Senior Civil Engineer

Senior Civil Engineer

Salary

$150,134.40 - $171,974.40 Annually

Location

Orange County

Job Type

Full-Time

Job Number

1819SM-0726-080 (O)

Department

OC Public Works

Opening Date

07/01/2026

Closing Date

7/15/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

CAREER DESCRIPTION

SENIOR CIVIL ENGINEER

SALARY INFORMATION

Salary may be negotiable within the range listed above, based on position requirements and the successful candidates qualifications, subject to appropriate authorization.

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

This recruitment is open to the public and is being held to establish an eligible list to fill current and future Senior Civil Engineer positions within OC Public Works and/or other County of Orange agencies. This recruitment may also be used to fill positions in similar and/or lower classifications.

DEADLINE TO APPLY

Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply immediately, as the recruitment will close on

Wednesday, July 15, 2026 at 11:59 PM (PT)

OC PUBLIC WORKS

OC Public Works (OCPW) provides services on a regional basis to unincorporated areas, to cities, and to other County agencies and departments. The primary mission of the department is to protect and enrich the community through the sustainable delivery of projects and services. OC Public Works' guiding principles are safety, integrity, quality, teamwork, and adaptability.

OCPW is a unique County department comprised of ten (10) service areas: Administrative Services, Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer of Weights & Measures; OC Construction; OC Development Services; OC Environmental Resources; OC Facilities Design & Construction and CUF; OC Facilities Maintenance; OC Fleet Services; OC Infrastructure Programs; OC Operations & Maintenance.

For more information on OC Public Works, click here.

For more information on the County of Orange, click here.

THE OPPORTUNITY

OCPW is currently seeking experienced and licensed engineers for Senior Civil Engineer positions. The Senior Civil Engineer is distinguished from Civil Engineers by their full supervisory responsibility of a section or unit of professional or technical staff who is responsible for complex engineering assignments.

OC Infrastructure

OC Infrastructure Programs provides engineering services for roadways in unincorporated areas and regional flood control programs throughout Orange County. This includes capital improvement program planning, flood & road project design, traffic engineering, and development support services. OC Infrastructure Programs is a service area of OCPW.

This Senior Civil Engineer position is responsible for the review of permits for work within public roadways and developer-proposed infrastructure. This role ensures that all work within roadways and new infrastructure meets the safety, engineering, and environmental standards required for public service. Additionally, the Senior Civil Engineer in Development Support is responsible for supervising and managing Development Support staff and Architect- Engineer consultants with their assignments, overseeing and coordinating all County Property Permits and plan reviews, and facilitating meetings with other Infrastructure Programs Units.

The duties of this position include, but are not limited to:

• Perform County Property Permit (CPP) reviews related to Orange County Flood Control District facilities and County roadways for compliance with County standards, and ensure that the proposed designs consider public safety.
• Coordinate and manage the reviews of private developers and builders' project submittals, including street improvements, grading plans, and drainage plans, with other County departments or divisions, including OC Environmental Resources, OC Construction, OC Infrastructure Programs, and Operations and Maintenance.
• Review subdivision projects and improvement plans for adequacy of road and flood control proposals; verify compliance with County Ordinances and designated requirements.
• Manage Architect/Engineer consultants for budget compliance, contract term, and quality of reviews.
• Provide technical engineering support to other County Business Areas and Departments.

OC Operations & Maintenance

OC Operations & Maintenance (O&M) enhances and protects communities through the operation and maintenance of public infrastructure, while serving a critical role in responding to the aftermath of devastating earthquakes, fires, storm events, and other general emergencies. OC O&M is responsible for the maintenance of 350 miles of unincorporated roadways, 380 miles of flood channels, 145 miles of underground drainage facilities, 65 bridges, 6 dams, 10 pump stations, and 26 basins. and also provides support for various contracted cities and agencies.

This Senior Civil Engineer serves in a supervisory capacity within the Maintenance Engineering section, supporting critical O&M needs through supervision of engineering activities related to construction, design, emergency response, engineering evaluations, and maintenance improvement projects. The duties for this position include, but are not limited to:

• Developing and providing engineering support for Flood and Road Maintenance Improvement Program (MIP) projects, including preparation of plans, specifications, and estimates.
• Directing the investigation and resolution of constituent complaints, evaluation and prioritization of maintenance work orders, and preparation of engineering evaluations for implementation by in-house maintenance crews or contractors
• Conducting encroachment permit and project peer reviews to protect maintenance interests
• Providing technical guidance on complex analyses, ensuring the development of accurate engineering studies, reports, and recommendations, while supporting the advancement of capital-intensive projects for implementation by the Maintenance Project Management Team
• Serving as the engineering arm of the Maintenance team, leading coordination with Equipment Operations and Maintenance Inspection teams, driving process and procedural improvements, and providing technical guidance to ensure the consistent delivery of engineering projects

OC Construction

OC Construction provides project management and construction management services for a broad range of horizontal infrastructure projects delivered through OCPW's Capital Improvement Program (CIP), Maintenance Improvement Program (MIP), as well as OC Parks and other County departments. These programs include improvement projects related to roads, bridges, bikeways, parks, flood control facilities, and other important public infrastructure throughout Orange County. The service area provides four core functions: project management, construction management, pavement maintenance, and materials testing.

