PLANS EXAMINING ENGINEER V (EN-26) [5 vacancies]

Salary: $8,706.00 - $9,762.00 Monthly
Location : Oahu, HI
Job Type: Full-Time Permanent
Job Number: 243256
Department: Department of Planning & Permitting
Division: Building
Opening Date: 02/13/2026
Closing Date: Continuous

Position Information
Opening Doors to Safe, Stable Housing!

Start your rewarding career with the City and County of Honolulu today!

Ready for a role where your engineering expertise drives safe, code-compliant building approvals? The Department of Planning and Permitting, Building Division is seeking experienced engineers for a Plans Examining Engineer V position! This full-time, permanent role, located in Honolulu, involves reviewing and approving complex building plans to ensure they meet engineering standards and Building Code requirements.

What You Will Do

• Review and approve complex building plans by evaluating drawings, specifications, and structural calculations to ensure compliance with the Building Code and applicable ordinances.
• Issue building permits once all engineering, structural, and code requirements have been fully satisfied.
• Consult with architects and engineers to resolve questions related to structural safety and interpretation of complex Building Code provisions.
• Evaluate geotechnical and structural test data including pile tests, soil borings, and related reports to confirm design adequacy.
• Prepare technical engineering reports for major and complex structures as required.
• Guide and supervise plan review staff and inspectors by providing technical direction on plan review, field inspections, and structural design issues.
• Perform other related duties as needed.

Special Working Conditions

• Work schedule is Monday - Friday from 7:45 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

**Actual salary commensurate with applicable experience, pending approval**

Enjoy excellent employment benefitsincluding generous time off (up to 21 vacation days, 21 sick leave days, and holidays), comprehensive health coverage, retirement plan, career development, and much more! View details about all our available benefits by clicking on the "Benefits" tab at the top of this posting or visiting https://www.honolulu.gov/dhr/benefits/.
Apply today and take the first step toward a lasting career!
Additional Job Information
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Minimum Qualification Requirements

At time of application, you must be a citizen, national or permanent resident alien of the United States or a non-citizen eligible under federal law for unrestricted employment.

EDUCATION REQUIREMENT:
Equivalent to graduation from a regionally-accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor's degree in an engineering specialty.
Education Verification: Education information must be listed clearly on your application. If available, please attach a legible electronic copy of your diploma, official transcripts, and/or applicable foreign credential evaluation to your application. As part of the hiring process, you may be asked to furnish documentation to verify your education to move forward for further consideration.

EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT:
One (1) year of registered professional civil or structural engineering experience, which shall have been representative of the next lower level.

• In other words, work experience must have been similar to work performed at a Plans Examining Engineer IV level, which is responsible for difficult professional engineering work in the review, analysis and approval of building plans and specifications for compliance with accepted engineering practices and provisions of the Building and Housing Codes and other pertinent ordinances.

Must be able to:

• Apply principles and practices of structural engineering and civil engineering as it relates to buildings and structures.
• Evaluate the strength and composition of construction materials.
• Review and analyze building plans and specifications for compliance with engineering and code requirements, and coordinate major plan review projects.
• Interpret and apply provisions of the Building and Housing Codes and related ordinances.
• Work effectively with engineers, architects, contractors, and the general public.

LICENSE REQUIREMENT:
1. Valid Driver's License (type3/automobile), as required.
2. Current State of Hawaii registration as a professional Civil or Structural engineer.
NOTE: Applicants with an out-of-state license in Civil or Structural Engineering must obtain Hawaii licensure prior to appointment.
Verification Requirement: Please attach an electronic copy of your professional Civil or Structural Engineer license (Hawaii or out-of-state) to your application. Or mail a photocopy of your license to the following address: Department of Human Resources, 650 South King Street, 10th Floor, Honolulu, HI 96813. Copies will not be returned. All information on your documentation must be legible and complete in order to be given credit.
Examination Process

If you qualify for the position, your name will be eligible for consideration for vacancies and future job openings with this job title. Screening will be based on the education, experience, and other job-related information provided in your application. Failure to provide sufficient information may result in your application being rejected or your receiving a lower rating. All information provided on an application is subject to verification. As applicable, false or misleading statements or omissions of material facts are grounds for disqualification and/or termination of employment with the City and County of Honolulu.
What are the benefits of being a City Employee?

-- Vacation: Employees may earn up to 21 days per year.

-- Sick Leave: Employees may earn up to 21 days per year.

-- Holidays: 13 days a year; 14 days during election years.

-- Training and Development: Computer, career, and personal enhancement courses are offered; curriculum designed for employee, supervisory, and management development.

-- Medical, Dental, Prescription Drug, and Vision Care: Various health insurance plans are available. Premiums are subsidized by the City and deductible from pre-tax income for participants of the Premium Conversion Plan (PCP).

-- Group Life Insurance: No cost for eligible employees.

-- Deferred Compensation Plan: Invest in your future...choose to defer part of your pre-tax income for retirement.

-- Retirement Plan: The Employees' Retirement System (ERS) of the State of Hawaii administers retirement benefits for State and County employees. Employee contribution required.

-- Commuter Choice Pre-Tax Benefits: Employees may designate certain transportation expenses (TheBus, LOTMA, Vanpool Hawaii, etc.) as a pre-tax item

-- Parking: Some job locations offer parking on-site; others may have access to parking at low monthly rates.

-- Direct Deposit: Direct deposit of paychecks to a designated financial institution is available.

-- Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Confidential, professional counseling and resource referral.

-- Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program: A federal program forgiving the balance of federal student loans for individuals working in public service. For program requirements and additional information, please visit:

To view additional information, please visit our page.

