THIS IS A CITYWIDE EXAM

• Application Opening: July 24, 2026
• Application Filing Deadline: Application filing will be open at least through August 14, 2026 (PDT), and will close any time thereafter
• Recruitment ID: CBT-7341-U00047 / REF60021O

San Francisco is a vibrant and dynamic city, on the forefront of economic growth & innovation, urban development, arts & entertainment, as well as social issues & change. This rich tapestry of culture and ideas is sustained by our City's commitment to heighten the quality of life for the diverse population of San Franciscans and residents of the greater Bay Area. Our employees play an important role not only in making our City what it is today, but also in shaping the future of San Francisco. pathogens 

ABOUT THE WATER ENTERPRISE

The Water Enterprise of the City and County of San Francisco manage our complex regional water supply system featuring reservoirs, tunnels, pipelines, and treatment plants. We serve 2. 7 million Bay Area residential, commercial, and industrial customers with high-quality, great tasting water every day. Our protected watersheds in Tuolumne, Alameda, and San Mateo counties ensure that we deliver safe, reliable water throughout our service area. We are proud to operate one of the most environmentally sustainable systems in the country.

About the Position: The Water Treatment Plant Stationary Engineer operates, maintains, and repairs a wide variety of complex machinery and equipment in a water treatment plant, water distribution system, and/or related facility. The ideal candidate will possess knowledge of the operation and maintenance requirements for a wide variety of water treatment plant/distribution system facilities machinery and equipment, and the tools and equipment necessary for their proper operation, maintenance, and repair. The candidate will have the ability to comprehend orders and communicate clearly in person, by telephone and by radio, will be able to read and comprehend procedures, policies, plan drawings, gauges, meters, populate and maintain records and logs, and develop write-ups for log entries, memos, and related job reports.

Essential duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:

1. Operates and maintains a wide variety of chemical feed equipment, pumping, heating, ventilating, air conditioning, refrigeration, process machinery and radiators. May be required to operate Computerized Building Management Systems or Supervisory Control Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems.

2. Repairs automatic and manually controlled distribution and water treatment equipment including pumps, motors, boilers, compressors, alarm systems, residual chemical analyzers, chemical feeders and filters; may also be responsible for operating a water treatment and distribution facility in a safe and efficient manner without direct supervision.

3. Inspects and tests machinery and equipment including fire prevention equipment for safe, efficient and proper operation by visual and audio inspection during walk-throughs.

4. Makes entries and keeps records on shift operations. Collects, compiles and prepares water quality and operational reports by taking and entering meter and gauge readings, water and laboratory analysis readings and temperatures accurately in writing on operating log sheets.

5. Receives, records and stores large amounts of treatment chemicals and may handle hazardous chemicals such as ozone, fluoride, caustic soda and chlorine in confined or enclosed areas, and must be capable of safely and properly handling chemical spills; may include handling and treatment of hazardous waste.

6. Performs control tests and conducts water quality analysis during all phases of treatment. Includes pH, alkalinity, turbidity, saturation index, flocculation factors, conductivity, chlorine demand, caustic soda, chlorine, fluoride, ozone residuals, taste, odor and color. Calculates and maintains required disinfecting requirements.

7. Communicates verbally with craft, support and supervisory personnel.

8. Responsible for keys, 2-way radios and monitoring plant and buildings and grounds, including public safety.

Minimum Qualifications: Minimum qualifications (MQ) reflect the lowest level of acceptable education and/or experience required of an individual such that the individual reasonably could be expected to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position.  Candidates must meet all the requirements established by the MQs to be considered for the position. 

Education: Completion of a State or Federally recognized four-year Stationary Engineer apprenticeship program; AND

License and Certification:

• Possession of a current valid Grade II Water Treatment Operator Certificate issued by the State of California.
• Possession of a current valid California Driver License.

Substitution:

Any of the following may substitute for the required education:

• Four (4) years journey-level Operator and/or Stationary Engineer experience in the maintenance, repair and operation of a variety of mechanical and electrical pumping and related plant machinery of a water or wastewater treatment plant.
• Four (4) years journey-level experience as a Marine Engineer performing duties in the areas of maintenance, repair and operation of a variety of mechanical and electrical pumping and related machinery.
• Graduation from a recognized four-year Maritime Academy with a degree in Engineering or Technology.

