Engineering Technician, Principal

The City of San José, the Capital of Silicon Valley, is one of the nation's best managed cities and one of the top twelve cities in which to live, work, and do business. Moreover, San José is the center of cultural, government and economic activity for the region. The employees of the City of San José have embraced the following values: Integrity, Innovation, Excellence, Collaboration, Respect, and Celebration. The City's Public Works Department is seeking an individual whose values align with the values of the City's employees.

The Department of Public Works (DPW) is responsible for delivering capital improvement projects for a wide variety of City facilities and infrastructure, maintaining City facilities and fleet assets, facilitating, and regulating development activities, and providing animal care and services. The Department is committed to high-quality service, partnering with the community, and providing an excellent environment in which to work. The Development Services (DS) division of the DPW oversees development review processes and manages permits for activities within the city's streets. Its primary role is to ensure that new development projects comply with City, State, and Federal regulations and incorporate essential public infrastructure to support growth. Additionally, DS reviews plans from public agencies and utility companies, issues permits for constructing utility infrastructure and for encroachments on city streets, and handles the assessment and management of special districts.

Salary range for this classification is $102,735.36 - $125,143.20 annually. This range includes an approximate five percent (5%) ongoing non-pensionable pay. Actual salary shall be determined by the final candidates’ qualifications and experience.

This Principal Engineering Technician (PET) position will oversee the review and coordination of Development Services (DS) traffic signal and streetlight design in the public improvement plans. This position will also manage design standards and safety programs for the Electrical Engineering section.  Job duties will include, but not be limited to:

• Supervise and manage workload for a team of 2 employees, including hiring, assigning, scheduling, training, disciplining, and evaluating work. Prepare and sign performance evaluations.

• Conduct traffic signal design training to new engineers and engineering technicians.

• Participate in coordinating traffic signal activation process and improvements with the Transportation Department

• Provide AutoCAD and MicroStation training and develop design standards

• Maintain inventory of personal protective equipment and coordinate electrical safety in the workplace training

• Conduct regular monthly meetings with PG&E to coordinate electrical service applications and service connection schedules

• Develop and maintain a database of available materials that conform to the standard details and specifications.

• Participate in developing revisions to City standard details and specifications, and general traffic signal notes for public improvement projects.

Education and Experience:

Completion of high school, General Educational Development (G.E.D.) Certificate, or California Proficiency Certificate. Nine (9) years of increasingly responsible sub-professional engineering and/or technical support experience of which three (3) years must have been in a position comparable to the level of a City of San José Senior Engineering Technician, Senior Construction Inspector, Survey Field Supervisor, or close equivalent.

Acceptable Substitutions:

Successful completion of two (2) academic years or sixty (60) semester units of college level engineering technology courses or related field may be substituted for the remaining two (2) years of sub-professional engineering/technical support experience. There will be no substitution for the education requirement.

Licenses/Certificates:

Possession of a valid driver’s license authorizing operation of a motor vehicle in the State of California may be required.

Form 700 requirement:: This position requires a disclosure of outside investments, real property interest, income, and business positions. You must complete and file an “Assuming Office Form 700” with the City Clerk’s Office within the first 30 days of employment with the office.

The ideal candidate will possess the following competencies, as demonstrated in past and current employment history.

Job Expertise - Demonstrates knowledge of and experience with applicable professional/technical principles and practices, Citywide and departmental procedures/policies and federal and state rules and regulations.

Computer Skills - Experienced with common business computer applications including but not limited to: MS Outlook, MSWord, MS PowerPoint, MS Access, and MS Excel

Fiscal Management - Understands the relationship of the budget and resources to the strategic plan; complies with administrative controls over funds, contracts, and procurements.

Supervision - Sets effective long and short-term goals based on a good understanding of management practices; establishes realistic priorities within available resources; provides motivational support; empowers others; assigns decision-making and work functions to others in an appropriate manner to maximize organizational and individual effectiveness.

Problem Solving - Approaches a situation or problem by defining the problem or issue; determines the significance of problem; collects information; uses logic and intuition to arrive at decisions or solutions to problems that achieve the desired outcome.

Multi-Tasking - Can handle multiple projects and responsibilities simultaneously; has handled a wide variety of assignments in past and/or current position(s).

Customer Service - Demonstrates the ability to anticipate customers' needs and deliver services effectively and efficiently using professional demeanor.

Teamwork & Interpersonal Skills - Develops effective relationships with co-workers and supervisors by helping others accomplish tasks and using collaboration and conflict resolution skills.

Communication Skills - Effectively conveys information and expresses thoughts and facts clearly, orally and in writing; demonstrates effective use of listening skills; displays openness to other people’s ideas and thoughts.

Selection Process

The selection process will consist of an evaluation of the applicant's training and experience based on the application and responses to all the job specific questions. You must answer all questions to be considered or your application may be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration. Only those candidates whose backgrounds best match the position will be invited to proceed in the selection process. Additional phases of the selection process will consist of one or more interviews.

If you have questions about the duties of these positions, the selection or hiring processes, please contact Maritza Garcia at maritza.garcia@sanjoseca.gov.