Senior Building Inspector Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Salary: $61.44 - $78.42 Hourly
Location : Sunnyvale, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 26-00025
Department: Community Development
Division: Building Safety
Opening Date: 04/30/2026
Closing Date: Continuous
Description
This is a continuous recruitment and will remain open until the position is filled. Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis.
The City of Sunnyvale is hiring (1) regular full-time Senior Building Inspector in the Department of Community Development.
Sunnyvale is a dynamic city in the heart of Silicon Valley. Construction activities continue to grow with a wide range of project types, including tech manufacturing, hazardous occupancies, single-family residential, and multistory mixed-use, multifamily, and commercial buildings.
This position shares the responsibility of supervising 9 experienced inspectors with another Senior Building Inspector. The Building Division is a cohesive and supportive unit that helps each other navigate code compliance and enforcement issues.
Under general direction, oversees and performs a wide variety of skilled field inspections during various stages of construction for compliance with approved plans and municipal codes relating to construction (including building codes, electrical codes, mechanical codes, plumbing codes, energy codes, zoning ordinances and related laws, codes and ordinances); performs complex plan and specification reviews; issues building permits; responds to inquiries from the public; supervises and provides technical assistance to professional and /or paraprofessional staff; and performs related work as required.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
The Senior Building Inspector is the advanced journey level and supervisory classification in the professional building inspector series. This classification is distinguished from the lower classification of Building Inspector II by the level of complexity of tasks and duties assigned to positions within the Senior Building Inspector classification. Incumbents are expected to independently perform and coordinate the full range of building inspections, plan check review, supervise and train assigned staff.
Essential Job Functions
(May include, but are not limited to, the following):

• Supervises, trains and assists with the evaluation of assigned professional and paraprofessional staff.
• Performs the more complex field inspection of building construction, plumbing, mechanical and electrical installations in residential and commercial buildings; verify compliance with applicable building, plumbing, electrical, mechanical codes, and related City ordinances, state, and local statutes.
• Plans, schedules and oversees the work of Building Inspectors and related One Stop Permit Center activities; monitors inspection activities and plan check reviews to assure high quality inspections, reviews and customer service.
• Communicates with property owners, contractors and others in the process of field inspections, explain requirements, cause compliance with plans and codes and give final sign-off approval.
• Performs code enforcement work, includes investigates code violations and complaints; writes up the results of inspections; issues instructions and makes recommendations; problem solves and researches information; issues stop work orders.
• Checks plans and building permit applications for new construction, alterations, and remodeling of existing structures; verifies compliance with applicable codes and ordinances and accepted construction practices; and, issues certificates of occupancy.
• Provides technical information and professional advice to City staff, officials and the public regarding city codes relating to construction; assists architects, residential designers, engineers, contractors and property owners in interpreting and meeting code requirements; establishes and maintains a customer service orientation; responds to complaints and resolves more difficult inspection problems.
• Read, correctly interpret, apply and use building codes, municipal codes, ordinances and other related laws, regulations and policies, as required.
• Prepares clear, concise and comprehensive reports, correspondence and other required documents; maintains forms, records and field reports relative to inspection activities and to document findings; performs office duties as necessary.
• Maintains current knowledge of developments in building codes, inspection practices, new model codes, and state law relating to building codes and inspections.
• Acts as project coordinator for routing of plans, tracking status of plans while they are being checked by staff in other City divisions.
• Follows through on violations and may appear in court as a witness.
• Performs other related duties as required.

WORKING CONDITIONS
Position requires prolonged sitting, standing, walking on level, uneven and slippery surfaces, reaching, twisting, turning, kneeling, bending, squatting and stooping in the performance of daily activities. The position also requires grasping, repetitive hand movement and fine coordination in using a computer keyboard. The position also requires near and far vision when performing tasks such as field inspections, in reading and writing reports and work related documents and using a computer. Acute hearing is required when providing phone and in-person service. The ability to lift, carry and push equipment, tools and supplies up to 25 pounds is also required. Additionally, when performing field inspections, the incumbent may be exposed to biohazards and work in a variety of working conditions, including mechanical and electrical hazards, loud noise, and inclement weather conditions, such as wet, heat and cold. The nature of the work also requires the incumbent to climb ladders and steep slopes, and walk around construction worksites. Some of these requirements may be accommodated for otherwise qualified individuals requiring and requesting such accommodations.
Minimum Qualifications
Education and Experience:
The minimum qualifications for education and experience can be met in the following way:
An Associate's degree or 60 semester units or 90 quarter units in engineering technology, architecture, construction management or related field; AND
Four years of professional, full-time experience as a building inspector with a public agency, OR
Graduation from high school or tested equivalent; AND
Four years of professional, full-time experience as a building inspector with a public agency and two years as a licensed general contractor.
Knowledge of:

• All codes and ordinances enforceable by the City of Sunnyvale, including, building code, electrical code, mechanical code, plumbing code, energy code, California Title 24 Disabled Access, California Title 24 Energy Standards and other related laws, codes and ordinances.
• Principles, materials and methods used in modern building design and construction.
• Methods, practices and standards of the trades associated with construction, including, building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing and energy.
• The legal procedures involved in code enforcement.
• Basic principles and practices of supervision and training.

