ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN ASSISTANT

POSITION DESCRIPTION

TITLE: ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN ASSISTANT

Scope Of Responsibility: This is the journey level class in the Engineering Technician classification within the

Public Works Department. Individuals perform a variety of skilled engineering tasks.

Supervisory Responsibility: This position has no assigned supervisory responsibility but may provide technical

or functional oversight and training to engineering technicians and assistants.

Distinguishing Characteristics: The Engineering Technician Assistant is the first level in the engineering

technician series. Duties are completed usually under general supervision. This class is distinguished from the

Engineering Technician class by a lower level of expertise, or the needs of the department. It is distinguishable

from the Engineering Technician class by less of an emphasis on lead worker responsibility and more complex

work assignments. Incumbents are expected to gain the knowledge and abilities of the higher class of Engineer

Technician.

Advancement from an Engineering Technician Assistant to an Engineering Technician is not guaranteed and is

finally determined by the Department Head based on the needs of the department. Advancement will require

meeting the minimum requirements of an Engineering Technician and being the successful applicant.

Engineering Tasks: Has primary responsibility for performing complex tasks as identified below in this section

with general supervision. The Engineering Technician Assistant must apply engineering methods to situations,

which are generally routine and recurring. An essential function of the Engineering Technician Assistant is to

become cross-trained and assist other Engineering Technician Assistants and higher level Engineering

Technicians. Policies and procedures are established and individuals are expected to apply these properly to the

situation. Errors in judgment and performance could result in significant problems for the County.

Engineering tasks are assigned depending on expertise of the employee and the needs of the department. 

The employee is responsible for performing the duties in one or more of the engineering tasks identified

within this description. It is common for an Engineering Technician Assistants to be responsible for multiple

engineering tasks. 

For purposes of cross-training and due to regular coordination with other Public Works divisions, from time-

to-time Engineering Technician Assistants are assigned engineering-related duties not specifically identified

within the engineering tasks section of this description.

Normal engineering tasks include but are not limited to the following:

Development Review & Right-of-Way (ROW):

1. Review development requests for impact on county road system and for compliance with county road

standards.

2. Assist in negotiating for right of way for county road projects.

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Contract Administration:

1. Prepare draft specifications for road construction and solid waste projects.

2. May assist in the preparation of various funding packages.

3. Maintain and upgrade office data systems.

4. Prepare bid packages, specifications and negotiate contracts and attend bid openings for projects specific to

Solid Waste/facilities and road construction projects.

Environmental Review & Permits:

1. Coordinate with the Road Maintenance Division and Right-of-Way on projects that involve environmental

permitting and enforcement of permit requirements.

2. Prepare and acquire environmental documents for the purpose of acquiring permits for Public Works

projects for federal, state and local agencies.

Project Development:

1. Maintain current computer database of inventoried features of county roads, including, but not limited to

the following: lengths, widths, pavement type, traffic counts, geographic locations, and jurisdiction.

Pavement Management and Traffic Count:

1. Survey and maintain a current computer database of county road pavement conditions.

2. Assist in the implementation and oversight of the county traffic counts program.

Inspection & Surveying:

Surveying:

1. Proficiently operates, adjusts and maintains all types of survey instruments such as: GPS, transit, level,

theodolite and EDM on both construction and location projects.

2. Analyze each project site for the best plan of gathering data in a timely and accurate manner and advise

survey crew on procedures for the day.

3. Performs a variety of calculations to accomplish location surveys and construction staking.

4. Take and maintain accurate and legible field notes.

5. Train members of survey crew to operate instruments, keep accurate notes, write and set construction

stakes and survey monuments.

6. Read and interpret maps and plans and apply them to the situation.

7. Field calculates control points, bench marks, stationing and construction stakes.

8. Gather and record general topographic information such as contours, elevations, distances and features.

9. Measure and calculate quantities of materials in stockpiles, hauling or construction equipment, roadway

prism, cuts, fills and associated elements.

10. Serve as Survey Crew Lead.

Inspection:

1. Serves as an inspector on all types of earthwork, surfacing, drainage, paving, bridge inspection and other

road and public works construction projects.

2. Accurately understands and interprets engineered plans and specifications and assures that the project is

built accordingly. If revisions are needed, coordinates the changes with the engineer and the contractor.

Recommends changes, as needed. Makes all necessary tests and acts on the results citing plan standards,

specials and specifications.

3. Monitor contractor performance for general conformance to plans and specifications.

4. Enforce Federal, State and County construction standards during all phases of construction.

5. Conduct required tests as necessary to verify contractor’s conformance to contractual obligations.

6. Record quantities and perform quality control of all materials incorporated in a project for: culvert

placement, guardrail, earth work, hauled and/or crushed materials, equipment and labor hours and other

contractual obligations associated with construction projects.

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7. Make all necessary reports, records, and diary’s to be placed in the construction file and reported to the

County Engineer and the contractor.

8. Serve as liaison between the contractor, adjacent property owners, general public and the County Engineer.

9. Monitor project activities to insure that all operations are conducted safely and efficiently, while

representing the best interest of the public and the county.

