DESCRIPTIONTHE POSITION Under general direction, performs difficult professional civil and technical engineering/ geological work related to water resources, flood control, water supply, and water treatment facilities and systems; supervises professional and technical staff; and performs related work as required.
This is a working first-line supervisory class in the professional engineering/geologist series. Individuals in this class are usually project engineers/geologists or have major responsibilities for system operation and management involving the supervision of other engineering/geologist, technical, operations and management staff. Assignment may be in water resources, flood control, water supply or water quality or operations and maintenance. This class is distinguished from the Principal Engineer/Geologist, Zone 7, which is a section head responsible for a major engineering function. This class is distinguished from the Associate Engineer/Geologist, Zone 7 class, in that the Senior Engineer/Geologist has supervisorial responsibility over professional and technical staff and the Associate Engineer/Geologist, Zone 7, performs the more complex office and field engineering work.
For more detailed information about the job classification, visit: Senior Engineer/Geologist, Zone 7 (#4967)
IDEAL CANDIDATE In addition to meeting the minimum qualifications, the ideal candidate will be a highly qualified geologist who demonstrates the following competencies:
- Strong leadership skills, including the ability to exercise sound judgment, take initiative, and make decisions independently when appropriate.
- A high level of accountability and follow-through, with a demonstrated commitment to meeting responsibilities and delivering results.
- Integrity and professionalism, including a willingness to take responsibility for mistakes and make appropriate corrections.
- The ability to recognize priorities, take appropriate action, and move work forward with minimal direction.
- A continuous learning mindset, with the ability to learn from challenges and apply lessons learned to future situations.
- The ability to build trust, encourage shared responsibility, and support the growth and development of team members.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONSTO QUALIFY FOR THE COMPETITIVE ASSESSMENT PROCESS, YOU MUST MEET THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS BY FULFILLING ONE OF THE PATTERNS LISTED BELOW (I or II). EITHER I Experience: The equivalent of two years' full-time experience in the class of Associate Civil Engineer/Professional Geologist, Zone 7.
OR II Education: Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Civil Engineering, Geology or a closely related field.
And
Experience: The equivalent of three years' full-time progressively responsible professional engineering/geologist experience subsequent to Professional Registration that included the equivalent of two years of supervisory or administrative experience.
Other Requirements: Must be willing and able to work in exposure to chemical, mechanical and electrical hazards, and outdoors in all weather conditions. May be required to respond to emergencies in off-hours.
Licenses: Possession of a valid California Driver's License and a valid California Certificate of Registration as a Professional Engineer OR a Professional Geologist issued by the California Board for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors.
NOTE: The Civil Service Commission may modify the above Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.
KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLSThe most suitably qualified candidates will possess the following competencies: Knowledge of:
• Principles and practices of civil engineering as applied to a water agency, including design and construction, surveying and drafting, materials engineering and soil mechanics, environmental impact analysis and stress analysis.
• Principles of hydrology, hydraulics, hydrogeology and water resources management.
• Principles and practices of project management and contract administration, including planning, organizing, delegating, scheduling and controlling.
• Principles of supervision, including selection, training and performance evaluation.
• Engineering mathematics, economics and statistical analysis.
• Construction methods, material, specifications and codes.
• Computer software application related to engineering/geological.
• Applicable codes, regulations and standards relating to water resources, water quality, and civil engineering.
Ability to:
• Train and supervise professional and technical support staff.
• Effectively manage large-scale and/or complex engineering/geological projects, studies and contracted services.
• Prepare and oversee preparation of plans, designs, sketches, estimates and specifications.
• Apply engineering principles and computer programs to the solution of engineering/geological problems.
• Conduct engineering studies, investigations and analyses.
• Analyze and interpreting complex data and reports reaching sound conclusions and forecasts.
• Read, understand and interpret engineering/geological data, maps, survey notes, legal descriptions, and other material.
• Prepare clear, concise and accurate reports and correspondence.
• Maintain accurate data and records.
