Associate Engineer

Under general direction, the Associate Engineer performs professional field and office engineering work associated with recycled water and wastewater systems. This role is responsible for project management, contract administration, regulatory permit compliance, and the design and construction of capital improvement projects. The Associate Engineer prepares technical studies, drafts monthly management reports, and ensures public facilities operate efficiently and safely.

SEJPA employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state law (California Government Code Section )

No supervision is exercised.

The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The exact duties performed will depend on the needs of the SEJPA.

• Engineering Design & Document Creation: Author, design, and prepare original engineering drawings, specifications, calculations, and cost estimates for the construction, alteration, and maintenance of SEJPA facilities and infrastructure.
• Project Management & Capital Improvements: Manage capital and maintenance projects from inception to completion. Direct project scheduling and budgeting, evaluate proposals, negotiate contracts, and review contractor progress payments.
• Procurement & Contract Authoring: Draft and compile complete public works procurement packages from scratch, including detailed scopes of work, Requests for Proposals (RFPs), and Requests for Bids (RFBs).
• Construction Administration & Field Inspection: Conduct preconstruction and kickoff meetings. Monitor work progress, inspect field sites for quality and safety, respond to RFIs, evaluate change orders, and lead system testing, startup, and commissioning.
• Regulatory Compliance & Reporting: Monitor and interpret federal, state, and local water/wastewater regulations. Compile, write, and submit permit compliance and technical reports to agencies including the EPA, RWQCB, and APCD.
• Original Research & Engineering Analysis: Conduct specialized technical investigations, hydraulic calculations, and process optimization studies (chemicals, odor control, utilities) from scratch. Analyze data to author actionable recommendations and feasibility studies.
• Program & Procedure Development: Create, draft, and implement standard operating procedures (SOPs), safety protocols, and technical specifications for treatment plant processes and asset management systems (CMMS).
• Agency Collaboration & Board Reporting: Author clear memos, technical presentations, and comprehensive reports for management and the Board of Directors. Represent SEJPA effectively in meetings with external government agencies, vendors, and the public.

• Engineering, Operations, & Long-Range Planning: Thorough understanding of the principles, practices, and methods of civil engineering, with the aptitude to provide technical direction for related subdisciplines (mechanical, electrical, structural, and control systems). Ability to assist with the development of long-range master plans, feasibility studies, and facility optimization initiatives. Solid knowledge of public works construction and water/wastewater operations.
• Asset Management Program Administration: Knowledge of core asset management principles, lifecycle analysis, and data-driven infrastructure tracking. Ability to administer, utilize, and systematically maintain Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS), including leading specialized IT/software upgrade and implementation projects.
• Occupational Health & Safety: Solid knowledge of water/wastewater industry safety protocols, hazards, and regulatory compliance standards. Ability to actively identify and correct unsafe field work conditions or practices, adhere strictly to established health and safety procedures, and formalize process safety protocols.
• C ontract Negotiation & Writing: Knowledge of the basic principles and techniques of contract negotiation, administration, and public agency procurement. Ability to write legally and technically sound scopes of work, professional service agreements, and complex public works construction bid specifications.
• Contract Execution & Performance Monitoring: Competency to fully administer executed contracts, including running kickoff meetings, tracking milestones, assessing and processing change orders/amendments, inspecting contractor work for completeness, and managing rigorous contract closeout procedures.
• Regulatory & Compliance Acumen: Ability to independently research, interpret, and apply federal, state, and local environmental regulations, codes, court decisions, and permit requirements governing water/wastewater utilities. Proven capability to prepare highly accurate regulatory compliance reports with minimal guidance.
• Critical Thinking & Problem Solving: Strong analytical skills to define complex problems, collect and…