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The Department of Public Works is seeking well-qualified candidates for the position of Stationary Engineer II.

About the Department
The Department of Public Works plans, designs, constructs, operates, and maintains facilities and equipment that are safe and accessible to the clients of County agencies, the general public, and County employees. The Department advises the Board of Supervisors on all public works issues, including rates and charges for services that are fair to both the users and service providers.

Public Works has a budget of approximately $200 million and is comprised of over 300 employees in four divisions: Administrative Services and Airports, Engineering and Resource Protection, Facility and Capital Projects, and Road Services.

Facilities Maintenance & Operations
FM&O, short for Facilities Maintenance & Operations, ensures County facilities are safe, comfortable, and clean. From historic landmarks to modern offices, we keep things running smoothly.

The FM&O Stationary Engineers perform maintenance and repairs to the various plumbing, mechanical, and lighting systems throughout County facilities. These include boilers, chillers, pumps, motors, lamps, ballasts, drivers, toilets, sinks, and faucets as well as utilizing the lighting and building control systems to schedule and adjust run times of the various pieces of equipment. There are multiple Stationary Engineer I/II vacancies in FM&O.

Our team turns the screws, tightens the bolts, hammers the nails, paints the walls, and types in the codes to keep all the buildings and their systems working. If it's loose, stuck, hot, cold, light, or dark FM&O gets the call. Whatever it takes, our team does it with professionalism, care, and heart!

The Position
Under the direction of a Supervising Stationary Engineer, Stationary Engineers are responsible for a wide variety of repair and maintenance work in the areas of HVAC, electrical, plumbing, refrigeration, emergency power systems, water treatment systems, boiler equipment, and piping repair, building automation systems, and miscellaneous equipment repair. Stationary Engineer II is a journey-level classification, and incumbents are expected to have proficiency, perform independently, and solve complex problems in all of the areas listed above.

There are multiple vacancies to be filled throughout the Department. Work locations will include Redwood City Government Center, San Mateo Medical Center, Youth Services Center, and Maple Street Correctional Facility.
Candidates hired as Stationary Engineers must be willing to work evenings, weekends, and alternate shifts. They must also successfully obtain and maintain a Sheriff's Office security clearance as a condition of employment. 

The ideal candidates for these positions will have:

• At least three years of journey-level experience as a Stationary Engineer.
• A minimum of three years of journey-level experience in mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems.
• Extensive knowledge and experience working with boiler and HVAC systems.
• Proficiency in a wide variety of installations and repairs on plumbing, gas system piping, chiller/boiler piping, and wastewater systems, including the ability to operate a large sewer snake.
• Certification as a Backflow Prevention Tester.
• Experience in energy management and computer-controlled systems.
• The ability to troubleshoot, repair, and maintain a variety of equipment, including air conditioning, electric motors, heating units, heat pumps, light commercial furnaces, burners, fresh air and exhaust fans, economizers, and humidifiers.
• Experience with Fire Alarm testing, troubleshooting, and NFPA codes.
• Experience in a hospital or healthcare setting.

Examples Of Duties:

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Operate, maintain, install, and repair electrical, refrigeration, plumbing, heating, air conditioning, and ventilating systems.
• Operate, maintain, and repair boiler equipment.
• Repair and replace pipes, fittings, and other equipment used in plumbing, gas, and steam systems.
• Repair electrical equipment, including lamps, fixtures, and switches; adjust electrical controls, motors, and auxiliary equipment up to 480 volts.
• Test, operate, maintain, and repair emergency power systems, including UPS, emergency generators, and associated equipment.
• Use hand and power tools, including cutting and threading tools, grinders, reamers, wrenches, welders, saws, and other special tools.
• Make minor carpentry repairs to doors, windows, floors, and other parts of buildings.
• Do touch-up painting on repaired equipment.
• Remove or arrange for the removal of trash, pests, and other hazardous materials or debris in the course of performing work. 
• Properly place, set, and inspect traps, and collect and remove insects and pests.
• Reclaim or recycle refrigerant using Freon recovery systems.
• Operate water treatment facility, including wastewater and potable water.
• Adjust and calibrate boiler burners and controls.
• Adjust and calibrate chiller controls.
• Test, calibrate, and repair backflow devices.
• Calibrate HVAC controls and associated equipment.
• Monitor building management systems.
• Replace pumps and pump seals, and repair and replace motor valves.
• Repair and replace air conditioning units.
• Troubleshoot HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and energy power systems.
• Conduct preventative maintenance.
• Understand fire alarm systems.
• Repair and install chemical monitoring stations.
• Repair, test, and record data on generators.

