Engineering Associate (Permit Processing)

Baltimore County, MD; Towson (MD); On-site; USD 60,000 - 86,000; Full time

Job summary

Baltimore County, MD is seeking a detail-oriented subprofessional engineering assistant to serve at the permit counter, assisting homeowners, contractors, architects, and developers with complex permitting inquiries.

You will navigate the online portal, explain fee structures, review plans for compliance, and coordinate multi-agency reviews to ensure timely approvals while maintaining accurate records.

Qualifications

• Possession of a high school diploma or an appropriate equivalent.
• Four years' subprofessional engineering experience.
• Experience with permitting, licensing, or regulatory administration.

Responsibilities

• Serve as frontline permit counter contact for inquiries from homeowners, contractors, and developers.
• Assist walk-in customers with online portal navigation and permit applications.
• Explain permit fees and payment processes with clarity and transparency.
• Review engineering plans and drawings for completeness and regulatory compliance.
• Coordinate with internal agencies to obtain required technical approvals.
• Provide guidance and training to junior staff and assist with workflow management.
• Maintain accurate electronic and physical permit records and logs.

Skills

Permit regulations

Customer service

Office software

Prioritization

Tools

Permitting software

Microsoft Office

Job description

Pay Schedule I, Grade 23 Regular Schedule: 35 hours per week

A vacancy exists in the Department of Permits, Approvals & Inspections, Development Management Division.

A list of eligible applicants will be established based on the examination as outlined below.

Current and future vacancies occurring in this class may be filled from the list of eligible applicants.

Definition of Responsibility

Under general supervision, performs routine subprofessional engineering, drafting, design, and computational work.

Essential Functions

• Serve as the primary frontline contact and subject matter expert in person at the permit counter, by phone, and through email, answering a high volume of complex permitting inquiries from homeowners, contractors, architects, and developers.
• Assist walk-in customers with navigating the online portal, filling out complex permit applications correctly, and assembling necessary submittal packages.
• De-escalate frustrated or challenging customer interactions professionally, providing clear solutions, explaining administrative procedures, and clarifying complex code requirements.
• Guide applicants step-by-step through the permit approval life cycle, proactively providing status updates, clarifying hold conditions, and outlining required next steps.
• Explain permit fee schedules, calculation methodologies, and payment processes clearly to applicants to ensure complete financial transparency.
• Act as a customer liaison between applicants and technical review divisions (e.g., Zoning, Environmental Protection, Planning) facilitating clear communication and resolving agency feedback or hold notes.
• Perform complex, high-level reviews of engineering, architectural, and development plans, plats, maps, and specifications to verify completeness, accuracy, and adherence to relevant codes and regulatory standards.
• Review and calculate complex permit fees, assessments, and costs based on established linear footage schedules, property lines, and drawing contents.
• Manage intake processing and dispersing of permit applications across multi-agency review workflows, coordinating directly with internal agencies to ensure required technical approvals are obtained.
• Address and resolve complex revisions, conditions, conflicts, and disputes arising throughout the permitting approval process.
• Provide guidance, training, and operational support to lower-level Engineering Assistants (EAs), auditing customer service quality, intake accuracy, and routine calculations performed by others.
• Assist department supervisors with daily workflow management, high-priority projects, and process optimization to improve customer response times.
• Maintain accurate, highly organized electronic and physical permit records, logs, and customer interaction tracking systems.

Example of Duties

• Performs other related duties as required.

(NOTE: The duties and responsibilities listed above are for the purpose of determining a common set of minimum qualifications for all positions in this class. They may not include all of the essential job functions of each position in the class. Each position may not be required to perform all of the essential job functions listed.)

Required Qualifications

Possession of a high school diploma or an appropriate equivalent

Plus

Four years' subprofessional engineering experience.

(Additional qualifying education may be substituted on a year-for-year basis up to a maximum of four years for the required experience.)

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (Entry Level)

• knowledge of local building, zoning, and environmental regulations.
• Knowledge of permitting, licensing, or regulatory administrative experience.
• Knowledge permitting software and general office applications.
• Ability to organize and prioritize multiple assignments, maintain accurate records, and demonstrate a high degree of attention to detail.
• Ability to effectively perform in a fast-paced, public-facing government or permitting environment while managing competing priorities and meeting established deadlines.
• Ability to analyze and resolve routine technical permitting issues independently by applying established policies, procedures, regulations, and departmental guidelines.
• Ability to interpret and apply applicable permitting requirements, policies, procedures, codes, and regulations to routine permit-related matters.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, identify issues requiring escalation, and seek appropriate guidance when matters fall outside established procedures.
• Ability to use computer systems and permitting software to enter, retrieve, review, and maintain accurate information and records.

Proof of Licences, Certifications and Education

Applicants are required to submit proof of Licences, Certifications and Education beyond high school to meet the required and preferred qualifications of the position. Diplomas or transcripts must show the applicant's major field of study. Copies and unofficial transcripts are acceptable.

Failure to submit proof of Licences, Certifications and Education will result in your application not being considered. Proof of licences, certifications, and/or education must be submitted with each application.

Proof of Degree Equivalency

Applicants who have obtained a degree from outside the United States of America are required to submit degree equivalence documentation from World Education Services, Inc. (www.WES.org).

EXAMINATION PROCEDURE

Applicants will be qualified based on an evaluation of their training and experience, as stated on their application, which includes answers to the supplemental questions. Applicants must state the dates and duties of past and present experience clearly and completely for evaluation purposes.

Physical and Environmental Conditions

The work of this classification is essentially sedentary, with occasional walking, standing, and other limited physical activities including travel to various work sites.

Employment Background Investigation

Applicants selected for employment with Baltimore County must successfully complete an employment investigation, including, but not limited to criminal background, education, and fingerprinting checks.