City Engineer

Print


City Engineer

Salary

$100,429.00 - $150,643.00 Annually

Location

Durango, CO

Job Type

Full-Time

Job Number

2025-00095

Department

Public Works

Division

Engineering - 4311

Opening Date

05/16/2025

Schedule Details:

Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. This posting will remain open until filled. Applicants are encouraged to apply early.

Description


About Durango 
Durango, Colorado, is a vibrant mountain town known for its historic charm, active lifestyle, and stunning natural surroundings. Nestled at the base of the San Juan Mountains, Durango offers year-round outdoor recreation—from skiing and mountain biking to rafting and hiking—alongside a lively downtown filled with local shops, restaurants, and galleries. With a strong sense of community, a thriving arts scene, excellent K–12 schools, and Fort Lewis College, Durango blends small-town warmth with big adventure. 


Mission (Why We Exist) 
We provide outstanding services and experiences for the entire community. 

Vision (What We Aspire to Be) 
A multigenerational community which is authentic, diverse, engaged, thriving, and environmentally responsible. 

Values (What We Believe) 
Teamwork | Dependability | Professionalism | Service | Respect | Innovation | Well-Being

City Government 
Durango, Colorado, is the county seat of La Plata County and a home-rule city with a council-manager form of government. The Durango City Council serves as the legislative and policy-making body, with members elected to four-year terms. Each year, the council selects one of its members to serve as mayor. The council also appoints the city manager, who oversees daily operations and is evaluated annually. This structure combines representative leadership with professional management to ensure effective and responsive local governance. 


About the Department 
The City of Durango’s Public Works Department is dedicated to enhancing the community’s quality of life by managing essential infrastructure and delivering reliable, customer-focused services. The department supports public safety, environmental health, and the local economy through five divisions:

  1. Engineering & Stormwater – Manages the stormwater management program, project development and plan review, right-of-way and excavation permitting, construction inspections, and traffic control planning and studies.  
  2. Utilities – Oversees the city’s water and wastewater treatment facilities and water distribution systems.  
  3. Capital Improvements – Leads major construction projects valued at over $50,000 with a lifespan of three years or more.  
  4. Streets – Maintains 83 miles of roads, storm drains, street markings, and provides snow removal services.  
  5. Trash & Recycle – Delivers solid waste and recycling services, including bulk item pickup and composting initiatives. 

About the Position 
Reporting to the Public Works Director, the City Engineer leads the Engineering & Stormwater Division within the Public Works Department. This position is responsible for managing public improvement projects across the City of Durango, ensuring they are designed, constructed, and maintained in accordance with City, State, and Federal codes and standards.  

The City Engineer provides strategic oversight of stormwater management, infrastructure design, project reviews, permitting, inspections, traffic studies, and stormwater compliance. The role also supports the planning and review of both public and private development projects.  

Working collaboratively across City departments and with external partners, the City Engineer plays a key role in advancing resilient, efficient infrastructure systems that align with Durango’s long-term goals for safety, sustainability, and quality of life.

Essential Job Duties

Oversees Public Improvement Projects
Designs, constructs, and maintains public infrastructure projects. 

Leads and Manages Division Staff 
Manages Engineering Division personnel, including hiring, training, and performance evaluation. 

Reviews Private Development Designs 
Ensures compliance with city standards for private development plans. 

Conducts Engineering Studies and Analyses 
Performs engineering studies, cost analyses, and design accuracy checks. 

Supervises Stormwater and Capital Projects 
Oversees capital improvements and stormwater projects, including contractor and consultant coordination. 

Maintains Official City Engineering Records 
Keeps city records such as maps, utility plans, and facility documents up to date. 

Collaborates with External Stakeholders 
Works with developers, engineers, architects, and contractors to guide city policy. 

Ensures Regulatory and Code Compliance 
Confirms adherence to safety regulations, engineering codes, and environmental standards. 

Oversees Public Improvement Inspections 
Supervises inspections to ensure compliance with city specifications. 

Manages Division Budgets and Capital Allocations 
Oversees budgeting and funding for projects and capital improvements. 

Minimum Qualifications

The Ideal Candidate 
The ideal candidate will have proven leadership skills to successfully manage and cultivate a high-performing team of ten (10). They will bring their expertise in stormwater management and public infrastructure design to drive projects from start to finish while ensuring timely, budget-conscious, and regulatory-compliant results. An excellent communicator, the City Engineer will collaborate with city leaders, developers, and the community.

Education and Licenses 

  • Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering or a related field from an accredited college or university. 
  • Must hold a valid Colorado Professional Engineer (PE) license or be able to obtain one within one (1) year of hire. 
  • Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license. 
Experience 
  • Minimum of eight (8) years of civil engineering experience, including at least two (2) years in a supervisory or administrative capacity. 
Equivalent Qualifications
  • A combination of education and experience may be considered if it provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the duties of the position.

Supplemental Information

Salary & Benefits 
The annual pay range for this position is $100,429.00 - $150,643.00. The City of Durango offers a comprehensive benefits package for full-time employees, including medical, dental, and vision insurance (effective the first of the month after hire), a City-funded 401(a) retirement plan with an 11.2% City contribution and 9% employee contribution, optional 457(b) savings, and generous paid time off with 11 holidays. Additional benefits include free access to the Recreation Center and City Transit, tuition assistance, volunteer hours, life and disability insurance, wellness incentives, and 24/7 employee assistance services. Click here to learn more about full-time benefits.

How to Apply:
All applications will be collected online via the City of Durango's career page at www.durangoco.gov/jobs. This posting will remain open until filled. Applicants are encouraged to apply early. Click here to view recruitment brochure.

Belong at the City of Durango: 

We believe in creating an inclusive workforce that welcomes diversity of thoughts, viewpoints, and experiences. 

The City of Durango is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis age 40 and over, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, military or veteran status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or any other applicable status protected by state or local law. It is our intention that all qualified applicants be given equal opportunity and that selection decisions are based on job-related factors.

City of Durango's Indigenous Land Acknowledgement

We offer a complete benefits package to full-time employees including medical, dental & vision insurance, retirement, deferred compensation plans, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, long-term disability, holidays, and paid time off.

To learn more details, visit our benefits page.

01
Have you been previously employed by the City of Durango?
  • Yes
  • No
02
If you answered yes, provide previous City positions and approximate dates for those positions.
03
Do you have any relatives who currently work for the City of Durango?
  • Yes
  • No
04
If you answered yes, provide your relative's name, the department they work in, and their relationship to you.
05
Have you ever been convicted of a crime, including misdemeanors, deferred sentences/judgements?
  • Yes
  • No
06
If you answered yes to having been convicted, you are REQUIRED to provide DATE(S) and DESCRIPTION(S) of offense(s) below.
07
Do you have a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering or a related field?
  • Yes
  • No
08
Do you have a valid Colorado Professional Engineer (PE) license, or the ability to obtain one within one (1) year of hire?
  • Yes
  • No
09
Do you have a minimum of eight (8) years of civil engineering experience, including at least two (2) years in a supervisory or administrative capacity?
  • Yes
  • No

Required Question

Employer
City of Durango
Address
949 E. 2nd Ave

Durango, Colorado, 81301
Phone
970-375-5050