Navigating the transition from military service to a civilian career can be challenging, but the City of San Diego is committed to making it easier for veterans and transitioning service members. This job search resource is designed to help you explore career opportunities within the City, offering guidance on applying, translating military experience into civilian qualifications, and accessing veteran hiring preferences. Whether you're seeking stability, growth, or a way to continue serving your community, this tool will help you take the next step with confidence.
Under general supervision, a Pool Guard II serves as a swimming pool lifeguard and instructor, ensuring patron safety, teaching swimming classes, preparing lesson plans, and maintaining pool safety and cleanliness. Minimum qualifications include being at least 16 years old and possessing valid American Red Cross Lifeguarding/First Aid, CPR/AED for Lifeguard, First Aid for Public Safety Personnel (Title 22), and Water Safety Instructor (WSI) certificates.
Under general supervision, a Power Plant Operator operates, monitors, maintains, and repairs electrical and mechanical power plant machinery, including engines, generators, and auxiliary equipment. Minimum qualifications include three years of full-time journey-level experience in troubleshooting, repairing, and maintaining large engines, high voltage electrical systems, or steam/hot water boilers.
Power Plant Superintendent
Under direction, the Power Plant Superintendent manages the City’s gas utilization co-generation plant, overseeing the facility budget, plant modifications, compliance with regulations, and supervising subordinate plant supervisors. Minimum qualifications include two years of full-time supervisory experience with large engines, high voltage electrical systems, or steam/hot water boilers, and a valid California Class C Driver’s License.
Under direction, a Power Plant Supervisor supervises and participates in the operation, monitoring, maintenance, and repair of electrical and mechanical power plant machinery, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and safety regulations. Minimum qualifications include five years of full-time journey-level experience with large engines, high voltage electrical systems, or steam/hot water boilers, with an Associate’s degree or equivalent certification substituting for up to one year of experience, and possession of a valid California Class C Driver’s License.
Principal Backflow and Cross Connection Specialist
Under general supervision, a Principal Backflow and Cross Connection Specialist supervises and inspects the work of a team to ensure public health by coordinating and conducting inspections of plumbing systems for compliance with regulations. Responsibilities include testing backflow prevention devices, conducting field surveys, issuing citations, and reviewing construction documents. Minimum qualifications include two years of experience as a Backflow and Cross Connection Specialist or four years of professional experience in related tasks, along with a valid AWWA or ABPA Certification and a California Class C Driver’s License.
Principal City Attorney Investigator
Under direction, a Principal City Attorney Investigator plans, assigns, supervises, and coordinates pre-trial investigations for City liability cases and conducts complex special investigations. Responsibilities include evaluating lawsuits, preparing evidence presentations, writing indemnity agreements, and training staff. Minimum qualifications include a Bachelor's degree or equivalent education and four years of full-time experience in investigating criminal, civil, or liability claims.
Under direction, a Principal Clerk plans, directs, and coordinates clerical or financial record-keeping functions through subordinate supervisors, ensuring work effectiveness, preparing reports, and managing staff. Minimum qualifications include one year of full-time experience supervising clerical staff as a Senior Clerk/Typist with the City of San Diego, or four years of full-time clerical experience with at least one year in a supervisory capacity equivalent to Senior Clerk/Typist, including the full range of supervisory duties.
Principal Corrosion Engineering Aide
Under general supervision, a Principal Corrosion Engineering Aide performs subprofessional corrosion engineering work, supervises inspections, installations, and problem-solving for corrosion engineering tasks, and prepares related documents and records. Minimum qualifications include completing 30 semester/45 quarter college-level units in engineering, chemistry, or physics, or holding a NACE CP-1 (CP-Tester) or higher certification, and three years of full-time corrosion engineering experience in cathodic protection, along with a valid California Class C Driver License.
Principal Customer Services Representative
Under direction, a Principal Customer Services Representative plans, directs, and coordinates the operations of several clerical work units in the Public Utilities' Customer Services Section, handling complex customer complaints, monitoring budget expenditures, and developing policies and procedures. Minimum qualifications include four years of full-time clerical experience, with one year of supervisory experience in customer service for a water utility agency.
Under general supervision, a Principal Drafting Aide performs complex computer-aided drafting work, supervises drafting projects, prepares engineering drawings and specifications, creates designs using CADD or GIS applications, and trains staff. Minimum qualifications include a Bachelor's Degree in Architecture, Civil or Structural Engineering, Geography, or a related field; or relevant certifications such as EIT, LSIT, or a Drafting/GIS Certificate, along with two years of relevant experience; or two years of experience as a Senior Drafting Aide or Senior Engineering Aide with the City of San Diego; or four years of relevant experience. A valid California Class C Driver’s License may be required.
Principal Engineering Aide
Under general supervision, a Principal Engineering Aide performs routine engineering design, construction inspection, materials testing, supervises the processing of building applications and permits, and prepares engineering maps and records. Minimum qualifications include a Bachelor's Degree in Architecture, Civil or Structural Engineering, or a related field; or relevant certifications such as EIT or LSIT; or two years of experience as a Senior Engineering Aide or Senior Drafting Aide with the City of San Diego; or four years of relevant subprofessional experience. A valid California Class C Driver’s License is required.
Principal Legal Secretary
Under direction, a Principal Legal Secretary supervises the legal clerical support staff of the City Attorney’s Office, handles sensitive and confidential legal matters, updates legal forms, and acts as a liaison for routine legal procedural questions. Minimum qualifications include one year of experience as a Senior Legal Secretary with the City of San Diego, or four years of experience as a Legal Secretary in a law firm or legal office, including one year of supervisory responsibilities, along with a valid California Class C Driver’s License.
