City engineer, Environmental Engineer

Salary

2026 Salary: $ - $ per year, depending on qualifications and experience

The City Engineer is responsible for planning, designing, managing, and overseeing the City’s public infrastructure and engineering functions. This position provides professional engineering leadership for public works projects, including streets, utilities, drainage, and capital improvement projects, while ensuring compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and engineering standards. The City Engineer works closely with City leadership, departments, consultants, contractors, and the public to deliver safe, efficient, and cost-effective infrastructure that supports the community’s needs.

• Provide overall leadership and management of the Engineering Department, including planning, directing, and evaluating all engineering services and activities.
• Develop and implement departmental goals, policies, procedures, and priorities in alignment with City objectives and regulatory requirements.
• Plan, administer, and oversee the department budget; forecast staffing, equipment, and project funding needs; approve expenditures and implement necessary budget adjustments.
• Direct the planning, design, construction, and maintenance oversight of City infrastructure within public rights-of-way, ensuring compliance with engineering standards, codes, and budget constraints.
• Perform and oversee professional civil engineering work, including review and approval of plans, plats, specifications, and related documents; ensure compliance with applicable ordinances and regulations.
• Supervise, train, motivate, and evaluate department personnel; address performance issues and implement corrective or disciplinary action as necessary.
• Evaluate departmental operations, staffing, and engineering methods to improve efficiency, effectiveness, and service delivery.
• Review and oversee the work of consultants, contractors, and other outside professionals providing design and construction services.
• Coordinate engineering activities with other City departments, governmental agencies, utilities, developers, and external organizations.
• Represent the Engineering Department before the City Manager, Mayor, City Council, boards, and community groups; prepare reports, recommendations, and technical documentation as required.
• Respond to and resolve complex or sensitive citizen inquiries, complaints, and development-related concerns.
• Develop and administer grants and external funding sources; oversee required reporting and compliance.
• Coordinate land acquisition processes related to public infrastructure projects.
• Direct engineering operations during local emergency and disaster situations as required.
• Serve as the City Engineer as defined by South Dakota Codified Law and applicable City ordinances.
• Stay current on developments, regulations, and best practices in municipal engineering.
• Administer the City’s Floodplain Management program by ensuring compliance with the City’s Floodplain ordinance.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

• Familiarity with public works management principles.
• Knowledge of civil engineering principles and practices.
• Knowledge of floodplain management principles and practices.
• Knowledge of budgeting and accounting principles.
• Knowledge of city procurement processes.
• Knowledge of grant management principles.
• Knowledge of relevant federal and state laws, city ordinances, and department policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of Incident Command System procedures and operation.
• Knowledge of computers and job-related software programs.
• Skill in management and supervision.
• Skill in preparing and interpreting engineering reports and technical specifications.
• Skill in problem solving.
• Skill in prioritizing and planning.
• Skill in interpersonal relations.

The City Manager assigns work in terms of department goals and objectives. The supervisor reviews work through conferences, reports, and observation of department activities.

Guidelines include South Dakota codified law, city ordinances, city personnel policies, national engineering guidelines and standards, Department of…