City of San Marcos, CA
Salary : $130,415.68 - $195,687.30 Annually
Location : 1 Civic Center Drive San Marcos, CA
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 2025 - 58
Department: Development Services
Opening Date: 08/01/2025
Closing Date: Continuous
FLSA: Exempt
SUMMARY DESCRIPTION
The City of San Marcos is recruiting for a qualified Principal Civil Engineer to lead the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Engineering Division of the Development Services Department
Historically one of the fastest growing cities in San Diego County, this is an exciting time to be a part of the City of San Marcos. San Marcos is purposefully shaping its emerging community, and as Principal Civil Engineer in the Capital Improvement Program, you will help guide that legacy.
Hiring Incentive: San Marcos offers competitive benefits, including a $10,000 Hiring Incentive for the Principal Civil Engineer, payable to new recruits joining the City upon successful completion of a satisfactory 6-month performance evaluation.
Your Day-to-Day
In running the City's program of capital projects, you will be leading San Marcos into a new phase of its evolution. We are committed to creating and maintaining excellent infrastructure, and with the passage of Measure Q, new and exciting projects are on the horizon. Enjoy a supportive environment where management, City Council, and the community support the development of crucial infrastructure and your valuable contributions to the future vision of the City.
Your work will help to:
Bring your expertise in design, planning, and development of projects. You'll be the point person ensuring the City's infrastructure is something the community is proud of. . You will be a leader in solution-driven and customer service-oriented culture within your team and throughout the organization.
The Ri ght Perks
Chat with Us
Think you might be interested? Would you like to learn more about this position?
Call, email, or join us for coffee at a time that works for you. San Marcos is a great place to be, and we'd love to tell you more about it. We're happy to discuss any questions or interest you may have, so please reach out and schedule a time to talk with our team:
Learn more about the culture and team at San Marcos by watching thisvideo
RECRUITMENT TIMELINE:
APPLICATION PERIOD
Applications accepted beginning August 1, 2025
OPEN UNTIL FILLED This recruitment will accept applications on a continuous basis and will be open until filled.
FIRST APPLICATION REVIEW The first review of applications will be held on the week of September 12, 2025. Selected candidates will be contacted when the first interview date has been established.
FIRST INTERVIEWS TBDSECOND INTERVIEWS TBD
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:
Education/Training
A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in civil engineering or a related field.
Experience
Six years of increasingly responsible, professional civil engineering experience, including two years of project management, administrative, and/or supervisory responsibility.
LICENSE OR CERTIFICATE
Possession of a valid California Certificate of Registration as a Professional Civil Engineer is required. Registration in a state other than California may be considered where reciprocity exists or registration within the state may be achieved within 12 months of employment.
Possession of an appropriate, valid driver's license with satisfactory driving record
Holidays - The City observes fourteen (14) paid holidays that include eleven (11) specifically designated days and three (3) floating holidays.
Vacation Leave - A new employee will accrue eighty (80) hours of vacation per calendar year for the first two years of service, one hundred, twenty (120) hours for years three through five, one hundred, sixty (160) hours for years six through ten and two hundred (200) hours after eleven years. Vacation accrual begins immediately; however, a new employee is not eligible to take vacation leave until the completion of six (6) months of service with the City.
Sick Leave - A new employee will earn ninety-six (96) hours of sick leave each year.
Bereavement Leave - Employees are eligible to use up to 40 hours of bereavement leave per fiscal year.
Executive Leave - As a "Management Exempt" At Will employee, you will receive forty (40) hours of Executive Leave per fiscal year. This leave cannot roll over, has no cash value, and any leave not used by June 30th of each year will be lost.
Group Health Insurance Program - A new employee will become a member of one of the City's group health plans (Aetna HMO, Aetna AWH HMO, Aetna PPO, or Kaiser HMO) effective the first day of the month following their date of hire. The City will pay 90% of the health care premium and employees will pick up 10% of the premiums of the plan they select.
Voluntary Dental/Vision Insurance Programs - The City offers two voluntary dental insurance programs, an HMO program and a PPO Program, as well as a voluntary vision insurance program.
