Engineering Student Assistant - Design Reviewer - Technician / Field Work - Hybrid (Los Angeles, CA)

University Enterprises, Inc.; Los Angeles (CA); Hybrid; USD 10,000 - 60,000; Part time

Job summary

The California Department of Transportation seeks a Student Assistant to aid in engineering tasks under supervision. The role requires academic enrollment and entails responsibilities such as reviewing materials, assisting with technical specifications, and performing quantity checks. This part-time position offers valuable experience within a professional engineering environment.

Qualifications

• Must maintain a minimum cumulative 2.0 GPA.
• Enrolled as an undergraduate or graduate student.
• Declared major must match job posting.

Responsibilities

• Perform quantity checks and material estimates against design drawings.
• Assist in preparing cost estimates and drafting technical drawings.
• Review bids for mathematical errors and assess contractor work.

Skills

Communication

Microsoft Office Word

Microsoft Office Excel

Teamwork

Independence

Education

College student enrolled in at least six-semester units

Job description

The California Department Transportation (Caltrans) is seeking a Student Assistant to assist in preparing plans, specifications and estimate packages for advertisement, in a learning capacity, under close supervision by a Supervising Transportation Engineer and various Senior Transportation Engineers. The student assistant will also perform quantity checks, plan and specification reviews, with the goal to minimize the need for addenda at bidding time.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

This is a part-time, temporary, non-benefited, student position. Employment in all positions with University Enterprises, Inc. is dependent upon the mutual consent of University Enterprises, Inc. and the employee. This means that either University Enterprises, Inc. or the employee can, at any time, terminate the employment relationship at will, with or without cause.

Depending on the type of position you are applying for, a pre-employment background check consisting of one or more of the following may be conducted : employment history, professional references, criminal check : educational verification (degree, license, or official transcript) or DMV clearance. Applicants will be required to pass required pre-employment checks to the satisfaction of University Enterprises, Inc. (UEI) and the hiring Agency or Department.

UEI does not allow students to hold more than one UEI Job at a time, or work in more than one account per pay period. UEI employees who are considering leaving their current UEI Student assistant position for a different UEI student assistant position should inform their supervisor in writing and provide at least a week's notice.

UEI is not a multi-state employer. UEI only employs candidates who live and work in the state of California. If selected for the position you must reside in California and all work must be performed in the state of California throughout the course of employment.

Prerequisites

Must be a college student attending classes during the regular term (fall, spring, and winter, if applicable), at one of the accredited colleges or universities on our affiliation list.

Students must be enrolled in at least six-semester units or nine quarter units for undergraduate students; four-semester units or six quarter units for graduate students.

Students declared major must match the major(s) listed in the job posting.

Majors / Fields of Study

Work Schedule

Flexible workdays and work hours, Monday - Friday, between 8 AM - 5 PM. Final work schedule will be determined by the supervisor.

Additional Work Schedule

Student Assistant and Graduate Assistant employees generally work up to 24 hours per workweek (Sunday - Saturday) during the academic year and up to 40 hours per workweek during breaks; (winter, spring, and summer).

Minimum Qualifications

• Must maintain a minimum cumulative 2.0 GPA.
• Must complete each term with minimum unit requirements for Undergraduate and Graduate student classifications. Proof will be collected at the end of each Spring and Fall term.
• Microsoft Office Word and Excel experience.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work independently or as part of a team.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with plan reading.
• Under the amendment to Government Code Section 18220, state agencies shall give preference to a qualified applicant (up to 26 years of age) who is, or has been, a dependent child in foster care, a homeless youth, a formerly incarcerated youth, or a victim of human trafficking.

Duties and Responsibilities

• In a learning capacity, the Student Assistant will perform detailed quantity checks by reviewing material and labor estimates against design drawings and specifications, ensuring all quantities are accurate, consistent, and aligned with project requirements. They will also assist in reviewing plans and technical specifications for completeness and clarity, identifying any discrepancies to support the development of biddable and constructable project documents.
• In a learning capacity, the Student Assistant may support engineering tasks by assisting in the preparation of cost estimates through quantity take-offs, unit pricing, and analysis of historical data. They may contribute to preliminary and detailed design efforts by drafting technical drawings, performing basic calculations, and reviewing design standards for compliance. Additionally, the Student Assistant may participate in field reviews to observe construction progress, document existing site conditions, verify contractor work against design documents, and report potential issues or discrepancies to project engineers.
• In a learning capacity, the student may assist in reviewing and evaluating bids received by the department for potential mathematical error or bid front loading and perform bid analysis comparing it to the department engineering estimate prepared by the design team and feed back to design project team.

Physical Requirements

Sit for extended periods; frequently stand and walk; manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination; corrected hearing and vision to normal range; verbal communication; use of office equipment including computer workstations, telephones, calculators, copiers, printers, and scanners with or without reasonable accommodation.

Working Conditions

Work is performed in a hybrid office environment or in a field environment.

Students / Employees will be required to work according to the current UEI remote workplace policy and sign a UEI Work from Home Agreement. The decision to permit an employee to work from home is at the discretion of the supervisor or employer and may, at any time and with or without cause, unilaterally terminate the option to work from home.

Application Instructions

Please complete all fields of the employment application. Include your educational history in the "Educational Experience" section and any employment history in the "Employment Experience" section of our application.

In addition to your resume, please upload your most recent transcripts.