Note: One year of full-time employment is equivalent to 2000 hours. (2000 hours of qualifying work experience is based on a 40-hour work week.) 

Note:

• Positions located at the City Distribution Division will require possession of a current valid Grade II (or higher) Water Distribution Operator Certificate issued by the State of California upon appointment.
• Positions located at the City Distribution Division will require incumbents to obtain and successfully maintain a Grade III Water Distribution Operator Certificate issued by the State of California within 18 months from the date of hire.
• Positions located at the Water Supply and Treatment Division will require incumbents to obtain and successfully maintain a Grade III Water Treatment Operator Certificate issued by the State of California within 18 months from the date of hire.

Work reporting locations for positions with the Water Supply and Treatment Division will be in San Bruno or Sunol. Work reporting location for positions with the City Distribution Division will be in San Francisco.

Some physical effort and use of all senses is required in the operation, repair and maintenance of machinery and equipment including kneeling, crouching, stooping, squatting crawling, climbing, working in various lift equipment and use of fixed and portable ladders up to 75 feet, walking long distances and lifting up to 50 pounds in the performance of important and essential duties. This also includes exposure to working conditions where the performance of duties requires working in confined spaces, damp environments, outdoors in inclement weather, and with chemicals.

DRUG TESTING REQUIREMENT: Applicants for positions in this classification who are not currently employed by the City and County of San Francisco in a safety-sensitive position represented by Local 39 are required to pass pre-employment drug and alcohol testing. All employees in this classification may also be subject to drug and alcohol testing upon reasonable suspicion or after a work-related accident. Applicants with a positive result from a pre-employment drug test will be restricted from hire in safety-sensitive positions for six-months after the date of the positive test.

Upon appointment to Class 7341, employees may be required to take a state mandated respirator and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) medical examination, (renewed annually) and be clean shaven prior to starting each shift for respirator and SCBA use. Employees may be required to pass CPR training annually and first aid training tri-annually.

Applicants must meet the minimum qualification requirement by the final filing date unless otherwise noted. Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed to advance through all of the steps in the selection process.

Every application is reviewed to ensure that you meet the minimum qualifications as listed in the job ad. Please review our articles on Employment Application and Minimum Qualifications and Verification of Experience and/or Education for considerations taken when reviewing applications. 

Verification: Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process. If education verification is required, information on how to verify education requirements, including verifying foreign education credits or degree equivalency, can be found at How to Verify Education Requirements

Experience claimed in self-employment will only be accepted if supported by documents verifying income, earnings, business license and experience comparable to minimum qualifications above. Copies of income tax papers or other documents listing occupation and total earnings must be submitted.

Verification of required valid licensure/certification typically must be a photocopy of the license/certificate including the name of the issuing agency as well as the name of the license/certificate holder, license/certificate number, and expiration date.

Falsifying one's education, training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco.

All work experience, education, training and other information substantiating how you meet the minimum qualifications must be included on your application by the filing deadline. Information submitted after the filing deadline will not be considered in determining whether you meet the minimum qualifications.

Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed City and County of San Francisco application.

Applications completed improperly may be cause for ineligibility, disqualification or may lead to lower scores.

Selection Procedures:
After application submission, candidates deemed qualified must complete all subsequent steps to advance in this selection process, which includes the following: 

Minimum Qualification Supplemental Questionnaire (MQSQ): (Weight: Qualifying) Candidates will be required to complete a MQSQ as part of the employment application at a later time. This MQSQ is designed to obtain specific information regarding an applicant's experience in relation to the Minimum Qualifications (MQ) for this position. The MQSQ will be used to evaluate if the applicant possesses the required minimum qualifications.

