Engineering Technician

Job Summary

Are you looking for an opportunity to apply your technical skills in a collaborative and dynamic environment? The City of Lakewood's Planning and Public Works Department is a talented team of professionals dedicated to improving the quality of life for all Lakewood residents. The Department oversees a wide range of services, including community planning, transportation and stormwater infrastructure, lake management, building and land use permitting, rental housing programs, economic development, and more.

This position is part of the Engineering Services Division and plays a key role in supporting engineering permit reviews and capital projects within the City. As an Engineering Technician, you will support the City's street lighting and school zone lights, assign task orders to the City's electrical services contractor, manage the traffic signal inventory, and perform utility locates for City-owned street lighting, traffic signals, and storm drainage. Other duties include reviewing engineering permits; collecting roadway field data, such as traffic and pedestrian counts, pavement condition, and GIS asset information; and using CAD to assist engineers with preparing designs and plans. This role works closely with applicants, contractors, and the public, so a customer-service mindset and clear communication are important.

See the full job details below and apply today to join our great team!

This is an AFSCME represented position.

This recruitment is open until filled. The hiring manager reserves the right to make a hiring decision at any time. Interested candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible for best consideration. First review of application on 12/4/2026.

*This recruitment may be used to fill additional vacancies within six (6) months of posting closure.

Essential Duties

Engineering Function: Apply survey information and reduce field notes to complete base mapping and draft designs and drawings for various engineering and planning projects such as storm sewers, sanitary sewers, water mains, and streets. Perform a variety of related office or field tasks to gather, analyze and record data and otherwise assist engineers in preparation of specifications.

Development Review Function: Review pre-application information for new development proposals; visit site to ascertain existing conditions; prepare the pre-application comments based on applicable City codes and ordinances. Review site development plans for compliance with City standards relating to right-of-ways, sidewalks, curbs, pedestrian ramps, driveways, roadways, and storm drainage. Review storm drainage reports, traffic impact analysis reports, and other traffic related studies for compliance with City standards. Calculate permit fees. Coordinate locating City-owned underground infrastructure as part of the regional utility notification process.

Construction Inspection Function: Perform construction and "as-built" inspections by overseeing assigned public works projects to assure conformance to plans and specifications; process inspection records with appropriate department personnel. Maintain records of construction projects from information supplied by engineers; compile and compute data for contractors' progress pay estimates. Perform field tests.

Traffic Engineering Function: Assist in field traffic studies: conduct manual traffic counts, turning movement, traffic speed, and delay studies; set out traffic counters for intersection approach volume, crosswalk evaluation, and traffic volumes, compile data and prepare appropriate recommendations and reports. Maintain record keeping and data tracking systems of traffic and complaint data including traffic accident, speed and count databases.

All Functions: Perform technical research, present reports, information and presentations at meetings. Answer questions from the public regarding particular area(s) of expertise. Perform a variety of related office or field tasks to gather and record data. Provide support to other City departments including computer generated maps and exhibits. Perform related duties as assigned.

Education, Experience, and Other Requirements

Any combination of education and experience equivalent to two years of college level courses related to civil engineering and three years of work experience using CADD to design roads, storm drainage, water and/or sewer systems. Proficiency with AutoCAD Civil 3D is preferred. Must possess and maintain a valid Washington driver's license and a satisfactory driving record throughout employment.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

KNOWLEDGE OF: Terminology, methods, practices, and techniques of drafting and computer aided design. Trigonometry as applied to the computation of angles, areas, distances, and traverses. Basic principles and practices of surveying. Basic principles and practices of civil engineering including hydrology, hydraulics, soils, water and sewer utility design, and basic structures. Design and construction theory and engineering design standards. Principles, methods, materials, equipment, and safety standards of construction inspection. Engineering maps and records. Construction plans and specifications. Applicable City, State and Federal codes, ordinances, specifications, procedures and standards. Techniques, procedures and instruments used in engineering design, drafting, surveying and mathematics. CADD and other engineering software applications to generate and modify construction drawings. Environmental policies and laws applicable to assigned engineering projects. Interpersonal skills using tact, patience, and courtesy. Modern office procedures, methods, and computer equipment.

ABILITY TO: Analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action. Understand and follow oral and written instructions. Communicate effectively both orally and in writing. Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with others. Operate a variety of office machines including a personal computer and related software applications. Perform responsible technical duties related to the development of engineering projects, the layout of plans, and the inspection of existing utilities. Design or review engineering plans for various engineering projects to ensure compliance with applicable codes, standards, and specifications. Assist in compliance and compatibility review with existing systems and applicable codes, standards, specifications and practices. Calculate, verify and plot field survey results. Communicate with agencies, the public and City management to answer questions and provide information. Interpret, apply and explain local, state and federal codes, rules, regulations, policies and procedures. Read, review and understand engineering plans and specifications. Prepare design drawings using CADD equipment and software. Meet schedules and time lines.

ENVIRONMENT: Indoor office environment; occasional outside work; driving a vehicle to conduct work at project sites.

PHYSICAL ABILITIES: Walking on uneven surfaces and steep slopes; sitting and standing for extended periods of time; seeing to read maps and data; speaking and hearing to communicate with others; dexterity of hands and fingers to operate computer keyboard; reaching overhead, above the shoulders and horizontally to retrieve and maintain files. HAZARDS: Occasional exposure to working below ground level in manholes and catch basins; to traffic while working in and adjacent to roadway; and to construction equipment while working in construction zones.

Benefits

BENEFITS SUMMARY for AFSCME MEMBERS This is a summary of benefits and is not meant to be all inclusive. Please refer to Local 1938, Washington State Council of County and City Employees of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees collective bargaining agreement, City policies and plan booklets for details.

WORK HOURS The normal work week is five consecutive days of not more than eight hours per day, exclusive of lunch period. City Hall is open to the public from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Where appropriate, alternative work schedules may be established, providing that not more than forty hours are scheduled per work week.

SALARY INCREASES Step increases are granted annually upon successful completion of a performance evaluation until the maximum of the salary range is reached.

HOLIDAYS Employees are granted the following paid holidays: New Year's Day M.L. King, Jr. Day Presidents' Day Memorial Day Juneteenth Independence Day Labor Day Veterans' Day Thanksgiving the day after Thanksgiving Christmas day Employees accrue one floating holiday on their anniversary date, which must be used within the following 12 month period. Holiday pay is pro-rated for employees scheduled to work less than 40 hours per week.

PAID TIME OFF Paid time off leave is a benefit granted to employees to continue normal compensation during approved absences. Leave may be accumulated for succeeding years; however, the maximum accrual may not exceed 1,100 hours at the end of the calendar year.

Accrual Rate: During the 1st year 200 hours of leave per year After the 1st thru 2nd year 208 hours of leave per year After the 2nd thru 4th year 216 hours of leave per year After the 4th thru 9th year 232 hours of leave per year After the 9th thru 14th year 264 hours of leave per year After the 14th thru 20th year 296 hours of leave per year After the 20th thru 29th year 312 hours of leave per year After the 29th year 320 hours of leave per year Paid time off leave accrual is pro-rated for employees scheduled to work less than 40 hours per week.

SHARED LEAVE If an employee exhausts all paid leave because of medical reasons, they may be eligible to receive donated paid time off leave from other employees.

MILITARY LEAVE Employees who are members of any federal military reserve unit or the Washington National Guard will receive up to twenty-one working days of paid leave during each year beginning October 1