Senior Engineer

Join the City of Chattanooga Team

Chattanooga, a vibrant and growing community of over 190,000 residents within a metropolitan area of nearly 600,000 is known as the "Scenic City" for a reason. Nestled along the Tennessee River and surrounded by the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, we are a hub of outdoor adventure and innovation. Home to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) and Chattanooga State Community College, our city blends a rich industrial history with a tech-forward future—famously powered by the nation’s first community-wide "Gig" fiber-optic network.​  The City of Chattanooga was also recently designated as a "National Park City,” the first of its kind in the United States.  

Our Organization

As a City, we are powered by a dedicated workforce of approximately ​2,600 employees committed to excellence in public service and making Chattanooga the best community in the country. Our team ensures our city thrives through a wide range of municipal services, including:

• Public Safety: Chattanooga Police and Fire Departments.
• Infrastructure & Utilities: Public Works, Waste Resources, and specialized Stormwater management.
• Quality of Life: Award-winning Parks and Outdoors and Community Development systems and the Chattanooga Public Library.
• Transportation: The Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (CHA) and citywide transit and pedestrian friendly initiatives.
• Innovation: Leading-edge  smart-city programs with a commitment to cutting edge workforce development policies to ensure all our residents can get ahead.

Why Choose Chattanooga?

The City of Chattanooga’s workforce is the heartbeat of our community. We don't just offer jobs; we offer careers with purpose: making Chattanooga the best city in America. We are committed to being the premier employer of choice in Southeast Tennessee by providing:

• Competitive Compensation: Robust pay scales that reflect our commitment to our staff.
• Work-Life Balance: Generous paid time off and flexible scheduling where possible.
• Exceptional Wellness: Comprehensive health benefits and wellness programs designed for you and your family that deliver savings to you beyond your paycheck, featuring a centralized health clinic and pharmacy for all City employees. .
• Growth: A focus on professional development and upward mobility within the organization.
• ​The Great Outdoors: Your Backyard Playground:  Chattanooga isn't just near nature, it's immersed in it.  As one of the most biodiverse cities in North America, the "Scenic City" offers an ecological richness that few places on earth can claim.  Whether you are an adrenaline junkie or a weekend wanderer, world-class adventure is always less than an hour away.
• ​Vertical Adventures: Scale legendary sandstone cliffs in what is widely considered the premier rock climbing hub of the Southeast.
• Water & Rapids: From the high-octane whitewater kayaking of the Ocoee River to world-class bass fishing and peaceful paddling on the Tennessee River.
• Trails for Miles: Explore a massive network of mountain biking and hiking trails that wind through lush ridges, hidden waterfalls, and deep river gorges.

In Chattanooga, "work-life balance" means you can finish your shift and be at a trailhead or on the water before the sun sets.

Our mission is to work together to build a safe, vibrant, and sustainable city for all Chattanoogans. To do that, it takes a team of skilled and passionate individuals. So, if you’d like to call Chattanooga home – or maybe you already do! – and want to further your career through meaningful work that makes a true impact where you live, we’d love to talk to you.

Salary: $80,321- $96,386 annually (WWFG.12)

Work Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 A.M. - 4:30 P.M. (EST)
*Hours may vary due to work assignments or projects.*

Work Location: 455 Moccasin Bend, Chattanooga, TN

FLSA Status: This is an Exempt position.

Department: Wastewater- Engineering

CLASSIFICATION SUMMARY:

Incumbents in this classification are responsible for providing technical guidance in the design and development of construction plans and documents, as well as solutions to complex engineering problems. Technical expertise of the following engineering specializations is required: Hydraulic Engineering including both sanitary and stormwater systems. Work requires limited supervision and the use of independent judgment and discretion.

SERIES LEVEL:   The Senior Engineer is a stand-alone classification.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
(The following duties ARE NOT intended to serve as a comprehensive list of all duties performed by all employees in this classification, only a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional, position-specific duties.)

