Assistant Engineer / Associate Civil Engineer

Assistant Engineer: 

The position in this classification require knowledge and experience in the application of civil engineering practices as they are applied to public works functions. 

The incumbent is required to use independent judgement in planning work details and making technical decisions under general supervision of work, progress and completion. The incumbent may also be required to perform complex technical and sub-professional engineering work requiring a knowledge of the principles and techniques of civil engineering that have been acquired primarily through experience rather than formal civil engineering certification or education. 

This classification may direct the work of sub-professional engineering technicians or other engineers at the same or lower level for an assigned project. This classification is distinguished from that of Engineering Technician II by the assignment of ore difficult professional tasks and the relative independence with which such assignments are performed.

Associate Civil Engineer: 

Under the general supervision of the Senior Civil Engineer, the Associate Engineer performs professional civil and traffic engineering duties including the project management, design, evaluation and construction of street, traffic control, storm drain, sewer, water and other public works projects; may serve as a project manager for Traffic Mitigation Fund Capital Improvement Projects; reviews engineering reports, drawings, specifications, cost estimates, project schedules and calculations for 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 and development projects.

The Associate Engineer performs complex engineering work requiring the use of judgment and initiative in developing solutions to problems, interpreting general policies, and determining work assignments. Incumbents may serve as a project leader on major projects or programs and may act in the absence of the Senior Civil Engineer as assigned. The Associate Engineer is distinguished from the Assistant Engineer in that the Associate Engineer is assigned work of greater complexity with a higher level of responsibility. Additionally, the Associate Engineer must maintain registration as a Professional Engineer. The Associate Engineer is distinguished from the Senior Civil Engineer in that the latter provides highly complex technical support to the City Engineer in addition to supervising the Engineering Division of the Public Works Department.

Assistant Engineer

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following: 

• Under the direction of a registered engineer, prepares engineering designs and related drawings, specifications, and estimates for construction, improvement and maintenance of public works facilities.
• Conducts special studies and reports related to street relocations, traffic flow, street and highway deficiencies, land use and development and similar matters.
• Performs independent review of maps, plans, and specifications for conformance with City standards and requirements;
• Makes preliminary investigations, studies and reports pertaining to proposed public works projects.
• Issues Grading Permits and Encroachment Permits subsequent to review and approval of permit application.
• Participates in public works construction inspection and surveying activities, including supervision of sub-professional personnel.
• May supervise sub-professional personnel, and is responsible for the maintenance of engineering records and files, including computer data base information.
• Responds to public inquiries, investigates complaints and resolves conflicts between the City, contractors and other parties;
• Prepares and checks legal descriptions for deeds, easements and rights-of-way.
• Conducts traffic studies, including traffic counts and speed surveys.
• Monitors capital improvement budgets for assigned project.

Knowledge of:

• The principles and practices of municipal public works planning, operations, design and construction.
• Properties and the use of materials in engineering construction.
• Principles of engineering survey work and computerized drafting, data base systems and other related software.

Ability to:

• Prepare and review plans, designs, specifications and cost estimates for all types of public works projects; assure compliance with City Standards.
• Conduct field surveys, perform engineering calculations and prepare clear comprehensive reports.
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees, contractors and the public.
• Prioritize, assign and coordinate the work of subordinate personnel.
• Read and interpret plans and specifications; inspect construction of pubic works facilities, ensuring compliance with the approved plans and specifications.

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION:

Any combination equivalent to experience and education that could likely provide the knowledge and abilities would be qualifying. A typical way to acquire the knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience:

At least five years of professional or increasingly responsible sub-professional civil engineering experience which involved engineering design, plan checking, surveying and/or computerized drafting, and some construction experience.

Education:

Graduation from an accredited four year college or university with a major in civil engineering (or a related field) or possession of an Engineering-in-Training Certificate issued by the State of California may be substituted for three years of the required experience.

LICENSE AND/OR SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• License Requirements: Possession of a valid California Driver's license issued by the State Department of Motor Vehicles.

The representative duties listed include essential and marginal functions that vary by position. Individuals with disabilities will be considered for placement into positions in this class based upon an assessment of the essential functions of the particular position.

Duties may include but are not limited to the following:

