Engineering Technician I/II

Description Summary

DEFINITION

Under direct or general supervision, performs a variety of specialized paraprofessional engineering field and office duties in support of professional engineering staff, involving surveying, design of public works facilities, construction inspection and drafting; researches engineering topics and prepares basic engineering calculations; provides technical advice to the public; coordinates plan submittals; issues permits; maintains plan files and engineering records; prepares reports; and performs related work as required.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Receives direct or general supervision from assigned supervisory or management personnel. No direct supervision of staff is exercised. May exercise technical and functional direction over assigned staff.

CLASS CHARACTERISTICS

Engineering Technician I: This is the entry-level class in the engineering technical support series. Initially, incumbents learn and perform a range of duties including receiving and responding to inquiries and complaints, maintaining engineering records, performing basic engineering calculations, performing field observations and surveys, researching engineering topics and updating maps and drawings. As knowledge and experience are gained, the work becomes broader in scope; assignments are more varied, include limited project management, and are performed under more general supervision. This class is alternately staffed with Engineering Technician II and incumbents may advance to the higher-level class after gaining the knowledge, skills and experience that meet the qualifications for and demonstrates the ability to perform the work of the higher-level class.

Engineering Technician II: This is the journey-level class in the engineering technical support series with responsibilities spanning the entire spectrum of paraprofessional engineering functions, including independent responsibilities for projects and support programs. Incumbents apply paraprofessional engineering knowledge and skills to complete assignments in engineering, mapping, surveying, contract coordination, and preparation of specifications, plans and estimates. The work requires public contact, the frequent use of tact and judgment, good knowledge of departmental operations and the ability to conduct independent projects and programs. This class is distinguished from the professional engineering series in that the latter requires a professional degree and performs professional engineering work with independent judgment.

Expectation of Job Duties

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS (Illustrative Only)

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.

• Prepares or assists in the preparation of and/or interprets specifications, plans, estimates and reports pertaining to the construction, maintenance and operation of a variety of engineering, land development, utility, and other capital improvement projects, including conducting a variety of surveys for creation of sidewalks, utility lines, and topography maps, collecting all pertinent information to create useful maps, issuing permits and work orders required for construction activities to public clients, and evaluating building plans for compliance with public works standards.
• Performs basic design and drafting duties in connection with streets, storm drains, traffic facilities and other projects.
• Performs field, office and computer-aided studies and prepares periodic and special reports based on findings from research, studies and surveys; and makes recommendations on findings.
• Receives, tags and logs, and reviews submitted engineering plans, maps, and related documents for plan check; checks calculations used in designs and estimates; routes documents to consultants or developers for preceding and following plan review; tracks status of plan checks and original documents; advises parties of revisions; contacts inspectors following plan approval to initiate construction observation.
• Performs construction inspections of public works projects to ensure compliance with contractual agreements, plans, and specifications, including preparing and recommending progress payments and change orders, evaluating possible public improvements as needed, ensuring work performed adheres to City standards, determining and noting major and minor defects, and evaluating appropriate actions in order to remedy defects as needed.
• Reviews building permit applications; confirms accuracy of submitted documents and/or requires revisions; provides written notice to applicants of required public improvements.
• Collects fees; issues permits for water and wastewater services required for new developments; issues permits for the performance of construction projects within the public right-of-way; issues transportation permits for oversized loads; records, distributes, copies, and files permits.
• Maintains engineering and traffic/transportation files, including plans, studies, inspections, surveys, maps and other data related to engineering and transportation projects; prepares, updates, reproduces, and distributes maps, drawings, blueprints, and other information recorded in GIS.
• Receives and responds to information requests from the public, consultants, engineering firms, developers, title companies, public works inspectors and staff for base maps, parcel maps and improvement plan information, encroachment permits, benchmarks, copies of maps and other geographical data, soils reports, as-builts, and street improvements; retrieves plans, reports, permits and files as necessary to comply with requests; responds to complaints from the public and resolves conflicts between owners, contractors, developers, utility companies, and others.
• Maintains and updates department records, tracking lists, permit records, and files of engineering plans, including grading, encroachments, improvements, storm drain, landscaping and final maps.
• Utilizes Computer-Aided Drafting software to create and modify engineering drawings, sketches, plot plans, site lay-outs, topographic maps, improvement plans and illustrative graphics, such as charts, illustrations, graphs for reports, drawings for design manuals and other projects.
• Utilizes Geographic Information System (GIS) to create and modify mapping, collect field data and analyze data sets.
• Prepares a variety of legal documents, including construction project contract documents, hold harmless agreements, street tree agreements, sidewalk café agreements and various others
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge of:

• Civil engineering principles, practices and methods applicable to office and field work involving the design, construction and maintenance of public works projects.
• Basic design and construction practices and methods of streets, underground facilities and related public works infrastructure.
• Engineering plan types, review practices, and permit filing and approval procedures.