If designated as the certified water treatment operator:

• Operate water treatment facility, including wastewater and potable water, consistent with performance standards, federal and state regulations, and variable operating conditions and emergencies.
• Make periodic inspections and reports of facility conditions to ensure adherence to maintenance procedures.
• Perform water sampling in coordination with the health laboratory.
• Maintain logs of facility operations, test results, scheduled maintenance, and other operating conditions.
• Control filter operations.
• Coordinate special projects related to water treatment and distribution, in close coordination with supervisor/manager.
• Troubleshoot complex technical problems related to water treatment and develop recommendations to improve water quality standards, facility effectiveness, and efficiency.
• Perform quality analysis of raw and treated water.
• Compile data concerning flows, chemical dosages, levels, pressure, volume, water quality, and other operational information.
• Prepare reports.

Qualifications:

Education and Experience:
Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying.  
 

• Completion of courses related to maintenance, installation, and repair of electrical, HVAC, plumbing, refrigeration, and power equipment.
• Two years of journey-level experience as a stationary engineer or equivalent, AND demonstrated experience in maintaining, installing, and repairing electrical, HVAC, plumbing, refrigeration, and power equipment in a large building, plant, or vessel.
• Two years of experience can be substituted with the completion of an apprenticeship program.

Licensure/Certification:

• Must obtain and maintain Sheriff's Office security clearance.
• Universal Certification in Freon recovery upon hire.
• Obtain Backflow Certification within six months of hire and maintain certification.
• If designated as the water treatment operator, possession of or ability to obtain a valid Grade II Water Treatment Operator Certification issued by the State of California within six months of employment is required.

Knowledge of:

• Common safety practices in the workplace.
• Heating and electrical equipment.
• Principles and techniques used in stationary engineering.
• Proper and safe use of basic hand tools.
• Basic arithmetic for measuring, calibrating, and estimating.
• Steam and gas fired heating systems; refrigeration equipment; ventilating and air-conditioning equipment.
• Electrical, plumbing and refrigeration systems.
• Controls and control systems.
• Emergency power systems, generators, and associated equipment.
• Freon recovery procedures and equipment, if at Level II.
• Water treatment systems and operations, principles and practices, and regulatory mandates, if designated as certified water treatment operator.
• Safety rules, regulations, and work practices, including reference to hazardous chemicals.
• Basic record-keeping principles and practices.

Skill/Ability to:

• Follow safety practices.
• Troubleshoot and/or repair, replace, regulate and control electrical, refrigeration, plumbing, heating, air conditioning, and ventilating systems.
• Determine and estimate materials required for a job and prepare requisitions.
• Use hand and power tools.
• Make metal parts and equipment.
• Perform minor carpentry and painting tasks.
• Follow oral and written instructions.
• Communicate effectively, courteously, and professionally with customers and others.
• Read and interpret plans.
• Prepare and maintain accurate maintenance records.
• Operate standard office equipment, computers, and timekeeping systems.
• Lift and carry materials, supplies, and equipment; climb ladders; and crawl in tight spaces.
• Perform water treatment plan and distribution system operations and maintenance activities if at Level II and designated as water treatment operator. 

Application/Examination:

Open and Promotional. Anyone may apply. Current County of San Mateo employees with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in classified regular, probationary, extra-help/limited term position prior to the final filing date will receive five points added to their final passing score on this examination. 
 
The examination process will consist of an Application Screening (weight: pass/fail), and an Interview (weight: 100%), which may include a performance exam. Depending on the number of applicants, an application appraisal of education and experience may be used in place of other examinations, or further evaluation of work experience may be conducted to group applicants by level of qualification. All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination. All examinations will be given in San Mateo County, California, and applicants must participate at their own expense. 

IMPORTANT:  Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the County's website, you may click the “Apply” button. If you are not on the County's website, please go to https://jobs.smcgov.org/ to apply. Responses to the Supplemental Questionnaire must be submitted in addition to the standard County employment application form. A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for the required application materials. Online applications must be received by the Human Resources Department before midnight on the final filing date.