Ability to:

• Plan, coordinate and oversee the work of others.
• Supervise, direct, train and assist with the evaluation of subordinate staff.
• Read, understand and interpret approved plans, specifications and construction plans accurately.
• Identify building code compliance requirements and make appropriate decisions regarding corrective actions.
• Ensure that field installations are consistent with approved building codes, city ordinances, approved plans and specifications.
• Inspect and analyze standard building construction; identify code violations; and, recommend appropriate corrective measures to ensure compliance.
• Interpret, apply and explain construction-related codes, regulations and policies.
• Communicate building inspection requirements, policies and decisions to the public in a courteous and effective manner.
• Prepare and maintain accurate paperwork, including forms, records and reports.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Observe safety principles and work in a safe manner.
• Work independently and as a member of a team.
• Travel to various sites in the City to conduct residential and commercial building inspections.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with other City staff, public officials, construction professionals, engineers, architects, developers, design professionals, outside agencies and the public.
• Ensure that the City's philosophy of customer service is understood by all assigned employees and carried out in all forms of communication.
• Learn more complex principles, practices and techniques related to assigned duties.
• Perform related duties, as required.

Licenses/Certificates:
Possession at time of hire and continued maintenance of a valid Class C California driver's license and a safe driving record.
Possession and continued maintenance of ICC Certifications: Building Inspector (B1 and B2), Electrical Inspector (E1 and E2), Plumbing Inspector (P1 and P2), and Mechanical Inspector (M1 and M2).
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience in and certifications by the International Code Council (ICC) in plumbing, mechanical, and electrical inspections
• Plans Examiner certification by the International Code Council (ICC).
• Supervisory or lead experience.

Application and Selection Process
The application submitted must meet the minimum qualifications listed in the job description in order to move forward in the recruitment process with the City of Sunnyvale. The information provided in the Work Experience, Education, and Certificates/Licenses sections of the application will be used to determine if the application meets the minimum qualifications. A resume, employment history provided elsewhere in the application, or other attachments will not be accepted in lieu of the completed application.
Note: The minimum qualifications for experience are based on full-time experience (40 hours per week). Experience included in the Work Experience section of the application is calculated to the full-time equivalent (hours are pro-rated if less than 40 hours/week). Volunteer experience is not considered qualifying experience.
If you are interested in this opportunity, please submit a City of Sunnyvale employment application and responses to the supplemental questions to the Department of Human Resources. Applications received by Wednesday, May 27th, 2026, will be included in the initial review, with additional reviews conducted monthly thereafter until the position is filled.
EXAM PROCESS
Applications will be competitively screened based on the minimum qualifications of this position. Based upon a review of the application materials, the most qualified candidates will be invited to participate in the examination process, which may consist of an oral examination, with scheduling to be determined. (Note: The examination process may be changed as deemed necessary by the Director of Human Resources).
SELECTION PROCESS
Those candidates that receive a passing score on the examination will be placed on an eligibility list for up to one year, in accordance with the City's Civil Service Rules and Administrative Policies. Top candidates on the eligibility list will be invited to participate in an on-site selection interview with the department. Additional details regarding the interview schedule will be provided at a later date. Selection interviews will typically take place in-person, please plan accordingly.
Any candidate selected by the hiring department will be required to successfully complete a pre-employment process, which may consist of a comprehensive background investigation, as well as medical exam(s) administered by a City-selected physician(s) before hire. Prior to starting work, all newly-hired employees will be fingerprinted to check conviction history. A conviction history will not necessarily disqualify an applicant from appointment; however, failure to disclose conviction history will result in refusal of employment or termination.
INFORMATION ABOUT PROOF OF EDUCATION
Any successful candidate selected by the hiring department will be required to submit proof of education (i.e., original copy of the diploma or college/university transcripts).
Any successful candidate selected by the hiring department will be required to submit proof of education (i.e., copy of the diploma or college/university transcripts). An applicant with a college degree obtained outside the United States must have education records evaluated by a credential evaluation service at the candidate's expense. Candidates may utilize any third-party agency for the evaluation. If you search 'education equivalency verification' or similar online, you will obtain results for agencies that provide this evaluation service. A conditional job offer cannot be made until the education has been evaluated and submitted to the Department of Human Resources.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Summary of Sunnyvale's Employees Association
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The information contained within this announcement may be modified or revoked without notice and does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract.
The City of Sunnyvale is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of the City of Sunnyvale not to discriminate against all qualified applicants or employees on the basis of actual or perceived race, religion (including religious dress or grooming practice), color, sex (includes gender, pregnancy, childbirth, medical conditions related to preg