Senior Engineer (Construction Management)

Orange County, CA - Sanitation District

$164K — $199K *
Real Estate & Construction
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in civil, mechanical, chemical, electrical, or environmental engineering.
  • Six years of progressive professional engineering experience.
  • California Professional Engineering (P.E.) license required.
  • Valid California Class C Driver's License required.
  • Experience managing large multi-discipline wastewater or water infrastructure projects.

Responsibilities

  • Lead complex engineering assignments in wastewater facility operations and compliance.
  • Manage major capital projects through all project phases.
  • Conduct inspections, analyze operations, and implement process improvements.
  • Serve as a subject matter expert for management and staff on engineering projects.
  • Facilitate project team decisions on cost, schedule, and risk management.
  • Monitor contractor progress and recommend contract payments, change orders, and solutions to project issues.
  • Provide technical training and guidance to junior engineering staff.

Benefits

  • Ten working days of paid vacation after one year of service.
  • Eleven paid holidays and one floating holiday per year.
  • Group life, disability, and health insurance.
  • Retirement plan through Orange County Employees Retirement System.
  • Opportunity to participate in a deferred compensation plan.
Full Job Description
Salary: $164,424.00 - $199,846.40 Annually
Location : Headquarters - 18480 Bandilier Cir, Fountain Valley, CA 92708, CA
Job Type: Full-time
Job Number: 292/299/778
Department: Engineering
Division: Construction Management
Opening Date: 08/24/2026
Closing Date: 9/8/2026 5:00 PM Pacific

Description

OC San is currently looking to fill the role of a Senior Engineer (Construction Management).

Under general direction, leads and participates in a variety of the most complex and responsible engineering assignments in the planning, design, construction, operations, and compliance of wastewater facilities, infrastructure, systems, and programs; manages major capital projects through all phases of the project management life cycle; inspects and analyzes plant operations, develops solutions, and implements process improvements; serves as subject matter expert and advisor to management staff on assigned plant systems, projects, or programs; researches complex problems, conducts technical engineering-related studies, and recommends operational, program, or policy solutions; provides guidance, technical direction, and training to other engineering staff; and performs duties as assigned.

Specifically, this Senior Engineer will perform high-end engineering and construction management duties involving wastewater treatment and sewer collection systems to support the construction of Capital Improvement Program (CIP) projects that may include: providing technical leadership and expertise in the construction management and commissioning of projects; serving as subject matter expert and advisor to management/staff; exercising functional and technical leadership in assigned workgroups or teams; and coaching and/or mentoring less experienced staff.

The individual in this position must have proven ability to manage engineering construction projects; develop a high degree of teamwork and cooperation with all departments; lead project teams in project decisions regarding cost control, schedule control, change order management, risk management, and performance; and identify problems, analyze information and develop sound recommendations. This individual will act as the primary project interface and will lead project meetings with designer, contractor, operations and maintenance, as well as outside agencies/stakeholders.

The successful candidate will actively manage and report on the status of the project's construction schedule and budget; monitor the contractor's progress and make recommendations for contractor progress payments. This role also includes response to requests for information; develop and issue requests for proposals; respond to requests for change; prepare engineer's estimates and records of negotiations; prepare and issue field change orders; perform design constructability reviews; review construction submittals and commissioning plans for compliance with the contract documents; ensure projects are constructed in compliance with contract documents; develop recommendations to project problems and issues; perform project startup and commissioning; complete contract close out; and provide technical training to less experienced staff and other departments.

This position involves a high level of independence and decision making within area of responsibility and requires excellent written and verbal communication skills, political astuteness, and diplomacy.

Qualifications & Requirements

Required:
  1. Bachelor's degree from a college or university accredited by the U.S. Department of Education, with major coursework in civil, mechanical, chemical, electrical, or environmental engineering or a related field, dependent upon area of assignment.
  2. Six (6) years of increasingly responsible professional engineering work experience.
  3. Professional engineering (P.E.) registration license from the State of California.
  4. Valid California Class C Driver's License by time of appointment.

Desired:
Experience in construction management of large multi-discipline projects that include wastewater or water infrastructure, sewer system pipelines and pump stations, construction change order management, construction claims management and negotiation. Past experience with alternative dispute resolution processes is also desired.