This is a continuous recruitment which may close at any time. The final filing date will be posted five days in advance on this job announcement.

Apply immediately. This recruitment is open on a continuous basis, and selections may be made at any time within the process.

Tentative Recruitment Schedule: 
Round 1 of Screening: Week of January 5, 2026
Round 1 of Panel Interviews: Week of January 19, 2026 
Round 2 of Screening: Week of February 2, 2026
Round 2 of Panel Interviews: Week of February 16, 2026
Round 3 of Screening: Week of March 2, 2026
Round 3 of Panel Interviews: Week of March 16, 2026

Applications will be accepted for this position until Friday, April 17, 2026

Incomplete applications will not be accepted.

Resumes are not accepted in lieu of completing a City application.

Written Exam: Tuesday, May 12, 2026

Oral Exam: TBA

DEFINITION
Under general supervision, performs a variety of semi-skilled and skilled gardening and turf maintenance duties in the development, maintenance and repair of landscaped areas; and related work as required.

Groundskeeper Gardener I is the entry-level class and Groundskeeper Gardener II is the journey-level class in the series. Incumbents in the Groundskeeper Gardener I class will progressively perform most of the duties required in the Groundskeeper Gardener series but are not expected to function at the same skill level and will usually exercise less independent direction and judgement on matters related to work procedures and
methods. Work is usually supervised while in progress and fits an established pattern that has been explained before the work is started. Generally, changes in procedures or exceptions are explained in detail as they arise. Under the flexible staffing concept, Groundskeeper Gardener II positions that may become vacant may reasonably be filled at the Groundskeeper Gardener I or Utility Maintenance Worker level for training purposes.

Positions in the Groundskeeper Gardener II class are flexibly staffed and normally filled by advancement from the Groundskeeper Gardener I class, or when filled from the outside, require prior specific experience in gardening and general grounds maintenance. Appointment to this class requires the employee to be performing substantially the full range of gardening and general grounds maintenance duties and to meet the qualification standards for the class. This class requires the ability to work independently exercising
judgement and initiative. Duties will normally require the ability to operate the full range of mechanical equipment related to gardening and general grounds maintenance.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES
Plant, cultivate, water, spray, and propagate plants, hedges, trees, flowers, and lawns and perform grounds maintenance work; operate hand and power machines; aids in keeping greenhouses and other structures in repair and free from plant diseases and pests; maintain equipment, tools, and supplies in proper condition and repair; do general laboring tasks related to grounds and garden maintenance work. Install, maintain, and
operate manual and automatic irrigation systems. Input and retrieve data and work orders from the computer system. May assist in supervising utility workers, temporary employees, court referrals and other subordinates.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Knowledge of: Approved methods of planting, propagating and caring for hedges, ornamental trees, shrubs, lawns, and flowers; gardening materials, tools and equipment, and their use and care; the common plant diseases and insect pests and the approved methods and materials used in controlling and destroying them.

Ability to: Safely use hand and power gardening tools and perform heavy physical labor; follow oral and written directions; follow and abide by the City's Rules and Regulations of the Classified Service. Learn to use the computer system. Maintain an appropriate public service demeanor and positive customer service interactions. Interact positively and cooperate with co-workers, respond politely to customers, work as a team member, function under demanding time pressure, respond in a positive manner to supervision, and attend work and perform duties on a regular and consistent basis.

Physical capability to: Perform sustained, strenuous manual labor; climb, lift, crawl, stoop and bend to reach work; may work outdoors in temperature extremes and inclement weather.

Experience:

• Groundskeeper Gardener I, entry level: one (1) year, full-time, paid experience in construction, maintenance or other semi-skilled, physical work.
• Groundskeeper Gardener II: two (2) years of full-time experience in gardening and general grounds maintenance work.

Education:

• Groundskeeper Gardener I, entry level: completion of the tenth grade. Graduation from high school or the equivalent is desirable and required to advance to Level II in the classification series.
• Groundskeeper Gardener II: A high school diploma or the equivalent.

License:

• Possession of a valid, Class C California Driver's License.
• Groundskeeper Gardener II: A current Qualified Applicator Certificate is desirable.