Civil Engineering Tech I/II/III
Salary
$70,449.60 - $94,411.20 Annually
Location
San Luis Obispo, CA
Job Type
Permanent - Hourly
Job Number
1026PM-00648-01
Department
Public Works
Division
40513 PW Water Resources
Opening Date
10/08/2026
Closing Date
11/7/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
About the Position
The County of San Luis Obispo is offering a rewarding career opportunity for a Civil Engineering Technician to join our APWA accredited Public Works Department. We are seeking a Water Resources Technician (Civil Engineering Technician I/II/III) with a specialization in hydrology to support essential water resource monitoring and management across the region.
This position is part of a dedicated team of public works professionals responsible for collecting and maintaining high quality water resource data, including groundwater measurements, stream gauging, precipitation monitoring, operation and servicing of field equipment, and data compilation and analysis. The role also provides support for special projects in water, wastewater, and flood control, offering a wide range of hands on and analytical experience.
This position serves within the Water Resources Division, which operates, maintains, and monitors a countywide network of real time rain, stream, and reservoir gauges, as well as groundwater measurements from approximately 130 wells. The data collected informs the public, supports data driven decision making by policymakers, and directly advances our mission of sustainable water resource management in San Luis Obispo County.
San Luis Obispo County, located on California's Central Coast, is known for its natural beauty, strong community partnerships, and innovative approach to water management. The Water Resources Division collaborates with cities, water districts, state agencies, well owners, and other partners to manage a diverse portfolio of water resources. This environment offers a unique opportunity for individuals inspired by public service, environmental stewardship, and long-term sustainability.
If you are ready to grow your career, make a meaningful impact, and join a team committed to protecting the water resources that sustain our communities, we encourage you to apply.
For a complete job description:
Click here for Civil Engineering Technician I
Click here for Civil Engineering Technician II
Click here for Civil Engineering Technician III
The Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate will have foundational knowledge of hydrologic practices, strong data management awareness, and an innovative mindset for applying modern technologies to enhance data accessibility and quality. For more information related to the Division and water resources in our County, please visit SLO County Public-Works Water-Resources and SLO County Water Hub.
In addition to the general Representative Duties for the Civil Engineering Technician career series, the ideal candidate will have the ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with vendors, County staff, consultants, and contractors; install, operate, and maintain stream or rain gage stations (including ALERT2 radio protocol); collect groundwater well level measurements; analyze hydrologic data; and perform streamflow measurements (rating curves). The candidate should be capable of maintaining accurate records and prepare reports or procedures, safely navigating field and gage station sites, and performing substantial fieldwork, along with demonstrating a strong commitment to public service. Work assignments will be within the geographical area of San Luis Obispo County.
Civil engineering techs are part of a career-level series of positions with increasing responsibilities for the technical professional who does not have a professional engineering license.
Candidates with hydrology experience in flood management, gage station maintenance, groundwater monitoring, or other water resource field operations are encouraged to apply. In addition, candidates with degrees in water resources or related fields, including environmental science, geology, and hydrology, are encouraged to apply.
Education and Experience
A combination of education, training, and experience resulting in the required knowledge, skills, and abilities. An example of qualifying education and experience includes:
Civil Engineering Technician I: Graduation from high school or possession of a GED certificate. AND: Either A: Two years as Civil Engineering Technician Aide or an equivalent class; Or B: Three years of non-professional civil engineering surveying or construction inspection experience. (Possession of a valid Engineer-In-Training or Land Surveyor-In-Training Certificate issued by the California Board of Registration may be substituted for either A or B above.)
Civil Engineering Technician II: Graduation from high school or possession of a GED certificate. Two years as a Civil Engineering Technician I or an equivalent class. (Possession of a valid Engineer-In-Training or Land Surveyor-In-Training Certificate issued by the California Board of Registration may be substituted for one year of the required experience.)
Civil Engineering Technician III: Graduation from high school or possession of a GED certificate. Three years as a Civil Engineering Technician II or an equivalent class. (Possession of a valid Engineer-In-Training or Land Surveyor-In-Training issued by the California Board of Registration may be substituted for one year of the required experience.)
Licenses and Certificates
A valid driver license is required at the time of application. A valid CALIFORNIA driver license is required at the time of appointment and must be maintained throughout employment.
Other Specifications
Factors Affecting Position Allocation:
Relative level, variety and complexity of duties; independence of action; degree of supervision received and exercised; consequence of error are all factors used in differentiating between levels.
This class specification generally describes the duties and responsibilities characteristic of the positions(s) within this class. The duties of a particular position within a multi-position class may vary from the duties of other positions within the class. Accordingly, the essential functions of a particular position (whether it be a multi-position class or a single-position class) will be identified and used by medical examiners and hiring authorities in the selection process. If you have any questions regarding the duties or the working conditions of the position, please contact the Human Resources Department at (805) 781-5959.
How to Apply
Applications, including answers to supplemental questions, must be submitted online by the final filing date. To apply for this position, click "apply" at the top of this page. Most County recruitments require you to respond to supplemental questions as part of the application process. We recommend that you review these questions prior to beginning your application.
An initial application review will be conducted. Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications and are best qualified will be invited to participate in selection activities which may include online assessments, performance exams, written exams, and interviews.
