Appointment level based on experience and qualifications
$92,364 - $136,560 Annually
Plus excellent benefits
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Monday, January 5, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
Applications reviewed on a regular basis.
THE CITY is focused on enhancing our community members’ quality of life through well-designed services and a positive workplace culture. San Rafael is the economic and cultural heart of Marin County, and its high quality of life is centered on its commercial districts, engaged neighborhoods, active lifestyle, and natural environment. San Rafael, with a population of approximately 60,000, is a full-service city with a City Council/City Manager form of government with 12 departments, more than 400 employees, and a fiscal year 2024-2025 annual budget of approximately $180 million. The City’s vision is to be a vibrant economic and cultural center reflective of its diversity. The City Council is engaged and seeks to strengthen the urban and commercial areas as well as sustain the beautiful natural environment.
San Rafael’s Organizational culture framework is an initiative called “Together San Rafael.” City employees are our greatest asset, and we seek talented individuals with diverse backgrounds who are creative, curious, and excited about a challenge. We are a results-driven team focused on the needs of community members. The Together San Rafael initiative is focused on modernizing City services and increasing the engagement of employees. This initiative recognizes the interconnectedness of the customer and employee experience.
THE DEPARTMENT
The Department of Public Works (DPW) is committed to providing the highest standards of service delivery to the community as it works to build, maintain, and update the City’s assets and infrastructure. Public Works is comprised of over 50 employees with an operating budget of over $33 million and annual Capital Improvement Program (CIP) budget that ranges between $15–$30 million depending on the City’s annual infrastructure needs.
The Department of Public Works’ mission is to ensure San Rafael’s infrastructure meets the needs of a vibrant and growing city through careful management of major improvements and the maintenance of the City’s assets. By hiring highly trained, dedicated, responsive, and service-oriented personnel, the PW department is actively making its mission a reality.
All engineering divisions (Capital Improvement Program, Development Engineering, and Traffic Engineering) are managed under the leadership of the Assistant Director/City Engineer, a structure designed to enhance oversight, streamline communication, and optimize workflow across engineering functions. CLICK HERE for an overview of our Engineering divisions.
The City and DPW are committed to fostering professional growth and career development. We proudly support the Dean Allison Award Internship Program, which guides promising graduates or soon-to-be graduates into careers in local government and promotes meaningful engagement with the City of San Rafael.
Our Engineering team also takes initiative in nurturing a strong internal culture. Team members organize quarterly workshops that focus on enhancing technical expertise, strengthening collaboration, and improving internal communication—further supporting a workplace environment that values continuous learning and shared success.
Public Works is currently advancing several exciting initiatives focused on infrastructure transformation, accessibility, and maintenance while also adding recreation spaces for the public to enjoy. For an overview of the City of San Rafael’s upcoming Capital Improvement Program projects, see the Public Works Projects website.
IDEAL CANDIDATE
The Junior and/or Assistant Engineer will support and gradually lead a variety of projects related to infrastructure improvements, traffic system operations and upgrades, development plan review and permitting, and more. The Engineering Team is committed to fostering an environment where every member can grow, explore new interests, and elevate the team as a whole. As such, we are seeking a candidate who brings curiosity, a willingness to learn, and the desire to connect with the collaborative energy that defines our team.
The Ideal Candidate will possess an understanding of civil engineering principles and have strong critical thinking, communication and organizational skills that allow them to effectively manage a variety of assignments and support on various projects. They will have a strong desire to enhance services for the community and the interest to develop human-centered engineering solutions. They will have the opportunity to interact with and oversee consultant professionals.
The successful candidate will be flexibility assigned to support one or more engineering divisions while collaborating with other DPW divisions and City departments. Prior experience in municipal engineering and/or customer service is desirable.
CORE COMPETENCIES
Foundational Civil Engineering Knowledge
Reading Comprehension
Communication & Team Collaboration
Problem Solving & Initiative
Attention to Detail & Accountability
Open-minded & Flexible
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
This list is meant to be representative, not exhaustive. CLICK HERE for the full job spec.
- Develops Requests for Qualifications (RFQs) and participate with other department staff in the selection of consulting engineers.