Behavioral Consistency Questionnaire (BCQ) Evaluation (Weight:100%):

Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will be sent a Behavioral Consistency Questionnaire (BCQ) Examination via electronic mail after the closing of this filing period. The BCQ Exam is designed to measure the knowledge, skills and/or abilities in job-related areas required for the position.  Applicants will be given a deadline to return the BCQ Exam. Those who do not respond by the established deadline will not be eligible to continue in the examination process and will not be added to eligibility list resulting from this process. All applicants’ responses to the BCQ Exam are subject to verification. The BCQ Exam component may include but not be limited to:

• Knowledge of the operation and maintenance requirements of a wide variety of water treatment plant machinery and equipment and the tools and equipment necessary to their proper care  
• Knowledge of applicable safety codes and regulations    
• Ability and Skill to comprehend orders and communicate clearly in person, by telephone and by radio     
• Ability and Skill to read and comprehend procedures, policies, blueprints, gauges, meters, records and logs               

A passing score must be achieved on the BCQ Exam in order to continue in the selection process and be placed on the eligible list. Candidates will be placed on the eligible list in rank order according to their final score. Candidate scores on this examination may also be applied to other announcements involving other job titles, when directed by the Human Resources Director.

The department may administer additional position-specific selection procedures to make final hiring decisions.

Eligible List/Score Report: A confidential eligible list of applicant names that have passed the civil service examination process will be created, and used for certification purposes only. An examination score report will be established, so applicants can view the ranks, final scores and number of eligible candidates. Applicant information, including names of applicants on the eligible list, shall not be made public unless required by law. However, an eligible list shall be made available for public inspection, upon request, once the eligible list is exhausted or expired and referrals resolved. The eligible list/score report resulting from this civil service examination process is subject to change after adoption (e.g., as a result of appeals), as directed by the Human Resources Director or the Civil Service Commission.

The duration of the eligible list resulting from this examination process will be of six (6) months, and may be extended with the approval of the Human Resources Director.

Certification: The certification rule for the eligible list resulting from this examination will be Rule of the List. The hiring department may administer additional position-specific selection procedures prior to making final hiring decisions.

Terms of Announcement and Appeal Rights: Applicants must be guided solely by the provisions of this announcement, including requirements, time periods and other particulars, except when superseded by federal, state or local laws, rules or regulations. [Note: The correction of clerical errors in an announcement may be posted on the Department of Human Resources website at https://careers.sf.gov/] The terms of this announcement may be appealed under Civil Service Rule 110.4. Such appeals must be submitted in writing to the Department of Human Resources, 1 S Van Ness Avenue, 4th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94103-5413 by close of business on the 5th business day following the issuance date of this examination announcement. Information concerning other Civil Service Commission Rules involving announcements, applications and examination policies, including applicant appeal rights, can be found on the Civil Service Commission website at http://sfgov.org/civilservice/rules. 

Additional Information Regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco

• Information About The Hiring Process
• Conviction History
• Employee Benefits Overview  
• Equal Employment Opportunity 
• Disaster Service Worker
• ADA Accommodation
• Veterans Preference
• Right to Work
• Copies of Application Documents
• Diversity Statement

How to Apply:  All job applications for the City and County of San Francisco must be submitted through our online portal. Please visit https://careers.sf.gov/ to begin your application process. 

Computers are available for the public (9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday) to file online applications in the lobby of the Dept. of Human Resources at 1 South Van Ness Avenue, 4th Floor and at the City Career Center at City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 110.

Ensure your application information is accurate, as changes may not be possible after submission. Your first and last name must match your legal ID for verification, and preferred names can be included in parentheses. Use your personal email address, not a shared or work email, to avoid unfixable issues.

Applicants may be contacted by email about this recruitment and, therefore, it is their responsibility to ensure that their registered email address is accurate and kept up-to-date. Also, applicants must ensure that email from CCSF is not blocked on their computer by a spam filter. To prevent blocking, applicants should set up their email to accept CCSF mail from the following addresses (@sfgov.org, @sfdpw.org, @sfport.com, @flysfo.com, @sfwater.org, @sfdph.org, @asianart.org, @sfmta.com, @sfpl.org, @dcyf.org, @first5sf.org, @famsf.org, @ccsf.edu, @smartalerts.info, and @smartrecruiters.com).

Applicants will receive a confirmation email from [email protected] that their online application has been received in response to every announcement for which they file. Applicants should retain this confirmation email for their records. Failure to receive this email means that the online application was not submitted or received.

Recruitment Analyst Information: If you have any questions regarding this recruitment or application process, please contact the analyst, Laurie Gee via email at [email protected].

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.