Engineering Technician I - Sign Shop

County of Trinity CA; Weaverville (CA); On-site; USD 44,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

County of Trinity CA is seeking an Engineering Technician to support its transportation and public works programs. The role involves field and office tasks, including surveying, drafting, inspections, and permitting, under supervision.

The position may require lead responsibilities for survey crews, and collaboration with engineering staff on plans, estimates and project documentation in a county setting.

Qualifications

• Engineering fundamentals: civil and traffic engineering concepts.
• Ability to read maps, plans and construction drawings.
• Data collection, field notes, and basic survey computations.

Responsibilities

• Perform paraprofessional, technical engineering office and field support tasks.
• Serve as chief of party for survey crews and oversee field surveys.
• Prepare CAD drawings, plans, estimates and specifications for transportation projects.
• Inspect construction work to ensure conformance with plans and specs.
• Process encroachment permits and assist with contract administration.

Job description

Under direction, performs a variety of paraprofessional office and field tasks in support of the County’s engineering programs; areas of responsibility include, but are not limited to, traffic engineering, civil engineering, surveying and construction inspection/oversight; serves as Chief of Party for survey crews; prepares a variety of engineering drawings and plans; and performs related work as required.

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.

Employees at the Engineering Technician I and II levels may exercise some of these functions in a learning capacity.

Performs a variety of technical engineering office and field tasks in support of the County’s engineering programs; areas of responsibility include, but are not limited to, traffic engineering, civil engineering, surveying and construction inspection/oversight.

Provides technical support to traffic and civil engineering projects; develops and maintains files on traffic accidents; reviews subdivision and drainage improvement plans; assists with preparing requests for consultant services; processes encroachment permits in accordance with applicable policies.

Serves in a lead capacity for a survey party performing a variety of field, construction, right-of-way, topographic, and land surveys; operates a variety of surveying equipment and instruments including transits, total stations, data collectors, levels, site rods, tapes, and chains.

Develops and maintains accurate field notes, showing lines, angles, distances, benchmarks, mathematical calculations, and other pertinent field survey data; tabulates and plots field data; develops and checks notes, drawings, tracings, and engineering computations.

Checks and prepares property descriptions; researches recorded documents; performs property and right-of-way surveys; performs and calculates boundary and control surveys.

Analyzes construction plans and performs construction staking; maintains files indices and files of survey records.

Performs office technical support; utilizes Computer Aided Design (CAD) software to develop engineering drawings; performs basic contract administration and record keeping; assists with the development of estimates, plans, and specifications for a variety of Transportation Department projects.

Conducts construction inspection duties to assess workmanship on a variety of public works projects and ensure conformance with established plans and specifications inspects, samples, and tests soils, aggregates, concrete, and asphalt; compiles and prepares results for review by engineering staff.

Receives and responds to a variety of questions from the public regarding transportation department functions and activities.

Performs Permitting and Encroachment Permitting functions.

Assist or direct the Engineering Aide and Road Maintenance Workers in the performance of field work for the Pavement Maintenance Program, implementation of appropriate traffic signs or markings, and traffic control duties. Performs other duties as assigned.

Knowledge of

• Operations, services and activities of a comprehensive engineering and public works program.
• Basic fundamentals of civil and traffic engineering.
• Laws and regulations applicable to the Transportation Department functions, including the Subdivision Map Act.
• Topographical and construction survey practices and the operational characteristics of field surveying equipment.
• Engineering mathematics, including geometry and trigonometry.
• Testing procedures and equipment for construction materials.
• Principles and practices of data collection and analysis.
• Principles and practices of contract administration.
• Nomenclature, symbols, methods, practices, techniques, and instruments used in engineering and mapping.
• Operational characteristics of Computer Aided Design (CAD) systems.
• Caltrans Design Manual and Standard Plans and Specifications
• Methods and techniques of record keeping and report preparation.
• Modern office practices, methods, and computer equipment and applications related to the work.
• English usage, grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and punctuation.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and County staff.
• Permitting and encroachment permitting functions.

Ability to

• Perform a variety of paraprofessional, technical engineering office and field support work.
• Serve as chief of a survey crew.
• Reduce, interpret, and apply field notes in the performance of technical engineering and drafting work.
• Comprehend engineering plans and specifications.
• Analyze and insure the accuracy of property descriptions.
• Prepare plans, specifications, and estimates for basic Transportation Department projects.
• Develop accurate records, sketches, and notes.
• Prepare a variety of records and reports.
• Read and interpret maps, drawing, and property documents.
• Make accurate mathematical calculations.
• Safely and effectively use and operate equipment and tools required for the work.
• Prepare clear, concise and accurate reports, records, and other correspondence and documents.
• 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 and legal guidelines.
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Education and Experience

Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:

Engineering Technician I

• Equivalent to the completion of twelfth 12th grade supplemented by college level coursework in engineering, surveying, construction management or a related field, and three (3) years of experience providing technical support to an engineering or surveying program; or three (3) years of experience at a level comparable to an Engineering Aide in Trinity County.

Engineering Technician II

• In addition to the education and experience required for an Engineering Technician I, four (4) years of previous work experience, performing engineering support work at a level comparable to the Trinity County Engineering Technician I classification.

Licenses and Certifications

• Possession of a valid California Driver's License and a satisfactory driving record.
• Engineering Technician II: Successful completion of Computer Aided Design (CAD) and engineering road design courses. At the discretion of the Department Head, skills, training and experience may be substituted for the CAD certificate or other coursework in the Engineering Technician II classification.

Physical Demands

Must possess mobility to work in standard office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer; strength, stamina, and mobility to work in and around construction locations including traversing uneven terrain, climbing ladders, stairs, and other access points, and to operate a motor vehicle to visit various County and meeting sites; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person, before groups, and over the telephone. The job involves frequent walking in operational areas to conduct site inspections and survey work. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard or calculator and to operate survey tools and equipment. Positions in this classification bend, stoop, kneel, reach, and climb to perform work on survey and construction sites. Employees must possess the ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials, devices and objects up to 50 pounds, or heavier weights with the use of proper equipment or assistance.

Environmental Elements

Employees work partially in an office environment with moderate noise levels and controlled temperature conditions, and partially in the field where they are exposed to loud noise levels, cold and hot temperatures, inclement weather conditions, road hazards, vibration, and hazardous physical substances and fumes. Employees may interact with upset staff and/or public and private representatives in interpreting and enforcing departmental policies and procedures.

Supervision Received and Exercised

Receives direction from supervisory or management staff. May exercise functional and technical direction over, or training of, assigned project staff.

Class Characteristics

This is a journey level classification with responsibility for providing paraprofessional support to the County’s engineering programs. Incumbents are expected to work independently and exercise judgment and initiative. Positions at this level receive only occasional instruction or assistance as new or unusual situations arise and are fully aware of the operating procedures and policies of the work unit. This class is distinguished from the Engineering Aide class in that the latter performs lower office and field support work.

Salary

Engineering Technician I: $3926.91 - $5262.43 per month

Engineering Technician II: $4337.75 - $5813.00 per month

Disaster Service Worker

In addition to our everyday duties, we have an added responsibility to help in a declared disaster. Under California law, all public employees are Disaster Service Workers and may be called upon in the event of a disaster. The roles and responsibilities for Disaster Service Workers are authorized by the California Emergency Services Act and are defined in the California Government Code 3100-3102; Labor Code 3211.92(b).