What are the responsibilities and job description for the Assistant Plant Operating Engineer position at Orange County, CA?
CAREER DESCRIPTION
ASSISTANT PLANT OPERATING ENGINEER
SALARY INFORMATION
Salary may be negotiable within the range listed above, based on position requirements and successful candidate's qualifications, subject to appropriate authorization.
THIS RECRUITMENT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
The eligible list established through this recruitment will be used to fill current and future Assistant Plant Operating Engineer positions within OC Public Works.
DEADLINE TO APPLY
This recruitment will close at 11:59PM PST on Monday, May 11, 2026.
OC PUBLIC WORKS
OC Public Works provides services on a regional basis to unincorporated areas, to cities, and to other County agencies and departments. The primary mission of the department is to protect and enrich the community through efficient delivery and maintenance of public works infrastructure, planning, and development services. OC Public Works core values are integrity, accountability, service and trust.
OC Public Works partners with a diverse array of local, state, and federal agencies; special districts and authorities; and the private development community including, construction, planning, and design firms, to accomplish many of the County's infrastructure projects.
Click here for more information about OC Public Works.
Click here for more information about the County of Orange.
THE OPPORTUNITY
OC Public Works is seeking Assistant Plant Operating Engineers to work in the Central Utility Facility (CUF) Unit. Incumbents in these positions work with the facility team to follow appropriate safety procedures to operate, service, and render repairs to mechanical and electrical equipment in a CUF. Incumbents specialize in the operation, service, and maintenance of a cogeneration system in a micro-grid environment. This includes various mechanical and electrical equipment including HRSG, boilers, diesel and gas engines, diesel and natural gas turbines, cooling towers, boiler feed and condensate systems, water treatment systems, Continuous Emission Monitoring System (CEMS), water softeners (various), reverse osmosis system and other mechanical auxiliary equipment typical in this type of environment.
The Assistant Plant Operating Engineer is the entry-level position within the Plant Operating Engineer series, and works under close supervision.
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS AND CORE COMPETENCIES
The ideal candidate will possess experience in utility plant operations, process plants, cogeneration plants and/or have knowledge of chiller operations and water chemistry principles. Candidates will also be considered from related industries that possess similar experience in the theory of these types of equipment operations.
The most successful candidates will also possess the competencies below:
Technical Experience & Knowledge
Communication Skills
Safety Focus
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Click here to view the complete classification description for Assistant Plant Operating Engineer.
Veterans Employment Preference
The County is committed to providing a mechanism to give preferential consideration in the employment process to veterans and their eligible spouses and will provide eligible participants the opportunity to receive interviews in the selection process for employment and paid internship openings. Please click here to review the policy.
RECRUITMENT PROCESS
Human Resource Services (HRS) screens all application materials for minimum and/or desirable qualifications. After screening, applicants who meet the minimum and/or desirable qualifications will be referred to the next step in the recruitment process. All applicants will be notified via email of their status in the process.
Application Appraisal Panel | (Refer/Non-Refer): Applications and supplemental responses will be scored by a panel of job knowledge experts. Only those candidates that meet the qualifications as listed in the job bulletin will be referred to the next step. Applicants are encouraged to submit a thorough application and fully respond to the supplemental questions.
Structured Oral Interview (Weighted 100%): Candidates will be interviewed and rated by a qualification appraisal panel of job knowledge experts. Each candidate's rating will be based on responses to a series of structured questions designed to elicit the candidate's qualifications for the job. Only the most successful candidates will be placed on the eligible list.
Based on the Department's needs, the selection procedures listed above may be modified. All candidates will be notified of any changes in the selection procedure.
Eligible List
Once the assessment has been completed, HRS will establish an eligible list of candidates. Candidates placed on the eligible list may be referred to a selection interview to be considered for present and future vacancies.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
EMAIL NOTIFICATION:
Email is the primary form of notification during the recruitment process. Please ensure your correct email address is included in our application and use only one email account. Be sure to check your spam folder for misdelivered emails related to this recruitment.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Click here for a list of Frequently Asked Questions.
For specific information pertaining to this recruitment, contact Zachary Gutierrez at 714-667-1623 or Zachary.Gutierrez@pw.oc.gov.
EEO INFORMATION
Orange County, as an equal employment opportunity employer, encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.
Non-Management Benefits
In addition to the County's standard suite of benefits, such as a variety of health plan options, annual leave and paid holidays--we also offer an excellent array of benefits such as a Health Care Reimbursement Account, 457 Defined Contribution Plan and Annual Education and Professional Reimbursement. Employees are provided a Retirement Plan through the Orange County Employees Retirement System (OCERS).
Please go to the following link to find out more about Defined Benefit Pensions and OCERS Plan Types/Benefits.
http://www.ocers.org/active-member-information
Click here for information about benefits offered to County of Orange employees.
Closing Date/Time: 5/11/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
ASSISTANT PLANT OPERATING ENGINEER
SALARY INFORMATION
Salary may be negotiable within the range listed above, based on position requirements and successful candidate's qualifications, subject to appropriate authorization.
THIS RECRUITMENT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
The eligible list established through this recruitment will be used to fill current and future Assistant Plant Operating Engineer positions within OC Public Works.
DEADLINE TO APPLY
This recruitment will close at 11:59PM PST on Monday, May 11, 2026.
OC PUBLIC WORKS
OC Public Works provides services on a regional basis to unincorporated areas, to cities, and to other County agencies and departments. The primary mission of the department is to protect and enrich the community through efficient delivery and maintenance of public works infrastructure, planning, and development services. OC Public Works core values are integrity, accountability, service and trust.
