What are the responsibilities and job description for the Civil Engineer (OC Public Works) position at Orange County, CA?
CAREER DESCRIPTION
CIVIL ENGINEER
(OC Public Works)
SALARY INFORMATION
Salary may be negotiable within the range listed above, based on position requirements and successful candidate's qualifications, subject to appropriate authorization.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
This recruitment is open to the public and is being held to establish an eligible list to fill current and future Civil Engineer vacancies within OC Public Works and/or other County of Orange agencies. This recruitment may also be used to fill positions in similar and/or lower classifications.
DEADLINE TO APPLY
The deadline will be Monday, May 25 at 11:59 PM PST.
OC PUBLIC WORKS
OC Public Works is a unique County department comprised of nine service areas, each of which directly impacts the quality of life for Orange County residents and the private sector. OC Public Works provides services on a regional basis to unincorporated areas, cities, and other County agencies and departments. The primary mission of the department is to ensure quality of service today and quality of life tomorrow. In addition, our vision is to be a world class leader of innovative, professional and quality public works services.
For more information on OC Public Works click here.
For more information on the County of Orange click here.
THE OPPORTUNITY
Civil Engineers perform a variety of complex field and office engineering work. Incumbents in this position are experienced professional engineers, licensed by the state of California as a Civil Engineer, and are responsible for independent engineering analysis on the most complex and specialized assignments and projects. The incumbent will provide staff training, project leadership to lower-level staff, consulting in an area of specialty, and may independently review, complete, and approve County designed plans or County prepared studies and reports as the responsible engineer.
We anticipate filling vacancies within the service areas described below, and the job duties may differ depending on the specific assignment.
OC Infrastructure
OC Infrastructure Programs provides engineering services for roadways in unincorporated areas and regional flood control programs throughout Orange County. This includes programming, design, traffic safety, and development support services. This Civil Engineer position is responsible for the review of permits for work within public roadways, flood control projects, and developer-proposed infrastructure. This role ensures that all work within roadways and new infrastructure meets the safety, engineering, and environmental standards required for public service.
The duties of this position include, but are not limited to:
OC Construction
OC Construction provides project management and construction management services for OCPW's Capital Improvement Program (CIP) and Maintenance Improvement Program (MIP), as well as OC Parks and other County department projects. OC Construction focuses on horizontal projects such as roads, bridge, bikeways, park infrastructure and flood control channels. The service area provides four core functions: project management, construction management, pavement maintenance and materials testing.
Civil Engineers working within OC Construction are responsible for managing CIP and MIP projects.
The duties for this position include but are not limited to:
OC Operations & Maintenance
OC Operations & Maintenance (O&M) enhances and protects communities through the operation and maintenance of public infrastructure, while serving a critical role in responding to the aftermath of devastating earthquakes, fires, storm events and other general emergencies. OC O&M is responsible for the maintenance of 350 miles of unincorporated roadways, 380 miles of flood channels, 145 miles of underground drainage facilities, 65 bridges, 6 dams, 10 pump stations, 26 basins. and also provides support for various contracted cities and agencies.
This Civil Engineer position is essential to the on-going delivery of Maintenance Improvement Program (MIP) Projects benefitting the residents of Orange County.
The job duties include but are not limited to:
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS AND CORE COMPETENCIES
The successful candidate will possess two (2) years of technical civil engineering experience and is willing to take on new and challenging assignments. Professional and licensed experience with Civil Engineering projects in the field of Public Works is highly desirable.
In addition, the ideal candidate will also possess knowledge and experience in the following core competencies:
Technical Experience & Knowledge (may vary by specific assignment)
Problem Solving & Analytical Skills
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Click here to view the complete classification description for Civil Engineer.
License Required
Possession of a valid California Driver License (Class C or higher) may be required for some assignments.
Possession of a valid Certificate of Registration as a Civil Engineer issued by the California Department of Consumer Affairs Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists.
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 | SOI (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 above may be modified. Candidates will be notified of any changes in the selection procedures.
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.
Candidates will be notified regarding their status as the recruitment proceeds via email through the GovernmentJobs.com site. Please check your email folders, including spam/junk folders, and/or accept emails ending with "governmentjobs.com" and "ocgov.com." If your email address should change, please update your profile at www.governmentjobs.com.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Click here for additional Frequently Asked Questions.
For specific information pertaining to this recruitment, contact Zachary Gutierrez at Zachary.Gutierrez@ocpw.ocgov.com or 714-667-1623.