Under direction, a Principal Paralegal trains, supervises, and reviews the work of subordinate Senior Paralegals, performs the most complex and sensitive paralegal duties, and oversees the Legal Intern Training Program. Responsibilities include developing work standards, conducting training programs, drafting complex legal documents, and conducting legal research. Minimum qualifications include a Bachelor's Degree or equivalent education, a Jurisprudence Doctorate Degree, or completion of a formalized Paralegal Training Program, along with three years of full-time paralegal work experience, including one year as a Senior Paralegal with the City of San Diego.
Principal Plan Review Specialist
Under direction, a Principal Plan Review Specialist supervises and coordinates the operations of plan review units, develops policies and procedures, implements training plans, and handles complex client appeals. Minimum qualifications include three years of full-time experience reviewing building plans for code compliance and permit issuance, with at least one year of supervisory experience equivalent to the City of San Diego’s classification of Supervising Plan Review Specialist.
Principal Plant Technician Supervisor
Under direction, a Principal Plant Technician Supervisor oversees the maintenance and repair of major wastewater treatment plants, pump stations, and allied facilities, provides technical support for equipment construction and installation, and handles system-wide permitting and administrative duties. Minimum qualifications include one year of full-time experience as a Senior Plant Technician Supervisor or Senior Power Plant Supervisor with the City of San Diego and possession of a valid California Class C Driver’s License.
Principal Police Records Clerk
Under direction, a Principal Police Records Clerk supervises and coordinates specialized clerical activities in a centralized police records center, develops practices and policies, resolves personnel issues, and manages interagency coordination. Minimum qualifications include four years of full-time clerical experience, with at least one year of supervisory responsibility in managing criminal history, wanted person information, and other law enforcement records.
Under general supervision, a Principal Survey Aide operates precision surveying instruments, acts as the instrument operator for various construction and location surveys, and may lead a small survey crew. Responsibilities include determining lines, angles, distances, and elevations, processing electronic survey data, and training survey aides. Minimum qualifications include three years of full-time experience on a land survey crew, or registration as a Professional Land Surveyor, or an LSIT Certificate, along with a valid California Class C Driver’s License.
Principal Test Administration Specialist
Under direction, a Principal Test Administration Specialist plans and coordinates the specialized clerical functions of a centralized personnel testing center, supervises clerical work units, resolves personnel issues, schedules proctoring staff, and maintains exam data. Minimum qualifications include four years of full-time clerical experience, including two years performing test administration duties at a government personnel agency, a typing speed of 30 words per minute, and possession of a valid California Class C Driver’s License.
Principal Traffic Engineering Aide
Under general supervision, a Principal Traffic Engineering Aide performs routine transportation planning, traffic engineering design or investigation, traffic signal operation analyses, and may supervise traffic data collection. Responsibilities include conducting traffic investigations, reviewing traffic control plans, designing striping plans, coordinating work orders, and performing traffic flow and capacity studies. Minimum qualifications include two years as a Senior Engineering Aide with subprofessional traffic engineering experience, or four years of subprofessional engineering experience including traffic engineering, or a Bachelor's Degree in a related engineering field, or an Engineer-in-Training (EIT) Certificate, and possession of a valid California Class C Driver’s License.
Principal Utility Supervisor
Under direction, a Principal Utility Supervisor plans, assigns, supervises, and coordinates major construction, maintenance, and public works functions within a division. Responsibilities include overseeing work crews, formulating procedures, inspecting projects, developing work schedules, preparing reports, and managing budgets. Minimum qualifications include two years of full-time supervisory experience in construction, maintenance, or repair of public works facilities, and possession of a valid California Class C Driver’s License.
Principal Water Utility Supervisor
Under direction, a Principal Water Utility Supervisor plans, assigns, supervises, and coordinates major water and/or sewer system construction and maintenance functions. Responsibilities include overseeing work units, organizing projects, inspecting work, developing training procedures and work schedules, preparing budget estimates, and resolving major problems and complaints. Minimum qualifications include one year of full-time supervisory experience in construction, maintenance, or repair of water, sewer, or other public works facilities at a level equivalent to Senior Water Utility Supervisor, and possession of a valid California Class C Driver’s License.
Under direction, a Print Shop Supervisor oversees the day-to-day activities of the City’s Print Shop, including graphics, lithography, printing, and bindery work. Responsibilities include scheduling and coordinating printing jobs, providing technical expertise, estimating costs, resolving customer relations issues, and ensuring quality control. Minimum qualifications include three years of experience operating offset printing equipment and related photographic equipment, along with possession of a valid California Class C Driver’s License.
Procurement Contracting Trainee
Under immediate supervision in a training program, a Procurement Contracting Trainee performs procurement and contracting of goods and services, reviews requisitions, solicits quotations and bids, conducts cost analysis, negotiates with vendors, and ensures compliance with contractual requirements. Minimum qualifications include a Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent education, or additional qualifying professional experience in purchasing or contracting, and possession of a valid California Class C Driver’s License.
Under immediate supervision in a training capacity, a Programmer Analyst I assists in analyzing crime analysis system requirements, designing, programming, testing, and maintaining data management and crime analysis systems for the Police Department. Responsibilities include writing programs in various computer languages, maintaining and debugging software, and training users. Minimum qualifications include a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or Mathematics, or any Bachelor’s degree with at least 24 semester or 36 quarter units in Computer Science.
Under general supervision, a Programmer Analyst II assists in analyzing crime analysis system requirements, designing, programming, testing, and maintaining data management and crime analysis systems of average difficulty for the Police Department. Responsibilities include writing programs in various computer languages, maintaining and debugging software, and training users. Minimum qualifications include a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or Mathematics, or any Bachelor’s degree with at least 24 semester or 36 quarter units in Computer Science, and one year of professional computer programming experience.
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