Career Opportunity

Stationary Engineer (7334) - Multiple Departments Citywide (C00197)

Recruitment: REF29570M

Published: June 09, 2026

Apply using SmartRecruiters, the City and County of San Francisco's application portal.

About:

**Republished to include Medical Examination/Drug Testing information.**

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. 

In addition to establishing a career with purpose and opportunity for professional growth, the City offers excellent benefits that include: competitive salaries; medical, dental, and vision insurance; defined benefit retirement plan; deferred compensation plan; long-term disability insurance; life insurance; and a generous paid time off package.

Come explore first-hand the many opportunities that the City and County of San Francisco has to offer.

Role description

Stationary Engineers operate, maintain, troubleshoot, and repair a wide variety of pumping, heating, ventilating, air conditioning, refrigeration and auxiliary plant machinery and equipment in a large complex or multi-faceted facility. They ensures that all equipment, machinery and systems are functioning normally and safely, and comply with all applicable safety rules and regulations.

STATIONARY ENGINEER POSITION AND JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Operates, maintains and repairs a wide variety of pumping, heating, ventilating, air conditioning, refrigeration, and power generating equipment in a large complex or multi-faceted facility to ensure the safe, correct and efficient functioning of the facility and equipment may be required to operate computerized building management systems, preventative or predictive maintenance computer systems or Computerized Data Gathering System (SCADA).
2. Inspects and tests: machinery and equipment for safe, efficient and proper operation by visual and audio inspection during walk-throughs and by standard monitoring; fire prevention equipment to ensure safe and proper functionality; water storage and multiple distribution systems, high pressure zones, wood and steel storage tanks, pumps and relief valves, and samples of water.
3. Makes entries and keeps records on shift operation by taking and entering gauge readings and accurate water laboratory analysis readings and temperatures on operating log sheets or into a computer data system to ensure preventative maintenance and equipment history; and changes charts and recordings accordingly.
4. Receives, records and stores large amounts of treatment chemicals and may handle hazardous chemicals in confined or enclosed areas; must be capable of safely and properly handling chemical spills; may also include handling and treatment of industrial or hazardous waste.
5. Contacts, communicates and is required to deal with contractors, building tenants and/or the general public in order to be able to discharge assigned duties.
6. Maintains keys, communications equipment, and security (in the absence of Security Personnel), in order to ensure the security of a plant and buildings and grounds, including public safety. As part of an emergency response team, recognizes, evaluates, and responds to potentially hazardous situations.
7. Performs control tests on water samples to determine chlorine and fluoride residual, pH, alkalinity, turbidity, color, saturation index and flocculation factors; under supervision, conducts water analysis and regulates treatment chemical dosages to maintain water quality in filtration plant, distribution system, or other large complex facility may also be required to perform water analysis on water/wastewater as required by the State of California; performs boiler water and cooling tower chemical tests, including pH, alkalinity TDS, etc., to monitor and control growth of organisms in water.

How to qualify

Experience: Four (4) years of verified journey-level stationary engineer experience in the maintenance, repair and operation of a variety of mechanical and electrical pumping, heating, air conditioning, ventilating and related plant machinery used in a government establishment, hospital, industrial, production or commercial building.

Experience as an oiler or firefighter will not be accepted as qualifying experience.

License and Certification

• Possession of a valid California Driver License
• Possession at time of hire a Universal Chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) certificate issued by the Federal Environmental Protection Agency.

Substitution
Any of the following may be substituted for the required experience:

• Completion of a recognized four-year Stationary Engineer apprenticeship program
• Graduation from a recognized four-year Maritime Academy with a degree in engineering or technology
• Possession of at least a 3rd Assistant Marine Engineer's License of any (unrestricted) horsepower

Essential Functions require considerable physical effort in the repair and upkeep of machinery and equipment; and ability to lift heavy objects.

Work environment may require exposure to working conditions where minor abrasions, bruises and burns may be encountered; occasional disagreeable work inside close and dirty spaces.