• Deal tactfully and effectively with public, other agencies, developers, engineering firms and contractors and other employees.
EXAMINATION COMPONENTSTHE EXAMINATION WILL CONSIST OF THE FOLLOWING STEPS: - A review of applicants' application to verify possession of minimum requirements. Those candidates who possess the minimum requirements for the class will move on to the next step in the examination process.
- A review of the supplemental questionnaire to determine the best qualified that will be weighted as qualifying only (pass/fail). Supplemental screening is an internal departmental exam process and does not require or involve candidate participation. Candidates who pass the best qualified exam component will move on to the final step in the examination process.
- An oral examination which will be weighted as 100% of the candidates' final examination score. The oral examination may be administered virtually and may contain situational exercises.
Candidates must attain a qualifying rating on each portion of this recruitment.
WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE ANNOUNCED EXAMINATION STEPS.
Alameda County utilizes a Civil Service Selection System founded on merit. Such a system is competitive and based on broad recruitment efforts and equal opportunity for qualified applicants to test in an examination process designed to determine the qualifications, fitness and ability of competitors to perform duties of the vacant position. Many of our recruitments are targeted and specific to the needs of a current vacant position, in which case, the eligible list may be exclusively used for that current vacant position. Other recruitments may be more broadly used for both current and future vacancies, or for other alternate jobs with comparable scopes of work.
For more information on the Civil Service Selection process, please visit the "What You Need to Know" section of our website, www.acgov.org/hrs.
RECRUITMENT AND SELECTION PLANApplicants will be informed via email with reasonable notice in advance of any examination process which will require their attendance.
The following dates are tentative and subject to change based on the needs of the Agency:
TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT PLAN Deadline for Filing: 5:00:00 PM, Friday, October 16, 2026 Review of Applications for Minimum Qualifications: October 19, 2026 Notification to applicants: October 23, 2026 Review of Questionnaire for Best Qualified: Week November 2, 2026 Civil Service Oral Examination: * TBD Notification of Exam Results: 1-2 weeks after oral exam
TENTATIVE SELECTION PLAN Department Selection Process: TBD
*The combined oral examination/hiring interview, in addition to establishing an eligibility list, may serve as the final selection interview for vacancies in this classification. Candidates selected to participate in the oral exam will receive an email notification at least 10 business days in advance of the exam date.
WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE ANNOUNCED RECRUITMENT & SELECTION PLAN.BENEFITSThe County offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that affords wide-ranging health care options to meet the different needs of a diverse workforce and their families. We also sponsor many employee discount, fitness and health screening programs focused on overall wellbeing. These benefits include but are not limited to*:
For your Health & Well-Being - Medical - HMO & PPO Plans
- Dental - HMO & PPO Plans
- Vision or Vision Reimbursement
- Share the Savings
- Basic Life Insurance
- Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage for eligible employees)
- Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance
- County Allowance Credit
- Flexible Spending Accounts - Health FSA, Dependent Care and Adoption Assistance
- Short-Term Disability Insurance
- Long-Term Disability Insurance
- Voluntary Benefits - Accident Insurance, Critical Illness, Long-Term Care, Hospital Indemnity and Legal Services
- Employee Assistance Program
For your Financial Future - Retirement Plan - (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)
- Deferred Compensation Plan (457 Plan or Roth Plan)
For your Work/Life Balance - 12 paid holidays
- Floating Holidays
- Vacation and sick leave accrual
- Vacation purchase program
- Management Paid Leave**
- Catastrophic Sick Leave
- Pet Insurance
- Commuter Benefits Program
- Guaranteed Ride Home
- Employee Wellness Program (e.g. At Work Fitness, Incentive Based Programs, Gym Membership Discounts)
- Employee Discount Program (e.g. theme parks, cell phone, etc.)
- Child Care Resources
- 1st United Credit Union
*Eligibility is determined by Alameda County and offerings may vary by collective bargaining agreement. This provides a summary of the benefits offered and can be subject to change.
