Civil Engineer (Building & Safety)

County of Orange • Orange County, CA

5d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Civil Engineer (Building Plan Check Engineer) performs a variety of complex building plan review work, including structural, life safety, disabled access, CalGreen, and energy. The incumbent will be an experienced professional engineer, licensed by the state of California as a Civil Engineer, and will be responsible for independent plan review of residential and non-residential projects and specialized assignments. The incumbent will provide staff training, and project leadership to lower-level staff, and perform other related duties as assigned. The immediate vacancy is within the Building & Safety unit. The Civil Engineer, under the general direction of the Senior Civil Engineer, will perform a variety of field and office professional civil engineering work including reviewing grading and construction drawings, examining complex design engineering calculations on proposed construction, and reviewing for disabled access and ADA compliance. Successful performance of the work requires a building safety, construction, inspections, and plan review background. Additionally, the candidate must be skilled in working as a team and interacting with the public.

Requirements

• Possession of a valid Certificate of Registration as a Civil Engineer issued by the California State Board for Civil and Professional Engineers.
• Three (3) years of continuous building plan checking experience.
• Skilled in working as a team and interacting with the public.
• Knowledge and experience in identifying problems, solving them, acting decisively, and showing good judgment.
• Ability to isolate causes from symptoms, and compile information and alternatives to evaluate problems or issues.
• Ability to involve others as appropriate and gather information from a variety of sources.
• Ability to find a balance between studying the problem and solving it.
• Ability to continue to provide the highest quality service to all customers, clients, and stakeholders.
• Ability to listen carefully and communicate concern through tone of voice and by taking action to solve problems in a timely manner.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Adobe, Bluebeam.
• Possession of a valid California Driver License (Class C or higher) may be required for some assignments.

Nice To Haves

• Willing to take on new and challenging assignments.
• Possession of ICC Certification as a Plan Examiner.
• Possession of Certified Access Specialist (CASp) certification.
• Knowledge and experience in structural, life safety, energy, plumbing, electrical, and mechanical plan review.
• Experience coordinating with internal stakeholders (project management, utilities, real estate, survey, regulatory permits).
• Experience coordinating project submittmits including street improvements, grading plans, and drainage plans with other County departments.
• Experience providing guidance, training, and direction to subordinate staff.
• Experience communicating technical and complex information clearly and concisely to a wide variety of audiences.
• Experience communicating using modern technologies such as social media platforms and virtual public meetings.

Responsibilities

• Perform a variety of complex building plan review work (including structural, life safety, CalGreen, and energy).
• Conduct independent plan review of residential and non-residential projects and specialized assignments.
• Provide staff training and project leadership to lower-level staff.
• Review grading and construction drawings.
• Examine complex design engineering calculations on proposed construction.
• Review for disabled access and ADA compliance.
• Review alteration or repair of buildings and associated structures.
• Review and approve building plans (structural, life safety, energy) according to the California Building Codes and County Ordinances.
• Perform reviews of buildings and site plans for compliance with ADA accessibility requirements.
• Approve plumbing, electrical, and mechanical plans, and design according to California codes and regulations.
• Coordinate with internal stakeholders (project management, utilities, real estate, survey, regulatory permits).
• Coordinate and manage the reviews of private developers and builders' project submittmits including street improvements, grading plans, and drainage plans with other County departments.
• Provide guidance, training, and direction to subordinate staff such as Civil Engineering Assistants, and others.
• Foster a team atmosphere and reward collaboration.
• Coordinate with the field inspection team implementing approved plans and attending job site meetings if required.
• Coordinate with County project managers for the plan review process and project compliance with the County and the State codes.
• Coordinate with Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) for implementing construction requirements within the state/the County adopted Fire Map.
• Communicate orally and in writing with engineers, architects, contractors, developers, and consultants.
• Communicate technical and complex information clearly and concisely to a wide variety of audiences.
• Seek information from a variety of sources and disseminate it in a variety of ways.
• Write clearly and concisely, composing informative and convincing memos, emails, letters, reports, and other documents.
• Communicate using modern technologies such as social media platforms and virtual public meetings.

Benefits

• Salary may be negotiable within the range listed above, based on position requirements and the successful candidate's qualifications, subject to appropriate authorization.

What This Job Offers

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