Associate Engineer

Salary : $115,398.40 - $139,318.40 Annually
Location : City of San Diego, CA
Job Type: Varies by Position
Job Number: MA-T11328-202512
Business Area: 1611 - Development Services
Opening Date: 12/05/2025
Closing Date: 12/15/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

JOB INFORMATION

See NOTE(S) below for additional compensation opportunities.

Associate Engineer - Fire Protection positions perform the more difficult and complex fire protection plan reviews of development projects; perform more complex engineering work in fire prevention and safety; plan and lead the work of professional staff engaged in fire protection plan reviews and engineering work in fire prevention and safety; and perform other duties as assigned.

NOTES:

• Eligible benefitted employees originally hired on or after July 10, 2021, will be automatically enrolled in the San Diego City Employees Retirement System (SDCERS).
• Associate Engineer - Fire Protection employees with valid State of California registration as a Professional Fire Protection Engineer are eligible for 31% additional pay.
• Associate Engineer - Fire Protection employees who do not have a valid State of California Professional Engineer registration but have a valid Engineer-in-Training (EIT) certification that meets the requirements established by California's Department of Consumer Affairs, Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists are eligible for 8% additional pay. The employee's eligibility for EIT certification pay will end when he or she achieves state registration.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

You must meet the following requirements on the date you apply, unless otherwise indicated.

EDUCATION: You must meet ONE of the following options:

1. Bachelor's Degree in Fire Protection Engineering, Fire Protection and Safety Technology, or closely related field.
2. Engineer-in-Training (EIT) Certificate issued from a state licensing board.
3. Registration as a Professional Fire Protection Engineer with a state licensing board.

NOTE:

• Additional qualifying professional fire protection engineering experience may be substituted for education lacked on a year-for-year basis. One year of full-time experience = 30 semester/45 quarter college level units.

EXPERIENCE: Three years of full-time professional-level fire protection engineering experience.

NOTE:

• City of San Diego employees using Out-of-Class Assignment (OCA) experience to qualify must submit written documentation signed by their appointing authority or payroll specialist, detailing the work performed, dates, and total number of qualifying OCA hours. OCA experience without the required documentation will NOT be considered.

LICENSE: A valid California Class C Driver License is required at the time of hire.

HIGHLY DESIRABLE:

• Researching data and establishing fire and building ordinances and/or codes experience.
• Verbal and written communication skills and experience making effective and concise oral presentations.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS (MUST SUBMIT WITH APPLICATION):

• Proof of degree/transcripts, certificate, or registration, if utilized to meet the minimum requirements.
• For City of San Diego employees, proof of Out-of-Class Assignment (OCA), if utilized to meet the minimum requirements.

Required documents should be attached electronically to your application. If you are unable to attach at the time of application submittal, you must submit them as soon as possible via fax: (619) 533-3337; or to the Employment Information Center: City of San Diego Personnel Department, 1200 Third Avenue - Suite 300, San Diego, CA 92101. Include your name and the title of the position for which you are applying.
SCREENING PROCESS

Please ensure all information is complete and accurate as the responses you provide on the supplemental questions will be reviewed using an automated evaluation system. If you are successful in this initial screening process, your application will be reviewed for applicable education, experience, and/or training to ensure all minimum requirements have been met. Successful candidates will be placed on a list which will be used to fill position vacancies during the next six months (180 days). For each vacancy, only those candidates with the most appropriate qualifications will be contacted by the hiring department for an interview.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

PRE-EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS: Employment offers are conditional pending the results of all screening processes applicable to this position, which may include the following: confirmation of citizenship or legal right to work in the United States; completion of a pre-employment medical review and exam (which may include drug and alcohol testing); reference checks; and fingerprinting. Fingerprints will be submitted to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the California Department of Justice for a conviction record report. Certain positions may require additional screening processes, including a polygraph examination and/or background investigation. All screening processes must be successfully completed before employment begins. A positive test result for alcohol, cannabis/marijuana, illegal drugs, or inadequately explained prescription drugs, or misrepresentation, falsification, or omission of pertinent facts in any step of the screening or selection process, may constitute cause for disqualification or termination of employment. Nothing in this job posting constitutes an express or implied contract for employment with the City of San Diego. Candidates must notify the Personnel Department of any change in their name, mailing address, email address, or phone number, otherwise they may miss employment opportunities.
Rev. 3 - December 5, 2025 (New Recruitment Date)
City employees may be eligible to participate in a benefit program including holidays, vacations, savings and retirement plans, health programs, and other benefits.

Eligible City employees initially hired or assuming office on or after July 10, 2021, with the exception of Police Recruits participating in the City's Police Academy, will participate in the City's Defined Benefit Plan administered by the San Diego City Employees' Retirement System (SDCERS).

Benefits may change due to employer-employee contract negotiations.

or review the
01

I understand that failure to respond to the following questions in the spaces provided may result in the rejection of my application. In addition, I may miss out on employment opportunities. Resumes are NOT reviewed for assessing the minimum requirements, qualifications will be determined from the answers provided to the supplemental questions.

• Yes
• No

02

Are you a current or former City of San Diego government/municipal employee?

• Current city employee
• Former city employee
• Current & former city employee
• None of the above

03

If you have previously worked or are currently working for the City of San Diego, please enter your PERNR.
04

The minimum age for this job is 18, unless you are 17 and a high school graduate. Do you meet the minimum age requirements for this job?

• Yes
• No

05

Specify which ONE of the following options you are using to meet the education requirement. NOTE: Attach proof of degree/registration to your application.

• Bachelor's Degree in Fire Protection Engineering, or Fire Protection and Safety Technology
• Bachelor's Degree in a closely related field
• Engineer-in-Training (EIT) Certificate issued from a state licensing board
• Registration as a Professional Fire Protection Engineer with a state licensing board
• None of the above

06

If you are using a combination of experience and education to qualify, which of the following best describes your level of education?

• 0 to 29 semester/44 quarter units
• 30 semester/45 quarter units to 59 semester/89 quarter units
• 60 semester/90 quarter units to 89 semester/134 quarter units
• 90 semester/135 quarter units to 119 semester/179 quarter units
• 120 semester/180 quarter units or more

07

How many years of full-time professional fire protection engineering experience do you have?

• None
• Less than 1 year
• 1 year to less than 2 years
• 2 years to less than 3 years
• 3 years to less than 4 years
• 4 years to less than 5 years
• 5 years to less than 6 years
• 6 years to less than 7 years
• 7 years or more

08

Describe your full-time professional-level fire protection engineering experience. Specify from which employer the experience was gained, your title, level of responsibility, percent of time spent performing the duties, and the total length of your experience. If you do not have any experience in this area, write "None."
Required Question

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