Water Agency Operations Engineer

Position Information

The Sonoma County Water Agency (Sonoma Water) is seeking a qualified Operations Engineer.

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Requirement: To be considered qualified for this position, possession of a valid certificate of registration as a Professional Civil, Control System, Electrical, and/or Mechanical Engineer issued by the State of California Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors is required at time of application submission.

As a Water Agency Operations Engineer, you will play a vital role in supporting Sonoma Water’s mission to responsibly manage natural resources by using transparent, data-based decision-making tools that benefit our environment and community. You will apply your knowledge and understanding of regulations pertaining to water, wastewater (treatment and collection facilities), air pollution, stormwater, recycled water, and hazardous waste to support new and existing engineering projects. You will also collaborate with the Computerized Maintenance Management System, Operations and Maintenance, Finance, and Engineering Design staff to ensure coordination across departments and gather diverse input to develop a successful Asset Management Program. This position acts as a p roject manager for various engineering projects, assists with permit and environmental compliance, provides budget and financial planning, and manages and designs maintenance and smaller capital projects in support of both water and wastewater facilities. Additional responsibilities will include:

• Collaborating with regulatory agencies and analyzing water, wastewater, and business data
• Coordinating efforts with Design and Water Resource Planning engineers and Operations and Maintenance personnel to ensure seamless project execution
• Managing compliance with regulations under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) and the Statewide Waste Discharge Requirements for both wastewater and stormwater
• Managing small construction projects with CSI specs and design drawings

The ideal candidate will be a resourceful project manager who has excellent communication skills and the ability to be a team player while also being self-motivated to bring complex projects to completion. Additionally, the ideal candidate will be technically savvy and possess many of the following:

• Experience working in a water and wastewater regulatory environment and working knowledge and understanding of water and wastewater treatment
• Some experience working on capital projects in a public works/utility environment
• AutoCAD and/or GIS skills, along with a technical savviness to utilize current engineering-related applications
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills to address engineering challenges
• The ability to effectively collaborate with colleagues to complete complex reports and other assignments
• A positive attitude, good sense of humor, and ability to effectively interact with all levels in the organization

About Sonoma Water
Sonoma Water is a special district formed by the California State Legislature in 1949 and is responsible for providing a safe and reliable water supply to its customers in Sonoma and Marin counties. Sonoma Water also maintains 75 miles of flood control channels and provides sanitation services. Employing approximately 250 employees, Sonoma Water consists of four divisions, including Engineering & Resource Planning, Environmental Resources, Business Services & External Affairs, and Water/Wastewater Operations & Maintenance. Sonoma Water supports the concept of environmental sustainability, focusing on renewable power sources, and strives to be a leader in its water use efficiency and fishery restoration programs.

Employees of Sonoma Water are employees of a special district and are not subject to the provisions of the Civil Service Ordinance of the County of Sonoma.

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:

• 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 $1500 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
• Student Loan Debt Relief - County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness 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 Western Council of Engineers Memorandum of Understanding and our Employee Benefits directory .

Sonoma Water is currently recruiting to fill an Operations Engineer position. This employment list may also be used to fill future full-time, part-time, or extra-help positions as they occur during the active status of the list. Qualified County employees who wish to be considered for future positions should consider applying to this recruitment . The formal title for this position is Water Agency Engineer III.
Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire to be completed.

Minimum Qualifications

Experience: Any combination of experience that would provide the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed. Normally, two years of water or wastewater engineering experience at a level comparable to Water Agency Engineer II would provide such opportunity.

Education: Any combination of education and training that would provide the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed. Normally, graduation from a four-year college or university with major course work in mechanical, electrical, or civil engineering with emphasis in water resources, hydraulics, hydrology, or a closely related field would provide such opportunity.

Other Requirements

Certification: Possession of a valid certificate of registration in one of the specialty areas, depending on assignment.

Mechanical

Possession of a valid certificate of registration as a Professional Mechanical Engineer issued by the State of California Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors.

Electrical

Possession of a valid certificate of registration as a Professional Electrical and/or Control System Engineer issued by the State of California Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors.

Civil

Possession of a valid certificate of registration as a Professional Civil Engineer issued by the State of California Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors.

License: Possession of a valid California driver’s license at the appropriate level, including necessary special endorsements, as required by the State of California to perform the essential job functions of the position.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Considerable knowledge of: civil, electrical and/or mechanical engineering principles, practices and methods with particular reference to the planning, design, construction and operation of water and wastewater facilities, and the design and construction of flood control projects; methods and techniques of water modeling; principles of ground water management; statistics and advanced mathematics; topographic and construction surveying, stress analysis, analytical mechanics and the strength, properties and uses of construction materials; common methods and equipment utilized in engineering construction and of inspection methods used in reviewing such work; real property descriptions; engineering design, drafting methods, and equipment; and principles of budgeting relative to water and wastewater related projects.

