Heavy Equipment Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Salary : $100,214.40 - $120,702.40 Annually
Location : City of San Diego, CA
Job Type: Varies by Position
Job Number: JH-T12024-202606
Business Area: 2115 - Environmental Services
Opening Date: 06/05/2026
Closing Date: 6/15/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
JOB INFORMATION
Motive Equipment Engineer positions oversee a motive fleet of refuse and recycling collection packers and other medium and light duty vehicles; coordinate repair, maintenance, purchase and retirement of vehicles with the City's Fleet Operations Division; conduct special engineering studies; coordinate all issues related to onboard scales, cameras, global positioning systems, automated pre and post-trip system, and radios; develop equipment and vehicle specifications; maximize the efficiencies of the fleet resources; evaluate the motive fleet's functionality; match equipment to user needs; recommend equipment replacement and acquisitions; write equipment specifications; review bids; work with equipment vendors; inspect equipment for compliance with safety regulations; research and evaluate equipment and systems for state-of-the-art improvements and recommend modifications to City specifications; coordinate warranty work; analyze changes to Federal, State and local regulations and legislation that may impact the fleet; respond to inquiries; write reports; facilitate equipment trainings for operators; and perform related tasks as assigned.
NOTES:

• Eligible benefited employees originally hired on or after July 10, 2021, will be automatically enrolled in the San Diego City Employees Retirement System (SDCERS).
• Assistant Engineer - Mechanical (Motive Equipment Engineer) employees with valid State of California registration as a Professional Mechanical Engineer are eligible for 31% additional pay.
• Assistant Engineer - Mechanical (Motive Equipment Engineer) employees who do not have a valid State of California Professional Engineer registration but have a valid Engineer-in-Training (EIT) certification that meets the requirements established by California's Department of Consumer Affairs, Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists, are eligible for 8% additional pay. The employee's eligibility for EIT certification pay will end when he or she achieves state registration.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
You must meet the following requirements on the date you apply, unless otherwise indicated.
EDUCATION: You must meet ONE of the following options:

1. Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related field.
2. Engineer-in-Training (EIT) Certificate issued from a state licensing board.
3. Registration as a Professional Mechanical Engineer with a state licensing board.

NOTE:

• Additional qualifying professional engineering experience may be substituted for education lacked on a year-for-year basis. One year of full-time experience = 30 semester/45 quarter college-level units.

EXPERIENCE: Two years of full-time professional heavy-duty and/or industrial vehicle engineering experience. Professional motive engineering experience MUST include: matching heavy equipment, preferably solid waste collection vehicles, to user needs; writing specifications for the purchase of heavy-duty industrial vehicles; and/or designing and providing mechanical changes to motive equipment.
NOTE:

• City of San Diego employees using Out-of-Class Assignment (OCA) experience to qualify must submit written documentation signed by their appointing authority or payroll specialist, detailing the work performed, dates, and total number of qualifying OCA hours. OCA experience without the required documentation will NOT be considered.

LICENSE: A valid California Class C Driver License may be required at the time of hire.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS (MUST SUBMIT WITH APPLICATION):

• Proof of degree/transcripts, certificate or registration, if utilized to meet the minimum requirements.
• For City of San Diego employees, proof of Out-of-Class Assignment (OCA), if utilized to meet the minimum requirements.

