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Overview:

This Senior Engineer position will serve as the lead engineer for assigned critical flood protection projects (for example: Sunnyvale East and West Channels Flood Protection, Upper Guadalupe River Flood Protection, and Upper Penitencia Creek Flood Protection), providing overall project management through planning studies, coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) as needed, design and preparation of construction documents, support during construction, and project closeout. The selected candidate will direct the in-house design team and consultants and work closely with the USACE and other project partners to develop and deliver the planning studies and construction documents required to advance projects to construction.

With the recent strategic prioritization of the Watershed Capital Program, this role will be instrumental in ensuring projects remain on track by coordinating design efforts, managing project risks, and maintaining alignment with project objectives. The Senior Engineer will oversee the successful execution of design deliverables, support construction-phase services, and guide projects through completion and closeout.

The position will provide leadership across a multidisciplinary team and serve as a key liaison among internal and external stakeholders, regulatory agencies, the USACE, and partner organizations to facilitate collaboration, resolve issues, and support the timely delivery of projects.

Our Commitment: 
We are committed to building and sustaining a working environment where all individuals are respected and valued. We believe every member of our team brings unique perspectives that enhance our ability to serve the public effectively. By fostering a workplace with employees from the communities we serve, we broaden our collective understanding of the world around us and strengthen our mission to equitably provide safe, clean water, natural flood protections, and environmental stewardship.
About Valley Water:
Valley Water’s mission is to provide Santa Clara County with safe, clean water for a healthy life, environment, and economy. The FY 2026-27 Adopted Budget of $1.284 billion supports approximately 876 employees. With headquarters in San José, Valley Water provides water supply, enhances streams and watersheds through creek restoration and habitat protection, provides flood protection for homes, schools, businesses and roadways, and partners with other agencies to provide trails and open space for the community.
Who We Are:
To learn how Valley Water provides safe, clean water and environmental stewardship for the Santa Clara community, please click here

Key Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Leads the in-house project team responsible for planning, design, execution, and implementation of assigned projects. Directs and supervises daily project management activities, ensuring effective coordination, timely delivery, adherence to project objectives, and successful completion of project milestones.
• Coordinates and facilitates meetings with project teams and cross-functional Valley Water units and divisions to support project planning, execution, and stakeholder alignment. 
• Manage cost-sharing, operations and maintenance, and other project-related agreements.
• Review and preparation of engineering reports, plans, specifications, cost estimates, and other technical documents.
• Oversees plan document compliance and ensures contractors perform work in accordance with contract requirements, specifications, and project standards.
• Construction support and contract administration by reviewing requests for information (RFIs), submittals, and potential change order items.

Ideal Candidate's Background Includes:

Applicants whose experience and background best match the ideal experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, and education are considered ideal candidates for the position. To determine the top candidates, each applicant will be assessed based on the ideal candidate criteria as listed below.

Ideal Experience:

• Six (6) years of professional engineering experience in flood protection, including at least two (2) years of lead responsibility. 
• Professional experience in civil engineering; structural engineering is a plus.

Ideal Skills and Abilities:

• Planning, design and construction of infrastructure projects, especially of flood control/protection projects. 
• General civil and/or structural engineering experience including but not limited to bridges, retaining walls, levees, slope stability structures, and other flood control structures.
• Strong familiarity with hydrology and open channel and/or closed conduit hydraulics.
• Preparing engineering studies, reports, plans, specifications, cost estimates, and design calculations.
• Post design construction support services including construction field observation, construction administration and construction management. 
• Project management and multi-objective projects.
• Public correspondence/communication and technical writing.
• Deliver complex, technical, and sensitive engineering projects and programs in an independent and cooperative manner.
• Read, prepare, review, and interpret engineering plans, drawings, specifications, and contract documents.
• Apply structural engineering principles and computer programs to resolve engineering problems.
• Conduct various engineering studies to recommend engineering solutions.
• Analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions, and implement recommendations in support of goals.

Ideal Knowledge:

• Civil design background with strong knowledge of industry standards and procedures.
• Strong understanding of hydraulics, fluvial channel design, hydrology, Civil CADD, Civil 3D, geotechnical, and surveying aspects related to flood control/protection infrastructure projects.
• Structural engineering principles, codes, standards, practices, and methods as applied to the design, construction, installation, operation, and maintenance of structural systems, elements, components, and facilities.
• Principles and practices of project management, including planning, organizing, executing, scheduling, monitoring, and controlling.

Ideal Training and Education: 

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in civil engineering or a related field.

Possess and maintain a valid license as a Professional Engineer issued by the California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists. 

LIMITED TERM POSITION:
The assignment period will be up to 2 years and such time period may be adjusted as needed by Valley Water management.

• If the limited-term appointee is internally hired, the appointee will be subject to Valley Water's Limited Term policy, reassignment process, and/or appropriate Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) provisions.
• An internally hired limited-term appointee will be covered by the applicable MOU and eligible for all pay and benefits described in the MOU.
• An externally hired limited-term appointee will be considered “at-will” and may be terminated at any time with or without cause.

An externally hired limited-term appointee will be covered by the applicable MOU and eligible for all pay and benefits described in the MOU with the exception of the following articles/sections:

1. Article 3, Section 10:Temporary Assignment – Temporary Upgrade Pay
2. Article 3, Section 11: Temporary Assignment - Special Assignment Pay
3. Article 6, Section 4(D): Deferred Compensation (Limited-term appointees may participate in Valley Water’s 457 deferred compensation program however they will be ineligible for Valley Water matching funds and participation in Valley Water’s 401(a) plan) 
4. Article 8: Leaves of Absence (Valley Water will provide a leave of absence as required by law under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), California Family Rights Act (CFRA) and Pregnancy Disability Leave (PDL)) 
5. Article 11: Workforce Development 
6. Article 12: Special Programs
7. Article 13: Employee Performance/Evaluation 
8. Article 14: Classification 
9. Article 15: Discipline Process 
10. Article 17: Layoff

Required License or Certificate:

Possession of, or ability to obtain, an appropriate, valid California driver's license. Individuals who do not meet the driver's license requirement due to a disability will be considered for a reasonable accommodation on a case-by-case basis.

Possession of a valid license as a Professional Engineer issued by the California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists.

To review the Job Description, please click here
Design & Construction Unit #4 (Position Code LT024)
Valley Water Telework Program: Eligibility for telework will depend on the type of work performed, operational needs, and the ability for the employee to perform the essential functions of their job duties while teleworking. Employment with Valley Water requires employees to live within 150 miles of their primary physical work location located in San Jose, California by their start date.

This position is eligible for a hybrid telework schedule, typically working 40% remote and 60% onsite.

Headquartered in San Jose, the Santa Clara Valley Water District (Valley Water) is the largest multi-purpose water supply, watershed stewardship, and flood management special district in California. Valley Water serves nearly two million people in Santa Clara County by providing a reliable and safe supply of water; enhancing streams and watersheds through creek restoration and habitat protection; providing flood protection for homes, schools, and businesses; and partnering with other agencies to provide trails, parks and open space for community recreation. Valley Water’s unique multi-purposes enables it to use a comprehensive regional approach to water resources management and environmental protection that would not be possible if these services were fragmented among several agencies. As the primary water resources agency for Santa Clara County, which is located at the southern end of the San Francisco Bay and is home to Silicon Valley, Valley Water encompasses all of the county’s 1,300 square miles and serves the area’s 15 cities. Valley Water also serves the unincorporated areas of the county.

Valley Water is a public agency governed by a Board of Directors which includes seven members, each elected by their district.