Senior Engineer - Construction Management or Geotechnical

Senior Engineer - Construction Management or Geotechnical

Salary

See Position Description

Location

5750 Almaden Expressway, San Jose, CA, CA

Job Type

Full-Time

Job Number

02017-E

Division

Dam Safety and Capital Delivery

Unit

Dam Capital Project Delivery Unit I

Opening Date

09/09/2026

Closing Date

10/1/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Description

Senior Engineer, Construction Management: $175,219.20 - $224,286.40 Annually

Senior Engineer, Geotechnical: $175,219.20 - $224,286.40 Annually

Overview:

Help shape the future of one of our region's most critical infrastructure projects. Bring your engineering expertise and leadership to the Anderson Dam Seismic Retrofit Project (ADSRP) and play a key role in delivering this complex project safely and successfully.

This position will provide Senior Engineer support to the ADSRP in Morgan Hill, CA during construction. This position is critical to ensure construction activities are completed efficiently, safely, and in compliance with contract documents and various regulatory requirements.

The ADSRP will require significant interaction with a variety of external agencies, including Dam Safety Regulatory agencies. The Senior Engineer is essential to coordinating timely reviews and inspections with the regulators. The Senior Engineer will submit monthly regulatory reports and provide weekly to daily updates during peak construction work. The Senior Engineer will lead the effort in coordinating annual meetings with the regulators and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)- required Board of Consultants.

The Senior Engineer will work closely with the City of Morgan Hill, County Roads and Airports, and County Parks on the use of their facilities. This includes approvals of traffic control plans, encroachment permit compliance, submittals, and the restoration of facilities.

This role may include providing supervision to Associate and Assistant Engineers assigned to the Project.

This posting is for one position that the selected candidate will be hired as a Senior Engineer- Construction Management or Senior Engineer- Geotechnical based on experience and licenses.

Our Commitment:

We are committed to building and sustaining a working environment where all individuals are respected and valued. We believe every member of our team brings unique perspectives that enhance our ability to serve the public effectively. By fostering a workplace with employees from the communities we serve, we broaden our collective understanding of the world around us and strengthen our mission to equitably provide safe, clean water, natural flood protections, and environmental stewardship.

About Valley Water:

Valley Water's mission is to provide Santa Clara County with safe, clean water for a healthy life, environment, and economy. The FY 2026-27 Adopted Budget of $1.284 billion supports approximately 876 employees. With headquarters in San José, Valley Water provides water supply, enhances streams and watersheds through creek restoration and habitat protection, provides flood protection for homes, schools, businesses and roadways, and partners with other agencies to provide trails and open space for the community.

Who We Are:

To learn how Valley Water provides safe, clean water and environmental stewardship for the Santa Clara community, please click here

Key Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Managing, directing, and overseeing performance of professional engineering functions for the construction of the Anderson Dam Seismic Retrofit Project.
• Providing technical review of contractor submittals, RFIs, and design modifications.
• Coordination of assigned activities with other units, groups, outside agencies, consultants, and contractors. This includes submittal review and inspections.
• Coordination with Dam Safety Regulatory oversight, including annual updates to the FERC required by the Board of Consultants, FERC monthly compliance reports, weekly to daily updates to the agencies, scheduling of Dam Safety inspections and follow-up, and regulatory review of design modifications and submittals.
• Acquisition of the remaining real estate properties needed for the Project, and management of the permission-to-enter agreements for air monitoring stations set to expire at various dates throughout construction.
• Coordination with the City of Morgan Hill, County Parks, and County Roads and Airports for restoration of their facilities, encroachment permit compliance, submittals, and design modifications.

Ideal Candidate's Background Includes:

Applicants whose experience and background best match the ideal experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, and education are considered ideal candidates for the position. To determine the top candidates, each applicant will be assessed based on the ideal candidate criteria as listed below.

Ideal Experience:

• Ideal Experience for Construction: Six (6) years of professional engineering experience including experience managing public works projects through the construction phase, including at least two (2) years of lead experience.

• Ideal Experience for Geotechnical: Six (6) years of geotechnical engineering experience, including two (2) years lead responsibility.

Ideal Skills and Abilities:

• Plan, coordinate, and oversee complex construction or geotechnical engineering projects, including schedules, budgets, contracts, technical studies, and project delivery.
• Read, interpret, and apply engineering plans, drawings, specifications, technical reports, and contract documents.
• Analyze complex technical and operational issues, evaluate alternatives and potential consequences, and develop and implement sound recommendations.
• Prepare, negotiate, and administer contracts, agreements, and change orders.
• Apply construction management or geotechnical engineering principles, practices, and specialized software to resolve engineering problems.
• Conduct engineering studies and prepare clear, concise, and defensible technical reports, correspondence, and presentations.
• Organize and prioritize multiple projects and assignments, maintain effective records and tracking systems, and allocate resources to meet established deadlines.
• Plan, assign, review, and evaluate staff work and provide effective training, coaching, and mentorship.
• Communicate effectively and establish positive working relationships with staff, contractors, public agencies, regulatory agencies, elected officials, stakeholders, and the public.
• Apply technical expertise and an understanding of applicable legal, regulatory, policy, and political considerations to advance Valley Water projects.

Ideal Knowledge:

• Principles and practices of project management, including planning, design, cost estimating, construction, installation, inspection, and delivery of infrastructure projects.
• Project and program budgeting, contract preparation, negotiation and administration, grants management, and sound financial management practices.
• Methods for researching complex issues, evaluating alternatives, developing sound recommendations, and preparing and presenting effective reports.
• Principles and practices of employee supervision, including work planning, assignment, review, evaluation, and staff development.
• Applicable federal, state, and local laws, codes, regulations, and safety requirements.
• Microsoft Office and relevant project management, construction management, or engineering software.