Working knowledge of: principles, practices and techniques of supervision and training; public speaking principles and practices and public relation styles and techniques; CEQA; and the fundamentals of specification writing.

Ability to: organize work, set priorities and exercise independent judgment; prepare designs and make accurate drawings and maps; make accurate mathematical calculations and neat and accurate field notes; apply principles of logic and scientific reasoning to 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 agencies and community groups; and write clearly and concisely in order to prepare technical reports, correspondence, and maintain records.

In addition, knowledge specific to the specialized areas is required as follows:

Civil

Considerable knowledge of: the principles, practices and techniques of civil engineering with particular reference to water supply, wastewater collecting/treatment facilities and flood control; statistics and advanced mathematics; ground water modeling; water supply and water reuse planning; topographic and construction surveying, stress analysis, analytical mechanics and the strength, properties and uses of construction materials, common methods and equipment utilized in engineering construction and of inspection methods used in reviewing such work; and real property descriptions.

Electrical

Considerable knowledge of: electrical engineering principles, practices, and terminology, with particular reference to water supply and wastewater collecting/treatment facilities and flood control; electrical and/or control systems; power; physics and chemistry; communication systems, telemetry, basic electric, electronic, and solid-state circuits; the principles and methods of testing electrical materials and equipment; principles, methods, and systems of corrosion control; computer-based systems, instrumentation and equipment; and local, state, and national electrical codes.

Mechanical

Considerable knowledge of: mechanical engineering principles, practices and terminology with particular reference to water supply and wastewater collecting/treatment facilities and flood control; hydraulics, engineering mechanics and mechanics of materials; pump selection and performance; corrosion control; engineering mathematics and statistical analysis and techniques; and the principles and methods of testing mechanical equipment.

Working Conditions

Duties require sitting and standing for prolonged periods. Additionally, walking on level, inclined, uneven, wet and slippery surfaces; reaching, kneeling, bending, stooping and climbing over objects is required in the performance of routine duties when visiting field and equipment sites. The incumbent may, while monitoring projects in the field, be subjected to all weather conditions including wet, hot, and cold. During project inspections and field site visits, incumbents may be exposed to dust, pollen and loud noises. The position also requires both near and far vision when inspecting work. The nature of the work also requires the incumbent to climb ladders and be around mechanical, electrical and/or structural hazards.

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 Getting a Job with the County of Sonoma 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 may 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 (weight 100%) may be conducted to evaluate each applicant's application and supplemental questionnaire for satisfaction of minimum qualifications (pass/not pass); and for educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities which relate to this position. Each applicant will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Relevance of work history, related experience, and achieved level of education and/or training as described in the application and responses to the supplemental questions.

Candidates demonstrating possession of the minimum qualifications will be placed on an employment list in order of most qualified to least qualified based on the achieved score received in the Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination. Scores may be adjusted based on such factors as the number of candidates, anticipated vacancies, past practice, and natural breaks in the scores achieved by this group of candidates.

Additional Information

A background investigation may be 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 Job Classification Screening Schedule to determine the requirements for this position.

How to Apply

Applications are accepted online at www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org . 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. 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: VH

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 health plans (three HMOs, three deductible HMOs, and three HSA-qualifying plans) with a generous County contribution to the premium (the contribution amount varies by bargaining unit). For more information, please see the appropriate MOU.

Retirement: Fully integrated with Social Security. For more information regarding eligibility, retirement contributions, and reciprocity with prior public service, please visit https://scretire.org/active-/-deferred/when-you-are-hired .

IRS 457 Plan: Pre-tax employee contribution up to the IRS annual maximum.

Retiree Medical: County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits.

Student Loan Debt Relief: County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education.

Plus, excellent dental, vision, disability, life insurance, professional development, and more.

For answers to specific questions regarding the employment process and more details about benefits or retirement, please contact Human Resources at (707) 565-2331. Additional details about benefit and compensation packages can be found in the MOUs located at Labor Agreements & Salary Resolution . For specific information about health and welfare benefits, including plan options, coverage, and premium amounts, go to Human Resources or contact the Human Resources' Risk Management-Benefits Office at benefits@sonomacounty.gov or (707) 565-2900.

*Important Notes: Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice.

Closing Date/Time: 8/20/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

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• County of Sonoma

• 707-565-8059

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