Assistant City Engineer

Under the direction of the Director of Public Works/City Engineer, the Assistant City Engineer is responsible for planning, organizing, and directing a wide range of engineering activities in both office and field settings.
This role manages the Engineering Division and ensures effective coordination with other City departments, public agencies, and external stakeholders.
Key responsibilities include the development and implementation of the City's Capital Improvement Program (CIP), encompassing planning, budgeting, design, construction administration, and inspection of various infrastructure projects.
The position also involves approving engineering plans, conducting traffic control and mobility assessments, and reviewing subdivision maps and development proposals.
Additionally, the Assistant City Engineer is responsible for preparing and presenting technical reports and recommendations to the City Council and City Commissions, managing complex engineering studies, and overseeing the work of architectural and engineering consultants.
The Assistant City Engineer exercises supervision over professional, technical and administrative support staff.
In the absence of the Director of Public Works/City Engineer, incumbent serves as the Acting City Engineer and assumes responsibility for approving engineering plans and specifications.
Job Characteristics: May work a varying schedule of hours, which may include nights, early mornings, weekends and holidays.
- Plans, manages, and oversees daily functions, operations, and activities of the City of Cerritos Engineering Division within the Public Works Department.
Serves as Assistant City Engineer and as senior project manager, coordinating and managing complex aspects of the CIP, including grading field inspections and environmental programs.
- Conducts project planning for CIP activities; provides oversight and input into the conceptual design of engineering projects; resolves issues related to scope or cost for major facility upgrades and replacements.
- Leads the development of long-range CIPs; assists with financial forecasting and analysis; ensures plans meet City needs; directs and participates in planning for CIP projects.
- Determines project scope; oversees and reviews preparation of plans and specifications by division and consultant staff.
- Manages consulting requests for proposals for professional and construction services; evaluates proposals, recommends awards, negotiates and administers contracts; ensures compliance with City standards, time, and budget estimates; resolves complex issues and approves field changes as needed.
- Reviews and approves construction materials and shop drawings; analyzes and negotiates contract change orders; addresses construction-related issues; manages construction claims.
- Participates in developing and administering the division budget; proposes and presents budget recommendations for CIP projects.
- Oversees and reviews grading plans and permits; adjusts and revises plans and specifications for CIP projects, tract and parcel maps, and lot line modifications; manages controversial encroachment permits and other engineering documents.
- Reviews and checks plans for complex construction projects to ensure compliance with codes; monitors engineering methods and verifies structural calculations.
- Negotiates mitigation measures with developers and regulatory agencies; ensures public improvements meet plans, specifications, and standards; ensures compliance with federal, state, and local codes and safety requirements.
- Conducts and prepares traffic and parking analyses; reviews City traffic sections and develops traffic control plans.
- Reviews and approves traffic-related engineering plans for public improvement projects.
- Develops and drafts environmental impact reports related to traffic and parking.
- Ensures compliance with environmental programs, including NPDES regulations, as part of CIP and public works activities.
- Prepares reports and studies on planning and CIP projects; interprets and applies policies and regulatory requirements.
- Conducts complex engineering studies and investigations to support public works projects and ensures accurate reporting of findings.
- Participates in selecting, training, and evaluating division personnel; develops performance standards, communicates expectations, observes and documents performance; recommends disciplinary actions and terminations; submits recommendations to the department director.
- Plans and participates in developing and implementing goals, objectives, policies, and priorities for the Engineering Division; monitors compliance with established policies and procedures.
- Attends meetings, makes presentations, and represents the City; responds to inquiries from the public, agencies, developers, contractors, and City staff; investigates complaints and recommends corrective actions.
- Communicates and coordinates with contractors, consulting engineers, developers, utility companies, and the public as the City's representative for construction projects.
- Performs related duties as required.
Knowledge of: - Municipal budget administration, capital improvement programs, and revenue sources related to the area assigned.
- Principles and practices of complex project management and administration.
- Design, construction, and repair of streets, highways, sanitary sewers, storm drains, traffic control devices, and related public facilities.
- Laws, regulations, codes, and ordinances applicable to the area assigned, including federal and state laws/requirements.
- Greenbook: Standard Specifications for Public Works Construction, Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Highway & Street Design, California Department of Transportation (CALTRANS) Local Assistance Procedures Manual (LAPM), Los Angeles County Standards Plans and Design Manuals.
- Design, construction, and repair of traffic control devices.
- Methods, materials, and techniques used in the construction of public works projects.
- Modern and complex principles and practices of civil engineering and design principles.
- Hydraulics and hydrology, structural design, engineering economics, and land survey.
- Roadway and mobility design, along with uses of asphalt and structural concrete.
- Advanced mathematics and their application to engineering work.
- Microsoft Project, AutoCAD, MS Office, and related engineering programs.
- Operations, services, and activities of a civil engineering program.
- Methods and techniques of complex contract negotiations and administration.
- Effective supervisory and management techniques.
- City engineering policies and procedures.
- Methods, materials, and techniques used in the construction of public works projects.
- Principles and practices of complex project management and administration.
Ability to: - Coordinate and direct civil engineering programs.
- Design, prepare, and review engineering plans, specifications, studies, and technical reports.
- Produce accurate cost estimates related to assigned function/section.
- Ensure function/section compliance with applicable rules and regulations and prepare progress reports.
- Understand and interpret complex engineering construction plans, specifications, and other contract documents.
- Interpret and apply pertinent laws, rules, and regulations.
- Prepare clear and comprehensive reports and make effective presentations.
- Conduct difficult and comprehensive engineering studies and prepare administrative and financial reports and recommendations.
- Perform technical research and solve difficult engineering problems.
- Supervise, organize, and review the work of professional and technical staff.
- Manage the selection, training, supervision, and evaluation of assigned staff.
- Handle multiple deadlines and projects.
- Communicate effectively orally and in writing.
- Understand and carry out oral and written instructions and use independent judgment and initiative.
- Establish and maintain effective relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
- Interact effectively with others in the workplace.
- Meet and serve the public with professionalism, courtesy, and tact.
- Handle job stress and maintain composure in public settings.
- Operate a personal computer and use applicable software programs.
- Resolve conflict situations in a fair and amicable manner.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT: Work is performed indoors and outdoors.
When work is performed outdoors there is exposure to the elements.
When performing inspections, the incumbent may walk and stand on slippery/uneven slopes and surfaces and be exposed to vehicular traffic.
Indoor office work requires sitting at a desk or table for periods of time and the use of a computer, keyboard, and related equipment.
The incumbent may sit, stand, walk, reach, bend, twist, grasp, lift, and may carry boxes of records and other items weighing up to 30 pounds.
The Assistant City Engineer must be able to meet the physical requirements of the class and have mobility, vision, hearing, and dexterity levels appropriate to the duties to be performed.
TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE: Any combination of training and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities.
A typical way to obtain these would be: Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, or a related field and four (4) years of engineering experience, two (2) years of which must have been at a supervisory level.
Registration as a Civil Engineer in California is required at the time of appointment A valid California driver's license is required.
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