Senior Engineer Jobs in Santa Rosa, CA (NOW HIRING)

Salary : $146,933.25 - $178,615.73 Annually
Location : Santa Rosa, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 26/03-1014-O
Department: Sonoma County Public Infrastructure (SPI)
Opening Date: 03/17/2026
Closing Date: Continuous
Bargaining Unit: 21
Position Information
Build your public works engineering career with the County of Sonoma!
Starting salary up to $83.09/hour ($173,418/year) and a competitive total compensation package!*
Please note: Possession of a valid license as a Professional Civil Engineer, Professional Traffic Engineer, or Professional Mechanical Engineer issued by the State of California Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors is required for this position.
Join Sonoma Public Infrastructure (SPI)
Senior Engineers in SPI's Roads Division are exposed to a myriad of engineering projects that include bridge and road construction, traffic engineering, and hydrology. As a Senior Engineer, you will monitor the progress of engineering/construction traffic and land development projects, ensuring compliance with applicable State and Federal requirements. This Senior Engineer position will be responsible for the project design and delivery of the Active Transport Program (ATP), project delivery for state and federally funded projects, and routine road and bridge project delivery. As a Senior Engineer you will also:

• Manage multiple staff assigned to you, including establishing performance standards and evaluating performance; interviewing, selecting, and training staff; appropriately handling employee performance issues; and recommending changes and improvements
• Supervise and participate in the preparation of engineering calculations for construction projects, master plans, and quantities/materials cost estimates
• Review land development projects and condition public right-of-way improvements
• Develop procedures for the administration of section activities and prepare the section's budget
• Direct the preparation of official reports for use by department management and government agencies
• Represent the department before official bodies, government agencies, private developers, and the general public, as well as prepare and participate in legal claims defense
• Act as staff liaison as needed for committees and stakeholder groups
• Investigate and respond to inquiries from the Board of Supervisors and the general public

To effectively oversee this body of work, our ideal candidate must be licensed by the State of California as a Professional Engineer (Civil and/or Traffic) and possess many of the following:

• Multiple years of public agency-related professional engineering experience in the areas of civil and/or traffic engineering
• Highly effective written and verbal communication skills, including the capability to present to, interact with, and build long-term professional relationships with audiences of all levels (a sense of humor is a plus!)
• The ability to coordinate and review all work necessary for the planning, design, and completion of complex, multi-million-dollar construction projects
• Experience designing and delivering infrastructure projects in compliance with federal or grant funds
• Experience working with Caltrans Local Assistance, understanding Caltrans plans and specifications
• Effective analytical and strategic thinking skills, with the ability to see the big picture, and effectively collaborate with others to attain common goals
• Experience with California environmental permitting regulations, engineering concepts, construction concepts, drainage, and right-of-way
• A passion for engaging diverse groups of people to work towards improving our communities through public service

What We Offer
Working at the County of Sonoma offers expansive opportunities for growth and development, the ability to be a part of a challenging and rewarding work environment, and the satisfaction of knowing you're working to better our communities. You can also look forward to flexible work arrangements and excellent benefits* including:

• Hybrid Telework - A schedule that meets the needs of our staff, department operations, and the communities we serve may be available depending on the assignment
• Salary Advancement - A salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range
• Paid Time Off - Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year
• County Paid Health Premium Contributions - 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan options
• Staff Development/Wellness Pay - Annual benefit allowances of up to $1,500 and ongoing education/training opportunities
• Post-Retirement Health Reimbursement Arrangement - County contributions to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits
• Retirement - A pension fully integrated with Social Security
• Paid Parental Leave - May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) after 12 months of County employment
• Additional Benefits - Excellent dental, vision, disability, life insurance, employee assistance program, professional development, and more
• Student Loan Debt Relief - County employees may be eligible for through the U.S. Department of Education

