Engineering Technician I/II

City of Eureka; Eureka (CA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Eureka is seeking an Engineering Technician I/II to support professional staff in surveying, design, construction inspection and drafting for public works projects.

Responsibilities include preparing plans and estimates, maintaining records, performing basic engineering calculations, and providing technical assistance to the public. The role offers growth opportunities and a path toward journey-level responsibilities under supervision.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of civil engineering principles and drafting techniques.
• Ability to perform basic engineering calculations and map updates.
• Experience with plan checks, permits, reports and GIS drawings.

Responsibilities

• Prepares or assists in specifications, plans, estimates and reports for public works projects.
• Performs basic design and drafting duties for streets and utilities.
• Conducts field, office and CAD studies and prepares reports.
• Reviews submitted plans for plan check and routes documents to reviewers.
• Performs construction inspections to ensure contract compliance.
• Reviews building permit applications and notifies applicants of required improvements.
• Maintains department records and GIS maps.
• Uses CAD and GIS to create and modify drawings.

Skills

Surveying basics

Public interaction

Engineering math

CAD drafting

GIS usage

Plan review

Documentation

Tools

CAD software

GIS software

Office software

Job description

DEFINITION

Under direct or general supervision, performs a variety of specialized paraprofessional engineering field and office duties in support of professional engineering staff, involving surveying, design of public works facilities, construction inspection and drafting; researches engineering topics and prepares basic engineering calculations; provides technical advice to the public; coordinates plan submittals; issues permits; maintains plan files and engineering records; prepares reports; and performs related work as required.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Receives direct or general supervision from assigned supervisory or management personnel. No direct supervision of staff is exercised. May exercise technical and functional direction over assigned staff.

CLASS CHARACTERISTICS

Engineering Technician I: This is the entry-level class in the engineering technical support series. Initially, incumbents learn and perform a range of duties including receiving and responding to inquiries and complaints, maintaining engineering records, performing basic engineering calculations, performing field observations and surveys, researching engineering topics and updating maps and drawings. As knowledge and experience are gained, the work becomes broader in scope; assignments are more varied, include limited project management, and are performed under more general supervision. This class is alternately staffed with Engineering Technician II and incumbents may advance to the higher-level class after gaining the knowledge, skills and experience that meet the qualifications for and demonstrates the ability to perform the work of the higher-level class.

Engineering Technician II: This is the journey-level class in the engineering technical support series with responsibilities spanning the entire spectrum of paraprofessional engineering functions, including independent responsibilities for projects and support programs. Incumbents apply paraprofessional engineering knowledge and skills to complete assignments in engineering, mapping, surveying, contract coordination, and preparation of specifications, plans and estimates. The work requires public contact, the frequent use of tact and judgment, good knowledge of departmental operations and the ability to conduct independent projects and programs. This class is distinguished from the professional engineering series in that the latter requires a professional degree and performs professional engineering work with independent judgment.

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS (Illustrative Only)

Management reserves the right to add, modify, change or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.