Strong leadership, communication and organizational skills with a background in engineering construction management and must have the ability to read and understand complex multidiscipline engineering drawings as well as complex project schedules. The selected candidate will be detail-oriented, organized, and will have experience using construction management software applications. Experience using project control management system applications such as Primavera Contract Manager, Expedition, or PMWeb is desirable. Experience writing staff reports and making presentations for an elected Board is highly desired.
Recruitment & Selection Process

Vacancies: 3
(an eligible list may be established for future vacancies)

Apply online at: www.ocsan.gov/careers

APPLICATION FILING DEADLINE: Tuesday, September 8, 2026, 5:00 P.M. PST.
(or until a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received)

Hiring Salary Range: $164,424.00 - $181,292.80/Year
(starting salary will be within this range based upon qualifications)

Supplemental Information

Physical Demands
  • Mobility to work in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer; to operate a motor vehicle and visit various OC San sites, projects, and/or meetings; primarily a sedentary office classification although standing in work areas and walking between work areas may be required; occasionally bend, stoop, kneel, reach, push, and pull drawers open and closed to retrieve and file information; ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects up to 35 pounds.
  • Mobility to work in changing site conditions; to sit, stand, and walk on level, uneven, or slippery surfaces; to reach, twist, turn, kneel, and bend, to climb and descend ladders.
  • Perform light physical work; lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects averaging a weight of 51 pounds, or heavier weights, in all cases with the use of proper equipment and/or assistance from other staff.
  • Vision to read printed materials and a computer screen.
  • Vision to inspect site conditions and work in progress.
  • Hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the telephone.
  • Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard or calculator and to operate standard office equipment.
  • Frequent walking in operational areas to identify problems or hazards.
  • Climb ladders, install cabling, work around and in low voltage field control panels and hardware; use electrical and networking test equipment; use tools to remove, install and test equipment including servers, network equipment, power supplies, fiber optics and cabling.
Environmental Elements
  • Office environment with moderate noise levels, controlled temperature conditions, and no direct exposure to hazardous physical substances.
  • May work in the field and occasionally be exposed to loud noise levels, cold and hot temperatures, inclement weather conditions, road hazards, vibration, chemicals, mechanical and/or electrical hazards, hazardous physical substances and fumes, dust, and air contaminants.
  • Employees may interact with upset staff and/or public and private representatives in interpreting and enforcing departmental policies and procedures.
Disaster Service Workers
All OC San employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state law (California Government Code Section 3100-3109). Employment with OC San requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to complete all related training as assigned, and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

Other Requirements
  • Probationary Period: All OC San employees, except classifications considered "at-will", are subject to the probationary period provisions as specified in the applicable Memorandum of Understanding, policies, and/or resolutions. Employees who have not yet successfully completed their initial probationary period serve "at-will" and may be released from employment without cause or recourse to any appeal or grievance procedures.
  • Pre-Employment: All employment offers are contingent upon successful completion of OC San's pre-employment process, which includes a background investigation, a physical examination, and a drug screen.
  • Work Location Assignment: Employees will be assigned to a work location based on business needs which may be located at any/all of OC San locations; this work location may be changed at any time.
Other Information
For the full range of duties, responsibilities, and essential job functions please review the Classification Specification for this position found on

Applicants must clearly demonstrate, through their application materials, that they meet the minimum requirements as outlined in the job announcement and class specification to receive further consideration. However, meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee an interview. All properly completed applications will be reviewed, and the most appropriately qualified individuals will be invited to continue in the selection process.

False statements may be cause for disqualification, removal from the eligible list, or discharge from employment. All statements made on applications are subject to investigation and verification.

To ensure your application is accurate and complete, please review the

OC San only accepts applications submitted via our online application system. Applications submitted via mail, fax or email will not be accepted.

The provisions of this announcement do not constitute an expressed or implied contract. Any provision contained in this announcement may be modified or revoked without notice.
Ten working days paid vacation after one year of service; eleven paid holidays and one floating holiday; sick leave; group life insurance; group disability insurance; group health insurance, dependent coverage available, including medical, dental, and vision, employee contribution is required; a retirement plan (Orange County Employees Retirement System) and the option of participating in a deferred compensation plan as well as other optional benefits. A credit union is available. Benefits are subject to the Board of Directors' periodic determination (usually annually) and the meet and confer process, and are therefore subject to change. The District makes a generous contribution toward the cost of these benefits.
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PLEASE READ. The information provided on the Supplemental Questions will be used in conjunction with your job application to determine whether you meet the qualification requirements. Failure to provide detailed and complete information may result in your application being rejected. Do not submit a resume in place of completing these Supplemental Questions. Education obtained outside the United States must be c

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