Plans Examiner/Building Inspector I

Plans Examiner/Building Inspector I

Salary

$94,883.28 - $116,635.20 Annually

Location

City Hall: 25 West Main St., Auburn, WA

Job Type

Full-Time

Department

Community Development

Division

Building

Opening Date

07/07/2026

Closing Date

Continuous

FLSA

Non-Exempt

Bargaining Unit

UNAF

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Position Details

This position is open until filled, with a first review of applications on Monday, July 27, 2026.

To be considered for the first round of screening, your application must be received by 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on Sunday, July 26, 2026

The City of Auburn Community Development department is looking for a talented Plans Examiner/Building Inspector I to add to our team! This position performs technical work in the inspection of building and site improvements, including structural, plumbing, and mechanical construction for compliance with adopted building codes, local ordinances, applicable regulations, and approved plans/specifications. The position also assists with permit review activities and may perform residential and limited commercial plan review assignments under the guidance of senior staff. The position serves as an entry-level role designed to develop the knowledge, skills, certifications, and experience necessary for increasingly complex inspection and plan review responsibilities.

This entry-level position offers an opportunity for increasing level of responsibilities and professional development. Advancement to Plans Examiner/Building Inspector II is contingent upon demonstrated proficiency in inspection duties, successful completion of assigned plan review activities (checklist), acquisition of required certifications, and the operational needs of the department.

REQUIRED SKILLS

• Knowledge of codes and regulations both at state and local levels: Expertise in building codes, zoning ordinances, and safety standards.
• Technical Understanding: Strong familiarity with construction methods structural design principles, and plan review processes.
• Inspection technique: Ability to conduct daily thorough on- site inspections construction projects to ensure code compliance.
• Problem solving: Ability to identify building code violations and provide a detailed written report to ensure code compliance.
• Customer service: Ability to interact professionally with contractors, developers, homeowners, and the general public to address concerns and provide guidance.
• Adaptability: Ability to work in varying environmental conditions and respond to changing priorities.
• Technology proficiency: Competence in using inspection software and tools to document and record findings.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT

The Community Development team is intelligent, creative, fun and supportive of each other. It is a team that values individual opinions, diversity of thought, new ways of approaching our work, better ways of delivering our services, and appreciation and respect for each other. The Department is a dynamic and multi-cultural team that is dedicated to diversity, equity and inclusion in our workplace and in the service we provide to our community. The Department's leadership team is committed to fostering a positive work environment, investing in professional growth, and encouraging innovation and process improvement.

Primary Duties

In this role you will:

• Inspect structural, plumbing, and mechanical installations for compliance with the appropriate codes, applicable regulations, and approved plans and specification.
• Perform inspections independently but conducts plan review assignments under general supervision and guidance from senior staff.
• Initiate discussions with contractors and property owners related to construction corrections, when necessary.
• Understand construction drawings and construction principles and independently reads and interprets construction plans, blueprints, schematic drawings, and construction specifications in both electronic and paper forms.
• Maintain current knowledge, and engages in continuing education, of building construction technology and codes including standards, practices, and methods of all types of residential and commercial construction.

While these duties may be the primary focus of this job, the full description includes a more comprehensive list of responsibilities. Click Here to review the class specification.

Minimum Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Two (2) years of college-level course work in building technology or related field and two (2) years of journey-level experience in general building construction.
• Experience as a Building Inspector or Plans Examiner in a public agency may substitute for the education and experience on a year for year basis

OR

• any combination of experience, certification, training, and/or education that demonstrates the ability to successfully perform the essential duties of the position.

Required Licenses and Certifications

• Posses and retain a valid state drivers license without impending loss at time of appointment
• Certifications from the International Code Council (ICC) as a Residential Building Inspector and Commercial Building Inspector OR applicant required to obtain certifications within first year of employment.

Additional Information

WHY CHOOSE THE CITY OF AUBURN?