Final candidates will be required to have an in-depth background review performed before proceeding in the process. Please note that references will not be contacted until the end of the process.
If you have questions or would like to discuss the opportunity further, please contact Human Resources at hr@co.slo.ca.us. Confidential inquiries are welcomed.
For further information regarding the County of San Luis Obispo, visit our website at www.slocounty.ca.gov.
Reasonable Accommodation Notice
Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job or to perform your job. Examples of reasonable accommodation include making a change to the application process or work procedures, providing documents in an alternate format, using a sign language interpreter, or using specialized equipment. Please call 805-781-5959 for assistance or e-mail hr@co.slo.ca.us for more information.
Veterans Preference Points
If you are applying for employment with the County of San Luis Obispo and you served in the United States Armed Forces, you may be eligible for veterans preference points as part of the recruitment process. Some dependents and survivors of eligible veterans may also be eligible for preference points. Click here for more information and to learn how to apply for this benefit. Please note that Veteran's credits must be on file with the County of San Luis Obispo Veterans Services Office prior to the recruitment closing date indicated on the job announcement.
Equal Employment Opportunity
The County is an equal opportunity employer. Objectives are directed toward assuring equal opportunity in selection / promotion, pay, and job assignments. Recruitment and selection procedures have been established to ensure non-discrimination on the basis of political or religious opinions or affiliations, age, sex, race, color, national origin, marital status, disability, sexual orientation or other non-merit factors. In addition, the County complies with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act in hiring and retaining employees. For more information contact the Human Resources Department at (805)781-5959.
Make a Difference
Employees of the County of San Luis Obispo are public servants who impact the lives of our community every day. From supporting efforts to reduce homelessness, keeping our drinking water clean, or serving the families in need in the community, County employees make a difference.
Compensation and Benefits
Your annual salary is supplemented by a generous benefit package.
In general, temporary employees are not eligible for County-sponsored benefits and may have limited benefit options available to them. For more information on benefit eligibility, please e-mail hr@co.slo.ca.us.
For additional information regarding the benefits listed that may be available to you, visit the associated Benefits-At-A-Glance webpage (click here for link).
Some benefits include:
The County of San Luis Obispo has been recognized as a Diamond Level Family Friendly Workplace by San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce. We support our employees through: childcare assistance, flexible scheduling practices, paid and unpaid leave, comprehensive health benefits, flexible spending accounts, and employee assistance programs.
Pension Benefit and Employee Contribution Rates:
The Countys pension is a defined benefit plan that provides a guaranteed monthly pension payment for life based on your time in service, wages, and other factors. The County is the primary contributor to the pension fund, but the health of the pension fund also depends on mandatory employee contributions. Employees are required to pay a percentage of their base pay towards the pension fund, ranging from 5% to 19%. This amount is deducted from your paycheck pre-tax every pay period. To find out how much will be deducted from your paycheck should you be hired for this position, please contact Pension Trust at (805) 781-5465.
Healthcare Benefits and Cafeteria Contributions:
The County offers comprehensive medical coverage to you and your family, along with two dental plan options and vision coverage. All permanent employees receive a monthly employer contribution (or 'cafeteria' contribution) to help them pay for their portion of the medical, dental, and vision insurance premiums. The amount of the cafeteria contribution varies by Bargaining Unit (BU) and the extent to which employees enroll their dependents. If the cafeteria amount is greater than your selected premiums, the remainder of the cafeteria is paid out to you in your paycheck as taxable income. If the cafeteria amount is less than your monthly premiums, you pay the remainder of the premiums with pre-tax wages.
To estimate your out-of-pocket costs (or cashback from extra cafeteria), visit the Cafeteria Rates webpage (click here for link).
Learning and Development
The County prioritizes your learning, personal and professional development, and career growth. Employees have access to over 1500 on-demand courses, instructor led courses, and job-specific trainings.
Employees can take courses to upskill to make themselves more competitive for promotional opportunities and further their career growth. Examples of courses include:
Student Loan Forgiveness
Did you know that if you are employed by a government agency you may be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program
County employees also have access to GotZoom, a program that offers tools and support to navigate your federal student loans.
Homebuyer assistance program
Employees have access to the "Assist-to-Own" program sponsored by Golden State Finance Authority (click here for link to more information) to get a loan for the down payment.
01
Describe your knowledge and experience related to water-resources technician work, including stream gauging, precipitation monitoring, groundwater-level measurement, streamflow measurements, basic surveying, and flood-control activities.
02
This position requires maintaining, installing, and troubleshooting stream and rain gage equipment. Describe your experience and approach to troubleshooting field equipment.
03
This position involves routinely collecting, compiling, and managing large volumes of water-resource data. Describe your experience with data collection, data analysis, and data management. Please also describe your approach to quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC).NA
04
Please select your level of experience.
Required Question
Employer County of San Luis Obispo
Address 1055 Monterey Street
Suite D-250
San Luis Obispo, California, 93408
Phone 805-781-5959
Website http://www.slocounty.ca.gov/
| Location | San Luis Obispo, CA |
| Salary | $70,449.60–$94,411.20 Per Year |
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