Summary/Class Characteristics

Assistant Engineer I/II

The Public Works Department is recruiting to fill one (1) position at the Assistant Engineer I or Assistant Engineer II level, depending on the experience and qualifications of the selected candidate. This recruitment may also be used to fill additional Assistant Engineer I/II vacancies that may occur over the next 12 months.

If you are registered as a Professional Engineer (PE) or as a Traffic Engineer (TE), please click here to apply for our Associate/Senior Civil Engineer recruitment.

SALARY AND BENEFITS PACKAGE

• SALARY RANGE: Assistant Engineer I: $92,476.80 - $112,403.20 annually (+2% COLA in July 2027)
  Assistant Engineer II: $106,350.40 - $129,251.20 annually (+2% COLA in July 2027)
• FOR YOUR HEALTH AND WELL BEING:
  • MEDICAL INSURANCE: Choice of a variety of CalPERS Health Plans. City pays ~95% of the Bay Area Kaiser premium for employee & eligible dependents; or alternative option to receive Medical Cash Back (if you have medical coverage elsewhere). Please see the 2026 Health Plan Contribution Memo
  • DENTAL & VISION INSURANCE: Coverage for employees & eligible family members, paid for by the City.
  • LIFE INSURANCE: 1.5x annual compensation up to maximum of $200,000. Option to purchase additional insurance. Long-Term Disability up to 60% of your current monthly salary after eligibility requirements are met and subject to maximum amounts.
  • EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM: Support and benefits, for you and eligible family members, paid for by the City.
  • WELLNESS BENEFIT: $500 annual allowance (is subject to the annual budget approval process and may change in the future.)
• FOR YOUR FINANCIAL FUTURE:
  • CALPERS RETIREMENT PACKAGE
    • 2% at 60 for classic CalPERS members
    • 2% at 62 for PEPRA CalPERS members
  • DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN: Voluntary participation in your choice of three plans.
• FOR YOUR WORK / LIFE BALANCE (annual amounts):
  • Vacation: 80 Hours, increasing with years of service, up to 5 years service credit towards vacation accrual rate for prior qualifying employment.
  • Sick Leave: 96 hours
  • Holidays: 13 fixed holidays
  • Personal Leave: 20 hours (per fiscal year)
• Other Exceptional Benefits:
  • Paid Parental Leave - up to 8 weeks of paid time for qualifying family bonding
  • Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program Employer

For more information regarding the benefits associated with this position, visit our website and look at the Memorandum of Understanding and Employee Benefits .

The full job description can be found here.

Summary

Depending on assignment, perform professional engineering work in the design, plan review, site investigations, field inspections, construction, and related work of public facilities, public infrastructure, water resources, community development, and/or traffic projects.

Class Characteristics

Direction is provided by a higher-level supervisor or manager; responsibilities may include the direct or indirect supervision of professional, technical, and/or clerical staff.

Assistant Engineer I

This is the entry-level class in the professional engineering series not requiring registration as a professional engineer. Incumbents perform the least complex office and field engineering work under supervision. Assignments are generally routine or closely related within a framework of established procedures. As experience is gained, incumbents work with greater independence of action within established guidelines. This class is alternately staffed with Assistant Engineer II and incumbents may advance to the higher level after gaining experience and demonstrating proficiency that meets the qualifications for the higher-level class.

Assistant Engineer II

This is the journey-level class in the professional engineering series not requiring registration as a professional engineer and may serve as project manager on a limited basis. This class is alternately staffed with Associate Engineer and incumbents may advance to the higher level after gaining experience, demonstrating proficiency that meets the qualifications for the higher-level class, and obtaining registration.

Duties

Participate in the preparation of plans and specifications for the design, construction, and maintenance of traffic systems, streets, wastewater collection, storm drains, potable water, recycled water systems, facilities, and/or related public works projects or traffic systems, depending on assignment.

Coordinate assigned activities with other City departments, divisions and sections, and with outside agencies; provide information over the counter and telephone.

Perform moderately difficult calculations and prepare estimates of time and material costs.

Respond to inquiries and complaints from members of the public, developers, engineers, contractors, other city departments, utility agencies, and various other sources.

Coordinatereview,approval,andconstructionofprojectswithstaff,otherdepartments,applicable outside agencies, and members of the public; may serve as the City's representative to other governmental agencies.

Maintain records, maps, plans, and files; research and prepare clear and concise technical reports as assigned.

Investigate field problems affecting property owners, contractors, and maintenance operations; order survey, mapping, and data collection.

Make field inspections and site investigations of engineering projects and perform engineering analysis and calculations as assigned.

Plan and conduct engineering studies, write clear and concise reports and plans with recommendations and conclusions, and make appropriate modifications as directed.

Make presentations and serve as staff support to City Council, commissions, and review boards as required or assigned.

May assist in the training and direction of professional and technical staff as assigned; participate in the selection and direction of engineering contract professionals; coordinate support services such as survey crew, engineering technicians, and field crews.

Utilize computer applications related to the work.

Perform related duties as assigned.

At the Assistant Engineer II level, may act as project manager on limited design and construction contracts, including preparing progress reports, and recommending progress payments and change orders as necessary; administer a wide variety of construction contracts.

Qualifications

Education and Experience

Any combination equivalent to the education and experience likely to provide the required knowledge and abilities would be qualifying. A typical way to gain such knowledge and abilities would be:

Education:

A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in engineering or a related field.

Experience:

Assistant Engineer I:

Experience in engineering work is desirable.

Assistant Engineer II:

Two years of professional civil or traffic engineering experience equivalent to Assistant Engineer I with the City of Petaluma.

Certifications/Licenses:

Possession of an Engineer-In-Training certificate is desirable.

Physical Demands and Working Environment

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit for extended periods to read, write reports and talk or listen. The employee is occasionally required to conduct field investigations and operate standard office machines, (i.e. blueprint, photocopiers and computer terminals) and talk or listen. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. The employee is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions and must operate an automobile to attend various meetings and workshops. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

The City of Petaluma offers a wide-ranging, comprehensive benefit package including CalPERS retirement, medical, dental, vision, life, LTD, etc. For moreinformation regarding the benefits associated with this position, visit our website: https://cityofpetaluma.org/employee-benefits-information/

Closing Date/Time: 7/22/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Petaluma is Sonoma County’s second largest city, with a population of 61,000. Petaluma is the southern gateway to Sonoma County and just 32 miles north of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, conveniently located on Highway 101 at the east/west artery of Highway 116. Petaluma offers a wide array of attractions and points of interest to explore, including: a 150-year-old historic downtown, waterfront areas, charming historic homes and neighborhoods, a mixed-use theater district, a thriving restaurant scene, live music venues, a historical museum, an airport, a marina, numerous community parks, and golf courses.

The City of Petaluma is a full-service city with over 340 employees that provides essential city services such as public safety, infrastructure, water utilities, and development review throughout the City.