• Competitive salary
• Excellent medical, dental, and vision plans with employee premiums paid by the City
• Employer contributions to the State Retirement System pension plans
• 12 days of paid vacation per year
• 11 paid holidays per year
• 2 paid floating holidays of your choice per year
• VEBA (tax-free health savings account)
• Optional Flexible Spending benefit plan
• Deferred Compensation plan options
• Employee Wellness Program
• Employee Assistance Program
• And more!

For more information about what benefits the City provides, please visit:

https://auburn.attract.neogov.com/p/benefits

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

Team Auburn values diverse perspectives, life experiences, and welcomes applications from people who will help us consistently demonstrate the values of equity, respect, and partnership. The department encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including Black, Indigenous, and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, and veterans. Individuals interested in joining our team must be committed to racial, social, and economic equality for ALL people in our community.

The City of Auburn is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer. No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

To learn more about the Inclusive Auburn initiative, please visit:

https://www.auburnwa.gov/InclusiveAuburn

READY TO APPLY?

If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, or would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process, please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.

RECRUITMENT PROCESS

The City of Auburn is dedicated to building an inclusive, informed city, with opportunities for all. In alignment with that goal, the City has adopted an anonymous application process that prevents hiring managers from seeing personal identifiers, including names, addresses, and other similar information. This eliminates the possibility of unintentional or implicit bias during the initial screening of applications. For that reason, hiring managers will not be viewing any attachments to your application, including a cover letter or resume, during the initial screening.

Please make sure to submit a complete, detailed, and updated job application, and thoroughly answer the supplemental questions prior to the submission deadline! You must meet the minimum qualifications to move forward in the screening process.

Please note that if you are selected to move forward after an interview, a background check, driving abstract review, and reference check will be completed before an official job offer will be made.

COMMUNICATION FROM THE CITY OF AUBURN

We primarily communicate via e-mail during the recruitment process. E-mails from auburnwa.gov and/or governmentjobs.com should be placed on your safe domain list to ensure you receive notifications in a timely manner. As a precaution, you may also want to check your junk e-mail folders.

CONTACT INFORMATION

If you have any questions, please contact Chardae Gillespie, HR Coordinator, at cgillespie@auburnwa.gov.

Please visit our Employee Benefits webpage for details:

https://auburn.attract.neogov.com/p/benefits

01

Thank you for your interest in joining Team Auburn! Hiring managers will not be viewing any attachments to your application, including a cover letter or resume, during the initial screening. Please make sure to submit a complete, detailed, and updated job application. When applying for this position, you must thoroughly complete the education and work experience sections of your application, and provide a thorough response to each of the supplemental questions. Failure to do so may result in elimination from further consideration. Have you read and understood the information listed above?

• Yes
• No

02

Please indicate your highest level of education:

• High School Diploma
• Two years of college work in building technology, or related field
• Associates Degree in building technology, or related field
• Associates in unrelated field
• Bachelors Degree or higher in building technology, or related field
• Bachelors Degree in unrelated field

03

Do you have a valid Drivers License?

• Yes
• No

04

How many years of experience do you have performing building inspections?

• Less than 2 years
• 2 - 4 years
• 4 - 6 years
• 6 or more years

05

Do you have Certifications from the International Code Council (ICC) as a Residential Building Inspector and Commercial Building Inspector?

• Yes
• No

06

Please describe your background and experience working with the International Building code, both residential and commercial, plumbing, mechanical, or other codes and regulations?

07

Do you have prior public agency experience performing building, mechanical, and plumbing plans examiner or inspection services?

• Yes
• No

08

Do you have prior experience performing business license review or inspections in relation to building safety issues?

• Yes
• No

09

What are the environments in which you have performed building inspections?

• Local Government
• State
• Private
• Construction
• I do not have experience performing building inspections

10

What types of plan review and inspections have you independently performed?

• Residential
• Commercial
• Structural
• Mechanical
• Plumbing
• Energy
• Accessibility
• I have not independently performed any of the above plan reviews or inspections.

11

Do you have experience using Bluebeam or other electronic review software?

• Yes
• No

12

Please list the electronic permitting or inspection software you have used?

Required Question

Employer City of Auburn

Address 25 West Main Street

Auburn, Washington, 98001

Phone 253-931-3040

Website http://www.auburnwa.gov