ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN IV

City of Chicago; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 62,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Chicago's Department of Water Management is hiring two Engineering Technician IV positions in Chicago. These para-professional engineers support a range of water and sewer projects, perform field surveys, inspect construction, review plans, and help with design and testing activities.

The roles require a minimum of three years of paraprofessional engineering experience or an associate degree plus one year of experience; valid driver's license may be required.

Qualifications

• Three years of paraprofessional engineering experience or an associate degree plus one year of paraprofessional engineering work experience.
• Valid State of Illinois driver's license may be required.
• Involves field surveys, design reviews, and plan analysis.

Responsibilities

• Inspects and reviews construction work for compliance with city standards and engineering specs.
• Reviews plans, drawings, and blueprints to identify structures and ensure compliance with codes.
• Assists engineers on projects and research in planning and implementing programs.
• Performs field surveys, takes measurements, and determines elevations and alignments.

Skills

Paraprofessional engineering

Field surveys

Construction inspection

Education

Associate degree or higher

Tools

GIS mapping

CAD

Job description

Number of Positions: 2

Starting Salary: $68,616.00/year

Only employees in City job titles in this bargaining unit are eligible to bid.

• Check the box on your profile titled "Currently employed by the City of Chicago"
• Enter your employee ID (located on your pay stub labeled 'payee/employee number')
• Select your correct bargaining unit

BID/JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

Engineering Technician IV, B13

Department of Water Management

Number of Positions: 2

(Additional Vacancies Possible Pending Budget Approval)

Starting Salary: $68,616.00/year

These positions are open to the public and all current City employees covered under the City's collective bargaining agreement with AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE, COUNTY, AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES (AFSCME) - BARGAINING UNIT 1, 3, 4 & 5. Only employees in City job titles in this bargaining unit are eligible to bid.

Applications for this position will be accepted until 11:59pm CDT on August 17, 2026.

The City of Chicago is seeking two Engineering Technician IV’s to perform a full range of para-professional engineering work to support a variety of engineering projects. This work may include but are not limited to projects involving the design, maintenance and construction of water mains or sewers.

Essential Duties

• Inspects and reviews construction work and procedures for a variety of in-house and private construction projects (e.g., filtration plants, pumping stations, tunnels) to ensure compliance with City requirements and engineering specifications and standards and recommends project approvals.
• Conduct investigations or inspections of construction sites or structures in response to citizen complaints, work orders, permit and/or certification requests (e.g. sewer and water main maintenance.
• Reviews electronic and as-built blueprints, sketches, and design plans to identify structures and ensure compliance with City codes and engineering principles.
• Assists resident engineers on projects and in the research, planning, and implementation of new or improved engineering programs or projects.
• Reviews and approvals permit requests for technical accuracy and compliance, and calculate fees (e.g., sewer).
• Conduct field surveys and take measurements to establish slopes, baselines, grade elevations and horizontal and vertical alignments at sewers, etc.
• Check forms and construction/street structures (e.g., concrete, sewers, curbs, gutters, street repaving, catch basins, earthwork, retaining walls) for compliance with engineering standards and City requirements.
• Conducts dye testing, collects field samples of water and soil and recommends cleaning and remediation efforts.
• Oversee construction laborers performing manual labor to assist in the inspection and testing of water leaks and sewer mains.
• Prepares mathematical calculations (e.g., dimensions, elevations, and stress) to ensure accuracy of field measurements.
• Determine quantity of materials and cost estimates for a variety of construction projects (e.g., curb, gutter and street restoration).
• Monitors the functioning of water pipes with aqua phone/audio phone and sound level meter and perform fire flow and pitometer testing.
• Utilizes drafting and design software programs (e.g., Computer Aided Design) and Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping technology to prepare and/or review plans, maps, schematics and drawings.
• Utilizes Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping technology and analysis for physical space planning analysis.
• Evaluates and interprets contract plans for street and roadway improvement projects from sketches and other data sources including field survey notes.
• Maintains historical technical records and documents (e.g., plans, blueprints, as-builts, atlases) related to the City's infrastructure.
• Provides technical information at hearings and legal proceedings, as required.
• May train and advise less experienced Engineering Technicians, as required.
• Performs underground leak detection on water and sewer infrastructure.
• Utilizes plats pages to measure and mark water and sewer infrastructure.
• Conduct field surveys and perform dying testing.

Additional Duties May Be Required For This Position

Location: 7521 S Western

Days: Monday - Friday

Hours: 7:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

THIS POSITION IS IN THE CAREER SERVICE

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Three (3) years of paraprofessional engineering experience. Should the above criteria not be fulfilled, the following options are acceptable: or Graduation from an accredited college or university with an Associate's degree or higher, plus one (1) year of paraprofessional engineering work experience.

Notes

• Some positions may require a valid State of Illinois driver's license
• Some positions may require the permanent use of an automobile that is properly insured including a clause specifically insuring the City of Chicago from accident liability

Working Conditions

• General office environment
• Exposure to outdoor weather conditions
• Exposure to hazardous conditions (e.g., construction sites)
• May perform in cramped or confined locations

Physical Requirements

• Some positions may require moderate lifting (up to 50 lbs)
• Ability to stand and walk for extended or continuous periods of time
• Ability to move one's hands and arms to grasp or manipulate objects

Selection Requirements

This position requires bidders/applicants to successfully complete an interview. The interviewed candidate(s) who possess the qualifications best suited to fulfill the responsibilities of the position will be selected.

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY

To further our commitment to hiring applicants with diverse experience the City of Chicago has adopted the following ordinances 2-74-020 and 2-74-075. The ordinances provide a preference to applicants who meet minimum qualifications and who are veterans of the Armed Forces, and/or residents of Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Areas (SEDA) and/or Chicago Public School (CPS) high school graduates to be referred to departments for consideration. These hiring preferences do not apply to bidders, as Collective Bargaining Agreements define the hiring process for bidders. For positions covered by a collective bargaining agreement, bidders will be considered before external candidates.

ALL REFERENCES TO POLITICAL SPONSORSHIP OR RECOMMENDATION MUST BE OMITTED FROM ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS SUBMITTED FOR CITY EMPLOYMENT.

The City of Chicago in an Equal Employment Opportunity and Military Friendly Employer.

City of Chicago

Brandon Johnson, Mayor

Job Posting

Aug 3, 2026, 12:00:00 AM