Senior Civil Engineer

City of Oceanside, CA

$131K — $176K *
Real Estate & Construction
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in civil engineering or related field
  • Professional Civil Engineer (PE) license in California
  • Six years of civil engineering experience, with two years in a supervisory role
  • Experience with storm drains, municipal buildings, and essential facilities
  • Knowledge of federal, state, and local engineering laws and standards

Responsibilities

  • Manage and oversee complex high-profile civil engineering projects
  • Prepare and issue Requests for Proposals and bid requests
  • Prepare project study reports, plans, specifications, and cost estimates
  • Coordinate with the City Council and public outreach for project needs
  • Supervise and coordinate City Capital Improvement Projects
  • Review development projects to ensure compliance with standards
  • Resolve disputes regarding construction and project implementations

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health insurance plans (medical, dental, vision)
  • Employee Assistance Program providing confidential counseling
  • Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) with various retirement credit options
  • Generous leave benefits including vacation, sick leave, and bereavement
  • Tuition reimbursement up to $2,000 per year
  • Certification and bilingual pay options for eligible employees
  • City-provided uniforms and safety shoe reimbursement
Full Job Description
Salary : $131,436.00 - $176,004.00 Annually
Location : Oceanside, CA, CA
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 2627-36
Department: Development Services
Opening Date: 09/16/2026
Closing Date: 10/16/2026 4:00 PM Pacific

The Position

The position will be responsible for the management, supervision and oversight of complex and high-profile projects, including the concrete portion of the Oceanside Pier and Lifeguard headquarters project, and the Beachfront Phase II improvements, among others. In general, work assignments will include the preparation, issuance and management of Requests for Proposals, Formal and Informal Bid requests; prepare Project Study Reports; preparation of plans, specifications and cost estimates; attend City Council and Commission meetings; plan and host public outreach meetings as needed; among other duties. Work experience must cover streets, storm drains, sidewalks, dry utilities, drainage facilities, parks and parks facilities, public facilities and municipal buildings, and construction management. The selected person must possess a Professional Civil Engineering License at the time of application.

Examples of Duties
A Senior Civil Engineer reviews residential, commercial and industrial development projects for conformance with City, State and Federal requirements; supervises and coordinates City CIP projects including subdivision inspections and plan review and approval; participates in the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies and priorities; recommends and implements resulting policies and procedures; coordinates design work and plan checking for subdivisions submitted by private engineers; writes specifications and prepares cost estimates; ensures project conformance with recognized City, State and Federal standards; represents the Engineering Division at conferences, meetings, hearings and to regulatory agencies; resolves construction disputes between the City and developers, contractors and the public; attends Planning Commission meetings; coordinates CIP projects with Planning Commission; works with various outside agencies in the coordination and completion of projects; performs related duties and responsibilities as required.
Minimum Qualifications

Knowledge of:
  • Principles and practices of civil engineering including design, construction and maintenance requirements of subdivision development.
  • Advanced engineering mathematics.
  • Construction materials, methods and practices.
  • Methods and techniques of conducting engineering inspections.
  • Principles and practices of engineering project management.
  • Methods and techniques of engineering plan review and approval.
  • Principles of supervision.
  • Pertinent Federal, State and local laws, codes and regulations.

Ability to:
  • Supervise, direct and coordinate the work of professional engineering staff.
  • Perform complex civil engineering duties including design work and the preparation of specifications and drawings.
  • Review residential, commercial and industrial development projects for conformance with City, State and Federal requirements.
  • Supervise and coordinate City CIP projects including subdivision inspections and plan review and approval.
  • Read and interpret various engineering designs, plans and specifications.
  • Ensure project conformance with recognized City, State and Federal standards.
  • Resolve construction disputes between the City and developers, contractors and the public.
  • Negotiate, prepare and administer contracts.
  • Prepare clear and concise reports.
  • Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
  • Establish and maintain effective relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Experience and Training

Experience: Six years of increasingly responsible civil engineering experience including two years of supervisory responsibility.

