City Engineer Job Description

A City Engineer keeps a municipality's roads, water systems, and construction projects code-compliant. Sitting within Public Works, this person signs off on subdivision plans against stormwater permitting and traffic-impact standards, while also serving as the jurisdiction's designated traffic authority who sets signal placement, speed limits, and parking restrictions on every public street. Budget season and grant cycles compete for attention. The role rewards engineers who can move fluidly between technical plan review and public accountability before elected commissions and community boards.

As the City Engineer, the incumbent owns construction plan review and traffic-safety determinations, keeping municipal infrastructure projects compliant with stormwater and traffic-control standards while staying on schedule. Supervising engineering-division staff and reporting to public works leadership, the position partners with city commissions and outside regulatory agencies on long-term capital planning decisions.

Career Impact: Leading grant-funded capital projects and construction-cost estimates builds the budget-management track record municipal governments look for in senior civil engineers.

Business Impact: Traffic-safety determinations, from signal placement to speed limits, directly reduce roadway incidents across the jurisdiction's public street network.

Growth Opportunity: Managing multi-disciplinary design teams and capital improvement programs opens a path toward public works director and department-head roles.

• Lead construction plan review and inspection oversight to ensure adherence to approved specifications.
• Direct traffic-safety determinations, including signal placement and speed limits, to reduce roadway risk.
• Review subdivision plans against stormwater, utility, and traffic-impact standards before approval.
• Coordinate capital improvement budgets and grant applications to fund infrastructure projects.
• Supervise engineering-division staff and design teams across active construction projects.
• Partner with city commissions and outside agencies on long-term infrastructure planning.
• Mentor junior engineers and evaluate staff performance on a routine basis.
• Prepare technical reports on engineering matters for public and commission record.

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering or equivalent work experience.
• Five or more years of civil engineering experience, with supervisory or project-management experience preferred.
• Working knowledge of traffic-control device standards and stormwater permitting requirements.
• Ability to prepare clear, comprehensive technical reports for engineering audiences.
• Ability to manage multi-disciplinary teams and external stakeholder relationships.
• Valid driver's license.
• Ability to inspect construction and infrastructure sites, including remote or difficult-access locations.

• Professional civil engineering licensure or eligibility for registration.
• Experience applying for grants and federal infrastructure funding.
• Proficiency with project management and office productivity software.

• Construction-inspection compliance rate, percentage of projects meeting approved specifications.
• Traffic-incident rate at signalized intersections under this role's jurisdiction.
• Capital project budget variance, percentage over or under the approved budget.
• Permit and subdivision-plan review turnaround time, in business days.
• Grant funding secured annually, in dollars.

• Base Salary Range: $85,000 to $125,000 per year.
• Bonus: Rare in public-sector roles; occasional merit increases.
• Equity: Not applicable in government employment.
• Health Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision coverage, typically employer-subsidized.
• PTO: Generous vacation, sick leave, and public holidays, often 3-4 weeks.
• Common Perks: Pension plan, tuition reimbursement, professional licensure support.

Figures are estimates based on general US market benchmarks and may be outdated. Adjust based on location, company size, and seniority level.

Employment with the City is contingent upon successful completion of a background check, and all applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. Reasonable accommodations are available for qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. All qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or other characteristics protected under applicable federal, state, and local law.

The City Engineer owns oversight of construction plans, specifications, and subdivision reviews while serving as traffic engineer on signal and parking matters. Reporting to city leadership, the City Engineer supervises the Engineering Division and collaborates with other departments to keep infrastructure projects safe and compliant.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare and provide oversight and review of plans and specifications for construction and other engineering-related projects, including professional engineering services contracts.
• Supervise inspection of all construction work for adherence to plans and specifications.
• Collaborate and work closely with other departments on projects or initiatives.
• Investigate, study, and render reports and recommendations as a traffic engineer on matters about traffic and parking, including the location of traffic signals, stop signs, speed limits, pavement markings, traffic noise, parking locations and restrictions, truck exclusions, and other related matters.
• Plan and supervise the work of subordinates in the Engineering Division.
• Review subdivision plans in accordance with established requirements for utilities, street design, traffic impact, stormwater management, and related matters.
• Maintain and control engineering plans and related records.
• Attend meetings outside normal work hours and serve on boards, committees, and commissions as required.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from an accredited program.
• Professional civil engineering license desirable but not required.
• Minimum of five years of experience in civil engineering, traffic engineering, office work, and/or construction project management.
• At least two years at a supervisory, project engineer, or managing engineer level.
• Working knowledge of national traffic control device standards and state amendments, EPA National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permitting, and state complete streets program requirements.
• Familiarity with construction methods and materials for street and sidewalk design and construction, as well as water, sewer, and storm drain system design and construction.
• Ability to prepare clear, concise, and comprehensive reports on a variety of engineering-related subjects.
• Ability to visit and inspect project sites on roadways, sidewalks, parks, conservation lands, and water resource locations, including remote and difficult-access locations such as pits, vaults, water storage tanks, watershed reservoirs, culverts, bridges, dams, and off-road trails.

