Public Works Civil Engineer I​/II

Overview

The County of San Luis Obispo is offering an exciting career opportunity for Engineers I and II to join our APWA-accredited Public Works Department, which currently has seven Engineer vacancies across five divisions:

• Water Resources
• Development Services
• Design and Construction
• Water Utilities
• Project Delivery

This division manages the development of water supply and flood management technical studies, sustainability plans, and public engagement programs in order to understand conditions, set sustainability goals, identify solutions for achieving the goals, and facilitate the initial implementation of those solutions.

Engineers are responsible for leading:

• Water Supply and Infrastructure Optimization
  : developing feasibility studies and alternative analyses to optimize existing infrastructure and develop new water supplies.
• Flood and Drainage Management
  : identifying current and projected drainage and flood issues and developing strategic, science‑based solutions.
• Initial Implementation
  : leading or supporting cooperative agreements, governance structures, and funding mechanisms.
• Technical Oversight and Consultant Management
  : managing scopes of work, schedules, and budgets for technical consultants; providing strategic direction and reviewing deliverables.
• Public Outreach and Stakeholder Engagement
  : communicating findings and recommendations to elected officials, partner agencies, regulatory entities, and community groups.

The Water Resources Division seeks a staff‑level engineer with a passion for sustainable water management and technical expertise in land‑use‑based water supply analysis, groundwater/watershed modeling, and alternatives analysis for water supply and flood projects.

Strong service‑based leadership skills (collaborative negotiation, team facilitation, public speaking) and personal qualities such as integrity, reliability, and a solutions‑focused mindset are essential.

Contact: Angela Ford at 805‑781‑5139 or

Responsibilities include, in addition to those listed for Engineer I/II:

• Engineering review of development plans—drainage, water supply, wastewater disposal, and post‑construction stormwater.
• Review of subdivision applications, road widening plans, land‑use permits, and encroachment permits for consistency with County standards.
• Coordination of meetings with applicants and consulting engineers.
• Field inspections for projects they manage.
• Customer service at the front counter, by phone, and via e‑mail.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate:

• Self‑motivation to manage workload and improve processes.
• Clear articulation of County standards with a collaborative communication style.
• High level of customer service and composure under pressure.
• A desire for public service.

Contact: JR Beard at 805‑781‑4073 or

Engineers work within a 20‑person office and field staff team handling project management, plan/spec/contract development, and construction management.

The vacancy is for either an office‑based design engineer (transportation and utility projects) or a field‑based construction engineer (construction management and administration).

Key responsibilities:

• Design engineer: develop plans, produce quantity/estimate products, and write technical specifications.
• Construction engineer: ensure contractor compliance with contract documents, manage consultants, and oversee compliance.

Design engineers should be proficient in AutoCAD/Civil 3D; construction engineers should understand public‑entity contracts and Caltrans requirements.

Depending on experience, one role may be used to meet workload demands.

Contact: Ryan Monie at 805‑781‑5523 or

Immediate opening for a Water Systems Engineer III to support water supply management, operation, maintenance, and capital improvements for water treatment plants, distribution systems, and reservoirs.

Key duties include:

• Engineering support for operation and maintenance of existing water and flood infrastructure.
• Tracking water deliveries, updating master plans, conducting hydraulic modeling and capacity studies.
• Supply and demand analysis for emergency exchanges and resilience…