In addition, the ideal candidate will possess knowledge and experience in at least one of the following areas:

Construction Management/Engineering

• Construction management principles, practices, methods, materials, specifications, and codes.
• Engineering concepts related to hydrology, hydraulics, water treatment, structural, mechanical, electrical, control systems, and soil mechanics.
• Construction-related laws and regulations involving prevailing wages, certified payroll, prompt payment, stop-payment notices, retention, claims, subcontractors, underground utilities, excavation safety, and public works contracting.
• Relevant technical codes and standards, including NEC, plumbing and fire protection codes, Caltrans standards, and local public right-of-way requirements.
• Construction management software such as eADOC, Procore, Prolog, Primavera, or SureTrak.

Geotechnical Engineering

• Geotechnical engineering principles and practices, including soil mechanics, foundation engineering, geology, and dam safety.
• Geotechnical construction methods, materials, specifications, testing, and inspection practices.
• Applicable geotechnical and dam-safety standards and regulations established by organizations such as ASTM, ASCE, ISRM, FERC, DSOD, FEMA, and USACE.
• Geotechnical analysis software such as SLOPE/W and SEEP/W.

Ideal Training and Education:

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in civil engineering or a related field.

Required License or Certificate

Possession of, or ability to obtain, an appropriate, valid California drivers license. Individuals who do not meet the drivers license requirement due to a disability will be considered for a reasonable accommodation on a case-by-case basis.

Senior Engineer Construction Management:

Possess and maintain a valid license as a Professional Engineer issued by the California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists.

Senior Engineer Geotechnical Engineering:

Possess and maintain a valid license as a Professional Civil Engineer and Professional Geotechnical Engineer issued by the California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists.

To review the Job Description for Senior Engineer Construction Management: please click here

To review the Job Description for Senior Engineer Geotechnical Engineering, please click here

Dam Capital Project Delivery I Unit (Position Code 352)

Valley Water Telework Program: Eligibility for telework will depend on the type of work performed, operational needs, and the ability for the employee to perform the essential functions of their job duties while teleworking. Employment with Valley Water requires employees to live within 150 miles of their primary physical work location located in San Jose, California by their start date.

This position requires on-site presence during active construction activities. During periods when construction is not in progress, the position may be eligible for a hybrid telework arrangement, typically consisting of 40% remote work and 60% on-site.

Selection Process

(1) The selection process may include one or more of the following: application review, application assessment, performance exercise, written exercise and/or interview.

(2) The Employment Application, Qualifying Information Questions and/or Supplemental Questions will be evaluated based on the ideal candidate criteria listed above. Resumes are highly recommended.

NOTE: Position and start date is subject to availability of funds. Valley Water retains the right to repost this position as deemed necessary.

Consideration may be given to existing applicant pools within the same classification.

Valley Waters Equal Opportunity Non-Discrimination Policy is available for review upon request.

Valley Water will make reasonable efforts in the examination process to accommodate persons with disabilities. Please advise Human Resources in advance of any special needs by calling 408-630-2260.

Please be aware that once submitted all application materials become the property of Valley Water and will not be returned. Human Resources staff are not authorized to make copies of application materials for applicants.

The Santa Clara Valley Water District, now known as Valley Water, offers a comprehensive benefit package including, vacation, holidays, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, EAP, life and disability insurance. In addition, Valley Water participates in the California Public Employees Retirement System (PERS). To view a summary of benefits, click here

01

I acknowledge that I have entered my Work Experience and Education on the employment application, and I am aware these are required fields. If they are not completed, the application is considered incomplete, and I will be disqualified as an applicant for the position.

• Yes
• No

02

Please answer the supplemental questions thoroughly, clearly, and concisely as the responses provided (along with the application) will be carefully reviewed to determine which candidates will move forward in the recruitment process. Responses that refer to attachments (e.g., "see resume") will not be considered. Each question must be answered in full to ensure a fair and complete evaluation. I have read this information and am aware of the importance of responses to the supplemental questions.

• Yes
• No

03

Do you possess a bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in civil engineering or a related field?

• Yes
• No

04

Do you have Six (6) years of geotechnical engineering experience?

• Yes
• No

05

Do you have Six (6) years of professional engineering experience including experience managing public works projects through the construction phase?

• Yes
• No

06

Do you have at least 2 years of professional engineering lead experience?

• Yes
• No

07

Do you possess a license as a Professional Engineer in Civil, Mechanical, or Electrical issued by the California Board of Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists?

• Yes
• No

08

Do you possess a license as a Professional Geotechnical Engineer issued by the California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists?

• Yes
• No

09

Please describe your geotechnical experience performing complex analyses, site monitoring and inspections, recommending corrective actions, and preparing and presenting technical reports as they relate to water infrastructure (e.g., dams, pipeline, reservoirs, flood protection) projects.

10

Please describe your project management or construction management experience, include project phases, project and budget size, multi-disciplinary teams involved, and management of consultants on dam, reservoir, or flood protection projects. What was your role and breadth of responsibilities and decision-making authority?

11

Employment with Valley Water requires employees to take an Oath as a Disaster Service Worker within California and to live within 150 miles of Valley Water Headquarters in San Jose, California by the start date. Valley Water does not cover relocation costs. If you live further than 150 miles from Valley Water Headquarters, please discuss your willingness to relocate if offered the position. If this does not apply to you, write "N/A".

12

Please list the full name of the regular/permanent Valley Water employee who referred you to this position (only one name will be accepted, so if multiple are listed, the first name provided will be documented as the referring employee). If this does not apply to you, write "N/A".

Required Question

Employer Santa Clara Valley Water District (CA)

Address 5750 Almaden Expressway

San Jose, California, 95118

Phone 1-408-630-2260

Website https://www.valleywater.org