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Job Description
Description
The City of Palo Alto is seeking an experienced plan checker who enjoys working in a dynamic and growing community. Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, Palo Alto is a vibrant community and home to many tech companies. In this unique opportunity, the City is looking for a plan check professional at the Senior Plan Check Engineer level.
About the Position: The Senior Plan Check Engineer is responsible for reviewing complex construction projects including life safety, building code, and structural perspective, ensuring compliance with city, state, and federal regulations under the general supervision of the Plan Review Manager. This role also involves leading, assigning, and monitoring plan reviews conducted by Plan Check Engineers, Plan Checkers, and consultants, providing quality assurance, resolving conflicts, and handling challenging projects such as multi-story mixed-use buildings, major tenant improvements, and advance wet labs involving hazardous materials and control areas, all while supporting the City’s Development Center with over-the-counter review services.
The Ideal Candidate: The successful candidate must embrace the City's commitment to excellent customer service, demonstrating strong communication, collaboration, and the ability to manage multiple fast-paced projects. The ideal candidate will be a team player who works well with various City staff and the public and will have a strong work ethic and dedication to public service. The role requires analytical skills, initiative, and independent judgment. The Senior Plan Check Engineer will promote electrification and green technologies, collaborating with city teams and stakeholders to advance environmentally friendly building designs, and will work closely with the Plan Review Manager and Development Services management to implement an expedited plan review program. Additionally, the ideal candidate requires an innovative and adaptable mindset, with an open-minded approach to review material specifications, products, standards, and difficult code provisions with a creative problem-solving demeanor to effectively address and resolve challenges encountered.
About the Department:
The Planning & Development Services Department reviews private and public development proposals, enforces municipal regulations and provides policy analysis to elected and appointed officials. Development Services is a program within the department that is principally responsible for reviewing and issuing building permits, conducting inspections, and providing customer service to residents, business owners, developers, and trade professionals. This work is largely carried out in the City’s Development Center, which is a one-stop permitting center. However, many of these services are now available online. We strive for consistency in our work, predictable review times, and adherence to city, state, and federal requirements.
Benefits: Fantastic benefits package, to learn more click HERE. Compensation (SEIU): Comprehensive compensation plan, to learn more click HERE.
More than one position may be filled from this posting.
Essential Duties
Essential and other important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to the following:- Provide technical information regarding codes and compliance methods to clients, other city staff, and the public.
- Create and maintain plan review guidelines, illustrations, procedures, and policies to ensure accuracy and consistency on plan reviews.
- Conduct pre-submittal meetings with architects, engineers, and clients; meet with representatives of local business and community groups to explain functions, policies, and operations and to mediate/resolve conflicts and respond to questions concerning plan and permit submittals.
- Perform independent plan reviews in all disciplines concerning the construction or alteration of all types of structures to determine compliance with applicable codes, laws, and regulations.
- Conduct quality assurance reviews on plan reviews done by in-house reviewers and outside consultants as needed.
- Coordinate plan review activities with other city personnel and departments, outside agencies, and professional consultants.
For full SENIOR PLAN CHECK ENGINEER job description, please click HERE .
Ideal Qualifications and Licenses/Certificates:- Minimum of two (2) years of progressively responsible experience as a project engineer in the structural design of commercial, industrial, and multifamily residential buildings. This experience should include the use of wood, steel, concrete, or/and masonry construction materials, as well as proficiency in structural computer programs such as RISA, SAP2000, RAM, ENERCALC, and ETABS.
- Minimum three (3) years of progressively responsible professional experience, preferably in a municipal jurisdiction, as a plan checker or plan check engineer. This experience shall involve reviewing both structural and non-structural code compliance in accordance with ICC model codes and structural standards, and other local, state, and federal regulations.
- Possession and continued maintenance of an ICC Plans Examiner Certificate. Additional ICC, LEED AP and CASp certifications are desirable.
- Professional registration as a Civil Engineer in the State of California and registration as a Structural Engineer in the State of California are highly desirable.
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college in structural or civil engineering. A Master’s degree in civil/structural engineering is preferred.
- Pertinent building and related codes and ordinances enforced by the City, specifically Building, Mechanical, Plumbing, Electrical, Energy, and Green Building Codes State regulations and local ordinances.
- Pertinent Federal, State, and local laws, codes, and regulations.
- Principles and practices of civil and structural engineering design and non-structural building analysis. Structural design programs such as RISA, ETABS, RAM, SAP2000
- Ability to analyze and accurately check building construction plans, energy & structural calculations, and specifications. Establish and maintain cooperative relations with architects, engineers, contractors, developers, other city staff, and the general public.