10. Serve as bridge inspection lead reporting to the County Engineer. Perform bridge inspections, train and

oversee lower level technicians in bridge inspections, including maintaining bridge inventory files, data and

inspection schedules. Maintain required documentation, records and reports including bridge safety

condition information, maintenance, inventory data, load ratings, load restrictions etc.

GIS and Mapping:

1. May perform basic drafting and/or drawing activities in support of the GIS and Mapping section.

Design:

1. Setup, update and maintain computer engineering design software which uses survey data to generate

survey maps.

2. Download, edit and modify survey data for design applications.

3. Perform various mathematical and engineering calculations for vertical/horizontal alignments, volumes,

quantities, etc,; for road construction projects.

4. Prepare draft maps and plans for construction projects, permits and presentations.

Utilities – Water & Sewer Systems

1. Inspection and maintenance of the County’s sewer and water systems which includes but is not limited to:

a. Lift/pump stations

b. Electrical appurtenances

c. Underground utility distribution system

d. STEP system tanks and pumps

e. Septic tanks pumping

f. Flow monitoring

g. Water quality monitoring

h. General cleaning and flushing

i. Directing pump-outs

2. Record/report all maintenance and tests performed.

3. Communicate orally and in writing with other agency personnel and the public.

4. Communicate orally and in writing to respond to questions or requests from the public and other local, state

and federal agencies that pertain to any of the County’s sewer and water systems as needed.

5. Develop and maintain maintenance schedules for each system as outlined in the maintenance manuals.

Minimum Qualifications: 

Graduation from high school or GED equivalent. 

Two years as an Engineering Technician II or an Associate in Applied Science in Civil Engineering

Technology or equivalent education and experience. 

Requires physical ability to perform occasional strenuous and exhausting tasks and to work outdoors in

prevailing weather conditions. 

Requires a valid Washington State Drivers License. 

Requires knowledge of the field of assignment sufficient to perform thoroughly and accurately the full

scope of responsibilities as illustrated by examples in the above description of duties. 

Ability to obtain a Flagging and Traffic Control card. 

Current CPR and First Aid certified.

Note: Any first aid rendered by such persons is rendered only as a collateral duty responding solely to injuries

resulting from workplace incidents, generally at the locations where the incident occurred.

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Desired Qualifications: 

Washington State Bridge Inspector Certification for positions in the Survey & Inspection section. 

Experience, knowledge and/or training in: 

Local Agency Guidelines 

County Road Administration Standards of Good Practices 

Standard Specifications of Road, Bridge and Municipal construction 

Standard Plans 

WSDOT Design Manual 

Plans Preparation Manual 

Construction Manual 

Environmental Procedures Manual 

SEPA/NEPA Processes 

RCWs and WACs at they relate to roads

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: 

Demonstrated skill and knowledge of engineering survey and inspection principles, practices, methods

and techniques. 

Demonstrated knowledge of survey and inspection equipment and its proper application. 

Ability to operate programmable calculators and survey and inspection instruments. 

Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing. 

Ability to use various office equipment including computers, copiers, fax, etc. 

Ability to proficiently use computers and various software programs such as Microsoft Windows, Word

and Excel, as they apply to area of assignment. 

Ability to perform manual labor. 

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with County employees and the public. 

Ability to follow oral and written instructions. 

Ability to comply with Okanogan County’s Safety Manual.

Physical Demands and Environment:

The working environment for Engineering Technician III could be in the office and the field requiring working in

all types of weather and temperature conditions. The field duties require walking on various types of surfaces,

including rough terrain, sitting, standing, ability to maintain balance, climb ladders and inclines, ability to kneel,

bend, stoop, crouch, reach, push, pull, twist; requires a sense of touch, finger dexterity, gripping with fingers and

hands, shoveling, digging, lifting and carrying up to 50 pounds; ability to operate a passenger vehicle, work at

heights, alone and in remote areas; exposure to direct sunlight, outside temperature extremes, dampness, ice and

snow, and water; exposure to noxious weeds and plants, dust, pollens and insect stings. Ability to hear

conversations and alarms; have close, far, and side vision with depth perception. Requires use of required

personal protection and safety equipment.

The office duties require walking on various types of surfaces, sitting, standing, maintaining balance, climbing

stairs and inclines, bending, stooping, reaching, pushing, pulling, twisting; requires a sense of touch, finger

dexterity, gripping with fingers and hands; lifting and carrying up to 30 pounds. Must be able to hear normal

voice conversations, to speak in a public setting, have close, far, side vision with depth perception. Requires

ability to operate a passenger vehicle and the wearing of required safety equipment.

Acknowledgements:

The statements contained herein reflect general details as necessary to describe the principal functions of this job,

the level of knowledge and skill typically required, and the scope of responsibility, but should not be considered

an all-inclusive listing of work requirements. Individuals may perform other duties as assigned including work in

other functional areas to cover absences or relief, to equalize peak work periods or otherwise to balance the

workload

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THIS POSITION DESCRIPTION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A CONTRACT FOR EMPLOYMENT.

Employee Signature Date

Supervisor Signature Date

Department Head Signature Date

Effective Date: EEO Code: Department: Public Works

Dates Amended: 3-24-17 Union: PTC Division: Engineering

FLSA Exempt: No Grade: Pos #: Varies

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