Requirements

Education and Experience:

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

Engineering Technician I/II: Equivalent to completion of the twelfth (12th) grade supplemented by college-level coursework in civil engineering, drafting, surveying, mathematics, or related field.

Engineering Technician I: No experience is required but one (1) year of paraprofessional civil engineering experience is desirable.

Engineering Technician II: In addition to the above, two (2) years of experience in the field or office performing engineering technical support or drafting which has provided familiarity with engineering drafting, surveying, map checking, construction inspection, materials testing, basic engineering design, and GIS, equivalent to the Engineering Technician I at the City of Eureka.

License:

Must possess and maintain a valid California class C driver’s license and have a satisfactory driving record.

No other information will be accepted and resumes, cover letters or additional materials WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer; to operate a motor vehicle; and to visit and inspect various City development sites; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person, before groups and over the telephone. This is primarily a sedentary office classification, although the job involves field inspection work requiring frequent walking at inspection sites to monitor performance and to identify problems or hazards; standing in work areas and walking between work areas may be required. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter and retrieve data using a computer keyboard, typewriter keyboard or calculator and to operate standard office equipment. Positions in this classification occasionally bend, stoop, kneel, reach, push and pull drawers open and closed to retrieve and file information. Employees must possess the ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects necessary to perform job functions.

ENVIRONMENTAL ELEMENTS

Employees work primarily in an office environment with moderate noise levels and controlled temperature conditions; but may occasionally be assigned to field work, which may involve loud noise levels, cold and hot temperatures, inclement weather conditions, road hazards, vibration, confining workspace, chemicals, mechanical and/or electrical hazards, and hazardous physical substances and fumes. Employees may interact with upset staff and/or public and private representatives in interpreting and enforcing departmental policies and procedures.

THE SELECTION PROCESS

All applications received are screened to determine which applicants most closely match the desired education, experience, knowledge, and abilities of the position. Applicants will receive email notification of the results of the screening process. Applicants meeting the minimum qualifications are not necessarily guaranteed advancement to the examination process, as only the most qualified candidates will be invited to participate. The most qualified applicants will be invited to an in-person examination tentatively to be held in late April. The Department Head [and/or designee(s)] will interview the top six (6) candidates from the examination process. The eligible list created from this recruitment may be used to fill full-time, part-time, temporary, and grant positions. The City reserves the right to extend the final filing date as necessary.

Important Note: Please make sure it is absolutely clear in your application exactly how you meet the minimum qualifications/requirements listed above. Applications that do not appear to meet the minimum qualifications will not move forward in the recruitment process.

City of Eureka's Commitment to Inclusion and Belonging

We envision an inclusive community where everyone’s fundamental needs are met, where our employees respect and celebrate all walks of life, where everyone can grow and thrive, as we work with integrity for the good of Eureka. Our mission is to meet the needs of Eureka residents, businesses and visitors by providing services and making decisions that are socially, fiscally and environmentally responsible, creating a workplace that values growth, inclusion and empathy for
all.

Disaster Service Worker

All City of Eureka employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law (California Government Code Section 3100-3109). Employment with the City requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker related training as assigned and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

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The provisions of this bulletin do not constitute an expressed or implied contract. Any provision contained in this bulletin
may be modified or revoked. The City of Eureka is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and does not discriminate on the basis
of handicap status in the admission, access to, treatment, or employment for its programs, or activities, whether funded by
the City or by grants. Women, persons with disabilities, and minorities are encouraged to apply. In accordance with the
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Human Resources Department will make reasonable efforts in the examination process to accommodate people with special physical or mental requirements. If you have special needs, please call (707) 441-4124 prior to the examination date. When indicating you have a special need, one of the following definitions will apply to you. A disabled person is anyone who: (1) has a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities: i.e., walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, working or learning; or (2) has a record of such impairment; or (3) is regarded as having such an impairment.