• May design complex atypical civil engineering projects for wastewater engineering, ensuring compliance with all applicable codes, laws and regulations, standards, policies and procedures. Wastewater engineering projects include, but are not limited to: drainage design, design and analysis of sanitary sewer collection systems, design and analysis of grinder pumps and STEP systems, design and analysis of pump stations, and any associated document preparation.
• May serve as a project manager for some projects, coordinating and scheduling meetings related to engineering projects, participating in construction progress meetings with contractors, architects, engineers, and other applicable parties, reviewing and approving material submittals, requests for information, and pay applications, and preforming other duties related general project management as needed.
• May respond to requests for information and complaints from the general public; contractors, and developers, and elevates issues to appropriate personnel when appropriate.
• Process a variety of documentation associated with departmental operations, per established procedures, and within designated timeframes; distributes documentation and retains records. Prepare and complete various forms, reports, correspondence, design drawings, preliminary layouts, contract documents, project lists, cost estimates, meeting minutes, work orders, schedules, punch lists or other related documents.
• May consult with outside Architects, Electrical Engineers, Mechanical Engineers, Structural Engineers, and other related experts to determine the best methods to use in repair and reconstruction of City Facilities.
• Prepares documents as needed to procure services from these firms for completion of needed tasks related to these services.
• Makes field visits to: Assess existing conditions and gather information related to the design of infrastructure improvements. Assess needs for collection of field survey data collection related to preparation of construction plans. Monitor construction activities related to infrastructure improvements.
• May mentor, tutor, train, and direct junior engineering staff in current design methods and procedures.
• Activities include, but are not limited to, in-house technical seminars, one-on-one training sessions, technical design assistance, field training, and continual monitoring of procedures and processes to optimize individuals’ performance and technical output quality. 
• Assist with legal proceedings in which Expert Testimony or Technical Representation or Assistance is required by the Office of the City Engineer. These tasks include legal case preparations, courtroom representation as the City of Chattanooga’s Representative, Expert Testimony, and any other necessities associated with legal proceedings.
• May be responsible for reading current technical literature, maintaining professional affiliations, and attending workshops and technical training sessions, when appropriate.
• Assist in the procurement and oversight of professional consulting and/or contracting services, which includes: assembling bid documents, preparing specifications, opening bids, evaluating responses to bids, participating in pre-bid meetings, and performing other related activities.
• Review and evaluate project documents prepared by outside consulting engineers and architects for accuracy and completeness. Reviews related bid documents, specifications, and related documents before bidding.
• Communicate with management staff, other employees, developers, engineers, contractors, and external organizations to coordinate activities.
• May implement construction and contract management of City Capital Projects with responsibility for oversight of schedule and budget.
• Represent the department and/or the City at a variety of meetings, public events, training sessions, on committees, and/or other related events or groups in order to receive and convey information pertaining to City policy, projects or programs.
• May maintain a variety of engineering records and documentation.
• May use carry, and answer their cell phone for business purposes as determined by the assigned job duties and the department head.
• Must meet regular attendance requirements.
• Must be able to maintain good interpersonal relationships with staff, co-workers, managers, and citizens.
• Must accomplish the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodations, in a timely manner.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

DEPARTMENT SPECIFIC DUTIES (if any):   

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: 

Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering (B.S.C.E.) and minimum of eight (8) years previous experience and training that includes computer-aided design of sanitary sewers, stormwater sewers, and related structures.

Requires experience preparing various construction documents for municipal projects and specialization in one or more of the following: Hydraulics and/or Sanitary/Stormwater Systems Design.

LICENSING AND CERTIFICATIONS: 

Professional Engineer License; must be issued in the State of Tennessee
Valid Driver's License

KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS: 

Knowledge of applicable Federal, State, and Local laws, ordinances, codes, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures; engineering design standards; customer service principles; civil engineering design principles; construction principles and practices; materials, tools, and methods involved in the design and construction or repair of roads, highways, and structures; and, land surveying guidelines.

Skill in using a computer and related software applications, such as AutoCAD, Microstation, Eagle Point, ArcView, GIS, Civil Storm or HEC-RAS, spreadsheet, word processing, and presentation software; reading and comprehending a variety of technical plans, drawings, and models; using logic and reasoning to identify strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems; preparing technical documents, preparing and reviewing engineering designs in compliance with applicable standards, interpreting and comprehending applicable laws, ordinances, codes, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures, and
communication and interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with coworkers, supervisor, and the general public, sufficient to exchange or convey information and to receive work direction.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: 

Positions in this class typically require:  reaching, standing, walking, fingering, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing, seeing and repetitive motions.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: 

Light Work: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.  If the use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for Sedentary Work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated for Light Work.

Incumbents may be subjected to fumes, odors, dusts, and extreme temperatures.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

Safety Sensitive: N
Department of Transportation - CDL: N
Child Sensitive: N

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:

This position requires pre-employment screening(s) that include: background check 

The City of Chattanooga, Tennessee is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourage both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

JES 3.27.25

KJF