Engineering Technician II - Pretreatment-Water Reclamation Facility (OPEN & PROMOTIONAL) en Spokane County, WA

About the Department

This position will work 40 hours per week in the Pretreatment-Water Reclamation Facility. 

This position performs skilled engineering technical support work in the office or field in one or more public works functions such as traffic engineering and operations, planning/programming and development review for transportation or utilities, landfill monitoring, environmental permitting, water resources, pavement management, surveying, project design/drafting, materials testing and construction inspection. The position allocated to this class is responsible for performing journey level technical engineering support work.  Duties are completed usually under the general supervision of a Chief Construction Inspector or designated supervisor.  This class is distinguished from the Engineering Technician 1 class by a higher level of expertise, increased knowledge of operations and tasks required to successfully complete assignments under general direction and guidance.  It is distinguishable from the Engineering Technician 3 class by its lack of emphasis of lead worker responsibility and its less complex work assignments.   Positions within this class may assist in the training of Engineering Technician 1's or more junior Engineering Technician 2's.  Employees may be assigned the work of a higher class for specific periods of time for training purposes or as a relief.       

WHO MAY APPLY:  This recruitment is open to all applicants meeting the minimum requirements. Priority consideration will be given to Spokane County employees in a position covered by the Local 17 bargaining unit.

TOTAL COMPENSATION: $70,723 - $98,509 annually. Total compensation is an estimate based upon base compensation, median retirement fund contributions, and current employer-paid health and related benefit contribution rates (including medical, dental, life insurance, long term disability, and leave). The actual total will vary depending upon each employee's enrollment choices.

Position Duties

Construction Inspection/Materials Inspection/Survey/Design Technician

• Monitors quality control of projects by making measurements, tests and visual inspections of workmanship and materials.  
• Computes quantities and work progress to get material yields; determines true alignment and grades in order to verify conformance with approved plans; inspects to assure necessary traffic control devices are in place.  
• Maintains field notes, diaries and other required reports in order to document project activities. 
• Initiates corrective actions in plan or specification non-compliance situations.   
• May supervise operations on small or non-complex projects.  
• Takes material samples, performs tests and documents results according to approved procedures.  
• Makes horizontal, vertical and straight line measurements with survey chain, survey rod, electronic, computerized, or other applicable survey instrument using acceptable survey methods.   
• Operates instrument and supervises survey crew in absence of higher authority. 
• Computes grades, curves, quantities and traverse closures (using calculators and computer aided drafting programs); plots traverses and does mapping from field notes or from legal descriptions; drafts from designer sketches using computer and drafting programs; makes field design reviews and measurements; and updates County maps as required.  
• Performs routine computer aided drafting of plans and makes limited engineering computations such as calculating quantities.  Proficiency in AutoCAD is required within one year of appointment.  
• Accurately maintains County maps and records.  
• Plots legal descriptions.
• Performs other related duties as required/assigned.

Transportation Engineering Technician

• Uses computers to analyze, model and forecast transportation data to be used in transportation plans, programs, studies and analyses.
• Prepares data for reports, grant applications and public presentations.
• Develops and maintains transportation planning data and coordinates data analysis with County Planning, GIS and Spokane Regional Transportation Council.
• Computes grades, curves quantities and estimates using calculators and computer aided drafting programs.
• Drafts preliminary alignment maps and plans from sketches.
• Documents the work of contractors, equipment, number of employees and specific type of work performed each day. 
• Performs other related duties as required/assigned.

Traffic Technician

• Trains and assists other Engineering Technicians in their work.
• Maintains inventory and inspects traffic control devices for effectiveness and safety; inspects signing, etc., for potential deficiencies or other potential unsafe conditions; reports problems and advises on corrective action.
• Studies accidents; makes reports and recommendations to the Engineer; assist in lay out of traffic lanes and signing.
• Operates and maintains equipment and supervises the traffic engineering data gathering program and makes reports as required.
• Performs other related duties as required/assigned.

