Maintenance Worker Trainee (Water & Sanitation) Salary $44,054.40 - $60,652.80 Annually
Location: Throughout San Bernardino County, CA
Job Type: Full-time
Job Number: 26-43093-01
Department: Special Districts
Opening Date: January 31, 2026
Closing Date: February 13, 2026 5:00 PM Pacific
Description
The San Bernardino County Department of Public Works, Special Districts - Water and Sanitation Division is recruiting for Maintenance Worker Trainee. Under training conditions, these positions learn to perform routine maintenance, repair, and inspection tasks related to the operation of water distribution and wastewater collection systems. Upon successful completion of the training period, incumbents may automatically promote to Maintenance Worker I.
Essential Duties
• Inspect and record pump station meter readings, monitor gauges, and ensure proper system operations. • Assist with the installation, repair, and replacement of water mains, sewer lines, and service connections using digging and excavation methods. • Operate and learn to operate a variety of equipment, such as: backhoes, dump trucks, mixers, bypass pumps, generators, combination cleaners, and air compressors. • Maintain and support operation of system infrastructure including pipelines, storage tanks, wells, lift stations, control valves, and booster stations. • Conduct inspections of water distribution and wastewater collection systems for safety, proper function, and regulatory compliance. • Perform preventive maintenance and minor repairs on pumps, motors, valves, compressors, and related equipment. • Respond to emergency call-outs and perform on-call duties on a rotational basis, with the ability to respond within one hour in all weather and environmental conditions.
Benefits
For more detailed information, refer to the Maintenance Worker Trainee job description.
Excellent Benefits
San Bernardino County offers a range of benefit programs for employees and their eligible dependents. These include health, dental, vision, and life insurance, as well as a variety of other voluntary benefits. Programs and benefit amounts vary and are based on bargaining unit, family size, hire date, plan selection, and number of hours worked. Please review the appropriate Summary of Benefits for more information.
Conditions of Employment
Working Conditions:
Applicants must be able to perform heavy manual labor and work outdoors in varying weather conditions; work in desert and mountainous areas, remote locations, and other locations as needed; have the ability to drive-in all-weather conditions; and work weekends and holidays and respond to emergency calls as needed.
Health and Physical:
Persons seeking appointment to this class must meet the health and physical condition standards deemed necessary and proper for performance of the duties established by the San Bernardino County Special Districts Department. Must be able to regularly lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and have the ability to stoop, kneel, crouch, bend over, and crawl for extended periods of time while performing job duties.
Certification
Must obtain a State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) Water Distribution Operator Grade D1 certification within 12 months or 2 consecutive test cycles, from date of employment, or be terminated. Must obtain a SWRCB T1 Water Treatment certification, OR a SWRCB Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Grade I, within 18 months of employment, or be terminated.
License
Must obtain and maintain a CA Class A unrestricted drivers license with tanker endorsement within 18 months of employment or be terminated.
Travel
Travel throughout the County is required. A valid CA drivers license and proof of automobile liability insurance is required at time of appointment.
Assignment
Employees on call must respond by phone within 30 minutes. Employees may be assigned to one region, but are expected to work any site located throughout the County, to meet the Departments needs. Incumbents are required to be available on-call evenings, weekends, and holidays, as needed.
Promotion
Maintenance Worker Trainees are eligible for promotion to Maintenance Worker I upon successful completion of training and probation, possession of the required certifications and licenses, and receiving a recent successful work performance evaluation; must promote within 18 months or be terminated.
Sponsorship
San Bernardino County is unable to consider candidates who require Visa Sponsorship at this time or in the future. Candidates must be able to present their legal right to work in the United States at the time of employment.
Minimum Requirements
Candidates must meet both the license and ONE (1) of the experience options listed below:
Desired Qualifications
The ideal candidate will possess a valid CA Class A unrestricted driver license with tanker and hazmat endorsements, in addition to possession of the SWRCB Water Distribution Operator Grade D1 certification, SWRCB T1 Water Treatment certification, and SWRCB Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Grade I certification.
Selection Process
Application Procedure:
To be considered for this excellent opportunity, please complete and submit the online employment application by February 13, 2026 at 5 PM. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of the application and/or supplemental questionnaire.
Applicant Information and the County Employment Process
San Bernardino County offers a range of benefit programs for employees and their eligible dependents. These include health, dental, vision, and life insurance, as well as a variety of other voluntary benefits. Programs and benefit amounts vary and are based on bargaining unit, family size, hire date, plan selection, and number of hours worked. Please review the appropriate Summary of Benefits for more information.
Guide to Completing a County Job Application
Applicant Information and the County Employment Process
Veterans' Preference
Eligible veterans and their spouses or widows/widowers who are not current County employees may receive additional Veterans Preference points. For details and instructions on how to request these points, please refer to the Veterans Preference Policy.
EEO/ADA
San Bernardino County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant employer, dedicated to ensuring equal employment opportunities for all employees and applicants.
ADA Accommodation
If you have a disability and need accommodations during the testing process, please submit the Special Testing Accommodations Request Form within one week of a recruitment filing deadline.
Applicant Acknowledgement - Notification via email
As part of our efforts to increase efficiency and promote conservation of resources, human resources uses email to communicate with applicants. Therefore, all future communications regarding this recruitment, including applicant status and testing notifications, will be made via email. Each applicant needs their own email address. We strongly encourage you, as an applicant, to ensure that the email address you have provided us with your application is current, secure, confidential, and readily accessible to you. Adjust Spam and/or other filters so that our emails are accepted. Please carefully read any notices that we send you and follow any instructions provided in a timely manner. We will not be responsible in any way if you do not receive our emails (i.e., for the non-delivery of our emails or if you fail to check your e-mail on a timely basis).
Applicant Acknowledgement - Application Complete
Thank you for taking the time to complete this application and supplemental questionnaire. Please be sure to review all information provided prior to submitting it as you cannot update or revise it once submitted. Your submitted application will be reviewed and evaluated as is. Please do not refer to a resume or other documentation in lieu of completing the employment history section or responding to the supplemental questions; they will not be reviewed or considered. Once your application has been successfully submitted, you will receive an onscreen confirmation and an email confirmation will be sent to the email address listed on your application. We recommend that you save and/or print these for your records. Please note: if you do not receive an onscreen confirmation and an email acknowledging our receipt of your application, we have not received your application.
Employer
San Bernardino County Address: 175 West Fifth Street, 1st Floor San Bernardino, California, 92415-0440 Phone: (909) 387-8304 TTY Users: 711 Website: http://www.sbcounty.gov/jobs