Section 125 Flexible Spending Account - All employees are eligible to participate in the City's Section 125 Flexible Spending Account plan administered by Benefit Coordinators Corporation (BCC). This is an IRS-approved plan which enables you to have withheld from your paycheck an amount to cover eligible dependent care, and certain eligible medical expenses without being subject to federal income or social security tax on the income used to pay for these benefits.
Retirement - The City participates in both the Social Security (FICA) and the California Public Employees' Retirement Systems (CalPERS). The City currently contracts with CalPERS for the 2% at 55 benefit formula, Post-Retirement Survivor Allowance, and 3 year average final pay for CLASSIC members and 2% at 62, Post-Retirement Survivor Allowance, and 3 year average final pay for PEPRA (new) members. Employees will contribute 7% or 6.5% towards CalPERS, depending whether a classic or new member.
Retiree Health Savings (RHS) - All employees participate in a Retiree Health Savings plan through the ICMA Retirement Corporation.
Deferred Compensation Employer Match Program - The City offers a Deferred Compensation Employer Match Program, matching employee contributions up to 2%
Additional Benefits - The City offers additional benefits such as short and long-term disability, group life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, employee benefit allocation program and workers' compensation insurance.
01
The following educational requirement is applicable to this position: A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in Civil Engineering or a related field is required. Do you meet this verifiable requirement at time of application?
02
The following licensure requirement is applicable to this position: Possession of a valid California Certificate of registration as a Professional Civil Engineer is required. Do you meet this verifiable requirement at time of application?
03
The experience requirement for this positions includes: Six years of increasingly responsible, professional civil engineering experience, including two years of project management, administrative, and/or supervisory responsibility. Do you meet this verifiable requirement at time of application?
04
Describe your experience managing public works. Please discuss your role and responsibilities in detail.
05
Describe your experience working on federally funded projects.
06
Describe a program of projects and what you believe would be the most important part of managing them?
Required Question
Location : 1 Civic Center Drive San Marcos, CA
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 2025 - 58
Department: Development Services
Opening Date: 08/01/2025
Closing Date: Continuous
FLSA: Exempt
SUMMARY DESCRIPTION
The City of San Marcos is recruiting for a qualified Principal Civil Engineer to lead the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Engineering Division of the Development Services Department
Historically one of the fastest growing cities in San Diego County, this is an exciting time to be a part of the City of San Marcos. San Marcos is purposefully shaping its emerging community, and as Principal Civil Engineer in the Capital Improvement Program, you will help guide that legacy.
Hiring Incentive: San Marcos offers competitive benefits, including a $10,000 Hiring Incentive for the Principal Civil Engineer, payable to new recruits joining the City upon successful completion of a satisfactory 6-month performance evaluation.
Your Day-to-Day
- Lead a team of strong engineers
- Run a $200M+ capital program
- Manage your own projects
- Plan the delivery of new infrastructure
- Strategize on new ways to deliver projects
- Lend your expertise to solving problems
In running the City's program of capital projects, you will be leading San Marcos into a new phase of its evolution. We are committed to creating and maintaining excellent infrastructure, and with the passage of Measure Q, new and exciting projects are on the horizon. Enjoy a supportive environment where management, City Council, and the community support the development of crucial infrastructure and your valuable contributions to the future vision of the City.
Your work will help to:
- Build a New Fire Station
- Develop award winning parks
- Maintain the City's strong financial position
- Keep transportation moving
- Build many other City facilities
Bring your expertise in design, planning, and development of projects. You'll be the point person ensuring the City's infrastructure is something the community is proud of. . You will be a leader in solution-driven and customer service-oriented culture within your team and throughout the organization.
The Ri ght Perks
- Earn a competitive salary
- Our 9/80 work week means you'll have every other Friday off
- Eligible for the City's remote work policy
- Gain generous health benefits (all medical premiums employer paid at 90%)
- Enjoy ample time off (14 paid holidays, vacation and executive leave)
- Participate in the CalPERS retirement system (Classic members 2% @ 55, PEPRA members 2% @ 62) and Social Security
Chat with Us
Think you might be interested? Would you like to learn more about this position?
Call, email, or join us for coffee at a time that works for you. San Marcos is a great place to be, and we'd love to tell you more about it. We're happy to discuss any questions or interest you may have, so please reach out and schedule a time to talk with our team:
Learn more about the culture and team at San Marcos by watching thisvideo
RECRUITMENT TIMELINE:
APPLICATION PERIOD
Applications accepted beginning August 1, 2025
OPEN UNTIL FILLED This recruitment will accept applications on a continuous basis and will be open until filled.