Experience in roadway, curb and gutter, storm drain, storm water compliance, and/or park buildings, municipal buildings, essential facilities experience and dry utilities is desirable.

Training: Equivalent to a Bachelors degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in civil engineering or a related field.

License/Certificate: Possession of registration as a Professional Engineer (PE) in the State of California.
Working Conditions and Selection Process
Environmental Conditions: Office environment.

Physical Conditions: Essential functions may require maintaining physical condition necessary for sitting for prolonged periods of time; visual acuity to read and interpret engineering specifications and drawings.

Selection Process: All properly completed applications will be reviewed and the most appropriately qualified individuals will be invited to continue in the selection process. The process may include any combination of written exercise, oral interview, and/or skills assessment to further evaluate job-related qualifications. Candidates who successfully complete the selection process will be placed on an eligibility list which will remain valid for a minimum of six months.

Note: Prospective employees will undergo, and must successfully pass, a background reference check (including fingerprinting) and a medical examination. Drug screening may be required.
RESUMES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED IN LIEU OF COMPLETED APPLICATION FORMS.

CANDIDATES WHO REQUIRE A REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION IN THE SELECTION PROCESS, SHOULD STATE THEIR NEEDS IN WRITING WHEN SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION.

THE PROVISIONS OF THIS BULLETIN DO NOT CONSTITUTE AN EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED CONTRACT. ANY PROVISION CONTAINED IN THIS BULLETIN MAY BE MODIFIED OR REVOKED WITHOUT NOTICE.
CITY OF OCEANSIDE

Management Employees of the City of Oceanside (Non-Safety)

Benefit Summary

The following is a highlight of benefits
Retirement
Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS)
  • Employees hired after January 1, 2013 are subject to the State laws of PEPRA in regard to retirement benefits. Each individual's benefits may differ. Consult with Employee Benefits for further details
  • Third Level 1959 Survivor Credit
  • Survivor Continuation option

Additional Retirement Credit Purchase Options
  • Buy additional Service Retirement Credit
  • Service Credit for unused Sick Leave
  • Buy additional Military Service Credit

Health Insurance

Medical:
  • Kaiser HMO
  • Blue Shield HMO
  • Blue Shield PPO
Dental
  • Delta Preferred Option (DPO)
  • Delta Care USA (DHMO)


Vision:
  • Vision Service Plan (VSP)

Pre-Tax Benefits

Health benefits are offered on a pre-tax basis and employees cannot add or delete coverage or benefits unless a qualifying event has occurred.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

The Anthem EAP is paid for by the City.
  • Available to all members of your household
  • 6 free confidential counseling visits per incident
  • Self-service support online or by phone


Disability and Life Insurances

The STD/LTD/LIFE and AD&D Lincoln Financial premiums are paid for by City.
Short-Term Disability (STD) Insurance:
  • First 90 days - benefits paid at 55% of weekly salary to a maximum weekly benefit of $700 for non-work related disability only
  • Seven day waiting period unless hospitalized
  • All sick leave must be exhausted before STD is used

Long-Term Disability Insurance:
  • After 90 days - benefits paid at 66.7% of monthly salary to a maximum monthly benefit of $6,000 for any disability

Life and AD&D Insurance:
  • 1 times annual base salary; minimum of $30,000 and maximum of $200,000 of Basic Life & AD&D

Voluntary Benefits

Benefits are employee paid.
Supplemental Life Insurance through Lincoln Financial:
  • Premiums are determined by age
  • Purchased up to a maximum $500,000 for employees
  • Spousal coverage up to the employee amount
  • Dependent coverage up to $10,000


Flexible Spending Accounts through BCC:
  • Utilizes a debit card as a form of payment
  • Health Care Spending Account - maximum annual deferral is $3,400
  • Dependent Care Spending Account - maximum annual deferral is $7,500

Deferred Compensation - 457 through Empower:
    • 457 - Maximum annual pre/post-taxed amount is $24,500 for 2026; over age 50 may contribute an additional $8,000

MetlLife Legal Plan
  • Telephone and office consultations are available for an unlimited number for personal legal matters with an attorney of your choice.