- Permitting software (i.e., Accela) and electronic plan review knowledge using Bluebeam, DigEplan or other programs.
Minimum Qualifications
Senior Plan Check Engineer - Minimum Qualifications
Sufficient education, training and/or work experience to demonstrate possession of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities which would typically be acquired through:- An associate’s or bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in structural or civil engineering, architecture or construction management., AND
- Five years of experience in civil or structural engineering, construction management, building plan review or design. Additional jurisdictional experience preferred.
Licenses/Certificates:- Possession of diploma in associate’s or bachelor’s degree.
- Possession and continued maintenance of an ICC Plans Examiner Certificate. Additional ICC, LEED AP and CASp certifications are desirable.
- Possession of a driver's license.
- Registration as a structural or civil engineer in the State of California desired.
Supplemental Information
The Selection Process:- Applicants will receive email recruitment status notifications. Governmentjobs.com account also has notification status updates.
- Depending on the number of qualified applications received, the examination process may consist of supplemental questions, online assessment, written examination, practical performance, oral examination, or any combination to determine which candidate will move forward in the hiring process.
The City of Palo Alto is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.
This position is represented by Service Employee International Union position (SEIU)
For more details visit our Careers Page, by clicking HERE.
Learn more about our Memorandum of Agreements (MOAs) between the City and its bargaining units, by clicking HERE.
Closing Date/Time: 2/25/2025 11:59 PM Pacific -
ABOUT THE COMPANY
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City of Palo Alto
Show morePalo Alto is located about 35 miles south of San Francisco; and 14 miles north of San Jose. Palo Alto, known as the “Birthplace of Silicon Valley” and global center of technology and innovation, is the corporate headquarters for many world-class companies and research facilities such as VMWare, Hewlett-Packard, IDEO, Tesla, and Skype. Home to Stanford University and a top-ranked public school system, Palo Alto also features beautiful and historic residential neighborhoods, vibrant shopping and retail districts.
Palo Alto has a highly educated and culturally sophisticated citizenry that is actively engaged in making a difference both locally and globally. Unique among city organizations, Palo Alto operates a full-array of services including its own gas, electric, water, sewer, refuse and storm drainage provided at very competitive rates for its customers.
The birthplace of Silicon Valley, Palo Alto, is a community of approximately 68,000 residents and nearly 100,000 jobs. Located on the mid-Peninsula between San Francisco and San Jose, Palo Alto is recognized worldwide as a leader in cutting-edge technology, medicine, and green innovation. Many world-class businesses maintained or started offices here, including Amazon, Tesla, Hewlett Packard, Palo Alto Medical Foundation, Rivian, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, SAP Ariba, Houzz, Varian Medical Systems, and VMware. Numerous start-ups are also at home in Palo Alto, arguably making it the startup capital of the world.
Stanford University is foundational to the history and prestige of Palo Alto, reflected in the community’s dedication to life-long learning. Stanford’s cultural and educational offerings are integral to the vibrancy and charm of Palo Alto, while the City’s exceptional K-12 school district ranks among the top public school systems in the country. With more than 50% of adult residents holding a graduate degree or higher, Palo Alto is frequently listed as one of the most educated cities in the nation.
Home to picturesque tree-lined streets, bike lanes, and historic buildings that reflect its California heritage, Palo Alto boasts a genuine sense of community and an active citizenry with strong environmental values. Beautiful neighborhoods are complemented by vibrant commercial corridors and a bustling economy with premium shopping and dining options. Excellent health care facilities, performing arts, and diverse recreational opportunities are just some of this incredibly desirable community’s cherished amenities.
Join an Award Winning Team
Palo Alto is an award-winning City recognized nationwide as innovative and well-managed. Palo Alto is one of a small number of California cities with a AAA bond rating. Recently, Palo Alto became one of the most livable cities in the U.S. by Livability.com. It's the only city to receive the Platinum Beacon Award in sustainability best practices by California’s Institute for Local Government.
We offer a variety of career paths that relate to building and improving communities. The City has fourteen departments employing 1,000 full-time staff. Police officers, fire fighters, paramedics, and building inspectors keep us safe. Engineers and public works staff build and re-build the physical infrastructure. City planners help envision and shape future community growth. Recreation, arts and library professionals enhance community life. Utilities provides electric, gas, water, sewer and other services. Internal services departments help manage, staff, and protect the City.
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