Engineering/GIS Technician

City-of-Suffolk; Hall (WA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Suffolk seeks an advanced para-professional in engineering and GIS to support Public Works and related city departments. The role emphasizes drafting, data management, and liaising with developers, contractors, and the public to ensure timely work and proper paperwork.

The candidate should hold a two-year civil engineering degree and 3–5 years of related experience, plus a valid driver’s license and strong technical reporting skills.

Qualifications

• Two-year college or technical school degree with major in civil engineering or related field; 3–5 years of related experience.
• Valid driver's license required.
• Experience with mapping, drafting, and public works plans.

Responsibilities

• Perform GIS and drafting work for Public Works and other City departments.
• Investigate and respond to public inquiries about services.
• Assist public and consultants with locating files, maps and information.
• Maintain department filing system and records for plans and easements.
• Support review of stormwater features and impervious surface inventories.
• Prepare public presentations for City Council and community groups.

Skills

GIS knowledge

Drafting

Public works collaboration

Communication

Technical reporting

Independent judgment

Problem solving

Education

Two-year civil engineering degree

Tools

GIS software

GPS field equipment

Job description

Under general supervision, performs advanced para professional engineering and GIS work. Employee must exercise initiative and independent judgment in ensuring that necessary work and accompanying paperwork is performed in a timely manner. Employee must also exercise tact and courtesy in frequent contact with developers, contractors, and the general public. Reports to the Division Manager depending on the department assigned.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described. Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description, but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties just as though they were actually written out in this job description.

• Performs GIS related activities and drafting work for the Public Works Department and other City departments.
• Investigates complaints from the general public pertaining to departmental services or programs, or refers to appropriate official.
• Assists the general public and consultants with locating file information, maps, etc.
• Assists in creating and maintaining department filing system and maintains accurate and current records for private site and engineering plans, including electronic files.
• Assists consulting/private engineers, land developers and the general public in obtaining information regarding existing or proposed water, sewer, and stormwater and roadway facilities within the City of Suffolk.
• Assists in maintaining a log of department's fixed assets (i.e. accepted sewer and water mains, sanitary sewer pump stations & the land and easements associated with the pump stations and mains, subdivision streets and related infrastructure, as well as stormwater management facilities).
• Reviews plans for the location of stormwater features.
• Assists in the maintenance of the impervious surface inventory.
• Assists departmental staff in preparing public presentations to the City Council and community organizations.
• May review and field inspect stormwater infrastructure.
• May review plats and easements.
• May provide detailed monitoring reports and assists the Public Works Engineering Division staff.
• Locates physical stormwater features and verifies as-builts using GPS technology as part of field surveying.
• May Import, export and post processes collected data using the GPS Unit, GIS software and other computer equipment.
• May assist with Erosion and Sediment Control inspections.
• May answer any questions that may arise from assisting Engineers, Planners and Land Developers pertaining to departmental policy, procedures and location of available water and sewer facilities.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Graduation from a two-year college or technical school with major course work in civil engineering or a related field, and 3 to 5 years of experience in civil engineering, water and sewer utilities, surveying or a related field; or any equivalent combination of training and experience which provide the required skills, knowledge and abilities. Requires a valid driver's license.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of civil engineering as applied to design and construction of public works and utilities facilities.
• Knowledge of municipal engineering objectives, purposes, methods and practices.
• Knowledge of land and engineering survey systems, methods and techniques.
• Knowledge of federal, State and local laws, regulations and codes governing municipal public works and utilities construction and design.
• Knowledge of State and local laws, ordinances and codes pertaining to new construction.
• Skilled in the use of engineering, drafting and surveying equipment and tools.
• Ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural or compositional characteristics (whether similar or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people or things.
• Ability of speaking and/or signaling people to convey or exchange information. Includes receiving instructions, assignments or directions from superiors.
• Ability to read a variety of reports, letters and memos, site plans, etc. Requires the ability to prepare correspondence, reports, forms, etc., using prescribed formats. Requires the ability to speak with poise, voice control and confidence.
• Ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions; to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagrammatic form; and to deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
• Ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow oral and written instructions. Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in a variety of technical or professional languages including engineering and legal terminology.
• Ability to utilize mathematical formulas; to add and subtract; multiply and divide; utilize decimals and percentages; understand and apply the theories of algebra, geometry, and trigonometry.
• Ability to inspect items for proper length, width and shape.
• Ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under stress and when confronted with persons acting under stress.
• Ability to read and interpret construction plans, blueprints and engineering specifications, and GIS mapping and databases.
• Ability to adapt engineering methods and standards to the design and construction of a variety of public works and utilities facilities.
• Ability to perform moderately difficult computations and prepare engineering cost estimates.
• Ability to lay out and supervise public works engineering projects.
• Ability to prepare technical reports.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment and initiative in applying standards to a variety of work situations.
• Ability to exercise considerable tact and courtesy in frequent contact with the public.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships as necessitated by work assignments.

Physical Requirements:

Must be physically able to operate a variety of engineering machinery and tools including a level, transit, GPS field equipment, and office machinery including calculators and copiers. Must be physically able to operate a motor vehicle. Must be able to exert up to 25 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 5 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. Physical demand requirements are in excess of those for Sedentary Work. Light Work usually requires walking or standing to a significant degree. However, if the use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for Sedentary Work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated for Light Work. In addition to the physical requirements listed above, incumbents in the Public Works Department may be required to walk long distances over potentially uneven terrain in a variety of weather conditions while carrying and/or using various equipment (survey rod, probe, shovel, metal detector, etc.) to locate, uncover and evaluate infrastructure in the field. Requires the ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow oral and written instructions. Requires the ability coordinate hands and eyes rapidly and accurately in using office equipment and engineering tools. Requires the ability to handle a variety of items such as office equipment and engineering tools. Must have minimal levels of eye/hand/foot coordination. Requires the ability to differentiate between colors and shades of color. Requires the ability to talk and hear. Requires the ability to differentiate between colors and shades of color.