Engineering Technician III

Office of the County Engineer; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, vision, and dental insurance

Wellness

Professional development opportunities

Flexible spending accounts

457 deferred compensation plans

Retirement pension (TCDRS)

Transportation assistance (Metro Ride)

Job summary

Harris County's Household Hazardous Waste program seeks a seasoned supervisor to oversee daily HHW collection, handling, and disposal, ensuring compliance with safety and environmental standards.

The role requires strong technical knowledge, clear public interaction, and leadership of field technicians in safe operating practices. Applicants must adapt to outdoor conditions and maintain accurate documentation.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required for employment.
• Associate degree or higher in a scientific discipline preferred.
• Five years of HHW service or related facility experience required.
• Must complete 40-hour HAZWOPER training within two months of employment if not previously trained.
• Must be forklift operator trained or able to obtain certification within six months.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day HHW collection, handling, and disposal activities per safety and regulatory standards.
• Provide team lead guidance to HHW Technicians and review protocol execution.
• Maintain detailed hazardous material inventory and support shipment forecasting.
• Assist the public with questions and guidance on HHW services.
• Identify training needs and support program improvement strategies.

Education

High school diploma or GED

Associate degree or higher in a scientific discipline

Tools

Forklift operation

Job description

Position Overview

This position supports Harris County’s Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) program by overseeing day-to-day HHW collection, handling, and disposal activities in accordance with all safety, environmental, and regulatory standards. The role requires strong technical knowledge of hazardous materials management, clear and professional public interaction, and the ability to lead field technicians in safe operating practices. This position must be highly adaptable to outdoor and potentially adverse working conditions while ensuring accurate documentation, compliant waste segregation, and consistent delivery of high-quality service to county residents.

Position Description

This position supports Harris County’s Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) program by overseeing day-to-day HHW collection, handling, and disposal activities in accordance with all safety, environmental, and regulatory standards. The role requires strong technical knowledge of hazardous materials management, clear and professional public interaction, and the ability to lead field technicians in safe operating practices. This position must be highly adaptable to outdoor and potentially adverse working conditions while ensuring accurate documentation, compliant waste segregation, and consistent delivery of high-quality service to county residents.

Job Duties

• Performs advanced technical program operations and service execution in compliance with applicable local, state, federal, and HHW-specific regulatory requirements, including vendor standards and protocols.
• Conducts detailed hazardous material inventory logging to support shipment forecasting, coordination, and operational readiness.
• Provides team lead-level guidance to HHW Technicians through ongoing field assessments and review of HHW protocol execution.
• Identifies additional training needs and assists with employee training and program improvement strategies.
• Assists the public with questions regarding HHW program services and provides guidance on general and industry-standard practices.
• Reports issues that may disrupt service or program operations.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer

https://hrrm.harriscountytx.gov/Pages/EqualEmploymentOpportunityPlan.aspx

If you need special services or accommodations, please call [phone] or email [e-mail] .

This position is subject to a criminal history check. Only relevant convictions will be considered and, even when considered, may not automatically disqualify the candidate.

Requirements

Education

• A high school diploma or G.E.D. equivalent is required.

Experience

• Five (5) years of experience working in a Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) service or similar facility.
• Must complete 40-hour HAZWOPER training within two (2) months of employment if not previously trained.
• Must be forklift operator trained or certified, or able to obtain required training and certification within six (6) months of hire.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities (KSAs)

• Must demonstrate a strong work ethic and willingness to work outdoors.
• Ability to interact effectively with the public and provide leadership to team members.
• Ability to operate all required facility equipment and maintain a safe and compliant work environment.
• Ability to perform classification testing on unknown materials and identify incompatible wastes.
• Valid driver’s license (Texas Driver’s License required upon hire) and a clean driving record.
• Ability to safely operate a County vehicle while towing a trailer.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Emergency Deployment & Continuity Of Operations Requirement

In accordance with Harris County’s Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) Policy, this position is subject to emergency response and deployment protocols. The employee may be designated as supporting a Mission Essential Function (MEF) and must:

• Participate in the classification of departmental staff based on MEF responsibilities.
• Be available for temporary deployment to an alternative work location, role, or telework assignment during emergencies.
• Confirm work assignments with their supervisor before reporting to any worksite during such events.
• Remain flexible in assuming alternative duties as directed to support continuity of County operations.

Preferences

Education

• An associate degree or higher in a scientific discipline.

Experience

• Ten (10) years or more years of field experience in Household Hazardous Waste services or a closely related field.

General Information

Position Type And Typical Hours Of Work

Full-Time | Regular | 40 hours per week.

Subject to early mornings, late evenings, weekends, and holidays at times, depending upon the project or workload.

Salary

Commensurate experience, based on 26 pay periods.

Physical Demands And Environmental Exposure

May be exposed to varying amounts of noxious odors and dust. Occasionally exposed to intermittent or continued loud and insistent noises. Must be comfortable working outside in all seasons and weather extremes.

Requires frequent lifting of up to 50 pounds, moving waste containers up to 1,800 pounds with a pallet jack, drum dolly, or forklift. Work for extended periods in hot, cold, or otherwise inclement weather. Frequent bending, walking, standing, sitting, reaching, lifting, carrying, and frequent ascending/descending stairs. Wear personal protective equipment (PPE), including a respirator.

FEATURED BENEFITS

• Medical, vision, and dental insurance.
• Wellness.
• Professional development opportunities.
• Flexible spending accounts.
• 457 deferred compensation plans.
• Retirement pension (TCDRS).
• Transportation assistance (Metro Ride Sponsor Program).
• Disability and life insurance.

Harris County is a Qualified Employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF).