Assistant Chief Engineer

Salary : $141,360.96 - $171,826.72 Annually
Location : Throughout the County of Santa Clara, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 26-N95-A
Department: County-Wide Recruitment
Opening Date: 10/08/2026
Closing Date: 10/30/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
Bargaining Unit: 03

Description
Under general supervision, to oversee and assist in the surveillance, regulation, and maintenance of boiler equipment; to act as lead and oversee the work performed by Stationary Engineers, including emergency repairs to a variety of plumbing, refrigeration, air conditioning, and other equipment.

Typical Tasks
The following are the duties performed by employees in this classification. However, employees may perform other related duties at an equivalent level. Each individual in the classification does not necessarily perform all duties listed.

• Oversees and monitors the operation and maintenance of boilers and related industrial, hospital, and kitchen equipment located in County buildings;

• Reviews meter and gauge readings and the operating condition of equipment;

• Develops and executes operational procedures for building equipment and stationary engineering operations;

• Uses blueprints, diagrams, schematic drawings, and maintenance manuals to locate sources and diagnose problems with electrical, plumbing, and mechanical equipment;

• Troubleshoots and directs service calls to Stationary Engineers and other maintenance personnel, including contracted vendors;

• Ensures staff performs work safely and in compliance with appropriate codes and regulations;

• Reviews repair work to check for completeness;

• Prepares schedules and work assignments for subordinate personnel;

• Orders supplies, parts, and equipment necessary for operation and maintenance activities;

• Oversees equipment maintenance records and makes reports;

• Trains and monitors competency of staff in the Stationary Engineer classification series and reviews task performance;

• Identify training needs for Stationary Engineers and Associate Stationary Engineers;

• May perform any task assigned to staff in the Stationary Engineer classification series;

• Resolves customer service issues;

• May be assigned as a Disaster Service Worker (DSW), as required*;

• Performs other related duties, as required.

Employment Standards
Sufficient education, training, and experience to demonstrate the ability to perform the above tasks, plus the possession and direct application of the following knowledge and abilities:

Training and Experience Note: The required knowledge and abilities are attained through training and experience equivalent to high school graduation,

and

Three (3) years of experience equivalent to a Stationary Engineer with the County of Santa Clara.
Special Requirements

• Possess a valid Water Distribution Operator certification at Grade D2 or higher within six (6) months of appointment as long as certifications are available to obtain and maintain certification for the duration of employment in this classification. Failure to obtain will result in a probationary release.

• Possess a valid Universal Chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) certificate issued by the Federal Environmental Protection Agency upon appointment and maintain certification for the duration of employment in this classification.

• Ability to travel to alternate locations in the course of work. If driving, possession of a valid California driver's license prior to appointment and the ability to qualify for and maintain a County driver authorization.

• *As a condition of employment, pursuant to California Government Code Sections 3100-3109 and Local Ordinance, all County of Santa Clara employees are designated Disaster Service Workers (DSWs), including extra help. A DSW is required to complete all assigned DSW-related training, and in the event of an emergency, return to work as ordered.

Knowledge of:

• Various boiler manufacturers, models, styles, and operation of high and low pressure steam boilers;

• Safety precautions and hazards of pressure vessels and lines;

• When assigned to the County Health System, Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) standards relating to hospital equipment;

• Appropriate Federal and State requirements for handling hazardous chemicals, including asbestos;

• Requirements of regulations affecting the activities, procedures, and policies surrounding the work;

• Emergency power systems;

• Electrical, plumbing, heating, and air conditioning systems for large buildings and facilities;

• Methods of repairing and maintaining mechanical and electrical hospital and kitchen equipment;

• Proper and safe use of tools and equipment used in electrical, plumbing, and mechanical repairs;

• Common computer systems and applications;

• Principles of supervision and training.

Ability to:

• Operate, inspect, maintain, and make repairs to high and low pressure steam boilers, HVAC systems, water treatment equipment, plumbing fixtures, electrical motors, and other ancillary equipment;

• Learn and recall requirements of regulations affecting the activities, procedures, and policies surrounding the work;

• Interpret blueprints, diagrams, schematic drawings, and maintenance manuals;

• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with people of diverse backgrounds and cultures;

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work, at all levels, including colleagues, the public, and representatives of other agencies;

• Respond quickly and appropriately in an emergency;

• Manage and operate generator units during power outages;

• Maintain accurate records and write reports;

• Work independently and with minimal supervision;

• Train, lead, and review the work of others;

• Follow written and oral instructions.

Physical Requirements

• Lift and/or move moderately heavy and/or bulky equipment and objects up to 50 lbs. without assistance;

• Work in small and confined spaces;

• Climb ladders;

• Push, pull, grasp, and perform manual tasks, as necessary;

• Work on weekends, holidays, and at odd or irregular hours.