• Prepares or assists in the preparation of and/or interprets specifications, plans, estimates and reports pertaining to the construction, maintenance and operation of a variety of engineering, land development, utility, and other capital improvement projects, including conducting a variety of surveys for creation of sidewalks, utility lines, and topography maps, collecting all pertinent information to create useful maps, issuing permits and work orders required for construction activities to public clients, and evaluating building plans for compliance with public works standards.
• Performs basic design and drafting duties in connection with streets, storm drains, traffic facilities and other projects.
• Performs field, office and computer-aided studies and prepares periodic and special reports based on findings from research, studies and surveys; and makes recommendations on findings.
• Receives, tags and logs, and reviews submitted engineering plans, maps, and related documents for plan check; checks calculations used in designs and estimates; routes documents to consultants or developers for preceding and following plan review; tracks status of plan checks and original documents; advises parties of revisions; contacts inspectors following plan approval to initiate construction observation.
• Performs construction inspections of public works projects to ensure compliance with contractual agreements, plans, and specifications, including preparing and recommending progress payments and change orders, evaluating possible public improvements as needed, ensuring work performed adheres to City standards, determining and noting major and minor defects, and evaluating appropriate actions in order to remedy defects as needed.
• Reviews building permit applications; confirms accuracy of submitted documents and/or requires revisions; provides written notice to applicants of required public improvements.
• Collects fees; issues permits for water and wastewater services required for new developments; issues permits for the performance of construction projects within the public right-of-way; issues transportation permits for oversized loads; records, distributes, copies, and files permits.
• Maintains engineering and traffic/transportation files, including plans, studies, inspections, surveys, maps and other data related to engineering and transportation projects; prepares, updates, reproduces, and distributes maps, drawings, blueprints, and other information recorded in GIS.
• Receives and responds to information requests from the public, consultants, engineering firms, developers, title companies, public works inspectors and staff for base maps, parcel maps and improvement plan information, encroachment permits, benchmarks, copies of maps and other geographical data, soils reports, as-builts, and street improvements; retrieves plans, reports, permits and files as necessary to comply with requests; responds to complaints from the public and resolves conflicts between owners, contractors, developers, utility companies, and others.
• Maintains and updates department records, tracking lists, permit records, and files of engineering plans, including grading, encroachments, improvements, storm drain, landscaping and final maps.
• Utilizes Computer-Aided Drafting software to create and modify engineering drawings, sketches, plot plans, site lay-outs, topographic maps, improvement plans and illustrative graphics, such as charts, illustrations, graphs for reports, drawings for design manuals and other projects.
• Utilizes Geographic Information System (GIS) to create and modify mapping, collect field data and analyze data sets.
• Prepares a variety of legal documents, including construction project contract documents, hold harmless agreements, street tree agreements, sidewalk café agreements and various others
• Performs other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge of:

• Civil engineering principles, practices and methods applicable to office and field work involving the design, construction and maintenance of public works projects.
• Basic design and construction practices and methods of streets, underground facilities and related public works infrastructure.
• Engineering plan types, review practices and permit filing and approval procedures.
• Principles and practices of technical civil engineering drafting and surveying support.
• Drafting and surveying equipment, computers, principles, problems, techniques and practices.
• Applicable Federal, State, and local laws, codes, and regulations, including administrative and department policies and procedures; State Subdivision Map Act.
• Technical engineering mathematics.
• Modern office practices, methods and computer equipment.
• Computer applications related to the work, including computer-aided drafting concepts and applications, geographic information systems (GIS) concepts and applications.
• Technical report writing practices and procedures.
• Principles and procedures of record keeping.
• English usage, grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and punctuation.
• Techniques for dealing effectively with the public, vendors, contractors and City staff, in person and over the telephone.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service to public and City staff, in person and over the telephone.
• Ability to:
• Prepare a variety of plans, specifications, maps, graphic materials, cost estimates, and technical engineering reports.
• Modify engineering drawings, topographic maps, improvement plans and illustrative graphics using Computer-Assisted Drafting (CAD) software.
• Modify and create maps using geographical information systems (GIS).
• Perform responsible technical engineering support work with accuracy, speed, and minimal supervision.
• Read and interpret engineering plans, technical drawings, specifications, and subdivision maps.
• Perform standard engineering design under professional engineering supervision.
• Make mathematical calculations and accurate engineering computations and drawings.
• Make and record accurate field engineering observations.
• Use engineering, drafting and surveying instruments and equipment, including GIS data acquisition equipment.
• Prepare clear and concise reports, correspondence, policies, procedures and other written materials.
• Apply technical research methodologies and write technical reports.
• Organize and prioritize a variety of projects and multiple tasks in an effective and timely manner; organize own work, set priorities and meet critical time deadlines.
• Operate modern office equipment including computer equipment and specialized software applications programs.
• Use English effectively to communicate in person, over the telephone and in writing.
• Use tact, initiative, prudence and independent judgment within general policy, procedural and legal guidelines.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of the work.

Education and Experience:

Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. A typical