineering plans, specifications, designs, cost estimates, and legal descriptions for a variety of construction and maintenance projects.
• Develop and administer contracts for professional services and construction in a public agency setting.
• Conduct complex civil engineering research projects, evaluate alternatives, make sound recommendations, and prepare effective technical staff reports.
• Manage capital improvement projects, contracts for services, and environmental studies.
• Interpret, apply, and explain complex laws, codes, regulations, and ordinances.
• Effectively represent the department and the City in meetings with governmental agencies, community groups, various business, professional, and regulatory organizations and individuals.
• Direct and review the work of support staff on a project or day-to-day basis.
• Instruct staff in work procedures.
• Prepare clear and concise reports, correspondence, ordinances, policies, procedures, and other written materials.
• Make effective public presentations and conduct meetings.
• Maintain accurate records and files.
• Operate modern office equipment including computer equipment and specialized software applications programs.
• 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 and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of the work.

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

Equivalent to graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in civil or structural engineering or related engineering field and five (5) years of professional experience in design and construction and management of civil and traffic engineering projects, including some supervisory experience.

Licenses and Certifications:

• Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid Class C California driver's license.
• Possession of Registration as a Professional Civil Engineer license issued by the California Board for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors.

Additional Information

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer; to inspect City development sites, 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 the job involves field inspection work requiring frequent walking at inspection site areas to monitor performance and to identify problems or hazards; 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, typewriter 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. Positions in this classification occasionally lift and carry objects that typically weigh less than 40 pounds.

ENVIRONMENTAL ELEMENTS

Employees work in an office environment with moderate noise levels and controlled temperature conditions but may occasionally be exposed to loud noise levels, cold and/or hot temperatures, vibration, confining workspace, chemicals, mechanical, and/or electrical hazards. Employees may interact with upset staff and/or public and private representatives in interpreting and enforcing departmental policies and procedures.

• Members of the California Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). In accordance with the California Public Employees Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA), the City of Tulare will offer the following retirement benefit (2.0% at 62) to new PERS members beginning January 1, 2013 with three (3) years final compensation. Existing PERS members with no break in service will receive the 2.5% at 55 formula with single highest year.
• City pays a portion of the employee and dependent coverage costs of group medical, dental and vision insurance. An opt-out plan is also available.
• Life insurance - Based on salary.
• Short and long term disability insurance.
• 10 working days vacation per year. Additional days based on years of service.
• 12 days sick leave per year.
• 15 holidays annually: 12 city observed holidays, plus birthday credit and 2 in-lieu holidays.
• Management leave - 64 hours per year.
• Flexible benefit program - IRS Section 125 Plan.
• Deferred compensation plan - 457 Plans available.
• City sponsored clinic - Opening March 1, 2025. Services to include: general medical care and health and wellness coaching. No deductibles, co-pays, or out-of-pocket expenses.

Closing Date/Time: 5/25/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

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• City of Tulare

• 559-684-4204

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