Engineering Technician

DEFINITION:

Under varying degrees of direction, performs a variety of office and field duties including planning, design and coordinating construction and maintenance of District facilities; develops construction plans and drawings; prepares reports, easements, contract documents and other engineering documents, provide assistance to other engineering staff, customers, construction personnel, outside agencies and others as necessary; and performs other related duties as required.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:

Engineering Technician I: This is the entry-journey level class of the Engineering Technician series. Incumbents work under immediate supervision performing assigned tasks. Incumbents may have a limited job related experience, are trained on the job; and as they gain more experience, incumbents are assigned tasks requiring some degree of independent initiate and judgment. Employee must successfully complete Level I Core Values training.

Engineering Technician II: This is the intermediate-journey level class of the Engineering Technician series. Incumbents are distinguished from the Engineering Technician I by performing assigned tasks requiring some degree of independent initiative and judgment but still working under immediate supervision. To qualify for this position, employee must have successfully completed Level I Core Values training and consistently demonstrated FID Core Values in the workplace. Incumbent must successfully complete Level II Core Values training.

Engineering Technician III: This is the advanced-journey level class of the Engineering Technician series. Incumbents are distinguished from the Engineering Technician II by performing assigned tasks requiring a high degree of technical knowledge, supervisory ability, independent initiative and judgment. Incumbents at this level require only occasional instruction or assistance as new or unusual situations arise; and are fully aware of the operating procedures and policies of the District. To qualify for the III position, incumbent must have successfully completed Level II Core Values training and consistently demonstrated FID Core Values in the workplace. As an Engineering Technician III, incumbent must successfully complete Level III Core Values training.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED:

This position does not supervise. However, all employees are expected to orientate, train, and assist other employees within the department and general office.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES:

The duties listed below represent the various types of work and essential functions that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them if the work is related or a logical assignment to this class.

• Developer/agency reviews:

• Respond to public agency reviews, including reviewing and responding to city/county development projects; reviews parcel maps, conditional use permits, environmental impact reports, public right of way vacations, etc.
• Provide assistance and coordination to other engineering staff, customers, construction personnel, municipalities, consulting engineers, utilities and other entities in matters relating to District facilities. Provide feedback and evaluation of project designs, reports, specifications, and recommendations from third-party engineering companies.
• Review construction plans, contract specifications, cost estimates, agreements and documents developed by the Developer, or Agency, or Consultant.
• Prepare reports, easements, contract documents, and other engineering documents.
• Evaluate and coordinate engineering and administration of construction between utilities, engineering firms, developers, and agencies.

• Developer/agency construction projects:

• Inspect construction and maintenance projects for conformity to construction plans and District standards.
• Manage developer/agency projects.
• Coordinates with other departments.

• Landowner Projects:

• Prepare and/or review construction plans, contract specifications, cost estimates, agreements and documents developed by the landowner/grower.

• Surface and Ground Water

• Groundwater and surface water sampling.
• Prepare water quality and groundwater reports.
• Monitoring well network measurements (including coordination with other Engineering staff and NKGSA for data management).
• Monitoring well data logger operation and maintenance.
• Implement banking facility monitoring plan, including coordination with consultant and other District departments.

• General

• Serve as a right of way agent protecting the District's rights of way and easements.
• Research District and other agency agreements.
• Prepare/coordinate legal descriptions, District agreements and easements.
• Review encroachments and prepare response letters.
• Handle developer, grower, realtor, and other public inquiries over the phone and at the counter.
• Coordinate FID pipeline location services.
• Prepare and issue FID permits for third parties
• Represents the District at various meetings and before various state and local agencies.
• Assists in general data gathering and analysis.
• Assist District Engineers with development of construction drawings, specifications, and exhibits.

• Surveying

• Conduct field surveys, review field data, and incorporate data into construction drawings.

• Inspection

• Assists in the completion of construction diaries and record-keeping pertaining to District construction projects and provides record drawing information to Project Manager/Chief Engineer for permanent record.
• Interprets construction plans and specifications in accordance with District standards, and verifies construction is consistent with plans and specifications.
• Assists in the inspection and recommendation of maintenance or repair of District facilities.
• Conduct inspections including agency, developer, and District projects.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS:

Education, Training, and Experience:

Any combination of experience and education that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:


Education

Engineering Technician III position requires an Associate's degree or equivalent from an accredited vocational school, college or university with major course work in mathematics, engineering, and/or drafting. Equivalent course work in related fields may be considered for the Engineering Technician III position; High School diploma or equivalent required for the Engineering Technician I and II positions.

