SUP

ASSOCIATE ENGINEER

Class specifications are intended to present a descriptive list of the range of duties performed by employees in the class. Specifications are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job.

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION

Under general administrative direction, performs professional civil and/or traffic engineering work of a difficult and responsible nature; serves as a project or division engineer; coordinates or supervises major engineering, development or construction projects; serves as liaison with the Planning Department for General Plan implementation; and does related work as required.

REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES

The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.

General Functions:

• Plans, coordinates and supervises the environmental review, plan checking, and conditional approval of tentative maps, and related street improvement plans for various private development projects.
• Prepares specifications, reports, correspondence, plans, plats, petitions, diagrams, profiles and cross-sections, and material and cost estimates of major street, utility, and drainage improvements.
• Utilizes advanced engineering mathematics to make accurate and complete computations and studies to determine grade, drainage and potential traffic requirements.
• Acts on behalf of the City in meeting with and resolving engineering problems with project contractors, private engineers, property owners; and developers.
• Serves as project engineer on major engineering and construction projects.
• Serves as major coordinator with the Planning Department to implement the General Plan.
• May assist in the preparation of departmental annual budget estimates.
• May supervise the work of a division; may supervise professional and paraprofessional level engineers, inspectors, and technicians.
• May represent the City at Planning/Transportation Commission meetings, City Council, or other public meetings.
• Performs related duties as required.

Civil Functions:

• Plans, coordinates and supervises the review, plan checking, and conditional approval of parcel maps, subdivision maps and grading plans for various private development projects.
• Design such engineering structures as arterial highways, streets, parks, parking lots, box culverts, catch basins, traffic signals, medians, turning lanes, water systems, storm drains and sewer systems.
• Coordinates the preparation of right-of-way maps and boundary descriptions.

Traffic Functions:

• Designs such engineering structures as streets, parking lots, traffic signals, medians, and turning lanes.
• Evaluates transportation system, including traffic striping, signage and signals, and prepares design plans to improve safety and optimize traffic flow.

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:

• Application of civil or traffic engineering principles to the design, construction and inspection of streets, storm drains, parks, traffic signals, and related public improvements and appurtenances.
• Drafting and mapping principles and techniques.
• Surveying methods.
• Principles and practices of traffic and transportation engineering or planning.Traffic engineering standards and programs.
• Mathematical principles.
• Principles and practices of record keeping and report preparation.
• Principles of supervision, training, and performance evaluation.
• Occupational hazards and standard safety precautions.
• Office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and applicable software applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and databases.

Ability to:

• Supervise and train professional and paraprofessional engineering personnel.
• Prepare plans, specifications and technical reports.
• Prepare and write clear and comprehensive reports.
• Maintain records and files.
• Oversee and participate in the provision of a high level of customer service to internal and external customers.
• Respond to requests and inquiries from the general public; tactfully and courteously represent the Department during public contacts.
• Read and interpret maps, plans, sketches, schematics, diagrams, and blueprints.
• Operate office equipment including computers and supporting word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications.
• Demonstrate an awareness and appreciation of the cultural diversity of the community.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective relationships with other employees, outside agencies, and the general public.

Education and Experience Guidelines - Any 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/Training: A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in civil engineering or closely related field.  Registration as a Professional Civil or Traffic Engineer in the State of California or four years of related civil or traffic design and/or plan checking experience may be substituted for the required education.

Experience: Three years of experience involving design, construction, inspection, and surveying of private development and public works projects, including increasingly responsible supervisory experience.

License and Other Requirements - Possession of a certification of registration as a professional civil or traffic engineer in the State of California is highly desirable.  Applicants must possess a valid California driver's license at the time of selection.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND 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. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

Environment: FREQUENT walking, standing, sitting, fine-finger dexterity to manipulate computer, operate and calibrate equipment.  OCCASIONAL bending and stooping, squatting, pushing/pulling, twisting at waist, upward and downward flexion of neck, side-to-side turning of neck; lifting objects weighing up to 10 lbs. from below waist to above shoulders and transporting distances up to 200 yards; lifting objects weighing 11-50 lbs. from below waist to waist level and transporting distances up to 200 yards with or without assistance; grasp and grip to lift and carry equipment; hand and arm strength and foot dexterity to operate automobile or light pickup. INFREQUENT crawling, climbing, reaching at and above shoulder height, kneeling, balancing above ground; lifting objects weighing 11-50 lbs. from chest level to above shoulders, with or without assistance.

Physical: FREQUENT exposure to extreme heat and humidity working outdoors and indoors in manufacturing facilities. OCCASIONAL exposure to temperature swings from air conditioning to outdoor temperatures, exposure to extreme noise in manufacturing environment, fumes and odors of process venting, dust from manufacturing. INFREQUENT exposure to mechanical hazards in operating vehicles, radiation hazards possibly resulting from manufacturing processes or facilities. Work schedule is 80 hour biweekly pay periods, with unscheduled breaks.  Overtime may occasionally be required to accommodate schedules. Work environment is informal, both team and autonomy oriented, having both routine and variable tasks, with variable pace and pressure.  Work is performed in the office and in the field at manufacturing facilities, commercial and industrial establishments.

Communication: VISION (may be correctable) to observe manufacturing processes and observe situations in performance of inspections.  HEARING of warning signals in unfamiliar surroundings at industrial and commercial establishments. SPEAKING to communicate with industrial and commercial users. WRITING to complete log books, records and reports. READING of regulations, manuals, and reports.

Date: April 2013
Revised by JP/Department

Date: October 2006
Revised by MH/Department