Senior Building Inspector

Our Community Development Department is recruiting for an exceptional and professional Senior Building Inspector with excellent interpersonal and customer service skills. Our team members are experienced, collaborative, accountable, and contribute to a positive organizational culture. If you are an experienced building professional, work well with people, and can work independently toward a common goal, we invite you to explore this career opportunity with the City of Cupertino.

The Senior Building Inspector performs inspections of buildings and structures in all stages of construction and accurately documents the results of the inspection; Reviews various building, construction, improvement, repair and related building plans and specifications with applicable building, residential, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, fire, energy, green building standards and housing codes.

Class Characteristics

This is the advanced journey level class in the Building Inspector series. Employees at this level perform the more complex structural building inspections requiring the use of independent judgment. This class is distinguished from the Building Inspector class by the responsibility assumed as a lead worker in supervising and coordinating field operations and providing technical guidance to building inspections personnel.

Supervision Received and Exercised

Receives direction from the Building Official and Deputy Building Official. Exercises direct supervision and evaluation of the Building Inspectors.

Management reserves the right to add, modify, change, or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.

Provide training to new and existing inspection staff to ensure uniform application of appropriate codes, rules, and regulations. 

Perform on-site inspections for industrial, commercial, and residential buildings at various stages of construction and remodeling to assure compliance with approved plans, specifications, and applicable codes and regulations of the City, County, State, and Federal agencies. 

Issue correction notices and notice of violations and monitor compliance with the corrective measures. 

Maintains records of building and inspection activities and completes related reports; issues certificates and permits as appropriate. 

Assure proper and safe installations of routine and complex building systems. 

Perform Plan Check review of construction drawings, basic calculations, reports and specifications for compliance with the applicable California Code of Regulations and prepare written responses as necessary. 

Provide information by telephone, email and at the Public Counter in response to questions regarding building codes and ordinances, the inspection process, and the building permit application process and procedures.

Confer with developers, contractors, architects, engineers, and other interested parties; explains, interprets, and provides guidance regarding all applicable codes within area of responsibility. 

Build and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers, other City employees and the public using principles of quality customer service. 

Assist the Building Official as needed. 

Supervise, train and evaluate assigned personnel.

Perform related duties as assigned.

Knowledge of:

General provisions of the building related codes and ordinances enforceable by the City, including the California Building Code, Residential Code, Plumbing, Electrical, Mechanical, Fire, Energy and Green Building Standards Code. 

Accepted safety standards and methods of building construction. 

Principles, practices and procedures in the construction trades, including carpentry, plumbing, mechanical, electrical and heating/air-conditioning. 

Principles and techniques of building inspection duties.

Current construction standards, codes, and regulations.

Legal procedures involved in the enforcement of building codes and ordinances.

Principles of supervision and training.

Ability to:

Read and interpret construction plans and specifications and enforce their application. 

Keep records and prepare reports. 

Learn and apply specific provisions of applicable codes, ordinances and regulations enforced by the City. 

Perform inspections by applying technical knowledge and following proper inspection techniques to examine workmanship and materials, and detect deviations from plans, regulations and standard construction practices. 

Make arithmetical computations rapidly and accurately. 

Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing. 

Use Windows, Excel, PowerPoint and Word. Permitting/Inspection software and other job-related computer programs. 

On a continuous basis, sit at a desk for short periods of time. Twist and reach office equipment. Intermittently stand, walk, bend, climb, kneel and squat while conducting field inspections. Use telephone, write or use a keyboard to communicate through written means, and lift or carry weight of 30 pounds or less. 

On a continuous basis, know and understand aspects of the job, and explain codes, regulations, and procedures to contractors, developers, the general public, representatives of other public agencies, and other City staff. 

Work at indoor and outdoor construction sites at different heights and in confined spaces. Walk on uneven surfaces, climb into trenches, and work on ladders;

Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Supervise, schedule, and coordinate the field operations of the Building Division. 

Read, analyze, and interpret complex plans and specifications.

Supervise, train, assign, review, and evaluate subordinate personnel as assigned.

Advise on standard construction methods and requirements and building codes and ordinances.

Perform journey level inspections in a variety of specialty trade areas.

Education and Experience

Any combination of experience and training that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:

Four (4) years of municipal building inspection experience.  One (1) year of supervisory experience or lead experience is required. AA/AS degree from an accredited college in Building Inspection, Construction Technology or related field is desirable. 

License and Certifications

Possession of International Code Council (ICC) inspector certifications in one or more of the following: Buildings, Electrical, Mechanical, and Plumbing for residential and commercial applications, or other recognized certifications.  An ICC Plan Checker certification is desirable.

Application and Selection Process

If you are interested in this opportunity, please submit your City of Cupertino employment application to Human Resources no later than 5:00 p.m., August 10, 2026. Oral board interviews tentatively scheduled for August 18, 2026. Applications must be filled out completely. Failure to complete the supplemental application will disqualify the applicant from the recruitment process. Failure to list work experience or stating “See Resume” in the work experience section of the application will be considered an incomplete application and subject to rejection. Resumes may be attached separately. Electronic applications may be submitted online through the City’s employment page at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/cupertino , or application materials may be submitted to: Human Resources, 10300 Torre Avenue, Cupertino, CA 95014. Late applications will not be accepted. 

Applications will be screened according to the qualifications outlined in this job announcement. Applicants possessing the most desirable qualifications will be invited to continue in the selection process, which may include a written examination and/or panel interview.  An eligible list will be established as a result of this process and will remain in effect for 3 months from the date established.

Additional Information

The City of Cupertino is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in employment on the basis of a person’s race, religion, color, sex (including gender and pregnancy), sexual orientation (including heterosexuality, homosexuality, and bisexuality), national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, uniformed service member status, marital status, age, medical condition, genetic characteristics, and physical or mental disability. Candidates with a disability, which may require special assistance in any phase of the application or testing process, should advise City of Cupertino Human Resources upon submittal of application.  Documentation of the need for accommodation must accompany the request.  

The information contained within this announcement may be modified or revoked without notice and does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract.