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Job Description
Description
The Department
Palo Alto is the only city in California that offers a full array of utility services (electric, gas, water, sewer, fiber) to its citizens and businesses. Because of this, the City has a unique opportunity to partner with the Palo Alto community to enjoy the benefits and achievements of reliable, home-grown, and environmentally-focused utilities. Palo Alto has a tradition of over 100 years of successful public utility operations. It is a tradition that continues to provide the Palo Alto community with safe and reliable utility service, local decision-making over policies, utility ratemaking, environmental programs, and customized services. Learn more about the City's Utilities Department .
Career Opportunity
The City of Palo Alto Utilities (CPAU) is seeking a skilled professional with strong mechanical and welding skills to repair, maintain, and fabricate construction equipment and tools supporting Water-Gas-Wastewater Operations.
This position is responsible for inspecting, operating, and maintaining water and gas distribution valves to ensure safe and reliable operation during emergencies and daily operations. Duties also include welding on gas distribution systems, mechanical units, and various tools and parts, as well as documenting maintenance and inspection activities in compliance with Federal Department of Transportation regulations.
Ideal Candidate- Strong mechanical skills with experience repairing and servicing small engines, tools, and equipment
- Welding experience, including MIG (Metal Inert Gas), SMAW (Shielded Metal Arc Welding), and TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas) processes
- Knowledge of safe work practices and procedures, including proper use of PPE in accordance with safety policies and regulations
- Ability to comply with Federal, State, and City safety regulations
- Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings related to fabrication work, as well as pressure and vacuum gauges
- Ability to fabricate custom parts, tools, and equipment as needed
- Ability to work with hazardous materials, including methane, hydrogen sulfide (H2S), and solvents/thinners, following all safety protocols
- Willingness to work emergency call-outs, including occasional weekends and holidays
- Ability to travel to different work locations and work in inclement weather conditions
Compensation (SEIU): Comprehensive compensation plan. To learn more, click here .
Benefits: The City offers a fantastic benefits package including:- Schedule: 9/80 schedule, Monday through Thursday, 6:30am - 4:00pm and Fridays 6:30am- 3:00pm with every other Friday off
- Professional development: Tuition reimbursement, leadership training, and career growth opportunities
- Education benefits: Potential enrollment for dependents in the Palo Alto Unified School District (pilot program, subject to change)
- Childcare support: $10,000 in childcare subsidies (pilot program, subject to change)
- Commute benefits: Incentives for walking, biking and taking transit to work. The City of Palo Alto participates in the Clipper Bay Pass program (Employee Cost: $5 per month)
- Defined-Benefit Retirement Plan: with competitive pension benefits
To learn more about benefits, click here .
This position is represented by Service Employee International Union (SEIU).
Essential Duties
Essential and other important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:- Inspects, repairs and maintains equipment used in performing operation, maintenance and construction activities, including air relief valves, water-gas valves and fire hydrants.
- Troubleshoots electrical/mechanical malfunctions on items such as pumps, motors, compressors and electric lighting circuits/controls via functional test, visual inspection and other tests and checks to identify cause and action needed.
- Visually and mechanically inspects, cleans and orders all parts needed during overhaul.
- Rebuilds and reassembles units and checks operation and tolerances as necessary as units are redone.
- Functionally checks mechanical and/or electrical functions of newly installed units after properly setting controls by cycling equipment through proper sequences while visually/mechanically checking functions.
- Manufactures as necessary such things as plumbing, connectors, feed lines, brackets, shafts, tools, wood blocks, boxes and supports.
To review full job description, click here.
Minimum Qualifications
Special Requirements:- Possession of a valid California Driver's License
- Completion of 12th grade and 2 years experience in related shop practices
- Willing to work overtime or on-call 4-8 hours per week for emergency repairs
- Work weekends occasionally
- Work in different locations
- Travel locally and out-of-town to pick up parts and attend training
- Attend meetings during work for work assignments and safety meetings
- Work with dangerous substances such as methane, H2S, thinner
- Provide own safety shoes
- Wear safety gear
For Water-Gas-Wastewater:- Ability to pass drug test as mandated by the Department of Transportation anti-drug program.
- Must become certified to weld on natural gas lines within the first six months of employment and continue certification yearly.
Supplemental Information
Working Conditions / Physical Requirements:
Shop environment or travel from site to site; exposure to dust, noise, grease, fumes and inclement weather; exposure to heights and voltage; some climbing, stooping, heavy lifting and inspecting in confined areas; work around heavy equipment; may work in confined spaces.
The Selection Process:- Recruitment status notifications will be sent via email or text (please enroll in text alerts when applying).
- Updates can also be found on your governmentjobs.com account.
- Applicants will be screened throughout the posting process and highly qualified candidates may be invited to interview at any time.
- The screening process for this position includes a panel interview and skills assessment preceding final interviews with the hiring manager or their designee.
- An eligible list may be established from this recruitment and may be used to fill future vacancies for up to six (6) months, or until the list has been exhausted.
