Senior Engineer – Limited Term

Santa Clara Valley Water District • San Jose, CA

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

This Senior Engineer position will serve as the lead engineer for assigned critical flood protection projects, providing overall project management through planning studies, coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) as needed, design and preparation of construction documents, support during construction, and project closeout. The selected candidate will direct the in-house design team and consultants and work closely with the USACE and other project partners to develop and deliver the planning studies and construction documents required to advance projects to construction. This role will be instrumental in ensuring projects remain on track by coordinating design efforts, managing project risks, and maintaining alignment with project objectives. The Senior Engineer will oversee the successful execution of design deliverables, support construction-phase services, and guide projects through completion and closeout. The position will provide leadership across a multidisciplinary team and serve as a key liaison among internal and external stakeholders, regulatory agencies, the USACE, and partner organizations to facilitate collaboration, resolve issues, and support the timely delivery of projects. Valley Water's mission is to provide Santa Clara County with safe, clean water for a healthy life, environment, and economy. The FY 2026-27 Adopted Budget of $1.284 billion supports approximately 876 employees. With headquarters in San José, Valley Water provides water supply, enhances streams and watersheds through creek restoration and habitat protection, provides flood protection for homes, schools, businesses and roadways, and partners with other agencies to provide trails and open space for the community.

Requirements

• Six (6) years of professional engineering experience in flood protection, including at least two (2) years of lead responsibility.
• Professional experience in civil engineering; structural engineering is a plus.
• Planning, design and construction of infrastructure projects, especially of flood control/protection projects.
• General civil and/or structural engineering experience including but not limited to bridges, retaining walls, levees, slope stability structures, and other flood control structures.
• Strong familiarity with hydrology and open channel and/or closed conduit hydraulics.
• Preparing engineering studies, reports, plans, specifications, cost estimates, and design calculations.
• Post design construction support services including construction field observation, construction administration and construction management.
• Project management and multi-objective projects.
• Public correspondence/communication and technical writing.
• Deliver complex, technical, and sensitive engineering projects and programs in an independent and cooperative manner.
• Read, prepare, review, and interpret engineering plans, drawings, specifications, and contract documents.
• Apply structural engineering principles and computer programs to resolve engineering problems.
• Conduct various engineering studies to recommend engineering solutions.
• Analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions, and implement recommendations in support of goals.
• Civil design background with strong knowledge of industry standards and procedures.
• Strong understanding of hydraulics, fluvial channel design, hydrology, Civil CADD, Civil 3D, geotechnical, and surveying aspects related to flood control/protection infrastructure projects.
• Structural engineering principles, codes, standards, practices, and methods as applied to the design, construction, installation, operation, and maintenance of structural systems, elements, components, and facilities.
• Principles and practices of project management, including planning, organizing, executing, scheduling, monitoring, and controlling.
• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in civil engineering or a related field.
• Possess and maintain a valid license as a Professional Engineer issued by the California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists.
• Possession of, or ability to obtain, an appropriate, valid California driver's license.
• Individuals who do not meet the driver's license requirement due to a disability will be considered for a reasonable accommodation on a case-by-case basis.
• Possession of a valid license as a Professional Engineer issued by the California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists.
• Employment with Valley Water requires employees to live within 150 miles of their primary physical work location located in San Jose, California by their start date.

Nice To Haves

• Structural engineering is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Leads the in-house project team responsible for planning, design, execution, and implementation of assigned projects.
• Directs and supervises daily project management activities, ensuring effective coordination, timely delivery, adherence to project objectives, and successful completion of project milestones.
• Coordinates and facilitates meetings with project teams and cross-functional Valley Water units and divisions to support project planning, execution, and stakeholder alignment.
• Manage cost-sharing, operations and maintenance, and other project-related agreements.
• Review and preparation of engineering reports, plans, specifications, cost estimates, and other technical documents.
• Oversees plan document compliance and ensures contractors perform work in accordance with contract requirements, specifications, and project standards.
• Construction support and contract administration by reviewing requests for information (RFIs), submittals, and potential change order items.

Benefits

• An internally hired limited-term appointee will be covered by the applicable MOU and eligible for all pay and benefits described in the MOU.
• An externally hired limited-term appointee will be covered by the applicable MOU and eligible for all pay and benefits described in the MOU with the exception of the following articles/sections: Article 3, Section 10: Temporary Assignment – Temporary Upgrade Pay, Article 3, Section 11: Temporary Assignment - Special Assignment Pay, Article 6, Section 4(D): Deferred Compensation (Limited-term appointees may participate in Valley Water’s 457 deferred compensation program however they will be ineligible for Valley Water matching funds and participation in Valley Water’s 401(a) plan), Article 8: Leaves of Absence (Valley Water will provide a leave of absence as required by law under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), California Family Rights Act (CFRA) and Pregnancy Disability Leave (PDL)), Article 11: Workforce Development, Article 12: Special Programs, Article 13: Employee Performance/Evaluation, Article 14: Classification, Article 15: Discipline Process, Article 17: Layoff

What This Job Offers

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