Senior Civil Engineers working within OC Construction are responsible for overseeing the delivery of public works projects that support County infrastructure, enhance communities, and improve the quality of life for residents. This includes supervising technical and professional staff, coordinating with internal and external stakeholders, reviewing project documents, and supporting the successful delivery of projects from planning through construction. This position can fill roles in project management or construction management, which are part of OC Construction.

The duties for the construction management role include, but are not limited to:

• Plan, organize, supervise, and review the plans, specifications, and estimates for the constructability of a wide variety of public works engineering projects involving roads, bridges, bikeways, and flood control channels.
• Supervise and/or coordinate the inspection of public works projects under construction, maintenance, or repair; this includes controlling quantity and quality of materials, laying out work, interpreting plans and specifications, preparing progress reports, and supervising the work of inspectors.
• Provide construction management support such as reviewing change orders, submittals, requests for information, and progress payments.

The duties for the capital and maintenance project management role include, but are not limited to:

• Perform project management duties, including overseeing the design phase of a project; preparation of the plans, specifications, and estimates; and overseeing project peer reviews for a wide variety of public works engineering projects involving roads, bridges, bikeways, and flood control channels.

• Coordinate across other county services to provide budget estimates, on-board and manage consultants, prepare construction bid packages, obtain environmental and regulatory compliance permits, right of way acquisition, utility relocations, and engineering studies.

• Coordinate with external agencies such as other cities, counties, Caltrans, utility companies, and railroads to obtain project approvals.

• Oversee the development of agreements with external or internal stakeholders.

LICENSE/CERTIFICATIONS REQUIRED

Possession of a valid Certificate of Registration as a Civil Engineer issued by the California State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Click here for a complete Senior Civil Engineer classification description.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & CORE COMPETENCIES

In addition to the minimum qualifications, the most successful candidates will possess the following knowledge and experience in the following core competencies:

Technical Expertise & Knowledge

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of civil engineering, engineering mathematics, and properties and uses of construction materials.
• Knowledge and ability to implement the principles of Project Management, including monitoring and controlling Architecture/Engineers (A/E) consultant project scope, budget, schedule, and work quality.
• Experience in public works projects, including Capital Improvement Programs and their implementation.
• Knowledge of Maintenance Improvement Programs and the ability to prioritize work based on risk, urgency, asset condition, operational needs, and availability of resources.
• Knowledge of and ability to review project submittals, including street improvements, grading plans, tract maps, and drainage plans.
• Oversee engineers who perform County Property Permit (CPP) reviews related to Orange County Flood Control District (OCFCD) and County roadways for meeting County standards, ensuring the proposed designs meet public safety and do not impact private or public facilities.
• Familiarity with the Army Corps 408 permit and other regulatory permits, including the Section 401, 404, 408, and 1600 permits.
• Familiarity with Orange County Highway Design, Traffic, Local Drainage, and Hydrology manuals.
• Experience with road and flood design.
• Knowledge of right-of-way acquisition process.
• Familiarity with requirements for various grants, such as federal funding administered by Caltrans.
• Coordinate permit reviews with external stakeholders and perform public outreach (residents, Caltrans, OCTA, regulatory agencies, other cities).
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, Adobe, Bluebeam, Hydraulic Engineering Center's River Analysis Systems (HEC-RAS), Water Surface Pressure Gradient (WSPG), hydrology software compatible with Orange County Hydrology Manual, and other Civil Engineering software.

Communication Skills

• Effectively communicate verbally and in writing with engineers, contractors, utility companies, regulatory permitting agencies, property owners, business owners, and the public.
• Maintain effective working relationships with peers, managers, contractors, and stakeholders.
• Ability to communicate diplomatically when personnel or other issues arise.
• Promotes open, candid information sharing across appropriate organizational boundaries
• Builds consensus among diverse groups for the purpose of meeting business objectives.
• Presents ideas and complex material clearly, concisely, logically, succinctly, and persuasively both orally and in writing.
• Ensures timely, appropriate communication with stakeholders.

