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Job Description
Description
The City of Palo Alto Watershed Protection Group is hiring an Associate Engineer!
This position offers an exciting opportunity to work on a variety of projects relating to water quality protection and wastewater treatment.
The ideal candidate is a motivated individual who is excited by scientific challenges and is willing to undertake a variety of tasks that might include pre-designs, planning evaluations, optimization studies, regulatory submittals and negotiations, sampling, analyzing data, writing reports, and conducting presentations.
They would possess the following skills:- Familiarity with water/wastewater treatment, wastewater-related regulations, and local water quality issues
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
- Experience with contract and project management, including contract development and ongoing communications with contractors
This position focuses on regulatory compliance and planning studies for the wastewater treatment plant. In addition, this position will work on developing and implementing programs including the Recycled Water Program and Pretreatment Program.
This position is represented by the Service Employee International Union (SEIU).
Essential Duties
Essential and other important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:- Prepares designs, specifications, plans, estimates, and reports for projects of moderate complexity.
- Works with technical staff in preparing reports and designs.
- Conducts research and special investigations including highly complex and/or sensitive technical topics. This work includes composition of reports, preparation of presentations, and submittal of reports to regulatory agencies.
- Analyzes large quantities of data for trends, potential sources of pollutants, determining the wastewater treatment plant’s compliance with environmental standards and requirements, and potential impacts to the treatment plant or Bay.
- Oversees and coordinates the work of consultants and contractors in performing specialized work for the City. This work includes monitoring work for compliance with scope of services, invoice processing, contract development, and guidance on work elements.
- Utilizes computer in monitoring the project budget including revisions, budget allocations, and assures full value received.
- Acts as liaison with and controls professional services of consultants on conceptual design, working drawings, and specifications and estimates.
- Participates in consultant selection.
To view the full job description, click here: ASSOCIATE ENGINEER
Please note that while the full job description applies to multiple positions throughout the city, this recruitment is for the Watershed Protection Group (Public Works Department).
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:- Bachelor of Science degree in civil, chemical, environmental, mechanical, traffic or other approved engineering curriculum, depending upon area of assignment
- Two years related engineering experience
(Note: Master's Degree or registration as a Professional Engineer in the State of California may be considered in lieu of one year's experience.)
Special Requirements:- Possession of a valid California Driver's License
Supplemental Information
Position Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:- Ability to communicate effectively with others and to assimilate and understand information, in a manner consistent with the essential job functions
- Excellent communication skills, particularly the ability to communicate technical information to a variety of audiences in writing and in presentations
- Ability to work effectively with others and to be flexible in work assignments
- Ability to understand and communicate complex water quality and air issues to audiences with varying technical backgrounds
- Ability to plan and manage multiple projects simultaneously
- Ability to read technical permits and understand compliance requirements
- Ability to plan and complete special studies, including development of hypotheses, collection of samples, data analysis, and report composition
Work in an office environment; sustained posture in a seated position for prolonged periods of time; assist contractors and professionals.
One or more positions may also be filled from this posting.
The City of Palo Alto is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EEO). In compliance with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA), 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.
See our Benefits at a Glance Bookletfor more details.
Learn more about our Memorandum of Agreements (MOAs) between the City and its bargaining units, by clicking HERE.
Closing Date/Time: 9/17/2025 11:59 PM Pacific -
ABOUT THE COMPANY
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City of Palo Alto
Show moreThe Community
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. The community's treelined streets and historic buildings reflect its California heritage, and, at the same time, many world-class businesses maintain or started offices here, such as Stanford Health Care and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Amazon, Broadcom, Hewlett-Packard, Houzz, Rivian, SAP and SAP Ariba, Tesla, and Varian Medical Systems. Numerous start-ups are also at home in Palo Alto, arguably making it the start-up capital of the world. Stanford University is foundational to the history and prestige of Palo Alto, reflected in the community's dedication to lifelong 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. 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 featuring premium shopping and dining options. Excellent healthcare facilities, performing arts, and diverse recreational opportunities are some of the community's incredibly desirable and cherished amenities. To learn more, visit https://www.paloalto.gov/Departments/City-Manager/Latest-NewsCity Government
Palo Alto is a full-service charter city with a council-manager form of government. The seven-member City Council is elected at large, and the City Council annually selects the Mayor and Vice Mayor from among its members. The Mayor and City Council appoint the City Manager, City Attorney, City Clerk, and City Auditor. The City Manager is responsible for the strategic direction and day-to-day operations of the City. Palo Alto is organized into 15 departments/offices with 1,093.10 authorized positions in FY 2025. There is also a FY 2025 capital budget of $316.2 million. Palo Alto owns and operates its own utilities, including electricity (carbon-neutral), gas, water, wastewater, and an expanding fiber network. This dynamic municipal environment ensures an ever-engaging platform for unique problem-solving and advances new initiatives, including sustainability, broadband, and effective service delivery. Community assets also include five libraries, 36 parks, five community centers, a museum and zoo, youth centers, a general aviation airport, an 18-hole golf course, a regional water treatment plant, and wildland open space preserves at the San Francisco Bay and in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains offering 41 miles of walking/biking trails in addition to its police, fire, and ambulance services. Palo Alto has long been a leader in sustainability, and the City's ambitious greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction goals are part of what sets it apart. Since the City's first Climate Protection Plan was passed in 2007, Palo Alto has set goals that exceed State and Federal targets. Today, the City's goal to reduce emissions 80% below 1990 levels by 2030 (the "80x30" goal) and achieve carbon neutrality by 2030 guides sustainability efforts. An award-winning City, Palo Alto is recognized nationally as innovative and well-managed. City services and performance also receive impressive marks from community members in the Palo Alto Community Survey.
Many of those ratings put City programs and services in the highest percentiles among the hundreds of benchmark cities. Palo Alto makes decisions through comprehensive processes and proactively seeks to involve its extremely informed, educated, and engaged residents. Projects are naturally a cooperative effort among the City Council, Boards, Commissions, Committees, engaged residents, neighborhoods, businesses, property owners, and staff.
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.
Want to learn more about our benefits? Learn more by reviewing our "Benefits at a Glance Booklet."
Contact Us
Phone: 650-329-2376
Email: Recruit@paloalto.gov
Location: City Hall, 1st Floor | 250 Hamilton Ave 94301 | View Map
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