GotZoom Student Loan Relief
  • Provides a no-obligation benefit analysis for federal student loans to identify, maximize and enroll employees into Federal Loan Repayment and Forgiveness Programs.

ScholarShare 529
  • An easy to manage plan that helps make the most of your or a designated beneficiary's college savings with tax benefits.

Leave Benefits

Vacation:
All accurals are based on 80 hours in a paid status
1 - 5 years: 3.58 hours
6 - 10 years: 5.12 hours
11 - 15 years: 6.65 hours
16+ years: 8.19 hours
Maximum accrual:
  • 360 hours for those hired before 7/1/95
  • 300 hours for those hired 7/1/95 or after

Holidays:
  • New Years' Day
  • Martin Luther King Jr Day
  • Memorial Day
  • Independence Day
  • Labor Day
  • Veterans' Day
  • Thanksgiving Day
  • Friday after Thanksgiving Day
  • Christmas Day
  • 48 hours Floating Holidays per fiscal year
  • Exempt employees receive 50 hours of Executive leave per fiscal year

Sick Leave:

Accrual: 12 days per year

Max accrual: Unlimited

Annual pay off: Up to 50% based on annual usage
Sick Leave pay off at separation:
  • Sick leave paid out depends on years of service and whether an employee retires or terminates

Bereavement Leave:
  • Three days for death of employee's immediate family member
  • Two additional days may be charged to sick leave upon approval


Tuition Reimbursement

Up to $2,000 per fiscal year

Certification Pay

Determined by the head of the department, a $1.00 per hour will be given to employees with certain State of California Certifications on an as needed basis.

Bilingual and Notary Pay

Bilingual: $1.73 per hour for eligible employees

Notary: $.58 per hour for eligible employees
Safety Shoes

The City will provide reimbursement up to $200 towards the purchase price of safety shoes to employees who are required to wear such shoes on the job.
Uniforms

The City will provide an annual uniform allowance, for any public safety employee required to wear one, in the amount of $475.
Term of Compensation Plan

Effective July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2026

This is a summary of available benefits. It is not intended to provide full details of all programs. The appropriate Memorandum of Understanding, Compensation Plan and/or Benefit Plan Documents will govern any discrepancies and provide program specifics.
01

Do you have a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in civil engineering or a related field? (If yes, please attach a copy of degree/diploma or transcripts). If no, you do not qualify for this position.
  • Yes
  • No

02

Are you registered as a Professional Civil Engineer in the State of California? (If yes, attach a copy of documentation verifying registration.) If no, you do not qualify for this position.
  • Yes
  • No

03

Describe your civil engineering experience. Include employer name and dates of employment (To and From).
04

Please describe/list the number of projects you have completed in a single fiscal year for a single public agency. Also, please provide a description of each project listed, the total cost for each project listed, and note whether each project was completed on time and within budget. If needed, please explain why the project exceeded the awarded cost or timeframe. If you don't have direct public sector experience, please provide the same list for your private sector employer and include the public agency for which each project was completed and include the same information.
05

Describe your experience in managing Capital Improvement Projects.
06

Describe your experience in scheduling, coordinating and prioritizing multiple projects through multiple project managers.
07

Describe your experience participating in and supervising the review of proposals and engineering plans submitted by consulting Engineers.
08

Describe your experience regarding construction claims and resolving disputes on construction projects.
09

Describe your experience in developing and making presentations to various groups. Include the size and types of groups.
10

Describe the computer programs you have used and indicate your level of expertise as basic, intermediate or advanced.
11

Describe your experience in reviewing land development plans, studies and reports and in providing peer reviews.
12

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