Engineering Technician 1

The Alameda County Water District located in Fremont, California is seeking detail-oriented applicants with the desire to provide field and office technical engineering support to the Groundwater Resources Division in the Water Resources Department. A Technician performs a variety of technical assignments and does work with established procedures.   Supervision is close, and assignments are generally reviewed as the work is done.  In addition, Technicians work primarily in the field in various climatic conditions and terrain. In addition to requiring top communication skills to interface with customers and contractors, the field assignments require the physical stamina and strength to perform assigned tasks. This position performs a variety of field engineering activities including measuring water levels; collecting water samples and performing field analysis; analyzing field test data; using a Global Positioning System (GPS) to navigate and locate wells.       

Performs field engineering activities, measures and records distances and dimensions in the field, takes water well level and surface water measurements, collects water samples and performs field analysis, collects field test data, assists with specific capacity tests, locates wells, performs stream gauging, conducts fire flow tests and prepares related correspondence, and assists with corrosion control field surveys.

•    Collects, summarizes, and reduces data; performs simple to complex engineering calculations; performs engineering design; prepares schematics, plans, detailed drawings and profiles from engineering sketches and/or oral instruction; takes measurements and prepares project documentation and drawings; performs standard drafting and mapping; updates distribution system maps and drawings; uses a computer to enter data into an engineering database system.

•    Updates and creates datasets; performs geospatial analysis; ensures the integrity of GIS data; reviews data input for accuracy and compliance with system standards; prepares maps, reports, figures, and exhibits as needed from multiple layers of data.

•    Performs customer job order preparation and estimation for District work; coordinates construction and related activities with District Operations and Maintenance Department, developers, external contractors, and other public agencies; may review the work of other technicians.

•    Assist in the preparation of monthly, quarterly, annual and/or triannual drinking water regulatory reports.

•    Prepares and maintains record drawings for facilities and infrastructure.

•    Provides administrative support to project engineers in managing, tracking, and monitoring budgets and schedules of contracts.

•    Effectively provides service to customers and responds to a variety of customer inquiries.

•    Reviews elements of engineering drawings and improvement plans submitted by developers, consultants, and other agencies for conformance with district standards to facilitate design; confers and coordinates with vendors, contractors, and/or outside agencies in response to questions; oversees and coordinates work and helps to resolve problems and disputes.

•    Maintains engineering files  and  logs; monitors development  project  costs and status; maintains procedures for development processes and related work; collects, organizes, files, maintains, retrieves, reproduces, and transmits drawings, maps, logs, reports, and other  documents  and  records  as  needed;  maintains  records  for  District  facilities, easements, deeds, annexations, customer job orders, and District projects.

•    Performs field surveying and survey verification in support of design and evaluation of capital projects.

•    Prepares and reviews easements and property and easement descriptions; prepares utility permits and associated plans and documentation; prepares temporary water service agreements; performs simple research and develops and presents reports; prepares and maintains routine correspondence.

•    Performs and/or assists in soil gradation-sieve analysis; operates particle counter; performs and/or assists with materials and equipment tests; performs and/or assists with facility performance testing.

•    May provide updates to various databases under the direction of an Engineer.

•    May maintain, update, and upgrade the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) database and CIP related records for the District.

•    Performs other related work as required.

Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying.  

A typical way to obtain the knowledge, skills, and abilities would be the equivalent of: Education and Experience: Possession of an Associate’s degree in engineering or a related field; and  

No work experience is required.

Must possess a valid California driver’s license and have a satisfactory driving record.

Top candidates will have experience in several areas within the engineering field, such as field surveying, interpreting maps, meeting with contractors or permit holder representatives to explain specifications or permit requirements, entering data into computer databases, conducting record searches for water wells, inspecting field work, customer service functions such as answering inquires on well fees and related policies.  Experience with personal computer spreadsheet, graphic applications, databases, computer aided drafting (CAD), geographic information systems (GIS), and field experience with GPS are desirable.