Associate Engineer - PE required (Limited Term - 2 positions)

Associate Engineer - PE required (Limited Term - 2 positions)

Salary

$151,049.60 - $193,377.60 Annually

Location

5750 Almaden Expressway, San Jose, CA, CA

Job Type

Full-Time

Job Number

02001-LT

Division

Watersheds Design and Construction

Opening Date

07/14/2026

Closing Date

7/27/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Description

Overview :

The Associate Engineer positions (two positions) will provide project management and engineering support for flood protection and environmental stewardship projects in the Watershed Design and Construction Division. The positions are responsible for providing technical expertise and overall project management through planning, design, construction, and project closeout. The selected candidate will be a key member of the project teams, supporting project planning, development of engineering plans, specifications and cost estimates, technical analysis, and project construction phase engineering services. The Associate Engineer will support the successful execution of projects from planning through completion and closeout.

The position will work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams and serve as a key liaison among internal and external stakeholders, regulatory agencies, consultants, and partner organizations to facilitate collaboration, resolve project issues, and support the timely delivery of project milestones.

Our Commitment:

We are committed to building and sustaining a working environment where all individuals are respected and valued. We believe every member of our team brings unique perspectives that enhance our ability to serve the public effectively. By fostering a workplace with employees from the communities we serve, we broaden our collective understanding of the world around us and strengthen our mission to equitably provide safe, clean water, natural flood protection, and environmental stewardship.

About Valley Water:

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.

Who We Are:

To learn how Valley Water provides safe, clean water and environmental stewardship for the Santa Clara community, please click here

Key Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Support or lead project team responsible for planning, design, execution, and implementation of assigned projects.
• Direct and work on daily project management activities, ensuring effective coordination, timely delivery, adherence to project objectives, and successful completion of project milestones.
• Review and preparation of planning study reports, engineering plans, specifications, cost estimates, and other technical documents.
• Coordinate and facilitate meetings with project teams and cross-functional valley water units and divisions to support project planning, execution, and stakeholder alignment.
• Coordinate and facilitate meetings with external agencies such as cities, permitting agencies or USACE, consultants and contractors as needed to progress project work efficiently.
• Manage project-related agreements including cost-sharing, operations and maintenance, and other project-related agreements.
• Ensure plan document compliance and 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.

Ideal Candidates Background Includes:

Applicants whose experience and background best match the ideal experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, and education are considered ideal candidates for the position. To determine the top candidates, each applicant will be assessed based on the ideal candidate criteria as listed below.

Ideal Experience:

• Four (4) years of professional engineering experience.
• Experience supporting or managing flood protection, environmental stewardship, water resources, or other civil engineering projects

Ideal Skills and Abilities:

• Plan, organize, schedule, assign, train, review, and evaluate the work of staff.
• Recommend and implement work plans and effectively manage engineering projects and project teams.
• Apply engineering principles, practices, concepts, and standards to engineering problems.
• Analyze, interpret, summarize, and present technical engineering information and data.
• Perform engineering calculations and statistics.
• Prepare, understand, and interpret construction plans, specifications, drawings, and other engineering documents.
• Independently conduct comprehensive engineering studies, investigations, and analyses.
• Prepare clear and concise reports, correspondence, and other written materials.
• Interpret, apply, explain, and ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local policies, procedures, laws, and regulations, and Valley Water engineering policies and procedures.
• Conduct engineering research projects, evaluate alternatives, make sound recommendations, and prepare effective technical reports.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships.

Ideal Knowledge:

• Principles and practices of employee supervision, including work planning, assignment, review and evaluation, and the training of staff in work procedures.
• Principles, practices, concepts, and standards of civil engineering as applied to assigned field/specialty of engineering, water resources management, natural resource management and planning, engineering, hydrogeology, geology, hydrology, hydraulics, and/or environmental sciences.
• Principles and practices of numerical modeling and analysis, natural resource modeling, forecasting and risk analysis, and statistical analysis.
• Principles of advanced mathematics and its application to civil engineering work.
• Principles and practices of project budgeting, cost estimation, funding, project management, and contract administration.
• Practices of researching engineering and design issues, evaluating alternatives, making sound recommendations, and preparing and presenting effective and technical reports.
• Recent and on-going engineering related developments, including information technology, current literature, and sources of information related to the operations of assigned area of responsibility.
• Applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulatory codes, ordinances, and procedures relevant to assigned area of responsibility.
• Office practices, methods, and computer equipment and applications related to the work.
• English usage, grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and punctuation.
• Principles and techniques for providing customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and Valley Water staff.
• Each employee shall possess a reasonable understanding of their roles and responsibilities as defined in the Valley Water's Injury and Illness Prevention Program.

