Engineering Technician

Distinguishing Features of the Class

Under general supervision, to perform sub-professional engineering duties with responsibility for coordinating or conducting work on phases of minor to moderately complex engineering projects including design and administration; or for performing and/or for supervising other sub-professional personnel performing routine or minor engineering project activities on one or more phases of a complex engineering project. Engineering Technicians may serve in a variety of sub-professional engineering assignments including drafting, material testing, drainage studies, inspection or assisting project engineers with the planning, design and construction of streets, sewers and other municipal projects; or may supervise other sub-professional or semi-skilled employees performing phases of engineering projects.

The City of Des Moines promotes a healthy work life balance and offers a comprehensive benefits package including:

Residency Incentive

Volunteer Time

Parental Leave

Vacation and Sick Leave Accruals

12 Paid Holidays

Health/Dental/Life Insurance

Wellness Programs

Tuition Reimbursement Program

Iowa Public Employees Retirement System (IPERS)

Deferred Compensation Plan matching up to 2.5%

Employee Discounts

Acceptable Experience and Training

Graduation from high school including or supplemented by courses in drafting and mathematics; and

Considerable years of progressively responsible experience doing sub-professional engineering work; or

Any equivalent combination of experience and training in which each year of education in an engineering related field may be substituted for two year of required sub-professional engineering experience.

Required Special Qualifications

Certification as an Engineering Technician (ET) by the Institute for the Certification of Engineering Technologies sponsored by the National Society of Professional Engineers or, possession of a current Engineer-In-Training (EIT) certificate is preferred.

Candidates for positions in this class must pass a post-employment offer physical examination and drug screen.

Possession of a valid Iowa Driver's License or evidence of equivalent mobility is required.

Examples of Essential Work (Illustrative Only)

Designs and assists in the design of public construction projects.

Drafts and prepares construction plans and specifications for sanitary and storm sewers, demolition, paving improvements, bridges and other structures; estimates quantities for such projects.

Performs plan review of building site plans.

Coordinates inspection of driveway and sidewalk construction, sewer connections, street excavation and other construction activities; analyzes drainage complaints.

Calculates distances, ties, angles, traverses and closures; computes quantities; determines preliminary grades.

Prepares simple reports; assists in the preparation of specifications; tests construction materials for conformance to specifications; assists with project administration.

Supervises other sub-professional and semi-skilled personnel performing phases of engineering projects such as surveyors, drafters, special study squads or utility coordinators.

Prepares legal descriptions or prepares assessment schedules; enforces contract specifications; and gathers data for engineering projects.

Researches records to respond to citizen and employee requests as needed; provides project information and record information to the public.

Performs related work as required.