Assistant Civil Engineer

The City of Ventura Public Works Department is looking for an energetic Assistant Engineer to join the Engineering Design Division. This position is assigned within the Water/Wastewater Design Section. If you are approaching journey level, this position may be for you!

The Design Division is responsible for managing the planning, design, permitting, bidding and award of projects included in the City’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP). This team oversees all scopes of work, reviews, and evaluates project budgets, negotiates costs and responds to water and wastewater utility management, technical consultants, residents, and business owners to resolve issues. The team leverages advanced enterprise, management and software tools such as Civil 3d, Share Point, Trimble Unity Construct and Workday to collaborate, design, manage, schedule, budget and execute water and wastewater capital projects.

Depending on experience, these teams’ members will serve as project managers or assistant project managers on a variety of projects. As an Assistant Engineer, you will have the opportunity to mentor with more senior level registered engineers who will provide support as you work toward your professional engineering license.

Water/Wastewater Design

• The Water and Wastewater Assistant Engineer position offers the opportunity to demonstrate and/or grow your abilities on a variety of capital improvement design projects supporting Ventura Water, the City’s water and wastewater utility with the chance to do “in-house” design work and consultant management. Engineers assigned to the Water and Wastewater Design section will work on select Capital Improvement Program (CIP) design projects. Typical projects include conveyance pipelines, collection pipelines, pump stations, lift stations, reservoirs, groundwater wells, water treatment and wastewater treatment.
• Depending on the complexity of the projects, assigned engineers will be given opportunities to create or assist with preliminary design reports, plans, specifications, estimates or manage design consultants. Under supervision, the Assistant Engineer will work to facilitate project permits, agreements and contracts. The position may also be assigned to provide as-needed engineering support for the water and wastewater operations staff.
• The ideal candidate for this position is a motivated engineer with a passion for enhancing water and wastewater infrastructure to serve the community. They have prior experience or a strong interest in designing and managing capital improvement projects, including pipelines, pump stations, production wells, and treatment facilities with a focus on technical excellence and collaboration. Their problem-solving mindset and commitment to public service enable them to contribute to the reliable and sustainable operation of the City’s water and wastewater systems.

Ventura is a full-service City and the infrastructure project assignments are diverse. The five-year CIP includes a portfolio of projects supporting maintenance, replacement and improvement of the water and wastewater utilities in addition to six other City functional areas. Our Public Works Department has maintained American Public Works Association accreditation since 2014 documenting our adherence to industry best practices, efficiency, and culture of continuous improvement while highlighting our dedication to improving the community.

Project work is local and required travel outside the Ventura Water service area is infrequent.

The professional Engineer classification series is flexibly staffed, and positions may be filled at any level (Assistant/Associate/Civil Engineer) depending on the needs of the City and the qualifications of the candidate. This allows opportunity for promotional advancement as the Assistant Engineer’s skills, qualifications and experience develop.

Within the professional engineering series, the Assistant Engineer approaches journey level and functions under immediate to general supervision. Incumbents perform routine to moderately complex professional engineering design and project management requiring application of fundamental engineering principles and prior experience. Project and task assignments are generally moderately difficult in scope and fall within a design and procedural framework established by higher-level employees. The Assistant Engineer is provided with an increasing level of independence as additional experience is acquired.

Experience and Qualifications for Success!

A combination of training, education and experience equivalent to a Bachelors degree in Civil or Environmental Engineering, or a related field, and qualifying experience as described below, in civil engineering, hydraulic engineering, pump engineering, water treatment engineering, wastewater treatment engineering, or water resource engineering/planning, or are required, as follows:

Assistant Engineer: One year of professional engineering experience in the assigned area. A California Engineer in Training (EIT) certificate and two years of college may substitute for the bachelor’s degree. A California Engineering-in-Training certificate is highly desirable.

License: Depending on assignment, possession of a valid California Class C driver's license may be required.

Certificates: A California "Engineer in Training" (EIT) certificate is highly desirable.