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: 5/25/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
CIVIL ENGINEER
(OC Public Works)
SALARY INFORMATION
Salary may be negotiable within the range listed above, based on position requirements and successful candidate's qualifications, subject to appropriate authorization.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
This recruitment is open to the public and is being held to establish an eligible list to fill current and future Civil Engineer vacancies within OC Public Works and/or other County of Orange agencies. This recruitment may also be used to fill positions in similar and/or lower classifications.
DEADLINE TO APPLY
The deadline will be Monday, May 25 at 11:59 PM PST.
OC PUBLIC WORKS
OC Public Works is a unique County department comprised of nine service areas, each of which directly impacts the quality of life for Orange County residents and the private sector. OC Public Works provides services on a regional basis to unincorporated areas, cities, and other County agencies and departments. The primary mission of the department is to ensure quality of service today and quality of life tomorrow. In addition, our vision is to be a world class leader of innovative, professional and quality public works services.
For more information on OC Public Works click here.
For more information on the County of Orange click here.
THE OPPORTUNITY
Civil Engineers perform a variety of complex field and office engineering work. Incumbents in this position are experienced professional engineers, licensed by the state of California as a Civil Engineer, and are responsible for independent engineering analysis on the most complex and specialized assignments and projects. The incumbent will provide staff training, project leadership to lower-level staff, consulting in an area of specialty, and may independently review, complete, and approve County designed plans or County prepared studies and reports as the responsible engineer.
We anticipate filling vacancies within the service areas described below, and the job duties may differ depending on the specific assignment.
OC Infrastructure
OC Infrastructure Programs provides engineering services for roadways in unincorporated areas and regional flood control programs throughout Orange County. This includes programming, design, traffic safety, and development support services. This Civil Engineer position is responsible for the review of permits for work within public roadways, flood control projects, and developer-proposed infrastructure. This role ensures that all work within roadways and new infrastructure meets the safety, engineering, and environmental standards required for public service.
The duties of this position include, but are not limited to:
- Designing and preparing plans and drawings, using computer-aided drafting (CAD) tools; reviewing record drawings; preparing plans, specifications, and cost estimates for construction and maintenance of public work projects such as flood control structures, roads, bridges, and traffic control and safety devices
- Performing technical and complex calculations, studies, and reviews of same using engineering principles, experience, and judgment
- Conducting technical studies and preparing reports related to hydrology/hydraulics, flood control design, traffic operations, transportation, road design, bikeway design, drainage, environmental, and other areas
- Reviewing road, drainage, bridge, and traffic improvement plans
- Reviewing hydrology and floodplain studies
- Performing County Property Permit (CPP) reviews related to Orange County Flood Control District facilities and County roadways for compliance with County standards and ensuring that the proposed design consider public safety.
OC Construction
OC Construction provides project management and construction management services for OCPW's Capital Improvement Program (CIP) and Maintenance Improvement Program (MIP), as well as OC Parks and other County department projects. OC Construction focuses on horizontal projects such as roads, bridge, bikeways, park infrastructure and flood control channels. The service area provides four core functions: project management, construction management, pavement maintenance and materials testing.
Civil Engineers working within OC Construction are responsible for managing CIP and MIP projects.
The duties for this position include but are not limited to:
- Facilitate the design and preparation of drawings, specifications and estimates in connection with the construction or maintenance of a wide variety of public works engineering projects
- Coordinate the inspection of public works projects under construction, maintenance or repair; this includes controlling quantity and quality of materials, laying out work, interpreting plans and specifications, preparing progress reports and supervising the work of inspectors performing some of the foregoing tasks; submits change orders modifying the contract to cover changes in design
- Perform project management, project reviews, and construction management and inspections for other County agencies, as necessary.
OC Operations & Maintenance
OC Operations & Maintenance (O&M) enhances and protects communities through the operation and maintenance of public infrastructure, while serving a critical role in responding to the aftermath of devastating earthquakes, fires, storm events and other general emergencies. OC O&M is responsible for the maintenance of 350 miles of unincorporated roadways, 380 miles of flood channels, 145 miles of underground drainage facilities, 65 bridges, 6 dams, 10 pump stations, 26 basins. and also provides support for various contracted cities and agencies.
This Civil Engineer position is essential to the on-going delivery of Maintenance Improvement Program (MIP) Projects benefitting the residents of Orange County.