• Serves as a Project Manager/Project Engineer/Resident Engineer on assigned capital improvement projects; administers projects from inception to completion including environmental review and documentation, preliminary and final design, cost estimating, public meetings and input process, project scheduling, bidding and construction; develops scope of work; serves as liaison to City staff, developers, engineers, consultants, the general public and external agencies on proposed projects; develops project timelines and budgets; assigns work tasks and oversees the services of outside consultant support.
• Performs surveys and analyses of traffic conditions, traffic volume, accidents, traffic hazards, parking, signing, and signal coordination; participates in planning of improvements and makes recommendations concerning street lighting, parking zones, and on- and off-street parking.
• Performs advanced planning studies and makes recommendations regarding future traffic, traffic calming and transportation needs.
• Plans and coordinates various traffic and transportation projects including citywide traffic circulation, traffic safety studies, traffic signal interconnection and the neighborhood traffic calming program.
• Prepares designs and specifications for assigned projects; develops engineering drawings, construction plans, specifications, contract documents, bid documents, calculations, and cost estimates for proposed projects; researches project design requirements; prepares estimates of time and material costs.
• Provides traffic engineering information to developers, contractors, consultants, other agencies, and the general public; makes recommendations regarding environmental documents, traffic studies and project traffic impacts on congestion, safety and operational feasibility; initiates and processes traffic work orders.
• Participates in the private development review process and in the review of traffic studies, plans and maps submitted by private engineers and developers for compliance with laws, ordinances, City-imposed requirements, and accepted professional standards.
• Researches publications and industry information sources and attends conferences and continuing education courses to keep abreast of new developments and legislation in the field of traffic and public works engineering.
• Utilizes advanced technology and state-of-the-art computer programs to evaluate and implement traffic safety, planning and operations improvement alternatives.
• Participates in issuing encroachment, transportation and grading permits.
• Prepares and provides detailed engineering reports, correspondence, staff reports, draft ordinances and resolutions to the Senior Civil Engineer, City Engineer and/or Director of Public Works, outside agencies and the public; responds to questions and inquiries and investigates complaints concerning traffic engineering.
• May represent the Public Works Department and make presentations to or otherwise participate in meetings with citizen groups, the Traffic Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Committee, the Planning Commission, the City Council, the Solano Transportation Authority and its subcommittees, Caltrans, and other local, regional, state and federal agencies.
• Performs related duties as required.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Knowledge of:

• Contemporary principles and practices of civil and traffic engineering including street and highway design and traffic calming.
• Environmental documentation processes including California Environmental Quality Act and National Environmental Policy Act guidelines.
• Operation, services and activities of municipal engineering, construction and maintenance organizations.
• Principles and practices of budget preparation and control.
• Principles and practices of business correspondence, technical report preparation and public speaking.
• Principles and practices of project management and contract administration including the application of public contract laws in the administration and management of public construction contracts.

Ability to:

• Administer programs involving federal, state and local grant funding.
• Articulate effectively complex technical issues to the non-technical populace.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing.
• Conduct analytical traffic studies accurately and reliably.
• Coordinate activities with internal and external agencies and committees.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Maintain detailed project management records and documentation.
• Manage the work of outside consultants.
• Perform engineering computations and calculations.
• Perform professional engineering duties involved in the design, development and construction management of a variety of capital improvement projects and serve as the project manager on one or more capital improvement projects.
• Prepare and manage project budgets.
• Prepare clear and concise administrative and technical reports.
• Prepare, review, interpret, analyze, and modify engineering plans, drawings, specifications, contract documents, and engineering reports for conformance to professional standards and approved budgets.
• Utilize personal computers to perform computer-aided drafting, word processing, spreadsheets and other specialized functions.

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION:

A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities for the Associate Engineer would be

Experience: Four years of progressively responsible professional engineering experience in civil, traffic, transportation or a related engineering field.

and

Education: Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in civil, traffic or transportation engineering or a closely related field.

LICENSE 

Must possess a valid California Driver's License by time of appointment.

Registration in good standing as a Professional Civil Engineer in the State of California.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Incumbents may be required to work outside normal work hours, and attend meetings, conferences and seminars during work and non-work hours.

Supervisory experience and registration as a Professional Traffic Operations Engineer or Traffic Engineer in the State of California is desirable.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

The conditions herein 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 job functions.

Environment: Standard office setting with some travel to conduct site investigations; occasional exposure to outside weather conditions, odor, dust and pollen; work and/or walk on various types of surfaces including slippery or uneven surfaces and rough terrain; occasional exposure to chemicals, skin irritants, fumes and solvents; use of sense of smell; acute hearing to distinguish audible alarms in the normal audio range with or without correction.

Associate Engineer incumbents may be required to work under adverse conditions such as in traffic, around heavy construction equipment and in inclement weather.

Physical: Primary functions require sufficient physical ability and mobility to work in an office setting and field environment; to walk, stand, and sit for prolonged periods of time; to frequently stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, crawl, climb, reach, twist, grasp, and make repetitive hand movement in the performance of daily duties; to climb unusual heights on ladders; to lift, carry, push, and/or pull moderate to heavy amounts of weight; to operate assigned equipment and vehicles; and to verbally communicate to exchange information.

Vision: See in the normal visual range including distinguishing different colors with or without correction.

May be required to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) appropriate for job assignments.

APPLICATION PROCESS:

Individuals interested in being considered for the position must submit an application and responses to the required supplemental questions. It is preferred you apply through the NeoGov system. Individuals wishing to file a paper application in lieu of the on-line application process should contact the City of Benicia Human Resources Department.

Applicants are expected to accurately document their related experience and any training, education, and/or skills relevant to this position. Applicants should respond to all supplemental questions, even if the information is also contained in the application.

SELECTION PROCESS:

Application materials will be carefully evaluated; applicants who document possession of experience and education which most closely meet the requirements of the position will be invited to participate in the next phase of the selection process, which may include an assessment center and interview process.

Prior to appointment, candidates must pass a thorough background investigation and a pre-placement medical screening, including a drug screen.

Meeting the minimum qualifications does not guarantee an invitation to future steps in the process.

If, due to a disability, you need accommodations at any point during the application or testing process, please contact the Human Resources Department at (707) 746-4766.