Engineering Inspector -IV

Overview

The City of San Luis Obispo is looking for an Engineering Inspector. The Engineering Inspector classification is a four-level career series. The level of responsibility and salary will be based on the qualifications of the applicant (see Education and Experience below).

If you are selected for interviews, they will take place in person on Thursday, March 12, 2026, so please hold that date.

The successful candidate possesses a solid background in construction and a comprehensive understanding of City and Caltrans specifications and standards. They are dependable, collaborative, and experienced in enforcing construction permits. Strong computer skills—including proficiency in Excel, Word, and general digital tools are essential. The candidate must be able to professionally de-escalate conflicts, communicate clearly with contractors, engineers, and supervisors, and consistently produce accurate, concise field reports.

Provide a wide variety of professional field and office engineering work in the support of City construction and private development projects, starting with simple projects and working to the most complex. Employees in this career ladder inspect the construction of a variety of public works and private improvement projects including: roads, drainage, grading, water and waste water pipelines and treatment facilities, tanks, parks and landscaping, bike paths, bridges, environmental mitigation, traffic signals and other civil engineering projects.

In addition to inspection of facilities in construction, these positions perform construction management duties, manage consultants, and monitor budgets. As employees show an increase in knowledge, skills, abilities and initiative, they are eligible for promotion.

The engineering inspector is a largely technical series starting with inspection of small private construction activities, with the ability to advance to complex public project inspection and oversight. The inspector is responsible for compliance to standards and codes, and on public projects, for proper expenditure of City funds and defense against construction claims.

Employees in this classification work under the general supervision of the Construction Manager or Supervising Civil Engineer. Entry level employees may also work under the guidance of senior staff within a broad framework of policies and procedures.

Any one position may not include all of the duties listed, nor do all the listed examples include all tasks that may be found in the class.

• Inspect routine construction projects and review construction material sampling for conformance to plans, specifications, contract requirements, Federal/State agency requirements and any special conditions.
• Maintain accurate records on project progress, work quality, labor and equipment used, work items not in conformance to plans, record drawings and other project information.
• Prioritize work, set appointments and meet with developers, engineers and citizens on project issues.
• Prepare written correspondence and spreadsheets required in performance of the work.
• Explain City standards to others such as contractors and citizens.
• Review routine construction project plans for specification conformance.

In addition to the above, the Engineering Inspector II classification may include the duties listed below:

• Inspect complex private and moderately complex public projects requiring increased interaction with engineers or architects and more in-depth or varied engineering and construction knowledge.
• Investigate and prepare written analysis of contractor's claims for additional payment, time extensions and changed conditions of the work.
• Make minor design changes in the field.
• Monitor project budgets and schedules to ensure project remains within financial constraints and approved schedule.
• Prepare cost request bulletins and track submittals.
• Conduct conferences and meetings with contractors, developers, engineers and others to coordinate joint efforts for construction projects and resolve disputes.
• Explain underlying…