Salary: $7,397.00 - $9,441.00 Monthly
Location : Salinas City Hall, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 26-00770
Department: Public Works
Division: Engineering
Opening Date: 08/28/2026
Closing Date: 9/11/2026 5:00 PM Pacific

The City of Salinas is seeking an experienced engineering professional to fill an Assistant Engineer vacancy. Candidates who are committed to the City of Salinas values of accountability, collaboration, trust, innovation, and service excellence are encouraged to apply.
Summary of Duties: The Assistant Engineer assists in the management, direction, planning, plan check, and design of various traffic, engineering, and construction projects across the City. Manages consultants, oversees design teams, and ensures project completion and compliance with City Standards.
Distinguishing Characteristics: This is a journey level job in the engineering series of the Public Works department. This position has experience and expertise to perform generally complex, supervisory, design, and managerial tasks.
Supervision Received and Exercised: Receives general supervision from a higher-level professional engineer and performs most work with limited supervision. Provides direction to lower level employees.

Essential Job Functions

1. Manages, leads, and directs engineering teams handling traffic, construction, and other tasks; prioritizes work, assigns tasks appropriately, develops project scope and objectives, reviews project status, quality, progress and budget, and provides direction and training when necessary
2. Designs, prepares, and reviews plans, specifications, and cost estimates; performs engineering calculations for various Capital Improvement Projects and provides a wide range of engineering support for projects under construction; reviews and approves consultant's invoices for payments
3. Monitors, maintains, and manages the traffic signals, signage, and roadway markings; responds to reports of malfunctions, performs studies to determine new signals that are needed, and implements timing plans for current intersections; solicits and reviews estimates for repairs, schedules maintenance, and determines which equipment is needed
4. Performs, evaluates, reviews, and provides feedback for various traffic studies, analysis reports, and engineering studies; documents and communicates data and statistical research professionally and accurately; presents findings to appropriate Councils ensuring the proper initiatives are instituted
5. Participates in the plan check, review, and processing of improvement plans for private developments affecting city streets, streetlights, sewers, and related public works facilities to ensure compliance with City standards and requirements
6. Provides project management for various projects across the City and ensures deadlines are met; delegates work, assigns tasks, ensures proper funding, mitigates risk, evaluates plans and specifications, and oversees the successful completion of projects and initiatives
7. Responds and engages with the public, other departments, or outside parties to assist with information, data, or documentation and assists with the solution of difficult problems
8. Researches, gathers, and compiles information related to grant deeds, grant of easements, and other legal description data; investigates traffic and transportation issues and communicates needs and concerns professionally and with strong recommendations
9. Prepares council reports, correspondence, special engineering studies and related documents.
10. Oversees billing and approval for payments; creates, submits, and gathers purchase orders for supplies, equipment, and other material needed for the department
11. Performs other duties as assigned

Typical Decisions: The incumbent will make consistent managerial, supervisory, coordination, and project management decisions. Most decisions are made independently and with little to no supervision.

Minimum Qualifications
Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of engineering and construction management
• Employee training, supervision, and delegation; supervisory roles and responsibilities
• Principles of project and program management
• Federal, State, and local regulations and laws; codes and ordinances affecting Public Works engineering
• Budget management and basic accounting
• College level English writing and grammar
• Professional software literacy including design software like AutoCAD

Skill in:

• Reading and interpreting plans and understanding specifications and standards
• Managing multiple projects at one time
• Leading a team and managing a budget with limited supervision
• Developing and administering grants
• Public speaking and communicating clearly and concisely verbally and in writing
• Understanding regulations, laws, ordinances, and codes
• Supervising and directing staff

Ability to:

• Make complex engineering designs and computations
• Prepare engineering plans and studies
• Prepare reports, Request for Proposals and various related agreements and contracts
• Make effective recommendations

Education: Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Civil Engineering or other closely related engineering discipline.
Experience: Two years of engineering experience.
Licenses and Certifications: A valid State of California Driver's License.

Supplemental Information
Physical Demands and Working Conditions: Physical, mental, and emotional stamina to perform the duties and responsibilities of the position; manual dexterity sufficient to write, use telephone, computer, business machines, and consistently stand or walk up to four hours per day as required. Vision sufficient to read fine print and display monitors; hearing sufficient to conduct conversations occasionally over the noise from groups of people, in-person, and using the telephone; speaking ability in understandable voice with sufficient volume to be heard in normal conversational distance, occasionally in crowds of people and for addressing groups; physical ability to push, pull, squat, twist, turn, bend, stoop, and reach overhead; physical mobility sufficient to move about the work environment, walk on uneven surfaces and occasionally leap, jump, run for short distances; physical strength to lift twenty pounds from the floor; physical stamina sufficient to stand, walk and/or sit for prolonged periods of time; mental acuity to collect, interpret and analyze data, reason, define problems, establish facts, draw valid conclusions, make valid judgments and decisions.
Working environment is shared between an office and outside. Work outdoors under adverse condition in heat, wind, cold, and rain. Work in an around potential hazardous substances including pesticides, herbicides, and motor fuel. Must drive a vehicle and travel for meetings, seminars, and classes.

Employee must complete SB 1343 Sexual Harassment Prevention Training within six months of appointment and every two years thereafter.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills which may be required.
Veteran's Preference: A veteran is defined in accordance with California Government Code 18540.4. In order to exercise this preference, the veteran must submit the and provide a copy of the DD-214 form at time of application as proof of military status. Failure to submit the required forms will be deemed a waiver of veteran's preference. Military veterans shall be given preference in initial appointment to City service. Further details can be obtained from the Human Resources Department, at 831-758-7254.
Public Employee Disaster Service Worker: In accordance with Government Code Section 3100, all City of Salinas employees are required to perform assigned disaster service worker duties in the event of an emergency or a disaster.
Selection Process: Applicants' qualifications will be evaluated based on the information provided on the employment application. The exam process may consist of an application appraisal, oral interview, assessment center and/or written exam. The City reserves the right to use alternate testing procedures if deemed necessary. CITY COMMUNICATION REGARDING THE SELECTION PROCESS WILL BE VIA E-MAIL. PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOU HAVE ACCESS TO THE E-MAIL ON YOUR APPLICATION.Finalist interview/assessment will be held with the City of Salinas.
Oral Board Interview FAQ - Applicants who are invited to the oral board interview or have questions on what to expect during an oral board interview, are encouraged to review the City of Salinas Tips for a Sucessful Oral Board which can be found
Salary Steps: The following applies for Full-Time Regular positions only. Appointments are normally made at the first step. Consideration is given for increase to the second step after successful completion of the probationary period. (Employees appointed at a higher step will be eligible for consideration for the next step after one year, providing they successfully complete a probationary period.)
For a complete listing of benefits, please click to visit the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for this position.
01

This position requires a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Civil Engineering or other closely related engineering discipline. Please specify your field of study.
02

Please describe your engineering experience.
03

How many years of engineering experience do you possess?

• 0-2 years
• 2-5 years
• 5-7 years
• 8 years or more

Required Question