- Prepares and/or assists in the preparation of plans, specifications and estimates pertaining to construction projects.
- Interprets plans and specifications.
- Makes engineering calculations, completes design drawings, makes and revises maps, charts and diagrams.
- Conducts pre-construction meetings with contractors to establish job requirements, i.e., timing, noise level, traffic impact.
- Performs field inspections of various municipal construction projects, in progress and upon completion.
- Prepares written reports on civil engineering issues/projects for the department.
- Meets with a variety of public and private officials, individually and/or in a group setting, on civil engineering matters.
- Research and make recommendations on civil engineering issues/problems.
- Performs project management on Capital Projects during the design, environmental, bidding, and construction phases of the project.
- Performs Resident Engineer duties on Capital Projects during construction.
- Performs inspection and enforcement duties to ensure compliance with applicable design standards, specifications, contracts and legal documents, codes and ordinances.
- Review plans and maps submitted by private developers for conformity with laws, ordinances, City imposed requirements and accepted professional standards with the goal of protecting the health, safety, and welfare of the community.
- Researches publications and industry information sources and attends conferences and continuing education courses to keep abreast of new developments in the field of public works engineering.
- May attend and present information at public meetings.
SHAPING THE CITY’S QUALITY OF LIFE & INFRASTRUCTURE
Junior and Assistant Engineers have the opportunity to make an impact on the community by
- Conducting field inspections and visits to verify site conditions and compliance with City standards;
- Responding to community concerns and by building good rapport with members of the public;
- Enhancing connectivity and user safety through multi-modal projects;
- Reviewing permit applications and plans to ensure compliance with applicable codes and regulations;
- Improving public access through sidewalk and roadway enhancements;
- Overseeing contractors on various infrastructure projects for quality assurance and project compliance
- Developing exhibits and plans for traffic enhancements and pilot projects.
And so much more!
EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE
- Junior Engineer is the entry level engineer classification. The position requires a BS degree in Civil Engineering and does not require any formal work experience or engineering certification.
- Assistant Engineer is the initial classification in the engineering job class series requiring EIT and two years of Junior Engineer level experience (a master’s degree shall count for 1 year of post degree engineering experience).
LICENSES
- Assistant Engineer requires an Engineer in Training (EIT) certification.
- Both levels: A valid drivers’ license.
BENEFITS
This position is a regular position of the City’s Western Council of Engineers (WCE) employee group and is eligible to receive benefits including but not limited to:
- MEDICAL | City group health coverage, with the City paying a fixed dollar amount toward the cost of the monthly insurance premium. Employee only: $950.00; Employee plus one: $1,900.00; Family: $2,400.00
- DENTAL | Premium fully paid for employee plus eligible dependents.
- VISION | Premium fully paid for employee.
- VACATION LEAVE | 10 days annually, increases after 3 years of service
- SICK LEAVE | 12 days annually
- HOLIDAYS | 12 paid City holidays plus 1 floating holiday per year
- COMPENSATORY TIME option
- BEREAVEMENT LEAVE | Up to 5 days paid leave
- END OF LIFE CARE LEAVE | Up to 80 hours paid leave
- PAID PARENTAL LEAVE (if eligible) | Up to 300 hours paid leave. WCE employees also contribute to State Disability Insurance (SDI)
- LIFE INSURANCE & AD&D | $5,000 Life Insurance and a $5,000 AD&D benefit
- LONG TERM DISABILITY | 66.67% of salary, up to $1,000 per month
- RETIREMENT | Enrollment in the Marin County Retirement System (MCERA) pension plan, a defined benefit retirement program
- Tier 2 - hired on or after 7/1/2011: 2% @ 55, Average of 3 highest years
- Tier 3 PEPRA - hired on or after 1/1/2013: 2% @ 62, Average of 3 highest years
- DEFERRED COMPENSATION | City will contribute one percent (1.06%) of base pay into a City-provided deferred compensation plan
- GYM MEMBERSHIP REIMBURSEMENT | Up to $198 per year
- BILINGUAL PAY (if eligible) | Up to $250 per month
