City Engineer

Salary: $92,900.00 - $126,853.00 Annually
Location : City of Sandpoint, ID
Job Type: Full Time Regular
Job Number: 000234
Department: Public Works
Division: Public Works
Opening Date: 07/22/2026

JOB SUMMARY
The primary function of this position is to perform professional civil engineering work associated with City infrastructure and private development projects. Reporting to the Public Works Director, the role combines administrative leadership, staff supervision, and professional engineering oversight. The City Engineer is responsible for integrated services within and among Planning, Building, Utilities, Streets, and other Service functional areas. The City Engineer participates in design review of capital improvement and development projects to ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local requirements, including but not limited to utility infrastructure, transportation, stormwater, and right-of-way improvements. This position provides services to the public and works collaboratively with the Mayor, City Council, City departments, consultants, developers, contractors, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders. The position includes both office and field work.

INFORMATION REGARDING COMPENSATION:
The full salary range for the position is $92,900 - $126,853
The general hiring range for the role is $92,900 - $103,832
The hiring salary will depend on the candidate's experience, qualifications, and education.
EXAMPLES OF DUTIES
This list is ILLUSTRATIVE only and is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and duties performed by the incumbent of this class. Duties may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Performs professional civil engineering work and coordinates with consulting engineers as required.
• Exercises direct supervision over assigned project management, inspection, technical, and administrative staff, including assigning work, establishing priorities, reviewing performance, providing technical guidance, and supporting staff development.
• Plans and participates in development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies, priorities, and design standards for the Public Works Department services.
• Reviews capital improvement and development projects for compliance with City standards, approved plans, specifications, permits, and applicable federal, state, and local requirements.
• Reviews private development proposals, including plats, stormwater management plans, and water, sewer, stormwater, and street improvements; inspects and recommends acceptance of related infrastructure as appropriate.
• Researches, prepares, and presents staff reports and Council agenda items.
• Participates and presents at committee, Planning and Zoning Commission, and City Council meetings, as required.
• Supports budget development, project planning, and fiscal strategies to deliver cost-effective public works programs.
• Supports continuous improvement efforts by recommending updates to policies, standards, and codes to improve service quality and efficiency.
• Coordinates with the Utility Division to support the operation, maintenance and repair activities of water and wastewater systems and treatment plants.
• Collaborate with other City departments, community groups, regional partners, and state and federal agencies to plan, fund, and deliver infrastructure projects.
• Participate in updating master plans for transportation, stormwater, utilities, and related systems.
• Serve as a public-facing technical resource, responding to inquiries and providing guidance to residents, businesses, and stakeholders.
• Prepares correspondence and written communications.
• Identifies potential conflicts and resolves issues.

CORE COMPETENCIES

Knowledge of:

• Residential, commercial, public works, and other engineering design and construction methods, materials, principles and practices;
• Methods, procedures, and standard practices of engineering applicable to public works programs, projects, and functions;
• Methods, procedures, equipment, standard practices, and objectives and standards of water production and delivery, stormwater and wastewater collection processes;
• Methods, procedures, equipment, standard practices, and objectives and standards of street construction, maintenance, and repair;
• Fundamental land surveying techniques and procedures.
• Federal, state, local, city and other applicable environmental and safety statutes, ordinances, and codes;
• Public hearing, review, and approval processes;
• Contract negotiation and administration and project management methods; Supervisory techniques and principles, employee evaluation, and training methods; Municipal budgeting methods, procedures, and objectives;
• Federal, state and local laws, rules, administrative policy and practices related to department functions.

Ability to:

• Read and interpret engineering, legal, technical, regulatory, and operational documents, manuals, journals, blueprints, specifications, and diagrams;
• Research, analyze and interpret data and make recommendations;
• Analyze standards and regulations and define the impact on the City;
• Negotiate contracts and contract changes with engineers, developers, and contractors;
• Make sound decisions in accordance with laws, ordinances, regulations and established policies;
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing with the public, peers, the City Council and other City employees;
• Demonstrate effective customer service, deal constructively with conflict and develop effective solutions;
• Follow written and oral instruction;
• Evaluate and analyze customer needs to provide exceptional customer service;
• Prepare and maintain records, documents, financial accounts, and related reports;
• Operate standard office equipment and a personal computer including program applications appropriate to assigned duties;
• Perform a wide variety of duties and responsibilities with accuracy and speed under the pressure of time-sensitive deadlines;
• Use logical and creative thought processes to develop reasonable solutions according to written specifications and/or oral instructions;
• Work independently, with minimal supervision, and make appropriate decisions in the absence of a supervisor;
• Demonstrate patience, integrity, ingenuity, and inventiveness in the performance of assigned tasks.
• Supervise, train, assign, review, and evaluate the work of assigned project management, inspection, technical, and administrative staff.

Physical Demands:

• Sufficient clarity of speech and hearing or other communication capabilities, with or without reasonable accommodation, which permits the employee to perform the essential functions and interact with the public and communicate effectively;
• Sufficient visual acuity, with or without reasonable accommodation, which permits the employee to comprehend written work instructions, prepare technical documents and reports, and review complex plans, diagrams, blueprints, and specifications and discern verbal instructions and to communicate effectively in person and on a telephone;
• Sufficient manual dexterity, with or without reasonable accommodation, which permits the employee to use fingers and hands to operate a computer, use a keyboard or type, and to handle materials and present information to small and large groups; and to operate a vehicle;
• Sufficient personal mobility, flexibility, and balance, with or without reasonable accommodation, which permits the employee to sit for long periods, reach with hands and/or arms to manipulate large documents such as blueprints and occasionally required to climb stairs, stand and/or walk for long periods, climb or balance, stoop and kneel, crouch, and lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

Working Conditions:

• Works in a public building environment where the noise level is generally moderate and in a field environment at construction sites that include exposure to adverse weather conditions, heavy construction equipment, and traffic.

ACCEPTABLE TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in Civil Engineering; and
• Five years' experience performing professional engineering work;
• Preference may be given to applicants with experience in a municipality similar in size and structure to the City of Sandpoint.

Licenses and Certifications:

• State of Idaho Professional Engineer License, or if licensed in another state, ability to acquire a license through the Idaho Board of Licensure of Professional Engineers within 90 days of hire. NOTE: The Idaho Board may require out-of-state applicants to take an additional examination to comply with Idaho Law (Section 54-1219, Idaho Code). Click here for details.
• Valid driver's license.

This class specification should not be interpreted as all-inclusive. It is intended to identify the essential functions and requirements of this job. Incumbents may be requested to perform job-related responsibilities and tasks other than those stated in this specification. Any essential function or requirement of this class will be evaluated as necessary should an incumbent/applicant be unable to perform the function or requirement due to a disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Reasonable accommodation for the specific disability will be made for the incumbent/applicant when possible.