Our online application system is provided by NeoGov. If you have problems while applying online, please contact NeoGov's Live Applicant Support at (855) 524-5627 between 6:00 AM and 5:00 PM Pacific Time, Monday - Friday.
The City of Palo Alto is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.
See our Benefits at a Glance Bookletfor more details.
Learn more about our Memorandum of Agreements (MOAs) between the City and its bargaining units, by clicking HERE.
Closing Date/Time: 5/26/2026 11:59 PM Pacific -
ABOUT THE COMPANY
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City of Palo Alto
Show moreThe Community
The birthplace of Silicon Valley, Palo Alto, is a community of approximately 68,000 residents and nearly 100,000 jobs. Located on the mid-Peninsula between San Francisco and San Jose, Palo Alto is recognized worldwide as a leader in cutting-edge technology, medicine, and green innovation. The community's treelined streets and historic buildings reflect its California heritage, and, at the same time, many world-class businesses maintain or started offices here, such as Stanford Health Care and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Amazon, Broadcom, Hewlett-Packard, Houzz, Rivian, SAP and SAP Ariba, Tesla, and Varian Medical Systems. Numerous start-ups are also at home in Palo Alto, arguably making it the start-up capital of the world. Stanford University is foundational to the history and prestige of Palo Alto, reflected in the community's dedication to lifelong learning. Stanford's cultural and educational offerings are integral to the vibrancy and charm of Palo Alto, while the City's exceptional K-12 school district ranks among the top public-school systems in the country. With more than 50% of adult residents holding a graduate degree or higher, Palo Alto is frequently listed as one of the most educated cities in the nation. Palo Alto boasts a genuine sense of community and an active citizenry with strong environmental values. Beautiful neighborhoods are complemented by vibrant commercial corridors and a bustling economy featuring premium shopping and dining options. Excellent healthcare facilities, performing arts, and diverse recreational opportunities are some of the community's incredibly desirable and cherished amenities. To learn more, visit https://www.paloalto.gov/Departments/City-Manager/Latest-NewsCity Government
Palo Alto is a full-service charter city with a council-manager form of government. The seven-member City Council is elected at large, and the City Council annually selects the Mayor and Vice Mayor from among its members. The Mayor and City Council appoint the City Manager, City Attorney, City Clerk, and City Auditor. The City Manager is responsible for the strategic direction and day-to-day operations of the City. Palo Alto is organized into 15 departments/offices with 1,093.10 authorized positions in FY 2025. There is also a FY 2025 capital budget of $316.2 million. Palo Alto owns and operates its own utilities, including electricity (carbon-neutral), gas, water, wastewater, and an expanding fiber network. This dynamic municipal environment ensures an ever-engaging platform for unique problem-solving and advances new initiatives, including sustainability, broadband, and effective service delivery. Community assets also include five libraries, 36 parks, five community centers, a museum and zoo, youth centers, a general aviation airport, an 18-hole golf course, a regional water treatment plant, and wildland open space preserves at the San Francisco Bay and in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains offering 41 miles of walking/biking trails in addition to its police, fire, and ambulance services. Palo Alto has long been a leader in sustainability, and the City's ambitious greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction goals are part of what sets it apart. Since the City's first Climate Protection Plan was passed in 2007, Palo Alto has set goals that exceed State and Federal targets. Today, the City's goal to reduce emissions 80% below 1990 levels by 2030 (the "80x30" goal) and achieve carbon neutrality by 2030 guides sustainability efforts. An award-winning City, Palo Alto is recognized nationally as innovative and well-managed. City services and performance also receive impressive marks from community members in the Palo Alto Community Survey.
Many of those ratings put City programs and services in the highest percentiles among the hundreds of benchmark cities. Palo Alto makes decisions through comprehensive processes and proactively seeks to involve its extremely informed, educated, and engaged residents. Projects are naturally a cooperative effort among the City Council, Boards, Commissions, Committees, engaged residents, neighborhoods, businesses, property owners, and staff.
Join an Award Winning Team
Palo Alto is an award-winning City recognized nationwide as innovative and well-managed. Palo Alto is one of a small number of California cities with a AAA bond rating. Recently, Palo Alto became one of the most livable cities in the U.S. by Livability.com. It's the only city to receive the Platinum Beacon Award in sustainability best practices by California’s Institute for Local Government. We offer a variety of career paths that relate to building and improving communities. The City has fourteen departments employing 1,000 full-time staff. Police officers, fire fighters, paramedics, and building inspectors keep us safe. Engineers and public works staff build and re-build the physical infrastructure. City planners help envision and shape future community growth. Recreation, arts and library professionals enhance community life. Utilities provides electric, gas, water, sewer and other services. Internal services departments help manage, staff, and protect the City.
Want to learn more about our benefits? Learn more by reviewing our "Benefits at a Glance Booklet."
Contact Us
Phone: 650-329-2376
Email: Recruit@paloalto.gov
Location: City Hall, 1st Floor | 250 Hamilton Ave 94301 | View Map
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