Embedded within the Public Works Department, the City Engineer leads engineering policy development, capital project budgeting, and permit review for construction and building projects across the city. Working closely with department heads, city commissioners, governmental agencies, and community groups, the City Engineer trains and mentors staff, advises on contract awards, and helps secure grant and federal funding to support municipal public works initiatives.

Core Functions

• Develop department policies and plans.
• Organize, direct, and coordinate related engineering activities.
• Confer with department heads and represent engineering matters in meetings with governmental agencies, private firms, and the general public, providing technical advice.
• Prepare department and project budgets annually, along with construction cost estimates, and solicit contractor bids while advising on contract awards.
• Assist in applying for grants and federal funds.
• Train, mentor, and evaluate department staff on a routine basis.
• Attend Commission meetings to report information for the public record and respond to Commissioners' requests as required.
• Participate on city and community committees and attend a variety of related meetings.
• Work closely with other departments, community groups, and agencies on projects and initiatives.
• Supervise and administer public works improvements.
• Prepare and update city maps.
• Permit and review construction and building permits for compliance with codes, regulations, and standards.
• Provide project management for municipal public works construction, including administering excavation and sidewalk permits.
• Supervise, direct, and coordinate public works projects with contractors, utility companies, developers, and other departments.
• Provide preliminary and construction surveys and review survey plats and consulting firm plans and specifications for developments.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from a college or university.
• Registration or eligibility for registration as a professional engineer.
• Five years of progressively responsible experience in civil engineering, including two years in a supervisory or administrative capacity.
• Thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of civil engineering as applied to the development and construction of municipal public works projects.
• Considerable knowledge of the laws and ordinances relating to public engineering practices.
• Working knowledge of public works administration.
• Ability to plan, organize, supervise, and evaluate the work of others.
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees and the public.
• Valid driver's license or ability to obtain one within thirty days.

Reporting to senior engineering managers, the City Engineer builds and manages public works capital improvement projects from concept through construction and start-up. Partnering with client leadership and design teams, the City Engineer delivers infrastructure design oversight and QA/QC review that keeps capital projects on schedule and within budget.

Primary Duties

• Manage and be responsible for all components of the project from concept development through construction and start-up.
• Develop and manage project scope to deliver projects on time and within budget.
• Coordinate and manage projects with senior leaders and staff.
• Oversee site and infrastructure design per county/city standards, maintaining good communication with the planning/engineering staff of the jurisdiction to minimize future changes and misunderstandings.
• Select and lead the design team that will develop preliminary and final plans and specifications.
• Lead and actively participate in developing public sector requests for proposals for both design and construction.
• Provide QA/QC review of deliverables.
• Manage, supervise, and provide technical leadership for engineering staff and project design team.
• Actively participate in weekly project management meetings.
• Drive a personal vehicle to City offices, job sites, and meetings in various locations.

Skills & Qualifications

• BS in Civil Engineering or equivalent degree.
• Civil Engineer's License (required).
• 20+ years of experience delivering civil engineering public works capital improvement projects.
• Project experience with local and/or state agencies.
• Extensive experience and training in project management for municipal capital improvement projects.
• Knowledge and familiarity with local codes and agency standards.
• Basic understanding of financial reports.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite, including MS Project.
• Solid time management and follow-through skills.
• Proven ability to manage a multi-disciplinary team with a positive, flexible approach.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, including proposal and report writing.
• Valid driver's license.