OC Public Works partners with a diverse array of local, state, and federal agencies; special districts and authorities; and the private development community including, construction, planning, and design firms, to accomplish many of the County's infrastructure projects.
Click here for more information about OC Public Works.
Click here for more information about the County of Orange.
THE OPPORTUNITY
OC Public Works is seeking Assistant Plant Operating Engineers to work in the Central Utility Facility (CUF) Unit. Incumbents in these positions work with the facility team to follow appropriate safety procedures to operate, service, and render repairs to mechanical and electrical equipment in a CUF. Incumbents specialize in the operation, service, and maintenance of a cogeneration system in a micro-grid environment. This includes various mechanical and electrical equipment including HRSG, boilers, diesel and gas engines, diesel and natural gas turbines, cooling towers, boiler feed and condensate systems, water treatment systems, Continuous Emission Monitoring System (CEMS), water softeners (various), reverse osmosis system and other mechanical auxiliary equipment typical in this type of environment.
The Assistant Plant Operating Engineer is the entry-level position within the Plant Operating Engineer series, and works under close supervision.
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS AND CORE COMPETENCIES
The ideal candidate will possess experience in utility plant operations, process plants, cogeneration plants and/or have knowledge of chiller operations and water chemistry principles. Candidates will also be considered from related industries that possess similar experience in the theory of these types of equipment operations.
The most successful candidates will also possess the competencies below:
Technical Experience & Knowledge
- Knowledge of high pressure HRSG and boilers, gas turbine engines, electrical generators, steam chilled water, electrical distribution and transfer equipment, transmitters, and auxiliary systems
- Experience using SCADA and PLC systems, computer-based management tracking systems, emission monitoring systems, and energy management systems
- Understanding of Heat Transfer & Combustion Principles
- Operate, maintain, diagnose problems, and repair all equipment associated with the production of electricity, steam, and chilled water, including boiler feed water equipment, water pretreatment equipment, electrical/electronic pneumatic and hydraulic controls systems, air quality control equipment, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems
- Prepare, review, perform quality control, and file operation, maintenance, and data reports and logs, and various other plant documentation
- Functionally utilize typical office type software such as Microsoft Office, Word, and Excel
Communication Skills
- Effectively communicate with managers, supervisors, engineers, craft workers and the public
- Be able to communicate with City, State and Federal Agencies
- Produce clear and concise written documents and records; maintain accurate computer logs
Safety Focus
- Ability to observe safety practices working with high pressure steam and heavy mechanical equipment
- Take a proactive approach to fostering a safe work environment
- Identify, report and correct unsafe working conditions and/or equipment in an efficient and timely manner
- Respond quickly to emergency conditions with boilers and auxiliary equipment
- Understand the Lock Out Tag Out procedures
- Ability to read, write, and interpret blueprint instructions and diagrams
- Analyze and interpret CUF operating parameters
- Analyze situations accurately and take prompt controlling action during facility upset and emergency conditions
- Analyze, interpret, calculate, and adjust as needed electric power input/output, steam and chilled water output, and equipment efficiency
- Ability to apply reasoning and judgment in diagnosing mechanical faults and choosing the best method of repair
- Ability to conduct water analysis accurately and take corrective actions based on results
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Click here to view the complete classification description for Assistant Plant Operating Engineer.
Veterans Employment Preference
The County is committed to providing a mechanism to give preferential consideration in the employment process to veterans and their eligible spouses and will provide eligible participants the opportunity to receive interviews in the selection process for employment and paid internship openings. Please click here to review the policy.
RECRUITMENT PROCESS
Human Resource Services (HRS) screens all application materials for minimum and/or desirable qualifications. After screening, applicants who meet the minimum and/or desirable qualifications will be referred to the next step in the recruitment process. All applicants will be notified via email of their status in the process.
Application Appraisal Panel | (Refer/Non-Refer): Applications and supplemental responses will be scored by a panel of job knowledge experts. Only those candidates that meet the qualifications as listed in the job bulletin will be referred to the next step. Applicants are encouraged to submit a thorough application and fully respond to the supplemental questions.
Structured Oral Interview (Weighted 100%): Candidates will be interviewed and rated by a qualification appraisal panel of job knowledge experts. Each candidate's rating will be based on responses to a series of structured questions designed to elicit the candidate's qualifications for the job. Only the most successful candidates will be placed on the eligible list.
Based on the Department's needs, the selection procedures listed above may be modified. All candidates will be notified of any changes in the selection procedure.
Eligible List
Once the assessment has been completed, HRS will establish an eligible list of candidates. Candidates placed on the eligible list may be referred to a selection interview to be considered for present and future vacancies.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
EMAIL NOTIFICATION:
Email is the primary form of notification during the recruitment process. Please ensure your correct email address is included in our application and use only one email account. Be sure to check your spam folder for misdelivered emails related to this recruitment.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Click here for a list of Frequently Asked Questions.
For specific information pertaining to this recruitment, contact Zachary Gutierrez at 714-667-1623 or Zachary.Gutierrez@pw.oc.gov.
EEO INFORMATION
Orange County, as an equal employment opportunity employer, encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.
Non-Management Benefits
In addition to the County's standard suite of benefits, such as a variety of health plan options, annual leave and paid holidays--we also offer an excellent array of benefits such as a Health Care Reimbursement Account, 457 Defined Contribution Plan and Annual Education and Professional Reimbursement. Employees are provided a Retirement Plan through the Orange County Employees Retirement System (OCERS).
Please go to the following link to find out more about Defined Benefit Pensions and OCERS Plan Types/Benefits.
http://www.ocers.org/active-member-information
Click here for information about benefits offered to County of Orange employees.
Closing Date/Time: 5/11/2026 11:59 PM Pacific