Training

Engineering Technician I: Must have knowledge of mathematics including algebra; modern office procedures, computer programs and applications software. Must have the ability to prepare and maintain accurate records and files; prepare basic construction estimates, prepare reports and correspondence; read and prepare maps and engineering plans; and perform groundwater well measurements, survey assistance, and other field-related tasks.

Engineering Technician II: In addition to the qualifications for the Engineering Technician I, incumbent must have knowledge of: trigonometry and geometry; engineering drafting methods and procedures (manual and computer based); contracts and agreements; nomenclature, symbols, methods, practices, techniques and instruments used in engineering, mapping and drafting; basic principles of hydraulic engineering; and methods and equipment related to surveying; rights-of-way and real estate law relating to easement and encroachment; incumbent must have ability to interpret policies, rules and procedures; prepare written documents incorporating information from engineering and other departments; prepare basic engineering plans; and read and interpret legal descriptions and maintain accurate records and files; prepare reports and correspondence; prepare complex estimates, and read and prepare maps and engineering plans.

Engineering Technician III: In addition to the qualifications for the Engineering Technician II, must have knowledge of: land survey methods, equipment, and techniques; principles of designing and constructing irrigation structures; must have ability to prepare complex written documents incorporating information from engineering and other departments; and write legal descriptions; operate and adjust survey equipment; prepare complex reports and correspondence; prepare complex budgetary and financial reports, prepare recommendations and plans to implement decisions; and read and prepare complex maps and engineering plans.

Experience

Technician I - Two (2) years of related technical or construction experience.

Technician II - Four (4) years of related technical and construction experience.

Technician III - Six (6) years of related technical and construction experience.

An associate's degree with major course work in mathematics, engineering, and/or drafting may count towards the required years of experience.

Licenses and Certificates:

Possession of a valid California class C driver's license may be required at the time of appointment. Failure to obtain or maintain such required license(s) may be cause for disciplinary action. Individuals who do not meet this requirement due to physical disability will be considered for accommodation on a case-by-case basis.


Possession and proof of a good driving record as evidenced by freedom from multiple or serious traffic violations or accidents for at least two (2) years duration. The driving record will not contribute to an increase in the District's automobile rates.

One way to achieve competence at all three Technician levels is obtaining inspection credentials through a reputable source, to be determined by the department head.

Knowledge of:

• Mathematics including algebra, trigonometry, and geometry.
• Basic principles of hydraulic engineering.
• Principles of designing and constructing irrigation structures.
• Modern office procedures, computer programs and applications software.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite of software with emphasis in Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Contracts and agreements.
• Rights of way and real estate law relating to easement and encroachment.
• Legal descriptions of land easements.
• Land survey methods, equipment, and techniques.
• Nomenclature, symbols, methods, practices, procedures, techniques and instruments used in engineering, mapping and drafting.
• Issues affecting water districts.
• Groundwater well construction and related measurement tools/dataloggers.

Ability to:

• Prepare and maintain accurate records and files.
• Prepare construction estimates
• Read, interpret, and/or prepare engineering plans and specifications.
• Read and prepare maps.
• Proficient in computer aided drafting. Ability to use GIS software to develop basic maps.
• Prepare complex reports and correspondence, which may include information from Engineering and other departments.
• Read, interpret, and/or prepare legal descriptions.
• Interpret policies, rules and procedures.
• Operate and maintain land survey equipment.
• Operate and maintain groundwater well measurement tools and systems.
• Prepare recommendations to assist with decision making.
• Handle and deescalate difficult/confrontational situations.
• Interact with the general public, contractors, and agencies.

Physical and Mental Standards

The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by employees to successfully perform the essential functions of this class. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Travels frequently by motor vehicle in conducting and coordinating surveys and other District business.
• Communicates verbally with management, co-workers, and the public in face to face, one on one and group settings.
• Regularly uses a telephone for communication.
• Uses office equipment such as computers, tablets, plotters, and copy machines.
• Frequently walks on uneven terrain, in an outdoor environment, in varied weather conditions, conducting field reconnaissance, meetings, and engineering surveys.
• Occasionally required to climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• Sits for extended periods of time.
• Walk for extended distances.
• Hearing within normal ranges.
• Operates field survey instruments requiring acute vision and excellent eye-hand coordination.
• Regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, occasionally lift or move up to 40 pounds.

Other Conditions of Employment:

• Employee will follow all safety rules.
• Employee will observe and follow all District policies and regulations.
• Employee will report to work at the appointed time for each day he or she is scheduled to work.
• During paid work time, employee will perform all work tasks and responsibilities to the best of his or her ability with the focus on quality and timely completion.
• Employee will work cooperatively with co-workers and supervisors.

TYPICAL WORKING CONDITIONS:

Work is performed both in an office environment and in the field.