Required documents should be attached electronically to your application. If you are unable to attach at the time of application submittal, you must submit them as soon as possible via fax: (619) 533-3337; or to the Employment Information Center: City of San Diego Personnel Department, 1200 Third Avenue - Suite 300, San Diego, CA 92101. Include your name and the title of the position for which you are applying.
SCREENING PROCESS
Please ensure all information is complete and accurate as the responses you provide on the supplemental questions will be reviewed using an automated evaluation system. If you are successful in this initial screening process, your application will be reviewed for applicable education, experience, and/or training to ensure all minimum requirements have been met. Successful candidates will be placed on a list which will be used to fill position vacancies during the next six months (180 days). For each vacancy, only those candidates with the most appropriate qualifications will be contacted by the hiring department for an interview.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
PRE-EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS: Employment offers are conditional pending the results of all screening processes applicable to this position, which may include the following: confirmation of citizenship or legal right to work in the United States; completion of a pre-employment medical review and exam (which may include drug and alcohol testing); reference checks; and fingerprinting. Fingerprints will be submitted to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the California Department of Justice for a conviction record report. Certain positions may require additional screening processes, including a polygraph examination and/or background investigation. All screening processes must be successfully completed before employment begins. A positive test result for alcohol, cannabis/marijuana, illegal drugs, or inadequately explained prescription drugs, or misrepresentation, falsification, or omission of pertinent facts in any step of the screening or selection process, may be cause for disqualification or termination of employment. Nothing in this job posting constitutes an express or implied contract for employment with the City of San Diego. Candidates must notify the Personnel Department of any change to their name, mailing address, email address, or phone number, otherwise they may miss employment opportunities.
Assistant Engineer - Mechanical (Option Title: Motive Equipment Engineer)
Rev. 1 - June 8, 2026 (Education Note Updated)
City employees may be eligible to participate in a benefit program including holidays, vacations, savings and retirement plans, health programs, and other benefits.
Eligible City employees initially hired or assuming office on or after July 10, 2021, with the exception of Police Recruits participating in the City's Police Academy, will participate in the City's Defined Benefit Plan administered by the San Diego City Employees' Retirement System (SDCERS).
Benefits may change due to employer-employee contract negotiations.
or review the
01
I understand that failure to respond to the following questions in the spaces provided may result in the rejection of my application. In addition, I may miss out on employment opportunities. Resumes are NOT reviewed for assessing the minimum requirements, qualifications will be determined from the answers provided to the supplemental questions.

• Yes
• No

02
Are you a current or former City of San Diego government/municipal employee?

• Current city employee
• Former city employee
• Current & former city employee
• None of the above

03
If you have previously worked or are currently working for the City of San Diego, please enter your PERNR.
04
The minimum age for this job is 18, unless you are 17 and a high school graduate. Do you meet the minimum age requirements for this job?

• Yes
• No

05
Do you possess a Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related engineering field? NOTE: Attach proof of degree/transcripts to your application.

• Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related engineering field.
• Engineer-in-Training (EIT) Certificate issued from a state licensing board.
• Registration as a Professional Mechanical Engineer with a state licensing board.
• None of the above.

06
If you are using a combination of experience and education to qualify, which of the following best describes your level of education?

• 0 to 29 semester/44 quarter units
• 30 semester/45 quarter units to 59 semester /89 quarter units
• 60 semester/90 quarter units to 89 semester/134 quarter units
• 90 semester/135 quarter units to 119 semester/179 quarter units
• 120 semester/180 quarter units or more

07
How many years of full-time qualifying professional engineering experience do you have?

• None
• Less than 1 year
• 1 year to less than 2 years
• 2 years to less than 3 years
• 3 years to less than 4 years
• 4 years to less than 5 years
• 5 years to less than 6 years
• 6 years or more

08
Indicate in which of the following areas you have full-time professional heavy duty and/or industrial vehicle engineering experience.

• Matching heavy equipment, preferably solid waste collection vehicles, to user needs.
• Writing specifications for the purchase of heavy duty industrial vehicles.
• Designing and providing mechanical changes to motive equipment.
• None of the above.

09
Describe your full-time professional-level mechanical engineering experience in the following areas: a. Matching heavy equipment, preferably sold waste collection vehicles, to user needs; b. writing specifications for the purchase of heavy duty industrial vehicles; c. designing and providing mechanical changes to motive equipment. For each area, specify from which employer the experience was gained, your title, level of responsibility, percent of time spent on each area, and the total length of your experience. If you do not have any experience in a specific area, write "None.
Required Question