Under supervision of the Engineering Manager or designee, The Associate Engineer performs professional level duties in support of the City’s engineering services and activities including the design and construction of street, facility, storm drain, park, traffic signal capital projects; serves as a project manager on Capital Improvement Projects; reviews engineering reports, drawings, specifications and calculations for buildings, structures, streets, utilities, and other public works facilities to ensure compliance with current industry practices, codes, regulations, and ordinances; and responds to questions and inquiries from the general public, developers, contractors, engineering professionals, and City staff regarding engineering projects.
Examples of Duties
Management reserves the right to add, modify, change, or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job. Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Performs professional level engineering duties in support of the City’s engineering services and activities including design and construction programs for City streets, utilities, facilities, traffic, and park projects.
- Prepares designs and specifications for assigned projects; develops engineering drawings, construction plans, specifications, contract documents, bid documents, calculations, and cost estimates for proposed projects; research project design requirements; prepares estimates of time and material costs.
- Performs plan check review and processing of plans and specifications for projects affecting City streets, utilities, facilities, and park; interprets the application of design criteria; ensures compliance with professional and City standards and practices; coordinates review with other departments and agencies.
- Participates in the issuance of various construction permits including encroachment, transportation, and grading permits.
- Assists higher level engineers on large and complex public works construction projects or acts as a project management engineer on assigned construction projects; administers projects from inception to completion including design, review, public meetings, bidding and construction; develops scope of work; serves as liaison to City staff, consultants, developers, the general public and external agencies on proposed projects; develops project timelines and sets priorities; assigns work tasks and oversees the services of consultant staff.
- Interprets, plots, and supervises field survey data; reviews laboratory tests of construction materials; investigates field conditions related to public improvements, utilities, and traffic safety operations; investigates field problems affecting property owners, contractors, and maintenance operations; works with public or private contractors on public improvements.
- Administers design and construction contracts; maintains logs and tracks bond expiration dates; prepares reports for the Administrative Services Department; collects all required inspection approvals; prepares staff reports for Council; prepares memos to City Clerk regarding accepting and releasing of bonds; prepares daily progress and final reports and prepares documentation for associated bonds; prepares and maintains detailed project records and plans; negotiates change orders, authorizes payment of invoices; responds to requests for information and construction correspondence.
- Administers and enforces City codes and standards on engineering projects; addresses and responds to citizen concerns related to engineering problems.
- Prepares a variety of engineering reports, studies, and technical documentation; utilizes specialized engineering applications, databases, programs, and graphics.
- Responds to questions and inquiries from the public, developers, contractors, engineering professionals and City staff regarding engineering projects.
- Prepares special engineering studies and reports.
- As assigned, supervises construction inspectors; reviews and approves inspection reports as necessary, resolves conflict between developers, contractors and City inspectors, performs performance reviews on assigned staff.
- Assists in the design and development of public facilities and utility structures, and the preparation of project specifications; consults with contractors; reviews plans submitted by consultants and developers to ensure conformity with established standards and regulations; assists in providing advice and instruction to subordinates on design standards and problems from the planning phase to completion of the project; prepares, reviews, and recommends change orders.
- Prepares and provides complex engineering reports, correspondence, staff reports, ordinances and resolutions to the City Manager, City Council, City departments, outside agencies and the public; develops and reports statistics; makes oral presentations and participates in organizational and community group meetings; responds to questions and inquiries and investigates complaints concerning engineering problems.
- Coordinates assigned activities with consultants, engineers, developers, contractors, other City departments and divisions, and outside agencies.
- Serves as liaison for assigned section with other departments, divisions, and outside agencies; responds to and resolves issues and concerns related to assigned area of responsibility.
- Attends and participates in professional group meetings; stays abreast of new trends and innovations in the field of civil engineering.
- Performs related duties as may be requested by supervisory staff.
Typical Qualifications
The following generally describes the knowledge and ability required to enter the job and/or be learned within a short period of time in order to successfully perform the assigned duties.
Knowledge of:
- Operations, services, and activities of a municipal engineering design and construction program.
- Modern and complex principles and practices of civil engineering.
- Principles and practices of Caltrans project processes
- Structural, street, and highway design principles.
- Scientific and mathematical principles as applied to civil engineering work.
- Principles and practices of project management and administration.
- Methods and techniques of contract negotiations and administration.
- Principles and practices of project budget preparation and control.
- Methods, materials, and techniques used in civil engineering projects including those used in the design and construction of development projects.
- Mechanics and properties of materials.
- Methods and techniques of engineering plan review and analysis.
- Methods and techniques of conducting site and field investigation.
- Principles and practices of field surveying including topography and construction surveying.
- Drafting methods, techniques, and equipment including those used in computer aided drafting.
- Recent developments, current literature, and sources of information related to innovations and trends in civil and traffic engineering design and development.
- Principles and practices of business correspondence and technical report preparation.
- Modern office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and supporting word processing, spreadsheet applications, and specialized engineering software programs.
- Principles and practices of geographic information system programs.
- Occupational health and safety standards
- Pertinent federal, state, and local codes, laws, and regulations.
Ability to:
- Perform professional engineering duties involved in the design, development, and construction management of a variety of capital improvement projects.
- Serve as the project manager on one or more Capital Improvement Projects.
- Prepare, review, interpret, analyze, and modify engineering plans, drawings, specifications, contract documents, and engineering reports for conformance to professional standards and approved budgets.
- Perform engineering computations and calculations.
- Analyze and evaluate design drawings and specifications.
- Prepare and manage project budgets.
- Negotiate with citizens, property owners, businesses, and other agencies.
- Maintain detailed project management records and documentation.
- Prepare clear and concise administrative and technical reports.
- Interpret, apply, and ensure compliance with pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations.
- Manage the work of outside consultants.
- Administer programs involving Federal, State, and local grants.
- Safely and effectively operate engineering tools and equipment.
- Respond to questions and inquiries from a variety of sources regarding engineering and development projects.
- Research, review, update, and revise existing ordinances, policies, and design standards.
- Coordinate activities with internal and external agencies and committees.
- Use and care of engineering, surveying, and drafting equipment.
- Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE GUIDELINESAny combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:
Education and Training: A Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from an accredited university
Experience: Four (4) years of increasingly responsible professional civil engineering work.
Licenses and Certificates: Possession of a valid driver’s license or ability to obtain one upon hire. Possession of a valid certificate of registration as a Professional Civil Engineer issued by the California State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors.
Physical Demands & Working Environment
The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. The City will engage in a timely, good faith interactive process to identify reasonable accommodations to enable qualified individuals to perform the essential job functions.
Environment: Work is performed primarily in a standard office environment with frequent interruptions. At times, the incumbent may be asked to work extended hours including evenings and weekends and may be required to travel outside City boundaries to attend meetings and training.
Physical: Primary functions require sufficient physical ability and mobility to work in an office setting; to stand or sit for prolonged periods of time; to occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and twist; to lift, carry, push, and/or pull light to moderate amounts of weight; to operate office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination including use of a computer keyboard; to travel to other locations using various modes of private and commercial transportation; and to verbally communicate to exchange information.
Vision: See in the normal visual range with or without correction.
Hearing: Hear in the normal audio range with or without correction.