Assistant / Associate Drainage Engineer - Planning and Building (Open and Promotional)
Salary
$105,331.20 - $155,750.40 Annually
Location
County of San Mateo, CA
Job Type
Regular
Job Number
N018H
Department
Planning and Building
Opening Date
07/01/2026
Closing Date
7/15/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
Bargaining Unit
85
Description
The County of San Mateo Planning & Building Department is seeking well-qualified candidates for the position of Assistant / Associate Drainage Engineer.
Under general supervision, perform a variety of professional civil engineering services in such areas as planning and design of private and public planning and building projects, including residential and commercial buildings, parks, and landscaping projects.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
Assistant Engineer is the entry or trainee-level class of this series. Under immediate supervision, employees perform first-level professional civil engineering field and office work while acting in a trainee capacity in connection with the planning, design, construction, and maintenance of a wide variety of private and public planning and building projects. This class is flexibly staffed with an Associate Engineer, and incumbents may advance to the higher level after gaining experience and demonstrating necessary proficiency.
Associate Engineer is the journey level class of this series, responsible for routine office or field projects. Employees are expected to be fully competent to independently perform a full range of duties requiring a high level of technical expertise and some periodic supervisory responsibilities. Employees may also serve as a resident engineer on construction projects.
The ideal candidate will possess and have knowledge of:
NOTE: The eligible list generated from this recruitment may be used to fill future extra-help, term, unclassified, and regular classified vacancies.
Examples Of Duties
Duties will include, but are not limited to:
Qualifications
Education and Experience:
Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to qualify is:
Assistant Engineer: Bachelor's degree in civil engineering OR twenty-four (24) semester units in civil engineering courses and three years of civil engineering experience in office, field or survey party work OR possession of an Engineer in Training Certificate.
Associate Engineer: Two years of professional civil engineering experience which has included field and office work in the planning, design, construction and maintenance of a variety of civil engineering projects.
Knowledge of:
Skill/Ability to:
Licensure/Certification:
Some positions require possession of a class C California drivers license or equivalent.
Note: The level and scope of the knowledge and skills listed above are related to job duties as defined under Distinguishing Characteristics.
Application/Examination
Open & Promotional. Anyone may apply. Current County of San Mateo and County of San Mateo Superior Court of California employees with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in a classified regular, probationary, or extra-help/limited term position prior to the final filing date will receive five points added to their final passing score.
Responses to the supplemental questions must be submitted in addition to our regular employment application form. A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for the required employment application and supplemental questionnaire.
The examination process will consist of an application screening based on the candidates application and responses to the supplemental questions (weight: pass/fail). Candidates who pass the application screening may be invited to a panel interview (weight: 100%). Depending on the number of applicants, an application appraisal of education and experience may be used in place of other examinations, or further evaluation of work experience may be conducted to group applicants by level of qualification. Applicants meeting the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination. All examinations will be given in San Mateo County, California, and applicants must participate at their own expense.
IMPORTANT: Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the Countys website, you may click the "Apply" button. If you are not on the Countys website, please go to http://jobs.smcgov.org to apply.
TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE
Final Filing Date: Wednesday, July 15, 2026, 11:59 PM PST
Application Screening: July 20 - 24, 2026
Civil Service Panel Interview: August 5 and/ or 6, 2026
About the County
San Mateo County is centrally located between San Francisco, San Jose, and the East Bay. With over 750,000 residents, San Mateo is one of the largest and most diverse counties in California and serves a multitude of culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse communities.
The County of San Mateo, as an employer, is committed to advancing equity in order to ensure that all employees are welcomed in a safe and inclusive environment. The County seeks to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community. We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply. Eighty percent of employees surveyed stated that they would recommend the County as a great place to work.
San Mateo County is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion at all levels.
Analyst: Sedrick Dixon (07012026) (Assistant / Associate Engineer - N033/N018)
We invite you to explore our Benefits-at-a-Glance page for a snapshot of the comprehensive and competitive benefits available to eligible employees of the County of San Mateo. From health and wellness to financial security, our benefits are designed to support you at every stage of your career. (Please note that benefits are subject to change.)
In addition to core benefits, the County is proud to offer a variety of wellness and professional development programs to help you grow both personally and professionally. Most of these enriching opportunities are available during work hours and come at no cost to you.
As a County employee, you'll also be covered by the federal Social Security system, earning valuable retirement benefits based on your salary and years of service.
01
NOTE: Applicants for this position are required to submit responses to the supplemental questions below. Your responses will give us additional information about your background and experience related to this position and will be used in the selection process. Be concise, yet thorough, and specific. Neatness, clarity of expression and the ability to follow instructions will be considered in the evaluation process. A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for your responses.
02
Do you possess an Engineer-in-Training (EIT) Certificate? (A "no" answer will not disqualify you from the process.)
03
If YES to the previous question, indicate (A) EIT Certificate number and (B) Date issued. (Type "N/A" if you answered "no" to the previous question.)
04
Do you possess a valid Certificate of Registration as a Professional Civil Engineer in the State of California? (A "no" answer will not disqualify you from the process.)
05
If you are a registered Civil Engineer in the State of California, please provide the following information: (A) license number and (B) date issued. (Type "N/A" if you are not a registered Civil Engineer in California.)
06
Select one response that best describes your highest level of education in Civil Engineering. (Be prepared to provide verification of graduation/certification if requested.)
07
Do you possess a California drivers license?
08
If YES to the previous question, provide the number and expiration date.
09
Describe your relevant civil engineering experience. In your response, please address the following: (A) Number of years of experience. (B) Specific projects you worked on relevant to the position you are applying for. (C) Your level of involvement, role, and responsibilities in each project. (D) The technical activities you performed.
10
Describe your work experience in the following areas. (A) Drainage design and inspections experience specific to development projects. (B) Compliance with Regional Water Board Requirements for development, including low-impact development and biotreatment. (C) Erosion Control and Best Management Practice. (D) General software applications for word processing, project scheduling, project management, email and spreadsheets.
11
Describe your experience in a customer-focused environment. Give an example that best demonstrates your ability to explain engineering, stormwater treatment/runoff control, or construction-related processes and procedures to people with varying degrees of or no familiarity with the field.
12
Describe your professional experience in the following areas. A) Reviewing geotechnical reports and construction for structures in high seismic zones. B) Design, review, and/or inspection of foundations and soil retaining structures in areas with seismic hazards. C) Earthquake-resistant foundation design and soil liquefaction-related design and construction methods. (Type N/A if no experience. A "N/A" answer will not disqualify you from the process)
13
How did you learn about this position?
14
If you answered, "Professional Publication/Website" or "Other" to the above question, please indicate below how you learned about this position. Your response to this question will help us in better marketing County jobs. Type NA if not applicable.
Required Question
Employer County of San Mateo
Address County of San Mateo Human Resources Department
500 County Center, 4th Floor
Redwood City, California, 94063-1663
Phone (650) 363-4343
Website https://jobs.smcgov.org