Associate Engineer (Construction Contracts)

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California • Los Angeles, CA

13d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is seeking an Associate Engineer (Construction Contracts) to join their team. This role is crucial for ensuring projects are designed and built within the agreed legal, financial, and administrative framework associated with public works construction. The position involves applying project management, design, and/or construction engineering expertise to advance critical Capital Investment Plan (CIP) projects from design through construction. This includes developing a viable contracting strategy, creating solicitation documents, and administering active construction contracts. The Associate Engineer will collaborate with project managers, design engineers, and field staff to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local public contracting laws and regulations, as well as Metropolitan standards. This is an opportunity to administer vital public works contracts and provide contractual guidance on large-scale infrastructure projects.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in a related field and four years of relevant experience, of which two years must have been at the Assistant Engineer II level; OR a Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in a related field and two years of relevant experience which must have been at the Assistant Engineer II level.
• Relevant Experience is defined as: Engineering principles, practices and applications in specific discipline; project schedules and budgets; applicable federal, state and local laws, codes and regulations related to area of responsibility; and current office technology and equipment.
• Valid California Class C Driver’s License or equivalent (required at time of application) that allows you to drive during your employment.

Responsibilities

• Develop and review public works contract documents, including technical specifications, engineering plans and drawings, and contract correspondence, in coordination with design and construction staff.
• Support CIP initiatives by monitoring scope, budget, and schedule performance, and assisting with long-term capital planning and CIP prioritization.
• Evaluate procurement strategies and contract delivery methods, including design-bid-build, design-build, progressive design-build, and CM/GC, to align with project objectives and risk profiles.
• Facilitate the solicitation phase through the preparation, coordination, and management of procurement documents, including evaluation of bids, proposals, and qualifications, through contract award.
• Administer construction contracts throughout the lifespan of Board-approved CIP construction and procurement projects, such as processing monthly progress reports, executing change orders, and conducting contractual research.
• Coordinate project completion and closeout, including documentation, contract reconciliation, and verification of scope completion.
• Interpret and adapt technical requirements, using independent judgment to ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local public contracting laws, codes, and regulations, and Metropolitan standards.
• Provide contractual guidance to Project Managers, Design Engineers, and Construction Management staff.
• Assist with implementation of new technology initiatives, including development of a web-based collaborative platform and enhancement of existing workflows and processes.
• Utilize current office technology and equipment to support engineering activities.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation
• Excellent medical, dental, life, vision plans.
• Deferred compensation in the form of a 401(k) plan (with matching contribution) and a 457 plan.
• Retirement benefits under the California Public Employees' Retirement System
• Tuition reimbursement
• Training and advancement opportunities
• Excellent working environment
• Public transportation reimbursements way, buses, and taxis

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level