R.I.D. Technician

• Manages R.I.D. computer applications, establishes and maintains road assessments, charges and accounts, prepares assessment area maps and documents for hearings, maintains comprehensive R.I.D. map, assists in the preparation of R.I.D. petitions and provides customer service for the R.I.D. program.
• Calculates Current Use/Agriculture charges per RCW. I update and maintain the RID databases and files. 
• Produces maps in ArcMap for RID's and for hearings on Vacations, One Foot Strips, Dedications, Limited Access, Traffic Revisions, etc., while working with senior engineers and upper management. 
• Serves as back up at the Permit Center, assisting the lead tech with technical customer service, request for investigation, issuing permits for approaches, engineering construction, utility, flood plain, etc., as well as moving permits.
• Performs other related duties as required/assigned.

Environmental Technician

• Performs groundwater sampling and testing at numerous wells located on Spokane County's superfund sites and nearby residential wells.
• Maintains inventory of sampling supplies.
• Performs landfill gas testing at Spokane County landfills.
• Maintains daily logs of significant maintenance and all sampling activities.
• Performs computer data entry to record well analysis and gas monitoring information.
• Operates various types of water testing equipment including PH, conductivity, temperature meter, and continuous recording data logging instruments as well as gas sampling devices.
• Operates and maintains well monitoring equipment including: pumps, air compressors, generators, four-wheel drive vehicles and trailers.
• Performs landfill and well maintenance including concrete repair, landscaping and yard maintenance, fence repair, erosion control, general facility maintenance.
• Maintains surface water control systems, ditch cleaning and weed removal.
• Performs leachate pond and gravity sewer line cleaning.
• Communicates with contract labs to coordinate sample handling and report delivery.
• Answers questions and communications with property owners and the general public in a courteous tactful manner.
• Performs various tasks as directed by the Regional Solid Waste Coordinator and Landfill Closure Manager or a senior environmental technician associated with landfill closure/cleanup.
• Performs work in adverse weather and/or conditions, as needed.
• May be required to travel for one to two weeks at a time to attend various training programs.
• Performs other related duties as required/assigned.

Stormwater Field Technician 

• Inspects stormwater facilities to determine their condition, and need for maintenance and repair.
• Enforces stormwater facility compliance with plans and specifications, initiates corrective action.
• Gathers documents, plans, and record drawings from the Public Works' records to enable the department's evaluation of stormwater-related scenarios.
• Creates documents for educational purposes, including spill response flow charts and maps of stormwater structures.
• Informs public about stormwater maintenance practices and stormwater facility operation.
• Develops technical elements of public awareness documents.
• Measures and calculates surface coverage on parcels in the Stormwater Service Area, using site visits, aerial photographs, GIS applications and engineering plans.
• Organizes and participates in public information meetings and workshops for Stormwater Utility.
• Responds to questions from the general public and requests for investigations in person, in writing and by phone.
• Assists in database development and updates for stormwater related concerns.
• Trains seasonal technicians on stormwater structure inspections, stormwater structure locates, sediment and erosion control, spill response, and conducting general stormwater-related inspections.
• Performs other related duties as required/assigned.

Environmental Permit Technician

• Prepares applications and documentation for environmental permits required for County road, bridge, and maintenance projects, coordinates with agencies, and conducts field inspections to determine County project environmental impacts and ensure compliance with permits during construction; reviews and processes project applications for compliance with the Flood Ordinance and the State Environmental Policy Act, performs site visits and issues permits with appropriate conditions; responds to public inquiries, maintains permit files and data bases, performs other Environmental Programs duties as assigned including wetland mitigation review and monitoring, Newman Lake permit review and assistance, and hydraulic project field investigations.
• Performs other related duties as required/assigned.

Water Resources Technician

• Coordinates the watershed management program of Newman Lake Flood Control Zone district including permit reviews, education, and implementation of BMP’s; coordinates volunteer water quality monitoring program,  monitors Newman Lake flood control and aerator/alum injection facilities;   Coordinates milfoil control efforts including boat surveys with GPS data collection, permit applications, notices and maps.
• Responds to public inquiries and prepares newsletters, correspondence and website updates.
• Performs other Environmental Programs duties as assigned including processing project applications for compliance with the Flood Ordinance and the State Environmental Policy Act, wetland mitigation monitoring, environmental permits required for County road projects, permit compliance monitoring and field investigation/data gathering for stormwater facility design.
• Performs other related duties as required/assigned.

Pavement Management Technician

• Maintains pavement management data base, under the direct supervision of the County Pavement Manager or designated supervisor; trains and leads personnel in the collection of pavement condition data; performs field data collection; performs analysis and data input of visual data and nondestructive testing results; and, performs various duties associated with pavement design and structural testing.
• Performs field construction inspection work on various maintenance projects.
• Performs other related duties as required/assigned.

Information Technology Technician

• Provides front-line information technology support including diagnosis and  of IT hardware and software issues; researching  and ordering of specialized Public Works IT hardware and software products; installing specialized Public Works IT hardware and software; communicating with third-party IT vendors; maintaining IT hardware inventory; disposing of IT hardware; updating of Public Works internet and intranet webpages using content manager and html5; and  creating, manipulating, modifying, and analyzing of Geographic Information System (GIS) data within the Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) ArcGIS software environment.
• Performs other related duties as required/assigned.

Employees may be assigned a combination of duties from jobs within this class or perform duties of similar responsibility and difficulty, not specifically mentioned herein, yet incidental to the complete work process. Since the department’s needs for specific jobs are subject to governing factors, i.e. seasonal work, sporadic project schedules and shifting workloads. Employees are expected to be able to perform proficiently and implement the complete scope of duties in their chosen specialty and are expected to work toward competency in related work within this classification to the needs of the County, subject to seasonal and work scheduling factors.

Minimum Qualifications

• Associate’s degree in Engineering from an accredited college.  
• Two (2) years of related field or office experience in civil engineering; or an equivalent combination of education and experience in the design, inspection or construction related fields, including applicable experience in two of the following areas: Materials Lab, Surveying, Construction Inspection, environment permitting, water resources, and Engineering Design and/or computer aided drafting.  
• OR any equivalent combination of education, training and experience that provides the skills, knowledge and abilities to perform the job.
• Possession of a valid Driver's License at time of hire and for the duration of employment.

Other Qualifications

• Knowledge of basic technical engineering, construction and surveying principles and procedures, as required by the position.
• Knowledge of mathematical computations.
• Knowledge of mapping skills and media.
• Knowledge of safety precautions.
• Knowledge of maintenance procedures for equipment used.
• Knowledge of customer service techniques.
• Knowledge of surveying basic procedures and equipment.
• Knowledge of materials testing procedures and equipment.
• Knowledge of computer aided drafting programs and equipment.
• Skilled in communicating effectively both orally and in writing, sufficient to exchange or convey information and to give and receive work direction.
• Skilled in establishing and maintaining effective working relations with co-workers and the general public.
• Skilled in reading maps.
• Skilled in reading and interpreting blueprints, schematics and plans.
• Skilled in applying surveying techniques and practices.
• Skilled in using computers and related software applications.
• Skilled in performing field sampling and testing of concrete, asphalt and soils for quality control and design.
• Skilled in drafting routine plans.
• Ability to work outdoors for extended periods of time under all types of weather conditions.
• Ability to make mathematical calculations, e.g. - algebraic, geometric and trigonometric.
• Ability to hand letter neatly and consistently.
• Ability to maintain a good working relationship with contractors and their representatives, property owners, the general public, fellow workers and supervisors.
• Ability to operate computer aided drafting software, spreadsheets, and/or engineering database applications.
• Ability to accurately perform standard civil or environmental engineering mathematical calculations, as required for the position.
• Ability to materials used in engineering projects.
• Ability to supervise and assign work.
• Ability to complete assignments under general direction and guidance.
• Ability to assist in training Engineer Technician 1’s or more junior personnel.