FIRST APPLICATION REVIEW The first review of applications will be held on the week of September 12, 2025. Selected candidates will be contacted when the first interview date has been established.
FIRST INTERVIEWS TBDSECOND INTERVIEWS TBD
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:
Education/Training
A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in civil engineering or a related field.
Experience
Six years of increasingly responsible, professional civil engineering experience, including two years of project management, administrative, and/or supervisory responsibility.
LICENSE OR CERTIFICATE
Possession of a valid California Certificate of Registration as a Professional Civil Engineer is required. Registration in a state other than California may be considered where reciprocity exists or registration within the state may be achieved within 12 months of employment.
Possession of an appropriate, valid driver's license with satisfactory driving record
Holidays - The City observes fourteen (14) paid holidays that include eleven (11) specifically designated days and three (3) floating holidays.
Vacation Leave - A new employee will accrue eighty (80) hours of vacation per calendar year for the first two years of service, one hundred, twenty (120) hours for years three through five, one hundred, sixty (160) hours for years six through ten and two hundred (200) hours after eleven years. Vacation accrual begins immediately; however, a new employee is not eligible to take vacation leave until the completion of six (6) months of service with the City.
Sick Leave - A new employee will earn ninety-six (96) hours of sick leave each year.
Bereavement Leave - Employees are eligible to use up to 40 hours of bereavement leave per fiscal year.
Executive Leave - As a "Management Exempt" At Will employee, you will receive forty (40) hours of Executive Leave per fiscal year. This leave cannot roll over, has no cash value, and any leave not used by June 30th of each year will be lost.
Group Health Insurance Program - A new employee will become a member of one of the City's group health plans (Aetna HMO, Aetna AWH HMO, Aetna PPO, or Kaiser HMO) effective the first day of the month following their date of hire. The City will pay 90% of the health care premium and employees will pick up 10% of the premiums of the plan they select.
Voluntary Dental/Vision Insurance Programs - The City offers two voluntary dental insurance programs, an HMO program and a PPO Program, as well as a voluntary vision insurance program.
Section 125 Flexible Spending Account - All employees are eligible to participate in the City's Section 125 Flexible Spending Account plan administered by Benefit Coordinators Corporation (BCC). This is an IRS-approved plan which enables you to have withheld from your paycheck an amount to cover eligible dependent care, and certain eligible medical expenses without being subject to federal income or social security tax on the income used to pay for these benefits.
Retirement - The City participates in both the Social Security (FICA) and the California Public Employees' Retirement Systems (CalPERS). The City currently contracts with CalPERS for the 2% at 55 benefit formula, Post-Retirement Survivor Allowance, and 3 year average final pay for CLASSIC members and 2% at 62, Post-Retirement Survivor Allowance, and 3 year average final pay for PEPRA (new) members. Employees will contribute 7% or 6.5% towards CalPERS, depending whether a classic or new member.
Retiree Health Savings (RHS) - All employees participate in a Retiree Health Savings plan through the ICMA Retirement Corporation.
Deferred Compensation Employer Match Program - The City offers a Deferred Compensation Employer Match Program, matching employee contributions up to 2%
Additional Benefits - The City offers additional benefits such as short and long-term disability, group life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, employee benefit allocation program and workers' compensation insurance.
01
The following educational requirement is applicable to this position: A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in Civil Engineering or a related field is required. Do you meet this verifiable requirement at time of application?
- Yes
- No
02
The following licensure requirement is applicable to this position: Possession of a valid California Certificate of registration as a Professional Civil Engineer is required. Do you meet this verifiable requirement at time of application?
- Yes
- No
03
The experience requirement for this positions includes: Six years of increasingly responsible, professional civil engineering experience, including two years of project management, administrative, and/or supervisory responsibility. Do you meet this verifiable requirement at time of application?
- Yes
- No
04
Describe your experience managing public works. Please discuss your role and responsibilities in detail.
05
Describe your experience working on federally funded projects.
06
Describe a program of projects and what you believe would be the most important part of managing them?
Required Question