The County offers comprehensive first-class medical, dental, and vision benefits plans for County employees and their dependents, including plans with no deductibles, no co-pays, no co-insurance, and no prescription drug co-pays. Learn more

The County also offers generous paid time off with significant vacation, sick time, and 13 paid County holidays annually! Details are included in the with the bargaining unit applicable to the job classification.

In addition to the amazing perks above, the County also offers the additional benefits below.

Retirement Benefits
The County offers robust retirement plans including a (similar to the private sector's 401(k) plan) and the In addition to lifetime retirement income available through the CalPERS pension plan, the 457(b) Deferred Compensation plan provides a great way to save for retirement and supplement the defined benefit pension available to employees. These plans help our employees build a plan for their future and contribute to their family's long-term financial well-being.

Health Flexible Spending Account
The empowers employees to manage healthcare expenses efficiently with tax-free contributions (up to $3,200 for the 2024 calendar year). Secure tax-free solutions for your healthcare expenses and enjoy the flexibility to manage your healthcare finances effectively with the HFSA.

Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP)
The enables employees to utilize tax-free funds for dependent care services, facilitating a convenient and cost-effective approach for managing your dependent care expenses. The County also offers the , an employer-funded DCAP, for employees with annual income under $120,000.

Life and AD&D
The County offers life and disability benefits including , Insurance, These benefits ensure financial security and income support when you and your family need it most.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
The County prioritizes employee mental health and well-being and offers a top-tier through Concern providing confidential counseling sessions covering stress, anxiety, relationships, grief, as well as financial/legal services, personal coaching, child and elder care referrals, and comprehensive crisis support.

Employee Wellness
The offers free wellness programing, fitness classes and resources; including Elevate My Wellness an all-in-one platform designed to elevate your well-being journey.

Education Reimbursement
A generous program is available, including Education Reimbursement for employees seeking additional training and professional development.

NOTE: Benefit and Retirement information may vary from bargaining unit to bargaining unit. Due to changes in State Law, current pension provisions described in the union contracts are not automatically applied. Specific pension benefits for new hires who start on or after January 1, 2013 may be different than indicated in the union contracts.

Click here to access all Memoranda of Understanding and most recent Summary of Changes.
01

Please answer the following questions. Completion of the following supplemental questions is REQUIRED for your application and is an integral part of the evaluation process. Initially, it will be used to evaluate against the employment standards. For those applicants meeting the employment standards, this information will be critical in the subsequent competitive assessment to identify those candidates to be invited to continue in the examination process. Your responses to the questions may also be reviewed and scored in a Competitive Rating evaluation process based on pre-determined rating criteria. Your answers should be as complete as possible, as no additional information will be accepted from applicants once the Competitive Rating evaluation has begun. Please include the name of employer, job title, dates of employment and number of hours worked per week for questions asking about your experience. A response of "see resume" or "see application" will deem your application incomplete. Vague, incomplete or non-responsive answers could result in no or low scores in a competitive rating process. Do you understand this requirement?

• Yes
• No

02

Do you possess a High School Diploma or GED equivalent?

• Yes
• No

03

How many years of experience do you possess equivalent to a Stationary Engineer with the County of Santa Clara?
Click here to read the

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five years or more

04

Describe your experience equivalent to a Stationary Engineer with the County of Santa Clara.
Include in your response:
a) Employer name(s)
b) Job title(s)
c) Start/end dates of employment (Month/Year)
d) Total hours worked per week
e) Description of task(s) performed
If no experience, please type N/A.
Click here to read the
05

Please select from the following computer application(s) you have experience working with:

• Microsoft Outlook
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Word
• SharePoint
• Archibus
• SAP
• Other
• None of the above

06

If "Other" was selected above, please provide the name of the computer application(s) you have experience working with. If none, type N/A.
07

Describe your experience with the computer application(s) selected above.
Include in your response:
a) Employer name(s)
b) Job title(s)
c) Start/end dates of employment (Month/Year)
d) Total hours worked per week
e) Description of task(s) performed
If no experience, please type N/A.
08

How many years of supervisory experience do you possess?

• No experience
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five years or more

09

Describe your supervisory experience.
Include in your response:
a) Employer name(s)
b) Job title(s)
c) Start/end dates of employment (Month/Year)
d) Total hours worked per week
e) Description of task(s) performed
If no experience, please type N/A.
10

Please select from the following boiler manufacturer(s) that you have experience working with.

• Rite
• RBI
• Laars
• Raypak
• Lochinvar
• AJAX
• Other
• None of the above

11

If "Other" was selected above, please provide the name of the boiler manufacturer(s) that you have experience working with.
12

Describe your experience with the boiler manufacturer(s) selected above.
Include in your response:
a) Employer name(s)
b) Job title(s)
c) Start/end dates of employment (Month/Year)
d) Total hours worked per week
e) Description of task(s) performed
If no experience, please type N/A.
13

Do you possess a valid Unive