American Council of Engineering Companies of Colorado

The City of San Mateo Public Works Department is looking for an Assistant/Associate Engineer 

Why Join our Department?

When you join the Public Works Department, you will work among collaborative and energetic colleagues who share a passion for serving our San Mateo citizens and improving the community in which we live and work. Our team is comprised of individuals with diverse talents and experience in various fields. We will provide you with a wide range of opportunities in a team-based collaborative environment while helping you achieve your professional goals. Collaboration, Innovation, Respect, Creativity, Transparency and Informed Risk-taking are attributes within the City’s mission, values and organizational principles that we are seeking in the candidates.

The City of San Mateo Public Works Department is seeking one Assistant/Associate Engineers for the Traffic Engineering Section. Candidates should be highly motivated, experienced, seek professional growth, and desire to lead and support in the delivery and review of various City projects.

As Assistant/Associate Engineer, you would support the Department’s mission to operate, maintain and improve the City’s infrastructure. The Public Works Department is responsible for the maintenance, repair, cleaning, and construction of the City’s major capital improvement projects and infrastructure, which include: sewer and storm conveyance systems, wastewater treatment plant, streets, street lights, traffic signals, publicly owned parking lots and garages, pump stations, a major lagoon, and dams and levees. The Department also reviews plans and inspects the construction of public improvements to serve new private residential, commercial, and industrial developments and administers contracts for the collection, disposal, and recycling of solid waste. The Department is also responsible for the City’s review and management of right-of-way impacts associated with private development and traffic operations. The Department’s primary function is customer service and response to public needs.

While this recruitment is focused on the Traffic Engineering Section assignments, all engineering disciplines are encouraged to apply as this recruitment may be utilized in the future to support other Public Works Department programs, which include the Pavement Management Program, Traffic Operations, Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning, Private Development, and Stormwater and Flood Protection.  This is an exciting opening for you to be engaged and challenged with the opportunity to improve our San Mateo community.

What You’ll Do

The City of San Mateo is a very progressive City that encourages staff and resident engagement to develop positive solutions that meet the demands of the community and regulatory landscape. To this end, the Assistant/Associate Engineers will help support efforts to accomplish short and long-term project deliveries, while sustaining the City’s missions, visions and goals. The Public Works Department is committed to high performance levels and standards, utilizing best practices relative to performance management and team-oriented approaches. The Department supports staff development through a variety of internal and external training opportunities.  Each Assistant/Associate Engineer will be given the opportunity to participate in team building efforts to accomplish the collective services, goals, projects, initiatives, and work plans of the Department and City.

The Traffic Engineering Section’s Assistant/Associate Engineer’s key assignments include representing the traffic engineering section in land development, delivery of traffic-related capital improvement projects, traffic engineering policy implementation and development, traffic impact analysis review, and conducting engineering studies. Representing the traffic engineering section in land development includes reviewing traffic impact analysis, reviewing plans for traffic improvements in the planning application and building permit phases, and attending planning commissions.  Delivery of traffic-related capital improvement projects includes PS&E development for roadway modifications, traffic signal and communications improvements, bike, pedestrian and complete streets elements, and traffic control plans. The Assistant/Associate is expected to work independently to coordinate with consultants, contractors, and other agencies on behalf of the City, as well as communicate with project stakeholders including property owners, other City staff, and public officials.

Under the direction of a Senior Engineer, the Assistant/Associate Engineer will perform the duties relative to their position. Demands of this position will continue to evolve and change to respond to community needs. Adaptability and flexibility are important for success in this position.  The current vacancy may be filled at either level based on experience.

To apply, review the complete job announcement, benefits information, etc., please go to https://www.calopps.org/san-mateo/job-20243507

Application Deadline - Recruitment will close by Wednesday, June 8, 2022 @ 5:00 p.m. OR upon receipt of the first 100 applications, résumés, and supplemental questionnaires, whichever occurs first.

Who You Are

Assistant Engineer:

• You possess the knowledge of principles and practices of engineering as applied to public works, utilities or building construction projects; analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions and implement recommendations in support of
• You possess the ability to learn and apply pertinent Federal, State and local policies, procedures, laws and regulations; and use and care for engineering and drafting instruments and equipment.

Associate Engineer (in addition to the qualifications for an Assistant Engineer):

• You possess the knowledge of engineering policies and procedures; principles of supervision and training; pertinent Federal, State, and local laws, codes and
• You have the ability to make and/or review complex engineering designs and computations and prepare engineering plans and studies with minimum supervision; perform complex professional engineering work with a minimum of supervision; and supervise and train subordinates.

What You Bring

Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying.  A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Assistant Engineer:

• Equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in engineering or a related
• One year of experience in professional engineering work in the area of assignment.
• Possession of an Engineer-in-Training Certificate. Please attach certificate to your online employment application.  REQUIRED - Your application will not be considered if not attached.

Associate Engineer (in addition to the qualifications for an Assistant Engineer):

• Two years of professional engineering experience comparable to that of an Assistant Engineer in the City of San
• Possession of a Certificate of Registration as a Professional Engineer in the State of California.

Bonus Points (highly desirable)

• Experience in land development/private development.
• Experience in attending planning commission meetings and speaking in a public setting.

ADA Special Requirement:  Essential duties require the following physical abilities and work environment:  Ability to sit, stand, walk, kneel, crouch, squat, stoop, reach, twist and climb; exposure to cold, heat, extreme noise, outdoors, confining work space, vibration, and dust.

Covid-19 Vaccination Requirement:

In order to promote a safe and healthy workplace for employees and members of the public who interact with employees or visit City of San Mateo worksites and facilities, the City requires all new hires to be fully vaccinated prior to their start date as a condition of employment.  This vaccination requirement applies to all merits, per diems, retired annuitants, student assistants, interns and re-hires appointed by the City after January 10, 2022.  Fully vaccinated means that the person received, at least 14 days prior, either the second dose in a 2-dose Covid-19 vaccine series (e.g. Pfizer or Moderna), or a single-dose Covid-19 vaccine (e.g. Janssen), as defined by the CDC.  Candidates requesting a reasonable accommodation for an exemption from this vaccination requirement based on a medical condition or a sincerely held religious belief must notify lcoles@cityofsanmateo.org or (650) 522-7264 and complete the appropriate Accommodation Request form prior to the start date of employment.  The City will review exemption requests on a case-by-case basis.