Ideal Training and Education:

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in civil engineering or a field related to assigned functional area(s).

LIMITED TERM POSITION:

The assignment period will be up to 2 years and such time period may be adjusted as needed by Valley Water management.

• If the limited-term appointee is internally hired and released from the position prior to the end of the time period, the appointee will be subject to Valley Water's reassignment process and/or appropriate Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) layoff provisions.
• 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 considered "at-will" and may be terminated at any time with or without cause.

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

Required License or Certificate

Possession of, or ability to obtain, an appropriate, valid California drivers license. Individuals who do not meet the drivers license requirement due to a disability will be considered for a reasonable accommodation on a case-by-case basis.

Possession of a valid California Professional Engineering License (PE).

To review the Classification Specification, please click here

Design & Construction Unit #5 & #6 (Position Code LT022 & LT023)

Valley Water Telework Program: Eligibility for telework will depend on the type of work performed, operational needs, and the ability for the employee to perform the essential functions of their job duties while teleworking. 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.

This position is eligible for a hybrid telework schedule, typically working 40% remote and 60% onsite.

Selection Process

(1) The selection process may include one or more of the following: application review, application assessment, performance exercise, written exercise and/or interview.

(2) The Employment Application, Qualifying Information Questions and/or Supplemental Questions will be evaluated based on the ideal candidate criteria listed above. Resumes are highly recommended.

NOTE: Position and start date is subject to availability of funds. Valley Water retains the right to repost this position as deemed necessary.

Consideration may be given to existing applicant pools within the same classification.

Valley Waters Equal Opportunity Non-Discrimination Policy is available for review upon request.

Valley Water will make reasonable efforts in the examination process to accommodate persons with disabilities. Please advise Human Resources in advance of any special needs by calling 408-630-2260.

Please be aware that once submitted all application materials become the property of Valley Water and will not be returned. Human Resources staff are not authorized to make copies of application materials for applicants.

The Santa Clara Valley Water District, now known as Valley Water, offers a comprehensive benefit package including, vacation, holidays, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, EAP, life and disability insurance. In addition, Valley Water participates in the California Public Employees Retirement System (PERS). To view a summary of benefits, click here

01

I acknowledge that I have entered my Work Experience and Education on the employment application, and I am aware these are required fields. If they are not completed, the application is considered incomplete, and I will be disqualified as an applicant for the position.

• Yes
• No

02

Please answer the supplemental questions thoroughly, clearly, and concisely as the responses provided (along with the application) will be carefully reviewed to determine which candidates will move forward in the recruitment process. Responses that refer to attachments (e.g., "see resume") will not be considered. Each question must be answered in full to ensure a fair and complete evaluation. I have read this information and am aware of the importance of responses to the supplemental questions.

• Yes
• No

03

Please list the highest degree of education achieved.

04

Do you have four years of professional engineering experience?

• Yes
• No

05

Do you have a valid California PE license?

• Yes
• No

06

Describe your experience supporting or managing flood protection, water resources, environmental stewardship, or other civil engineering projects. Include your role, the project phase(s) you supported, and your primary technical responsibilities.

07

Provide two examples of a situation that involved coordination with external stakeholders, consultants, internal staff in other functional areas, leadership, or Board members. For each example, please include your goal, your role or contribution, and what was the outcome?

08

Employment with Valley Water requires employees to take an Oath as a Disaster Service Worker within California and to live within 150 miles of Valley Water Headquarters in San Jose, California by the start date. Valley Water does not cover relocation costs. If you live further than 150 miles from Valley Water Headquarters, please discuss your willingness to relocate if offered the position. If this does not apply to you, write "N/A".

09

Please list the full name of the regular/permanent Valley Water employee who referred you to this position (only one name will be accepted, so if multiple are listed, the first name provided will be documented as the referring employee). If this does not apply to you, write "N/A".

Required Question

Employer Santa Clara Valley Water District (CA)

Address 5750 Almaden Expressway

San Jose, California, 95118

Phone 1-408-630-2260

Website https://www.valleywater.org