* All benefits as stated above, are subject to eligibility requirements and to legislative and/or negotiated changes. Individuals are responsible for any related fees or charges that may apply.
01

APPLICATION GUIDELINES & INSTRUCTIONS
When applying for this position, please thoroughly complete the Education, Work Experience, and Supplemental Question sections of your application. The information provided in these sections, particularly the job-specific Supplemental Questions, will be used to determine whether you meet the qualification requirements for the job and your final score. Failure to provide detailed and complete information or submit any required documentation may result in your application being rejected or you receiving a lower score.

Please do not submit resumes in place of completing any of these sections.

List each work experience separately, do not combine jobs. For example, if you've held more than one position or job level(s) for the same employer, they should be listed and described separately so that the resulting changes in your duties and responsibilities are accurately reflected. If any part of your experience is unclear, you may be asked to provide a copy of your official job/position description (PD).

In general (unless otherwise specified on the job posting), the following criteria is utilized for evaluation of the Minimum Qualification Requirements:

• Substitute, temporary assignment, internship or volunteer experience requires an official letter of verification from your supervisor and/or Human Resources department. The letter should include the job title, employment dates, number of hours worked, a description of the duties performed, and a contact name and phone number.
• Concurrent or overlapping experiences and/or education will NOT be double credited.
• Professional experience refers to work that generally involves independent critical thinking, solving complex, non-routine problems, preparing reports, and interpreting and applying technical information.
• Most work experience as an intern will NOT be creditable as equivalent to professional experience.
• Calculation of experience will be based upon a full-time, 40-hour work week. Part-time experience will be pro-rated. Hours worked in excess of 40 hours/week will not be extra credited.
  
  1. Example: Twelve months of experience at 20 hours/week will be pro-rated to six months of experience.
     
  2. Example: Twelve months of experience at 60 hours/week will be credited as one year of experience, NOT one and a half years.
• All requirements for the position must be met at the time of application or by the closing date of the recruitment.

Possession of the required amount of experience will not in and of itself be accepted as proof of qualification for the position. The overall experience must be of such scope and responsibility as to conclusively demonstrate that you have the ability to perform the duties of the position.

Any information you submit is subject to verification. Supporting documents must be either electronically attached to your application or submitted to our office at: Department of Human Resources, 650 South King Street, 10th Floor, Honolulu, HI 96813. Documents should be identified by job title and recruitment number.

If you previously submitted education documents (e.g., transcripts, diploma, etc.) to our office, for most cases you are not required to resubmit them. Supporting documents with an expiration period (e.g., driver's license, Department of Transportation medical certificate, etc.) will need to be submitted with each application to verify possession of a current license or certificate at the time specified on the job posting.

• I certify that I have read and understand the above statements.

02

EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: The Plans Examining Engineer V position requires applicants to have the equivalent to graduation from a regionally-accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor's degree in an engineering specialty.

Education Verification: Education information must be listed clearly on your application. If available, please attach a legible electronic copy of your diploma, official transcripts, and/or applicable foreign credential evaluation to your application. As part of the hiring process, you may be asked to furnish documentation to verify your education to move forward for further consideration.

If you meet the education requirement, list below:

• The name of the college/university you attended,
  
• The location of the college/university,
  
• The specific degree and major area of study you completed.

(If you do not have a degree in an engineering specialty, indicate "None.")
03

EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT: The Plans Examining Engineering IV position requires one (1) year of registered professional Civil or Structural engineering experience, which shall have been representative of the next lower level (i.e., Plans Examining Engineer IV level).

Do you meet the experience requirement?

• Yes
• No

04

LICENSE REQUIREMENT: This position requires you to have a current State of Hawaii registration as a Professional Engineer in Civil or Structural engineering. (Applicants with an out-of-state license in Civil or Structural engineering must obtain Hawaii licensure prior to appointment.)

Verification Requirement: Please attach an electronic copy of your professional Civil or Structural Engineer license (Hawaii or out-of-state) to your application. Or mail a photocopy of your license to the following address: Department of Human Resources, 650 South King Street, 10th Floor, Honolulu, HI 96813. Copies will not be returned. All information on your documentation must be legible and complete in order to be given credit.

Do you meet the license requirement?

• Yes, I have a current State of Hawaii registration as a Professional Engineer in Civil or Structural Engineering.
• Yes, I have a current out-of-state registration as a Professional Engineer in Civil or Structural Engineering.
• No, I do not have a registration as a Professional Engineer in Civil or Structural Engineering.

05

PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING LICENSE:
Please list all states in which you currently hold a Professional Engineer (PE) license. For each license, include:

• State of licensure
• PE license number
• Date the license was first issued

Example format:

• State: Hawaii | License #: XXXXX | Date issued: MM/YYYY
• State: California | License #: XXXXX | Date issued: MM/YYYY

06

RELEVANT ENGINEERING EXPERIENCE:
Describe your registered professional Civil or Structural engineering experience that involved work similar to that of a Plans Examining Engineer IV.

In your response, please include:

1. The position(s) listed in your Work Experience section where you performed difficult professional civil or structural engineering work in the review, analysis and approval of building plans and specifications for compliance with accepted engineering practices and provisions of the Building and Housing Codes and other pertinent ordinances;
   
2. Examples of projects where you were responsible for reviewing the building plans and specifications; and
   
3. Specific tasks performed to check for compliance with accepted engineering practices, provisions of the Building and Housing Codes, and other pertinent ordinances.

(If you do not have this type of experience, indicate "None.")
Required Question