Upon appointment to employment, and then on annual basis, employees may be required to pass a State mandated respirator Medical Examination and be clean shaven for respirator and self-contained breathing apparatus fittings. Employees must pass CPR training annually and First Aid every three (3) years.

Verification of Education and Experience
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 http://sfdhr.org/how-verify-education-requirements.

Please review our articles on Employment Application and Minimum Qualifications and Verification of Experience and/or Education for further information.  

Applicants will receive a confirmation email from  notification@careers.sf.gov 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.

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

Stationary Engineer Written Examination (Weight 100%)

Candidates self-certifying meeting the Minimum Qualifications will be invited to participate in the online Stationary Engineer Core Exam. Candidates will be sent a web link via email that will allow them to take the online Stationary Engineer Analyst Core Exam that is designed to measure knowledge, skills, and/or abilities in job-related areas which have been identified as critical for positions in the Stationary Engineer classification.

This computer-administered test can be taken at home or at a time and location of one’s convenience, but only within the time period specified on the test notification. Candidates must have access to a computer and reliable internet connection to participate in this exam.

In accordance with Civil Service Rule 111.11.4, inspection privileges do not apply to the questions and answers in this examination. This multiple-choice exam will be administered either on a computer or in a paper format. The type of format will depend on the size of the qualified applicant pool. Qualified candidates will be notified of the type of exam format in their exam appointment notification. Your score will be valid and 'banked' for three years, starting from the date of the examination. This means that, during this three-year time period, you will not be required to re-take this test. If the selection process for a future announcement is held within one year of the date of this examination and it includes this exam your score will be automatically applied to that announcement. However, after one year, you have the option to either (a) apply your test score to the other announcement or (b) re-take the test. Re-testing is permitted no sooner than one year from the date of the examination and only in association with your eligibility for another announcement for which the test is used. Please note that, should you re-test, your re-test score would become your official score since it is the most recent.

Note: A passing score must be achieved on all examination components in order to be placed on the Eligible List Score Report. The hiring department may administer additional position-specific procedures to make final hiring decisions.

Candidates scores on this examination may also be applied to other announcements involving other job titles, when directed by the Human Resources Director.

Score Banking: Scores attained on the Stationary Engineer Core Exam will be 'banked' for three years, starting from the date of the examination. This means that, during this three-year time period, candidates need not take this test again. Rather, if another announcement you applied to and are deemed qualified for requires the Stationary Engineer Core Exam and is held within one year of your Stationary Engineer Core Exam date, your score will be automatically applied to that announcement. However, after one year, a candidate has the option to either (a) apply their test score to the other announcement or (b) re-take the test. Re-testing is permitted no sooner than one year from the date of the test and only in association with a candidate’s eligibility for another announcement to which the candidate has applied and is deemed qualified. If a candidate opts to re-test, the re-test score becomes the candidate’s official score since it is the most recent.

If a significant modification is made to this exam in the future, the application of “banked” scores may no longer be appropriate. In such a rare circumstance, candidates with “banked” scores would be required to re-take the exam sooner than the three-year period specified above should they apply to another job opportunity where the modified exam is used.

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.

Upon passing the exam, candidates will be placed on the eligible list for a period of TBD.

To find Departments which use this classification, please see: https://sfdhr.org/sites/default/files/documents/Forms-Documents/Position-Counts-by-Job-Codes-and-Department-FY-2022-23.pdf.

What else should I know?

Where 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 will receive a confirmation email from notification@smartrecruiters.com 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. 

Note: 

1. Please ensure the information on your application is accurate. It may not be possible to change after you’ve applied.

2. Your first and last name should match your legal ID for verification purposes. A preferred first name may be included in parentheses. Here is an example: Samuel (Sam) Jackson

3. Your email address should be consistent across all jobs applied to on our website.

4. Use a personal and not a shared email address. Doing so may prevent your application from submitting properly.

5. Upon successful submission of your application, applicants will receive a confirmation email from notification@smartrecruiters.com. Keep this email for your records. If you do not receive the confirmation email, your application was not submitted successfully and you will need to resubmit.

