Position Summary
The Senior Engineer, Asset Management at San Jose Water Company plays a pivotal role in advancing the Company’s enterprise-wide Asset Management Program. Reporting to the Engineering Unit Manager, Asset Management, this position is responsible for leading technical analyses, developing asset management plans, and supporting the optimization of work execution and infrastructure reliability. The Senior Engineer applies advanced engineering judgment to evaluate asset performance, guide maintenance strategies, and contribute to the long-term sustainability of the Company’s water distribution infrastructure. This position collaborates with internal stakeholders, provides critical input on data-driven decision-making, and ensures alignment with organizational objectives and regulatory requirements. While this is not a supervisory role, the Senior Engineer is expected to mentor junior staff and lead technical workstreams that support San Jose Water’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP) and Operational Excellence initiatives.
Specific Responsibilities
•Promote a safety culture by modeling safe practices and ensuring compliance with company policies, OSHA regulations, and applicable safety standards.
•Lead or significantly contribute to the development and implementation of asset management plans, including risk-based capital replacement recommendations and O&M strategies focused on optimizing asset performance, lifecycle cost, and service reliability.
•Prepare asset condition assessments, performance evaluations, and engineering analyses to inform capital planning, maintenance prioritization, and operational decision-making.
•Serve as a technical lead in reliability engineering efforts aimed at improving asset design, maintenance practices, and field safety while reducing O&M costs.
•Conduct field investigations, failure analyses, and root cause evaluations to support continuous improvement and risk mitigation strategies.
•Contribute key business requirements and technical feedback to EAM system owners regarding asset data governance, process enhancements, and system usability.
•Facilitate updates to workflows and business processes that enhance asset tracking, work execution efficiency, and cross-departmental coordination.
•Support change management initiatives to increase adoption of asset management best practices, standard operating procedures, and technology solutions.
•Prepare technical reports, analyses, and documentation for use in capital planning, regulatory filings, and internal reporting.
•Identify opportunities for continuous improvement in planning workflows, tools, and documentation, incorporating industry best practices and new technologies.
•Provide technical mentorship and guidance to junior engineers and analysts, supporting skill development and fostering a collaborative team environment.
Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
•Strong technical knowledge of asset management principles, reliability engineering practices, and work execution optimization for water utility infrastructure.
•Proficiency in conducting asset condition assessments, performance evaluations, and risk-based maintenance planning.
•Strong grasp of EAM systems, CMMS platforms, and GIS integration, with the ability to provide informed business feedback.
•Working knowledge of regulatory frameworks relevant to investor-owned water utilities, including CPUC oversight and asset-related compliance requirements.
•Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills with the ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines.
•Effective communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to write clear technical reports and engage diverse stakeholders.
•Ability to work independently while coordinating cross-functional teams and leading technical initiatives.
Required Education and Experience
•Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering or a related field from an accredited institution.
•Valid California State Registration as a Professional Civil Engineer.
•Minimum of 8 years of progressive engineering experience related to asset management, utility infrastructure, or reliability engineering.
•Recognized certifications in asset management or reliability engineering (e.g., IAM, CMRP, CRL) are preferred.