Engineering Technician 3 - SEASONAL - Construction Inspection and Survey

Job Summary

This recruitment may be used to fill up to two vacancies. Positions will be for construction inspection and survey. These are seasonal positions with an anticipated 5–9-month duration.

This position performs skilled engineering technical support work performing surveying, construction inspection, drafting and design, landfill closure facilities operation, wastewater operations, environmental permitting, water resources or related technical engineering assignments. The position allocated to this class is the third level in the three level engineering technician series. This class is distinguished from the class of Engineering Technician 2 in that incumbents are designated lead workers and take responsibility for completing projects, assigning jobs, tasks and monitoring work flow. Work includes jobs in the areas of design, survey, project and plat inspection, material inspection, pavement management, traffic and road improvement district administration, wastewater operations, landfill closure facilities operation, environmental permitting and water resources. This class differs from Senior Technicians by the lack of performance appraisals given and disciplinary actions conducted and the lack of interaction with higher level management on policies and procedures. Working titles include: Chief Bridge Design Technician, Chief Design Technician, Chief Construction Inspector, Chief Materials Inspector, Chief R.I.D. Technician, Chief Survey Technician, Customer Service Representative, Pavement Management Technician, Document Technician, Wastewater Operations Technician, Senior Environmental Technician, Lean Environment Permit Technician and Lead Water Resources Technician.

WHO MAY APPLY: This recruitment is open to all applicants meeting the minimum requirements. Priority consideration will be given to Spokane County employees in a position covered by the Local 17 bargaining unit applying between 2/24/25 and 3/7/25.

Examples of Duties

Chief Construction Inspector

• Leads other workers with responsibility for quality control of the assigned project area.
• Makes accurate tests and visual inspections of workmanship and materials to determine the contractor's compliance with specifications and plans; and initiates and directs corrective action when necessary.
• Maintains proper field notes and diaries and submits timely reports.
• Computes quantities and work progress to determine material yields.
• Directs other inspectors; reviews their field notes, diaries and reports, trains, assists and advises them in their work.
• Performs other related duties as required/assigned.

Chief Survey Technician

• Responsible for the operation and maintenance of survey instruments.
• Makes preliminary and construction surveys using approved standard methods.
• Computes preliminary and construction related data.
• Records information precisely on field notes in conformance with prescribed standards.
• Uses EDP equipment and calculators for on-site field computations.
• Provides assistance and training to other workers in the proper operation of equipment, survey procedures, and survey data collection.
• Performs other related duties as required/assigned.

Employees may be assigned a combination of duties from among different jobs within this class or perform duties of similar responsibility and difficulty, not specifically mentioned herein, yet incidental to the complete work process. Employees are expected to be able to perform proficiently and implement the complete scope of duties of the lower classes in their chosen specialty and are expected to work toward competency in related work within this classification to the needs of the County, subject to seasonal and work scheduling factors.

Minimum Requirements

• Associate’s degree in Engineering from an accredited college.
• Four (4) years of related field or office experience in civil engineering; or an equivalent combination of education and experience in the design, inspection or construction related fields, including experience in at least two of the following areas: Materials Lab, Surveying, Construction Inspection, and Engineering Design.
• OR any equivalent combination of education, training and experience that provides the skills, knowledge and abilities to perform the job.
• Possession of a valid Driver's License at time of hire and for the duration of employment.

Selection Factors

• Knowledge of construction and design principles and procedures.
• Knowledge of the principles involved in the drafting and construction of transportation structures.
• Knowledge of road and street engineering and surveying principles and procedures.
• Knowledge of sewer system engineering principles and procedures.
• Knowledge of mathematics, algebra, geometry, and trigonometry.
• Knowledge of computer-aided design and drafting software.
• Skilled in communicating effectively both orally and in writing, sufficient to exchange or convey information and to give and receive work direction.
• Skilled in establishing and maintaining effective working relations with other employees and supervisors.
• Skilled in the use of personal computers and related software applications.
• Ability to proficiently perform all work required of employees at or below the level of an Engineering Technician 2 in the related areas of specialization, and competency in the majority of tasks in other areas of work within the lower Engineering Technician classifications.
• Ability to examine construction plans submitted for County review and apply established standards to determine acceptability, or need for revisions and additions.
• Ability to effectively handle multiple projects.
• Ability to work independently and organize work load of lower Engineering Technician classification employees.
• Ability to use sound judgment and follow non-specific written and verbal instructions.
• Ability to lead, and train the work of other employees.
• Ability to communicate effectively and tactfully, both orally and in writing, with the general public, contractors and their representatives, property owners, their representatives and other groups and individuals.