Engineering Technician

Engineering Technician

The City of La Palma is seeking a motivated and detail-oriented professional to join our team as an Engineering Technician. This position offers an opportunity to work on a variety of public works and infrastructure projects that directly serve the La Palma community.

The Engineering Technician performs a broad range of paraprofessional engineering duties and assists with the planning, design, construction, and administration of City infrastructure projects, including streets, water, storm drain, sewer, traffic systems, and public areas.

The ideal candidate is organized, resourceful, and able to manage multiple assignments while exercising sound judgment and initiative. The City is looking for someone with knowledge of engineering principles and practices as applied to public works and the ability to review project designs, interpret plans and specifications, conduct inspections, prepare clear reports and records, and effectively communicate with coworkers, consultants, contractors, public agencies, and the community.

Essential duties include, but are not limited to, the following: Plans and coordinates activities of designated projects from initiation to completion to ensure that timelines, goals, and objectives specified for projects are accomplished in accordance with prescribed priorities, time limitations, and funding conditions. Prepares Requests for Proposal and bid packages to solicit bids from consultants, contractors, and vendors, including scope of services. Analyzes and evaluates bids and recommends consultants for selection. Prepares staff reports related to assigned projects. Manages funding for all assigned projects and solicits funding from federal, state, and county governments for new projects. Reviews a variety of maps, drawings, tracings, notes, and engineering computations and checks for accuracy and format; may review for conformance to established engineering practices, and compliance with state and county laws, ordinances, and regulations. Provides public counter assistance interpreting and explaining code, permit, and statute requirements, engineering specifications, and other related municipal, state and federal regulations to construction contractors, architects, engineers, builders, public agencies, utility companies, property owners, and the general public; may prepare and issue various Public Works permits; may provide information regarding specific locations within the City such as easements, public right-of-way, property jurisdiction, and utility information. Assists in the preparation of specifications related to the construction and maintenance of a variety of projects in accordance with City, state, and federal guidelines; assists in the preparation of project cost estimates, quantities calculations, and materials costs. Provides liaison to contractor representatives in coordinating capital improvement projects; monitors project construction activity; prepares change orders as necessary to recommend alteration of plans and specifications; lays out and calculates quantities and cost estimates for capital improvement projects. Provides liaison function with other governmental agencies in assisting with the development, planning, design, construction, and administration of cooperatively funded projects and programs. Makes field check inspections of project sites to become familiar with features and to verify progress; collects, tabulates and analyzes traffic information; may conduct traffic studies that may include observing traffic patterns, taking traffic counts, and turning movements. Prepares exhibits, drawings, and maps using CAD and other computer applications for reports, presentations, and maintenance work orders. Assists in processing related notices, reports and public hearing documents; and assists in project administration. Prepares a variety of technical engineering reports for other governmental agencies and/or programs and including but not limited to: Disadvantage Business Enterprise Program, National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSO), and Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS). Performs other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Knowledge of: Engineering principles and practices as applied to public works; related federal and state laws, ordinances, and regulations; methods and techniques utilized in the preparation of public works projects, designs, and related plans, specifications, and cost estimates; the principles, methods, and equipment utilized in surveying and materials testing. Ability to: Perform para-professional engineering work, including project design review, conduct inspections and evaluate construction relative to approved plans and specifications; coordinate the work of others involved in related activities; prepare and maintain records and prepare reports; interpret and apply related laws, ordinances, and regulations; communicate effectively both orally and in writing; establish and maintain positive and effective working relationships with management, co-workers, the public and others contacted in the course of the work; work effectively with other governmental agencies in the processing of cooperatively funded projects.

The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Physical Demands While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls, and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to sit, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee is required to talk, to hear at a normal conversational level and smell. Hand-eye coordination is necessary to operate drafting instruments, computers, and various pieces of office equipment. The employee infrequently lifts and/or moves up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Work Environment Work is performed mostly in an office setting with some outdoor work required for the inspection of various land use developments, construction sites, or public works facilities. The employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts and is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate. NOTE: All employees of the City of La Palma are designated by both State law and City ordinance to be "Disaster Service Workers." In the event of a declared emergency or any undeclared emergency or natural disaster that threatens the life, health, and/or safety of the public, employees may be assigned to assist rescue and relief workers. Such assignments may be in locations, during hours, and performing work significantly different from the employees' normal work assignments and may continue through the recovery phase of the emergency.

The City offers a highly competitive compensation package which is dependent upon qualifications. The City's attractive benefits package includes the following: Retirement – The City offers the CalPERS 2% at 62 formula for new CalPERS members.; OR 2% at 60 formula for existing CalPERS members with less than a six-month break in service from another CalPERS or CalPERS reciprocal agency. Employees are responsible for paying the full Employee contribution through payroll deduction. Additional details on the City's retirement plan will be provided to candidates during the job offer process. For further information about CalPERS, please contact CalPERS directly. The City does not participate in Social Security except for the mandatory Medicare Program. Medical Insurance - The City contracts with CalPERS to offer medical insurance to employees and their eligible dependents. The City provides a monthly health benefit allowance to be used toward monthly health insurance premiums currently $667.49 Employee Only, $1,156.49 Employee + 1, $1,415.49 Employee + 2. Wellness Program - All employees and their dependents are enrolled in a confidential Employee Assistance Program. Dental Insurance - The City provides dental coverage for employees and their eligible dependents. The City pays 100% of the premium and has a reimbursement program (up to 30%) for crowns. Vision Insurance - The City has a vision care reimbursement program (up to $400) per employee and their eligible dependents per fiscal year. Life Insurance – The City contracts with The Standard Insurance Company to provide $100,000 in basic group term life insurance for employees with additional coverage for eligible dependents. Employees may purchase additional coverage by participating in AFLAC plans. Disability Insurance – The City provides short and long term disability insurance coverage with the City paying 100% of the premium. Flexible Spending Accounts – The City currently offers a flexible spending account plan through which employees may set aside pre-tax dollars for a wide variety of eligible non-reimbursable medical expenses for themselves or their eligible dependents and/or eligible dependent care expenses. Additional Insurance Opportunities – The City contracts with AFLAC to provide additional health, dental, and life insurance coverage, as well as many other reimbursable plans. Employees may set up these accounts as pre-tax dollars. Deferred Compensation Accounts – The City offers employees the opportunity to defer a portion of their pre-tax earnings through a deferred compensation plan offered by MissionSquare. Participation and contribution amounts are at the employee's discretion. Retiree Health Benefits – The City contributes the minimum Public Employees Medical and Hospital Care Act (PEMHCA) contribution, currently $160 per month, toward retiree medical insurance for retirees who elect to continue their CalPERS medical coverage into retirement. The City does not offer retiree dental or vision coverage. Holidays - Ten (10) paid fixed holidays and 40 hours of paid floating holiday time annually are provided. Employees are required to use either floating holiday time, vacation time, or compensatory time to facilitate a holiday closure between Christmas and New Years. Vacation - Full-time employees entering service after July 1, 2011, earn 80 hours of annual vacation leave per year and can accrue a total balance of 120 hours, increasing incrementally after 5 years of service. Sick Leave - 96 hours per year and can accrue a total balance of 760 hours. Bilingual Pay – The City offers employees the opportunity to test once per year for bilingual accuracy. After successfully passing an interactive test