Leadership Skills

• Experience in training and directing subordinate staff.
• Ability to oversee and review the work of others, such as engineers who perform reviews of technical studies and reports.
• Ability to foster a team atmosphere and reward collaboration.
• Ability to effectively motivate others to promote productivity and efficiency.
• Ability to evaluate subordinate staff and identify performance issues.
• Lead a high-performance, results-oriented team to implement organizational goals while balancing competing needs and objectives.
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Utilizes tact and diplomacy in dealing with difficult and sensitive situations while displaying departmental and/or County perspective in handling the issues/situation.
• Continuously seeks innovative ways to improve processes.

RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Human Resource Services (HRS) will screen all application materials for minimum and desirable qualifications. After screening, candidates who meet the qualifications will be referred to the next step in the recruitment process. All candidates will be notified via email of their status in the process.

Application Screening (Refer/Non-Refer): Applications and supplemental responses will be screened for qualifications that are highly desirable and most needed to successfully perform the duties of this job. Only those candidates that meet the qualifications as listed in the job bulletin will be referred to the next step.

Structured Oral Interview (Weighted 100%): Candidates will be interviewed and rated by a qualification appraisal panel of job knowledge experts. Each candidates rating will be based on responses to a series of structured questions designed to elicit the candidates qualifications for the job. Only the most successful candidates will be placed on the eligible list.

Based on the Departments needs, the selection procedures listed above may be modified. All candidates will be notified of any changes in the selection procedure.

Eligible List

Once the assessment has been completed, HRS will establish an eligible list of candidates. Candidates placed on the eligible list may be referred to a selection interview to be considered for present and future vacancies.

Veterans Employment Preference

The County is committed to providing a mechanism to give preferential consideration in the employment process to veterans and their eligible spouses and will provide eligible participants the opportunity to receive interviews in the selection process for employment and paid internship openings. Please click here to review the policy.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

EMAIL NOTIFICATION

Email is the primary form of notification during the recruitment process. Please ensure your correct email address is included in our application and use only one email account.

NOTE: User accounts are established for one person only and should not be shared with another person. Multiple applications with multiple users may jeopardize your status in the recruitment process for any positions for which you apply.

Candidates will be notified regarding their status as the recruitment proceeds via email through the GovernmentJobs.com site. Please check your email folders, including spam/junk folders, and/or accept emails ending with "governmentjobs.com" and "ocgov.com." If your email address should change, please update your profile at www.governmentjobs.com.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Click here for additional Frequently Asked Questions.

Questions? For specific information pertaining to this recruitment, contact Rose Nguyen at 714-667-9699 or by email at Rose.Nguyen@pw.oc.gov

EEO INFORMATION

Orange County, as an equal employment opportunity employer, encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.

Non-Management Benefits

In addition to the Countys standard suite of benefits, such as a variety of health plan options, annual leave and paid holidays--we also offer an excellent array of benefits such as a Health Care Reimbursement Account, 457 Defined Contribution Plan and Annual Education and Professional Reimbursement. Employees are provided a Retirement Plan through the Orange County Employees Retirement System (OCERS).

Please go to the following link to find out more about Defined Benefit Pensions and OCERS Plan Types/Benefits.

http://www.ocers.org/active-member-information

Click here for information about benefits offered to County of Orange employees.

01

The information you provide will be used to evaluate your qualifications for the position. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing these questions. NOTE: Responses of "See Work Experience", "See Resume," or copying and pasting work experience are not qualifying responses and will not be evaluated or rated. If you have no experience, write "N/A" for the appropriate question. By selecting yes below, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this application requirement.

• Yes, I have read and understand
• No

02

Please select the option that best describes your experience:

• I have three (3) or more years of experience as a Civil Engineer with the County of Orange
• I have four (4) or more years of post-registration civil engineering experience related to the competencies and qualifications listed in the job bulletin AND one (1) or more years of full-time paid experience leading and/or supervising professional or technical staff engaged in civil engineering work.
• None of the above

03

Do you possess a valid Certificate of Registration as a Civil Engineer issued by the California State Board of Registration for Civil and Professional Engineers? If so, please provide your license number below. If you do not possess such a license, enter "N/A."

04

Indicate which area(s) of civil engineering/public works you possess familiarity, working knowledge and/or expertise.

• Civil Infrastructure Project Management & Construction
• Floodplain Management/Regional Flood Control
• Geotechnical Engineering
• Hydraulic Engineering & Flood Control Design
• Hydrology
• Land Development & Road/Flood Encroachment permitting
• Operations & Maintenance - Maintenance Engineering
• Road, Bridge & Bikeway Design
• Traffic Engineering

05

For each area you selected above, describe how and where you gained your experience. In your explanation, include the types of projects you worked on, the employer you worked for, your job title, how long you held the role, and the scope of your responsibilities and involvement.

Required Question

Employer County of Orange

Address 400 W CIVIC CENTER DRIVE

Santa Ana, California, 92701

Phone 714-834-2555

Website https://hrs.oc.gov