Engineering Technician I, II or III

Steele County

Job Description

Job Title: Engineering Technician I, II or III

Department: Public Works/Highway

Immediate Supervisor: Assistant County Engineer

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

DBM Rating: B23, B24, B25

Union: AFSCME

Job Summary

Under the direction of the Assistant County Engineer, the Engineering Technician I is responsible for performing technical office and construction site duties associated with the delivery of the construction plan and overall operations of the department.  Duties include, but are not limited to: field surveys, construction plan preparation, detailed computations, and construction inspection.  The Engineering Technician I differs from the Engineering Technician II in that Engineering Technician I represents the entry level within the occupational classification series, requires less experience, and is typically not expected to perform laboratory material testing.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Participates on survey crew as crew chief, instrument operator, or rod holder, depending on need and abilities.
• Imports survey data into CADD drafting and design software and prepares base topographic drawing using survey data and field notes.
  • Performs routine CADD drafting and mapping for Highway Department uses.
• Performs construction project design using CADD drafting and design software to include, but is not limited to: surface model development, centerlines and alignments, right-of-way, profiles, cross sections.
  • Performs all drafting necessary for a complete set of construction plans.
  • Computes construction project quantities for estimating of construction and engineering projects.
  • Prepares costs estimates for construction and engineering projects.
• Monitors and conducts inspections of construction projects to assure contractor comply with project specifications and plans.
  • Performs construction project inspection and maintains daily records of construction activities.
  • Performs construction material testing and computations on a project site.
  • Prepares construction project documentation records including, but not limited to: haul sheets, weekly diaries, construction status reports.
  • Maintains detailed construction project records.
  • Performs construction surveying and project staking.
• Assists supervisor with research and data evaluation for development of Highway Capital Improvement Plan (CIP).
• Assists supervisor in development of processes and procedures for Highway Engineering functions and operations.
• Participates in filing and maintenance of the Highway Department record keeping system.
• Assists in distribution, receipt, review, and issuance of Highway Department permit applications.
  
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with staff, contractors, suppliers, local officials, and the public.
• Performs other duties of a comparable level or type, as required.
  • Keeps abreast of changing trends, policies, best practices and developments in areas of responsibility.
  • Attends training sessions, seminars, or work shops, as appropriate.

Essential Knowledge

• Basic and fundamental principles and concepts of engineering and surveying.
• Knowledge of advanced mathematics (e.g. algebra, trigonometry, and geometry) used in engineering.
• Fundamental understanding of computer operations, engineering design software (e.g. CADD) used in engineering design, drafting and documentation.
• Knowledge of construction material testing and analysis procedures for aggregate, concrete and bituminous materials.
• Fundamentals of accepted state and federal standards of bridge and highway construction.
• Knowledge of department operating procedures and processes impacting the performance of job assignments.

Essential Skills

• Oral and written communications.
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with contractors and the public over projects concerns, questions, enforcement of plan/project specifications, and the exchange of information.
• Interpreting survey data and performing engineering calculations.
• Learning, applying and performing survey and inspection responsibilities and duties.
• Project management, organizational and judgment in dealing with contractors.
• Operating survey equipment and using and applying computer aided design programs/applications, business productivity software (e.g. word processing, spreadsheet, presentation programs, etc.).
• Drafting preliminary design plans and documentation of survey information and data used in plan design, analysis and project specifications.
• Monitoring and observing project activities and conditions which may impact progress or on-site circumstances that require the attention of County Engineer or Assistant Engineer involving possible change orders and revisions.
• Operating and applying materials testing equipment.
• Preparing and presenting technical, engineering and narrative reports, construction diaries/logs.

Working Conditions

The essential duties of the job involve exposure to disagreeable outside weather and related conditions (e.g. cold, heat, dust, fumes, wet, steep terrain, woods, insects, etc.), performing duties in and around traffic or moving construction equipment, construction sites, woods and wetlands. Duties include irregular or unpredicted overtime hours.

This description is intended to describe the kinds of tasks and levels of work difficulty being performed by people assigned to this classification. The list of responsibilities is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified.