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Job Description

PRINCIPAL ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN

JOB CODE 19260

Effective Date:	02/00X

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS:

The fundamental reason this classification exists is to perform difficult, complex, and technical paraprofessional engineering duties, or direct a large number of engineering technicians or drafting technicians engaged in various technical engineering duties. Assignments in this class are allocated to several departments, including Engineering and Architectural Services, Street Transportation and Water Services. The factors which distinguish this class from Chief Engineering Technician are that the responsibilities are substantially greater due to the performance of more exacting and detailed activities and/or the element of supervision which extends to all levels of technicians. Individual assignments determine the knowledge, skills and abilities required for each option. Work is performed under the supervision of a professional engineer, registered architect, or other supervisor who reviews work on the basis of results obtained and for compliance with standards and schedules.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. ASSIGNMENT: ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT

• Architectural Option:
  • Designs, prepares and/or reviews plans, specifications, and cost estimates for moderately complex architectural construction projects;
  • Reviews design service and fee proposals for compliance with project requirements and budgets;
  • Ensures plans, specifications and cost estimates comply with design contracts and City Building Standards;
  • Approves design contract Change Order Requests to amend existing contracts;
  • Reviews and approves consulting architects' pay estimates and monthly claims for payment;
  • Performs field inspections;
  • Assigns, reviews and approves work prepared by drafting technicians;
  • Demonstrates continuous effort to improve operations, decrease turnaround times, streamline work processes, and work cooperatively and jointly to provide quality seamless customer service.
• Assessment Option:
  • Supervises the preliminary and final distribution of cost and related activities associated with neighborhood and petition paving and sanitary sewer improvement district projects;
  • Supervises the preparation of Requests for Council Action, including posting, publication, Improvement District registered bonds, contractors payments, hearing and related duties.
• Design Option:
  • Designs and/or reviews plans and prepares specifications and estimates for moderately complex public works construction projects;
  • Supervises the drafting team engaged in preparation of detailed drawings for public works construction projects;
  • Reviews and prepares final design work involving resolution of problems with utilities, structures, land use changes, and natural geographical conditions.
• Plans Review Option:
  • Supervises the review and reporting of applications regarding zoning, lot divisions, abandonments, right-of-way and building permits;
  • Supervises the review and reporting of preliminary and final sub-division plats, zoning applications, site plans and various special projects;
  • Serves as liaison between the City and private utilities involved in construction within the public right-of-way;
  • Supervises a group of engineering technicians who review, approve and issue all utility permits and all individual permits for work within the City right-of-way.

2. ASSIGNMENT: STREET TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT

• Construction Traffic Control Option:
  • Supervises and coordinates the City's street closure permit system;
  • Supervises the use of temporary traffic control devices in construction and maintenance areas in conformance with traffic barricade manual and project specifications;
  • Plans temporary traffic control for large construction projects to minimize traffic conflicts;
  • Prepares traffic regulations for project specifications for all City projects;
  • Plans and supervises temporary traffic control for special events and emergency conditions to minimize traffic disruption;
  • Evaluates new control products to determine suitability;
  • Periodically revises the traffic barricade manual.
• Operations Option:
  • Conducts Traffic Engineering surveys;
  • Supervises engineering technicians in receiving and investigating service requests and resolving complaints about vehicle, pedestrian traffic conditions, parking, blind corners, traffic signs, street striping, parking meters, and other traffic control devices.
• Design Option:
  • Supervises the design and/or drafting of Major Street geometrics, traffic signal plans, paint striping diagrams, mass transit facilities, and bicycle routes;
  • Computes and supervises computation of cost estimates for street traffic improvements;
  • Reviews and supervises the review of paving plans for major street projects to ensure conformance to City policies and national standards;
  • Responsible for the operation of the Design Section;
  • Coordinate power and telephone interconnect service to proposed traffic signals and reviews major street lighting plans submitted by power companies.
• Plans Review:
  • Supervises the review and reporting of applications regarding zoning, lot divisions abandonments, right-of-way and building permits and approval of paving plans for developments;
  • Supervises the review and reporting of preliminary and final sub-division plats, zoning applications, site plans and various special projects;
  • Supervises a group of engineering technicians who locate driveways for major street and improvement district projects;
  • Coordinates and makes recommendations to the Driveway Appeal Board.

3. ASSIGNMENT: WATER SERVICES DEPARTMENT

• Engineering Option:
  • Reviews plans and specifications for moderately complex projects such as water distribution and wastewater collection pipelines, pressure reducing valves, water storage tanks, and small pumps;
  • Prepares specifications for readily available materials and equipment used to construct Water Services facilities;
  • Prepares computer generated maps and drawings;
  • Operates the water and wastewater computer flow model;
  • Supervises the day-to-day operation of the Water Main Replacement program;
  • Provides project management support services, such as preparing or reviewing bid and contract documents, maintaining project schedules, and preparing close-out reports.
• Design:
  • Reviews plats, site plans, lot divisions, Water and Wastewater construction plans, street paving plans, storm sewer plans, state and county highway plans, and fireline plans;
  • Designs and reviews plans and specifications for Water and Wastewater treatment plants, reservoirs, pumping stations, transmission mains, and distribution mains;
  • Writes and revises Water and Wastewater Department equipment, machinery and construction specifications.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Civil Engineering principles and techniques.
• Civil Engineering terminology.
• Water supply, storage, transmission, and distribution systems.
• Construction drawings, plans, and specifications.
• Surveying principles, practices and techniques.
• The Arizona Revised Statutes as they pertain to the Improvement District Act.
• Symbols and terminology used in engineering drawings and construction plans and specifications.
• Legal property descriptions.
• Other governmental agency requirements.
• City ordinances and standards governing land development.
• Sewage treatment and collection systems.
• Construction practices and techniques.
• Traffic Engineering Principles and Practices.

Ability to:

• Perform a broad range of supervisory responsibilities over others.
• Communicate orally in the English language with customers, clients, and the public using a telephone or in a one-to-one or group setting.
• Produce written documents in the English language with clearly-organized thoughts with proper sentence construction, punctuation, and grammar.
• Read and interpret construction drawings and specifications.
• Design and/or review the design of civil engineering or traffic engineering projects.
• Interpret and write specifications, compute quantities, and make cost estimates.
• Supervise the preparation of engineering drawings that are neat, accurate, and logically arranged, utilizing the methods and techniques of manual or computerized drafting.
• Prepare analytical reports.
• Employ the practical application of fractions, percentages, ratios and proportions, mensuration, logarithms, calculator, practical algebra, geometric construction and essentials of trigonometry.
• Work cooperatively with engineers, public officials, and the general public.
• Work safely without presenting a direct threat to self or others.

Additional Requirements:

• Some positions require the use of personal or City vehicles on City business. Individuals must be physically capable of operating the vehicles safely, possess a valid drivers' license and have an acceptable driving record. Use of a personal vehicle for City business will be prohibited if the employee is not authorized to drive a City vehicle or if the employee does not have personal insurance coverage. Some positions will require the performance of other essential or marginal functions depending upon work assignment, location, or shift.

ACCEPTABLE EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING:
Six years of experience in paraprofessional engineering work, including three years of paraprofessional civil engineering experience (or one year of experience at the level of Chief Engineering Technician, or Chief Drafting Technician). Other combinations of experience and education that meet the minimum requirements may be substituted.