Engineer I/II

Coachella Valley Water District • Palm Desert, CA

3d

About The Position

The Engineer I/II performs professional civil or electrical engineering work related to the design and construction of District infrastructure and facilities. Under general supervision at the Engineer I level and direction at the Engineer II level, the role prepares and reviews designs, plans, and specifications; leads or manages assigned projects; ensures compliance with District requirements, contracts, specifications, and quality standards; and coordinates project activities with contractors, consultants, and other stakeholders.

Engineer I is the entry-level classification, with closer supervision and progressively more complex assignments as experience is gained. Engineer II is the fully qualified journey-level classification, performing the full range of duties independently and exercising judgment and initiative. The series is flexibly staffed, and progression from Engineer I to Engineer II depends on management approval, satisfactory performance and attendance, meeting the higher-level qualifications, and District assessment requirements.

The position is in the Engineering Division’s Sanitation department and reports to the Engineering Manager. Two positions are available. The monthly salary ranges are $9,518–$13,320 for SRN A45 and $10,497–$14,514 for SRN A49. The position is exempt and represented by Teamsters 1932. A 3.6% cost-of-living increase is effective January 2027. Employees with a valid California Professional Engineer license in Civil or Electrical Engineering receive additional pay equal to 5% of their current base salary.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in civil engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, or a related field.
• Engineer I: Two years of experience providing professional support to an engineering program in the assigned engineering area.
• Engineer II: Five years of increasingly responsible experience performing professional engineering duties in the assigned engineering program area, including two years in a project lead or project management capacity.
• Valid California Driver’s License, maintained throughout employment.
• Engineer I: Valid Engineer-in-Training Certificate issued by the State of California, maintained throughout employment.
• Engineer II: Possess, or obtain within two years of appointment, a valid Certified Construction Manager (CCM) certificate and maintain it throughout employment.
• Knowledge of civil or electrical engineering design and construction principles and practices relating to water, wastewater, and irrigation infrastructure and facilities.
• Knowledge of project management, contract negotiation and administration, construction management, engineering, surveying, inspection methods, and construction materials.
• Knowledge of applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules, regulations, procedures, and safety requirements relevant to assigned work.
• Knowledge of project documentation and development, including mapping, drafting, drawings, specifications, and recordkeeping.
• Knowledge of hydraulic system analysis, calculations, and simulation; project budget administration and monitoring; and advanced mathematics applied to engineering work.
• Knowledge of teamwork, customer service, engineering and construction management developments, relevant business equipment and software, and English language usage.
• Ability to perform diverse engineering work supporting District capital improvement projects and operations and to prepare or review engineering estimates, plans, and specifications.
• Ability to research and evaluate engineering methods and techniques; prepare estimates of costs, schedules, materials, and staffing; and develop technical analyses, reports, and recommendations.
• Ability to lead or manage projects and oversee contracted service providers.
• Ability to analyze and present technical and administrative information; read and interpret maps, plans, sketches, schematics, diagrams, and blueprints; and apply applicable laws, codes, policies, procedures, and standards.
• Ability to represent the District effectively in meetings with agencies, community groups, organizations, and individuals.
• Ability to organize work independently, set priorities, meet critical deadlines, use sound judgment, communicate clearly in writing and orally, use relevant computer systems and equipment, and foster effective working relationships.

Responsibilities

• Research, prepare, and review designs, plans, and specifications for District infrastructure and facility construction and installation.
• Coordinate construction and installation of new facilities and report project progress to management.
• Administer construction contracts; prepare bid documents, Board authorizations, contract summaries, scopes of work, and contract changes within the role’s authority.
• Monitor design costs and project budgets, resolve claims and disputes, and address outstanding project issues.
• Lead or manage construction projects, maintain quality assurance of consultant designs and documents, and ensure construction inspection and quality assurance are performed.
• Ensure projects are completed within budget and schedule and estimate project costs, time frames, personnel resources, and related activities.
• Identify facility deficiencies through research, inspections, and communication; prepare technical reports and memoranda with corrective actions and studies for new facilities.
• For civil engineering assignments, conduct hydraulic model simulations, system capacity assessments, and facility evaluations; monitor water-use and water-loss reports and recommend operational adjustments.
• For electrical engineering assignments, conduct electrical system studies, control-system and load calculations, and PLC, HMI, and SCADA designs and evaluations; monitor District-wide power use and recommend operational adjustments.
• Maintain project and contract records, including correspondence, meeting minutes, requests for information, submittal reviews, permit applications, and other construction project documentation.
• Coordinate and negotiate project activities with developers, contractors, consultants, public agencies, engineers, public utilities, local groups, cities, and individuals.
• Coordinate projects with District departments and management; meet with developers and outside engineers about project concepts and requirements; and review proposed subdivision applications to determine planning conditions.
• Assist with preparation of budgets for assigned projects.
• Provide professional staff assistance to management, and research, prepare, and present reports and correspondence.
• Observe and comply with District and mandated safety rules, regulations, and protocols.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• 3.6% cost-of-living increase effective January 2027.
• Additional pay of 5% of current base salary for employees with a valid California Professional Engineer license in Civil or Electrical Engineering.

What This Job Offers

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