Engineering Technician

Under general supervision, performs advanced para professional engineering and drafting work Employee must exercise initiative and independent judgment in ensuring that necessary work and accompanying paperwork is performed in a timely manner. Employee must also exercise tact and courtesy in frequent contact with developers, contractors, and the general public. Reports to the Division Manager depending on the department assigned.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described.  Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description, but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties just as though they were actually written out in this job description.

• Investigates complaints from the general public pertaining to departmental services or programs, or refers to appropriate official.

• Assists the general public and consultants with locating file information, maps, etc.

• Assists in creating and maintaining department filing system and maintains accurate and current records for private site and engineering plans, including electronic files.

• Assists consulting/private engineers, land developers and the general public in obtaining information regarding existing or proposed water, sewer, and stormwater and roadway facilities within the City of Suffolk.

• Assists in maintaining a log of department's fixed assets (i.e. accepted sewer and water mains, sanitary sewer pump stations & the land and easements associated with the pump stations and mains, subdivision streets and related infrastructure, as well as stormwater management facilities).

• Assists departmental staff in preparing public presentations to the City Council and community organizations.

• Performs engineering and GIS related activities and drafting work for the Public Utilities or Public Works Department and other City departments.

• May review and field inspects stormwater infrastructure.

• May provide detailed monitoring reports and assists the Public Works Engineering Division staff.

• May locate physical stormwater features and verifies as-builts using GPS technology as part of field surveying.

• May conduct field sampling and monitoring of stormwater runoff and maintains data base.

• May Import, export and post processes collected data using the GPS Unit, GIS software and other computer equipment.

• May review plans for the location of stormwater features.

• May assist in the maintenance of the impervious surface inventory.

• May review engineering and bond estimates

• May assist with Erosion and Sediment Control inspections.

• May assist in reviewing private development plans for the extension of sanitary sewer and water systems.

• May assist in preparing information and comments on the various Land Use Applications submitted as they pertain to the Department of Public Utilities available sewer and water facilities.

• May answer any questions that may arise from assisting Engineers, Planners and Land Developers pertaining to departmental policy, procedures and location of available water and sewer facilities.

• May review cost estimates submitted to the Department pertaining to the appropriateness of said costs based on a history of construction costs collected for recent projects.

• May review major and minor subdivision plats and easements.

• May review Bond Reduction requests submitted to the Construction Manager and the Construction Inspector assigned to the project, decides on the amount of reduction to the Performance Bond the Department will consider.

• May assist in acquiring right-of-way and easements for utility projects.

• May assist in locating physical water and sewer structures and verifies as-builts using GPS technology.

• May import, export, and post processes collected data using GPS equipment, GIS software and other computer equipment.

• May assist in evaluating the availability of water and sewer connections and the applicability of providing premise set-up in the City's utility billing system.

• Reviews applications for Flow Certificate and flow assurance letters and Right-of-Way permits.

• Prepares portable equipment forms and other documents for Health Department approval. prepares reports for land use permits.

• Reviews plats and performance bond estimates.

• Performs other related duties as required.

Graduation from a two-year college or technical school with major course work in civil engineering or a related field, and 3 to 5 years of experience in civil engineering, water and sewer utilities, surveying or a related field; or any equivalent combination of training and experience which provide the required skills, knowledge and abilities.  Requires a valid driver's license.

Possession of a valid driver's license; in addition, for the Department of Public Works, a DCR E&S Certification.

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of civil engineering as applied to design and construction of public works and utilities facilities.

• Knowledge of municipal engineering objectives, purposes, methods and practices.

• Knowledge of land and engineering survey systems, methods and techniques.

• Knowledge of the procedures, methods and techniques of preparing bid specifications.

• Knowledge of federal, State and local laws, regulations and codes governing municipal public works and utilities construction and design.

• Knowledge of State and local laws, ordinances and codes pertaining to new construction.

• Knowledge of modern building construction practices, materials, and equipment, and of the various stages of construction when violations and defects should be observed and corrected.

• Skilled in the use of engineering, drafting and surveying equipment and tools.

• Ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural or compositional characteristics (whether similar or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people or things.

• Ability of speaking and/or signaling people to convey or exchange information. Includes receiving instructions, assignments or directions from superiors.

• Ability to read a variety of reports, letters and memos, site plans, etc. Requires the ability to prepare correspondence, reports, forms, etc., using prescribed formats. Requires the ability to speak with poise, voice control and confidence.

• Ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions; to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagrammatic form; and to deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

• Ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow oral and written instructions. Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in a variety of technical or professional languages including engineering and legal terminology.

• Ability to utilize mathematical formulas; to add and subtract; multiply and divide; utilize decimals and percentages; understand and apply the theories of algebra, geometry, and trigonometry.

• Ability to inspect items for proper length, width and shape.

• Ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under stress and when confronted with persons acting under stress.

• Ability to read and interpret construction plans, blueprints and engineering specifications, and GIS mapping and databases.

• Ability to adapt engineering methods and standards to the design and construction of a variety of public works and utilities facilities.

• Ability to perform moderately difficult computations and prepare engineering cost estimates.

• Ability to lay out and supervise public works engineering projects.

• Ability to prepare technical reports.

• Ability to exercise independent judgment and initiative in applying standards to a variety of work situations.

• Ability to exercise considerable tact and courtesy in frequent contact with the public.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships as necessitated by work assignments.