Associate Engineer - PBCE, Building Division

Posting number: 202601697

Department: Planning, Building & Code Enforcement

Job classification: Associate Engineer

Posting type: Open

Categories: Engineering

Summary

The City of San Jose’s Department of Planning, Building, and Code Enforcement serves to ensure the orderly and safe development of private properties, compliance with all applicable building, zoning, and quality of life ordinances and regulations, and to promote healthy and safe community standards. This is accomplished by departmental staff in service to customers by:

• Assisting and guiding land use and development to promote long-term goals and objectives that render safe, beneficial, and more sustainable communities

• Providing orderly administration and compliance of building codes, as mandated by the various levels of government, to ensure the construction of buildings, homes, and structures meet intended life safety and structural requirements

• Investigating and resolving citizen complaints of municipal code violations on private property in order to promote, maintain, and improve quality of life issues that better allow for safe and harmonious conditions in all neighborhoods.

The Department is seeking applicants who are committed to understanding, executing, and improving the customer experience to best achieve the above goals and objectives. This includes providing excellent service and guidance to residents, property and business owners, developers, and other stakeholders throughout the planning, building, and code enforcement processes. Strong communication and interpersonal skills are essential, as the department values building positive relationships and fostering collaboration with other departments, agencies, and the community. Additionally, applicants who possess a strong knowledge of planning principles, building codes, and/or regulatory requirements will be highly valued, as they will play a key role in ensuring compliance and promoting healthy, safe, and sustainable development practices.

About the Division

This City’s Building Division provides oversight and assistance towards the City's growth and development in relation to construction activity on private property within the City. The goal is to ensure the safety of buildings and to support the health and wellbeing of all persons living and working in San Jose through the implementation of the State of California’s current building codes and laws.  

The Division is seeking applicants for the Associate Engineer classification within the Building Plan Review section. This is a full-time position and plays a crucial role in ensuring that new construction and renovation projects comply with applicable laws, codes, and standards through a rigorous plan review process. Their responsibilities span technical analysis, advisory services, and coordination with multiple stakeholders. 

The Building Division is divided into the following four sections:

• Permit Center: Plan intake and routing to plan review and Development Services Partners, over the counter permit processing, permit issuance, addressing, assistance desk/public information, ADU Ally, and Small Business Ally.
• Plan Review: Review of private development project plans and calculations for compliance with the California Building Codes and state laws, coordination with Development Services partners, expedited review, and coordinated review.  
• Inspection: Inspects active private construction projects for compliance with the approved plans and adopted building codes and state laws.
• Support Services: Development Services call center, document imaging, records requests, and general support for the building division.  

Examples of duties

The Planning, Building and Code Enforcement Department is currently seeking to fill one full-time Associate Engineer vacancy in the Building Division. 

The salary range for the Associate Engineer classification is $135,975.84 - $172,099.20. 
This salary range includes an approximate five percent (5%) ongoing non-pensionable compensation. Actual salary shall be determined by the final candidates’ qualifications and experience.

The Division is committed to developing, maintaining, and continually improving the quality of services and the customer experience with the goals mentioned above and the successful applicant will recognize and value these goals and qualities while striving to achieve the objectives and tasks of the classification as listed below.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Advising professional engineers, architects and others concerning code requirements, engineering and planning problems arising in the preliminary design of buildings and structures.
• Examining plans, calculations and specifications for residential, multi-family, commercial and industrial buildings, including complex major structures for structural adequacy and general compliance with governing laws, codes, ordinances and regulations.
• Making independent engineering analyses on proposed buildings when required to justify the structural safety of design, and applicable electrical and mechanical systems.
• Working closely with and giving information to professional engineers, architects, contractors and the general public regarding building, zoning and general requirements concerning buildings and structures.
• Coordinating effectively with Development Service partners e.g. Planning, Fire Prevention, Public Works, Environmental Services for plan review consistency and streamlining permit process.
• Advising building inspectors on structural, fire and life-safety challenges arising in the field during the construction of a building project.
• Instructing inspectors and technicians in the review of simple building plans.
• Performing observational review of critical structural elements of the projects under construction.

Qualifications

Education: A Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university in Architectural, Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, or a closely related field (e.g. Construction Management). An EIT certificate is not acceptable as replacement for the required Bachelor’s degree.

Experience: Associate Engineers working in the Building Division as plan reviewers must have four (4) years of progressively responsible experience in professional civil engineering work such as, Structural Engineering or Architectural Engineering with at least two (2) years of experience in design and construction of buildings.

Acceptable Substitutions: A Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in the required professional engineering discipline may be substituted for one (1) year of professional engineering experience.

Certifications:

• Registration as a Civil Engineer or Architect with the State of California is preferred.
• Possession of International Code Council Plans Examiner certification is preferred.
• Ability to obtain Plans Examiner Certification through International Code Council within the first 6 months after hired. 
• Possession of a valid State of California driver's license is required.

Form 700 requirement

This position is designated under the City’s Conflict of Interest Code and/or California Government Code Section 87200 and requires disclosure of certain financial interests through the Statement of Economic Interests (Form 700). Upon hire and annually each spring, the incumbent must also file the Family Gift Reporting Form with Form 700, as required by the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC).

Supplemental information

The ideal candidate will possess the following competencies, as demonstrated in past and current employment history:

Job Expertise

Demonstrates knowledge of and experience with applicable professional/technical principles and practices, Citywide and departmental procedures/policies and federal and state rules and regulations.

Analytical Thinking

Approaching a problem or situation by using a logical, systematic, sequential approach

Decision Making

Identifies and understands issues, problems, and opportunities; uses effective approaches for choosing a course of action or developing appropriate solutions.

Planning

Acts to align own unit's goals with the strategic direction of the organization; defines tasks and milestones to achieve objectives, while ensuring the optimal use of resources to meet those objectives.

Problem Solving

Approaches a situation or problem by defining the problem or issue; determines the significance of problem(s); collects information; uses logic and intuition to arrive at decisions or solutions to problems that achieve the desired outcome.

Project Management

Ensures support for projects and implements agency goals and strategic objectives.

Teamwork & Interpersonal Skills

Develops effective relationships with coworkers and supervisors by helping others accomplish tasks and using collaboration and conflict resolution skills.

Communication Skills

Communicates and listens effectively and responds in an timely, effective, positive and respectful manner; written reports and correspondence are accurate, complete, well- organized, legible, concise, and in proper grammatical form; responds to statements and comments of others in a way that reflects understanding of the content and the accompanying emotion; asks clarifying questions to assure understanding of what the speaker intended, ensures consistent communication takes place within area of responsibility.

Selection Process: 

The selection process will consist of an evaluation of the applicant's training and experience based on the application and responses to all the job specific questions. Only those candidates whose backgrounds best match the position will be invited to proceed in the selection process. Additional phases of the selection process will consist of one or more interviews.

If you have questions about the duties of these positions, the selection or hiring processes, please contact Quynh Doan at Quynh.Doan@sanjoseca.gov.