*Salary is negotiable within the established range. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found in the and in our
This recruitment is being conducted to fill a Senior Engineer position in the Sonoma County Public Infrastructure department. This employment list may also be used to fill future full-time, part-time, or extra-help (temporary) positions as they occur during the active status of the list. County employees who wish to be considered for future positions should consider applying to this recruitment.
Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire be completed.
Minimum Qualifications
Experience and Education: Any combination of education and work experience which would provide an opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed herein. Normally, this would include four years of full-time, professional engineering experience, including at least one year at the level of a licensed, professional Engineer.
License: Possession of a valid driver's license at the appropriate level including special endorsements, as required by the State of California, may be required depending upon assignment, to perform the essential job functions of the position.
Professional License: Possession of a valid license as a Professional Civil Engineer, Professional Traffic Engineer, or Professional Mechanical Engineer issued by the State of California Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors, depending upon assignment.
Special Requirement: The Senior Engineer in the Plan Check Section of Permit Sonoma is required to obtain and maintain certification as a Building Plans Examiner within one year of hire.
The position advertised on this announcement does require possession of a valid California Driver's License.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Thorough knowledge of: the principles, practices and techniques of civil engineering or traffic engineering, depending upon assignment; statistics and advance mathematics including algebra and analytic geometry; topographic and construction surveying, stress analysis, analytical mechanics and the strength, properties and uses of construction materials; the legal requirements concerning the design, construction and inspection methodology necessary for major construction projects; common methods and equipment utilized in engineering construction and of inspection methods used in reviewing such work; real property descriptions; civil engineering design and drafting methods and equipment; the principles, practices and techniques of supervision and training.
Knowledge of: budget procedures, cost analysis, contract laws; accepted safety practices relating to public works projects; computer-aided design (CAD) software.
Ability to: successfully complete complex and technical engineering assignments; effectively supervise and direct the work of subordinate professional and technical staff; prepare designs and make accurate drawings and maps; exercise project management skills; make accurate mathematical calculations and neat and accurate field notes; apply principles of logic and scientific reasoning co develop and evaluate alternative courses of action and determine appropriate solutions; read, understand and interpret complex technical and legal documents, maps, technical drawings and plans; listen attentively and participate in negotiations by providing required data and information; adjust workload changes and work under stress to meet deadlines; develop and maintain effective working relationships with all levels of representatives from governmental and private agencies, construction and consultant contractors, coworkers and the public; make presentations before public bodies and county groups; write clearly and concisely in order to prepare technical reports, correspondence, and maintain records and to direct the preparation of comprehensive reports.
Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying

• Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
• You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
• You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
• Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.

Please visit to review more detailed information about the hiring process, including the application process, examination steps, and department selection process.
Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire be completed.
Responses to supplemental questions will be scored using position-specific criteria. Please provide specific and detailed responses of a reasonable length to allow for a thorough assessment of your qualifications. Responses that state, "See Resume" or "See Application" may be considered insufficient and therefore may not be scored.
The selection procedure will consist of the following examination:
An Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (pass/not pass) will be conducted to evaluate each applicant's combination of educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities that relate to this position to ensure satisfaction of the minimum qualifications for this position. Candidates who possess the minimum qualifications for the position will be placed on an extra-help employment list and referred to the department. The department may contact candidates from the employment list who possess the most appropriate job-related qualifications for further consideration.
Additional Information
A background investigation is required prior to employment. Candidates referred to departments for a selection interview are typically required to sign authorization and release forms enabling such an investigation. Failure to sign prescribed forms will result in the candidate not being considered further for that vacancy. Reference information will not be made available to applicants.
Additional requirements, such as successful completion of a physical exam, drug screen, etc., may apply, depending on the duties and responsibilities of the position. If you receive a conditional job offer for the position, the requirements upon which the offer is contingent will be outlined in the conditional job letter. You may also review the to determine the requirements for this position.
How to Apply
Applications are accepted online at Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), email, or through the mail. All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job bulletin must be received by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement. Continuous recruitments may close without notice at any time that a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.
The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.
HR Analyst: JT
HR Technician: PPB
Important Note: Benefits described herein do not apply to Extra Help positions.
County of Sonoma Benefits: General*
These are some of the excellent benefits the County offers:
Paid Time Off: Competitive vacation accrual and sick leave accruals; additional management leave annually; 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year; and may be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of County employment.
Health Plan: Choose from nine...