Medical Examination/Drug Testing: Candidates who are being considered for appointment for positions which may be required to pass a medical examination. Candidates who cannot meet the medical requirement will be placed under waiver until this requirement is met. The medical examination will be administered only to those applicants who are being considered for appointment.  

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) has determined that Class 7334 Stationary Engineer is a “safety-sensitive” position, under regulations issued by the Federal Transit Administration (49 CFR Part 655). Federal law requires that all transit employees who perform safety-sensitive functions be subject to random, post-accident, reasonable suspicion, return-to-duty and follow-up drug and alcohol testing. All applicants for Safety-Sensitive positions shall undergo urine drug testing prior to employment and within 90 days prior to performing Safety-Sensitive functions for the first time. Receipt by the SFMTA of a negative test result is required prior to the employee being placed on the payroll. A positive, adulterated, negative dilute or substituted test will result in a decision not to hire, and the applicant’s name will be removed from the list of eligibles for Safety-Sensitive positions. The SFMTA will not consider hiring any person who tested positive, adulterated, substituted or refused to submit to testing for a minimum of two years following the positive test.  

In addition, each applicant who has worked for a Department of Transportation (DOT)-regulated employer(s) within the last two years will be required to sign a consent form, prior to appointment, authorizing SFMTA to obtain information from his/her prior employers concerning his/her drug and alcohol test history. Each applicant will also be required to provide SFMTA with information regarding whether, during the last two years, the applicant tested positive or refused to test on any pre-employment drug or alcohol test administered by an employer to which the applicant applied for, but did not obtain, safety-sensitive transportation work covered by DOT drug and alcohol testing rules. SFMTA will not hire any applicant for a safety-sensitive position who fails to provide this information or fails to provide written consent for the release of information from prior employers.  

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Security Clearance: Candidates for employment with the San Francisco Airport Commission are required to undergo a criminal history record check, including FBI fingerprints, and Security Threat Assessment in order to determine eligibility for security clearance and may be required to undergo drug/alcohol screening. Per Civil Service Commission Rule Section 110.9.1, every applicant for an examination must possess and maintain the qualifications required by law and by the examination announcement for the examination. Failure to obtain and maintain security clearance may be basis for termination from employment with the Airport Commission.

Customs Clearance: This position may require that the incumbent be qualified for unescorted access to the San Francisco International Airport U.S. Customs Security Area. An application for a U.S. Custom Access Seal may be submitted to Customs ONLY after employment has commenced. Employment in this position requires that the incumbent submit an application for, successfully acquire and maintain a Customs Access Seal. Per Civil Service Commission Rule 110.9.1, every applicant must possess and maintain the qualifications required by law and by the examination announcement for this examination. Failure to acquire or maintain customs access, a requirement for this position, may be basis for termination from employment with the Airport Commission. Customs Access Seal requirements and procedures are located in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 19, Part 122, Sections 181 or 189.

TWIC Cards: This position may require that the incumbent to be qualified for unescorted access to the Port’s Maritime Transportation System (MTS). An application for a TWIC card may be submitted after employment has commenced. Employment in this position requires that the incumbent undergo a criminal history check, immigration check and terrorist threat assessment, including FBI fingerprints, in order to determine eligibility for security clearance. The incumbent must submit an application for, successfully acquire and maintain a TWIC card. Per Civil Service Rule 110.9.1, every applicant must possess and maintain the qualifications required by law and by the announcement for this examination. Failure to acquire or maintain a TWIC card, a requirement for this position, may be the basis for termination from employment with the Port Commission. Note: TWIC requirements and procedures are located in the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, 49 U.S.C. 114, 40113, and 49 U.S.C. 5103a.

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

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 https://sf.gov/departments/civil-service-commission.

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.