Assistant Engineer

Job Description:

Assistant Engineer

Description

Description

EXCITING OPPORTUNITY
Do you want to build cities? Do you want to have an impact on your community? Our Assistant Engineer position is an exciting opportunity to make critical decisions that improve the livelihood of our City’s residents while serving a community renowned for its beautiful surroundings and engaged residents. In this role, you would have the opportunity to actively contribute to a wide range of transportation projects, supporting them from initial planning through final delivery. Join a department known for their collaborative culture and commitment to professional development. Join a team committed to innovation, excellence, and enhancing the quality of life for the community through thoughtful development.

Get ready to work on a variety of upcoming projects including the San Antonio Streetscape from Foothill Expressway to El Camino Real, the Annual Streets Project (Mill and Overlay), the Annual Slurry Seal Project, the Annual Striping, and the installation of a new traffic signal control at Fremont Avenue and Springer Road.

Apply today and help our transportation team build projects that keep the community moving!

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT
The Public Works Department promotes orderly community development, preserving the city’s character while ensuring all public and private projects are safely and legally constructed and maintained. It has an approximate FY 2026 operating budget of $7.7 million and 22 full-time staff. Within the Public Works Department, the Transportation Division plans, develops, and manages the City’s transportation network to support safe, efficient, and accessible mobility for the community. The department oversees transportation planning, infrastructure improvements, and programs that maintain and enhance the City’s roadway system while supporting long-term mobility and safety goals.

Examples of Duties

ABOUT THE POSITION
The Assistant Engineer performs paraprofessional engineering duties in such areas as reviewing development plans, estimating costs, coordinating construction projects, maintaining engineering records, and developing in-house project designs and specifications using engineering techniques.

Assistant Engineer will also provide customer service in regards to traffic and transportation inquiries from the public, from surrounding agencies, as well as interdepartmental inquiries. Inquiries can include but are not limited to; Stop sign requests, speeding concerns, bicycle and pedestrian safety concerns. Additional tasks also include review of traffic control plans, and transportation permits.

The Assistant Engineer position comes with in-depth experience that expands over a wide array of Transportation Engineering facets. Assistant Engineer allows for growth, development, and customer service that gives a view of civic structure, so, do you want to build cities?

ABOUT THE RECRUITMENT
This position will remain open until posting closes on April 09, 2026 at 5:00PM. This recruitment may be used to fill the current vacancy as well as future positions in this or other divisions. The selection process will consist of an evaluation of each applicant's training and experience based on the application materials and responses to supplemental questions. Candidates whose backgrounds best match the position requirements will be invited to participate in an onsite interview panel.

IDEAL CANDIDATE
Ideal candidates are skilled technical professionals with strong interpersonal and collaborative skills. They will approach challenges with a data-driven mindset, remaining efficient while emphasizing communication, customer care, and community service.

FLEXIBLY STAFFED
Positions in the professional engineering class series are flexibly staffed and positions at the Associate Civil level are normally filled by advancement from the Assistant level; progression to the Associate Civil level is dependent on (i) management affirmation that the incumbent is performing the full range of duties assigned to the classification; (ii) satisfactory work performance; (iii) the incumbent meeting the minimum qualifications for the classification including any licenses and certifications; and (iv) management approval for progression to the Associate Civil level.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES:
Management reserves the right to add, modify, change, or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job. Positions at the Assistant Engineer level may perform some of these duties and responsibilities in a learning capacity:

• Performs professional engineering work in the planning, design, construction, and operation of assigned engineering projects.
• Participates in pre-design, construction, and utility coordination meetings; coordinates construction schedules with other projects, other City departments, and affected agencies; inspects construction of projects and ensures compliance with construction plans, specifications and public safety; provides public notices of projects.
• Assists and/or performs traffic engineering studies, such as speed and traffic surveys and traffic counts; reviews and approves transportation permits; reviews and prepares traffic signal plans, and sign and striping plans.
• Prepares and submits grant requests and applications; monitors active grants to ensure all stipulations and regulations regarding the use of funds are met; keeps track of all rules and regulations stipulated by the grant; files reimbursements for grants and performs record keeping of grant funded projects.
• Prepares requests for qualifications and requests for proposals for professional consultant services; evaluates qualifications and proposals; leads selection committees; prepares and negotiates scope of work, fees, and schedules for professional services agreements; processes amendments.
• Coordinates and consults with other Engineering staff on technical projects and assignments.

• Monitors contractor performance; reviews and processes submittals and change orders; retains construction management and inspection assistance as needed; performs related activities associated with project construction

To view the full job description please click here.

Minimum Qualifications

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION:

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

EDUCATION:

• Equivalent to a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in civil engineering, or a related field.

EXPERIENCE:

• Two (2) years of professional engineering experience performed in a learning or training capacity.

Licenses and Certifications:

• Possession of a valid California Driver’s License, to be maintained throughout employment.
• Possession of a valid certification as an Engineer-In-Training issued by the State of California.

Supplemental Information

ABOUT THE RECRUITMENT & SELECTION PROCESS
This recruitment may be used to fill multiple positions in this, or other divisions or departments. Applications will be reviewed on a continuous basis until our current vacancies are filled with a first review date of April 09, 2026.

The selection process will consist of an evaluation of the applicant's training and experience based on the application and answers to job-specific questions. Only those candidates whose backgrounds best match the position will be invited to proceed in the selection process. Additional phase of the process will consist of interviews and pre-employment background check.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
The City of Los Altos is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in employment on the basis of a person’s race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, mental or physical disability, medical condition, marital status, sex, age or sexual orientation. Candidates with a disability, which may require special assistance in any phase of the application or testing process, should advise City of Los Altos upon submittal of application. Documentation of the need for accommodation must accompany the request.

LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMER
The above job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required for the position. All job requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health and safety of themselves or other employees.

Closing Date/Time: 4/9/2026 4:59 PM Pacific

Salary:

$120,557.51 - $146,538.41 Annually