Independent Contractor Civil Engineer Jobs in California

TARGET CLOSE DATE:
12/31/2026
PAY GRADE:
Grade 26
TYPE:
Full time
JOB SUMMARY:
The Personnel Board is accepting applications for Civil Engineers to fill positions within Jefferson County and the City of Birmingham, Alabama. These positions, within the Merit System, focus on the design and review of public infrastructure projects and construction plans to ensure compliance with professional practices, as well as applicable codes, regulations, and standards. Civil Engineers in this role direct and support sub-professional engineering staff assigned to field projects. Individuals in this job class work under the guidance of senior engineering professionals until proficiency is attained, with their work reviewed to ensure alignment with project objectives.
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS:
Agencies provide competitive pay and comprehensive benefits packages to include medical and dental insurance, employer-sponsored retirement plan (pension), generous paid holidays, sick and vacation leave, and more.
Applications for this position will be considered for the following Merit System employing agencies. The pay range for this job varies depending upon the Merit System employing agency.
Birmingham $60,486 - $93,828
Jefferson County $65,228 - $101,192
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
The following are job-related qualifications that are required for employment consideration for this position: You must meet at least one of the options:
Option A:

• Driver's license.
• Possession of Engineer in Training Certification.
• Bachelor's degree or higher in Civil Engineering or a closely related engineering field (e.g., Structural, Environmental).

Option B:

• Driver's license.
• Must show proof of successfully passing the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam.
• Must be within one semester of graduating with a Bachelor's degree or higher in Civil Engineering or a closely related engineering field (e.g., Structural, Environmental).

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
The following are job-related qualifications deemed desirable by Merit System agencies. These qualifications may be considered by a hiring agency when reviewing applications and inviting candidates to participate in subsequent steps in the selection processes.

• Possession of a Professional Engineer License.
• Experience working on ALDOT and/or utility projects.
• Experience using Auto CAD, Carlson, Bentley Microstation, or other similar engineering software.
• Work experience in surveying and/or construction.

TYPICAL JOB DUTIES:

• Assists with the process to announce, collect, assess, and accept bids from contractors for public infrastructure projects.
• Assists with the design phase of public infrastructure projects (e.g., drainage structures, sanitary sewers, roads, bridges, culverts, etc.) under guidance and supervision of a Sr. Civil Engineer or Chief Civil Engineer.
• Assists with the pre-construction phase of public infrastructure projects by reviewing proposed construction plans to ensure they safeguard the health, safety, and welfare of the public; use accepted civil engineering practices; and comply with applicable codes, regulations and standards.
• Interacts with parties (e.g., developers, contractors, engineers, surveyors, governmental agencies) taking part in the jurisdiction's permitting process by providing information about permit requirements, and assisting with reviews of permit applications and plans in order to ensure that permit applications and plans meet the jurisdiction's requirements.
• Conducts engineering studies to gather data related to existing and/or proposed infrastructure projects and prepares reports and recommendations based on the study's results.
• Investigates and responds to complaints or inquiries made by the public to the department or public officials.
• Assists with monitoring on-going construction projects that were designed by engineering consultants.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
Job involves physical exertion required for sustained periods of light physical activity such as walking or standing. May involve occasional lifting of items or objects weighing up to 50 lbs.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
Work is conducted both indoors in an office setting as well as regular field visits to outdoor worksites. Work involves use of standard office equipment, such as computer, phone, copier, etc. Work involves the use of a variety of equipment related to inspecting construction sites including, but not limited to: calculator, measuring devices, levels, etc. Job may require exposure to potentially hazardous work conditions (e.g., working in and around traffic, construction zones, heavy equipment). Job may also require exposure to inclement weather when working outdoors (e.g., extreme heat, cold, rain, snow, wind, etc.).
EEO STATEMENT:
The Personnel Board of Jefferson County provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment with the Personnel Board of Jefferson County, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training. Each Merit System member city/agency operates its own equal employment opportunity policies available on the individual city/agency website.
ACCOMMODATION:
To request an accommodation in the application or hiring process due to your own ongoing medical condition or disability, please contact our Accommodations Coordinator at accommodationrequest@pbjcal.org or phone at 205-279-3500 (select option 1) Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Central Time. The accommodation process is reserved solely for job seekers with disabilities requesting accessibility assistance or accommodation in the job application process.
NOTE:
This job posting may close before, or be extended beyond, the listed Target Close Date based on the employment needs of the Merit System. More detail regarding this job is available by clicking Apply.
DISCLAIMER:
This job posting is not meant to be an all-inclusive list of the job duties, responsibilities, or skills and abilities required for this position and may be changed at the discretion of the Personnel Board at any time.