The job duties include but are not limited to:
- Provide engineering support for MIP projects, which includes the preparation of plans, specifications and estimates
- Perform engineering analysis and inspection of existing infrastructure deficiencies and draft engineering repair recommendations
- Work with software such as AssetWorks to track maintenance projects throughout Orange County
- Provide input and insights for the development of the annual maintenance plan
- Facilitate permit reviews, developer project reviews/acceptance, Capital Improvement Program (CIP) project reviews/acceptance, and annual maintenance contracts
- Oversee pavement distress surveys, development treatment recommendations in support of County's Pavement Maintenance Program
- Evaluate inspection reports for dams, bridges and ACOE PL-84-99 levees to identify deficiencies, prioritize corrective actions and develop projects to address them.
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS AND CORE COMPETENCIES
The successful candidate will possess two (2) years of technical civil engineering experience and is willing to take on new and challenging assignments. Professional and licensed experience with Civil Engineering projects in the field of Public Works is highly desirable.
In addition, the ideal candidate will also possess knowledge and experience in the following core competencies:
Technical Experience & Knowledge (may vary by specific assignment)
- Knowledge of the principles and practices of civil engineering, engineering mathematics and properties and uses of construction materials.
- Knowledge of ability to implement the principles of Project Management, including monitoring and controlling Architecture/Engineers (A/E) consultant project scope, budget, schedule and work quality.
- Knowledge of Capital Improvement Programs and their implementation.
- Knowledge of Maintenance Programs and their implementation.
- Knowledge of and ability to review project submittals, including street improvements, grading plans, tract maps, and drainage plans.
- Familiarity with Orange County Highway Design, Traffic, Local Drainage, Orange County Flood Control District Design, and Hydrology manuals.
- Coordinating permit reviews with external stakeholders and perform public outreach (residents, Caltrans, OCTA, regulatory agencies, other cities).
- Familiarity with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) flood maps and the Conditional Letter of Map Revision (CLOMR)/Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) process
- Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, Adobe, Bluebeam, Hydraulic Engineering Center’s River Analysis Systems (HEC-RAS), Hydraulic Engineering Center's Hydrologic Modeling System (HEC-HMS), Water Surface Pressure Gradient (WSPG), hydrology software compatible with Orange County Hydrology Manual and other Civil Engineering software.
Problem Solving & Analytical Skills
- Being knowledgeable and experienced in identifying problems, solving them, acting decisively, and showing good judgment
- Isolating causes from symptoms, and compiling information and alternatives to evaluate problems or issues
- Involving others as appropriate and gathering information from a variety of sources
- Finding a balance between studying the problem and solving it
- Continuing to provide the highest quality service to all customers, clients, and stakeholders
- Listening carefully and communicating concern through tone of voice and by taking action to solve problems in a timely manner
- Analyzing all aspects of financial and operational performance and preparing recommendations to management for use in making critical financial decisions
- Committing to action and making decisions that reflect sound judgment and analysis
- Providing guidance, training, and direction to subordinate staff such as Civil Engineering Associates and others
- Fostering a team atmosphere and rewarding collaboration
- Motivating others to promote productivity and efficiency
- Communicating orally and in writing with engineers, architects, contractors, developers, and consultants
- Communicating technical and complex information in a clear and concise manner to a wide variety of audiences
- Recognizing the essential value of continuous information exchange and the competitive advantage it brings
- Seeking information from a variety of sources and disseminating it in a variety of ways
- Ensuring that stakeholders have current and accurate information
- Writing clearly and concisely, composing informative and convincing memos, emails, letters, reports, and other documents
- Possessing knowledge, experience, and the ability to communicate using modern technologies such as social media platforms and virtual public meetings
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Click here to view the complete classification description for Civil Engineer.
License Required
Possession of a valid California Driver License (Class C or higher) may be required for some assignments.
Possession of a valid Certificate of Registration as a Civil Engineer issued by the California Department of Consumer Affairs Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists.
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 | SOI (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 above may be modified. Candidates will be notified of any changes in the selection procedures.
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.
Candidates will be notified regarding their status as the recruitment proceeds via email through the GovernmentJobs.com site. Please check your email folders, including spam/junk folders, and/or accept emails ending with "governmentjobs.com" and "ocgov.com." If your email address should change, please update your profile at www.governmentjobs.com.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Click here for additional Frequently Asked Questions.
For specific information pertaining to this recruitment, contact Zachary Gutierrez at Zachary.Gutierrez@ocpw.ocgov.com or 714-667-1623.
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: 5/25/2026 11:59 PM Pacific