ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN I

THE JOB: Under general supervision, to perform a variety of moderate to complex office and field technical engineering tasks related to drafting, construction plan review, surveying, inspecting, office research and assisting the public; and to perform other duties as required. Engineering Technician I is the first working level in the series. Incumbents perform more routine tasks independently and receive closer supervision when assisting in more complex engineering tasks. Incumbents may serve as an instrument person on a survey crew. As knowledge and abilities are acquired, incumbents are given increased responsibility and are expected to progress to the Engineering Technician II class after one year. The list established from this recruitment will be used to fill current and future vacancies for full-time, part-time, substitute, and extra-help temporary positions during the life of the eligible list.

THE REQUIREMENTS: Any combination of education and experience that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying unless otherwise specified. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be: 

One year of journey-level technical engineering experience. A bachelor’s degree in engineering, mathematics, geology, physics, chemistry, computer science, or a closely related field may be substituted for one year of the required experience. College-level coursework in engineering, computer-aided drafting or mathematics (algebra, geometry, or trigonometry) may be substituted for up to six months of the required experience on the basis of one semester or quarter-length course for two months of experience. 

Special Requirements: Possession of a valid California Class C Driver License (upon appointment) is required for some positions.

Knowledge: Working knowledge of the principles and practices of algebra, geometry, trigonometry, general science and scales of weights and measurements as applied to engineering computations and construction; survey procedures, techniques, and equipment; the physical properties of construction materials; the principles and techniques of drafting. Some knowledge of the principles and practices used in the construction and repair of roads, drainage and sewer facilities, and other public works projects.

Ability to: Read and interpret blueprints, maps, change orders, improvement plans and construction specifications; use and adjust precision surveying equipment; perform drafting work and assist in the preparation of designs, plans, and reports; make accurate engineering calculations; collect and analyze field data and prepare accurate and detailed reports and records; establish and maintain effective working relationships with others; drive vehicles, such as pickup trucks and vans (some positions); learn to input, access, and analyze data using a computer terminal; stand or walk for up to eight hours per day; kneel for up to four hours per day (some positions); perform tasks requiring strength, such as carrying bags of aggregate, removing underground access covers, climbing into and out of trenches, lifting equipment up to 40 pounds out of trenches, and lifting maps from map files; lift items weighing up to 40 pounds, such as buckets of soil and soil gauges (nuclear gauges); some positions require lifting up to 47 pounds, such as two employees moving a 94 pound concrete survey monument; distinguish various sounds, such as the voices of co-workers in noisy environments, the sounds of operating equipment and oncoming traffic, and radio communications at construction sites; smell odors in order to detect natural gas leaks; identify objects in the distance, such as co-workers’ hand signals, construction stakes, and oncoming traffic; distinguish colors, such as color-coded underground service alert markings and colored ribbon on construction stakes; and put on, wear, and use a respirator and other required safety gear (some positions).

Special Working Conditions: Exposure to variable temperatures and weather conditions; slippery surfaces, such as wet trenches; heights, such as at the edge of a trench; cramped work spaces; high levels of noise; dust and silica dust; allergens, such as poison oak and stinging insects; strong, unpleasant odors; electrical hazards; potentially hostile or violent individuals; the possibility of experiencing bodily injury and contact with toxic substances, chemical irritants, and ionizing and non-ionizing radiation; and, for some assigned tasks, possible exposure to needles or blood which could possibly result in chronic disease or death.

Some positions may require fingerprinting and/or background investigation.

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS:
ANNUAL LEAVE - 22 days first year, increasing to 37 days after 15 years of service. Available for vacation and/or sick leave.
HOLIDAYS - 12.5 paid holidays per year.
BEREAVEMENT LEAVE – 3 days paid in California, 5 days paid out-of-state.
MEDICAL PLAN - The County contracts with CalPERS for a variety of medical plans. For most plans, County contributions pay a majority of the premiums for employees and eligible dependents.
DENTAL PLAN - County pays for employee and eligible dependent coverage.
VISION PLAN - County pays for employee coverage. Employee may purchase eligible dependent coverage.
RETIREMENT - Pension formula 2% at age 60 or 2% at age 62 as determined based on provisions of the CA Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA). Pension benefit determined by final average compensation of three years. County participates in Social Security. 
LIFE INSURANCE - County paid $20,000 term policy.  Employee may purchase additional life insurance.
DISABILITY INSURANCE - Employees in the General Representation Unit participate in the State Disability Insurance (SDI) program. This program is funded 100% by employee payroll deductions.
DEPENDENT-CARE PLAN - Employees who make contributions for child or dependent care may elect to have their contributions made utilizing “pre-tax dollars.”
H-CARE PLAN - Employees who pay a County medical premium may elect this pre-tax program.
HEALTH CARE FLEXIBLE SPENDING ALLOWANCE (HCFSA) - Employees may elect this pre-tax program to cover qualifying health care expenses.
DEFERRED COMPENSATION - A deferred compensation plan is available to employees.

THE EXAMINATION: Your application and supplemental questionnaire will be reviewed to determine if you have met the education, experience, training and/or licensing requirements as stated on the job announcement. If you meet these criteria and are one of the best qualified, you may be required to compete in any combination of written, oral and/or performance examinations or a competitive evaluation of training and experience as described on your application and supplemental questionnaire. You must pass all components of the examination to be placed on the eligible list. The examination may be eliminated if there are ten or fewer qualified applicants. If the eligible list is established without the administration of the announced examination, the life of the eligible list will be six months and your overall score will be based upon an evaluation of your application and supplemental questionnaire. If during those six months it is necessary to administer another examination for this job class, you will be invited to take the examination to remain on the eligible list.

HOW TO APPLY: Apply Online Now! Click on the link below; or print out an application and supplemental questionnaire and mail/bring them to: Santa Cruz County Personnel Department, 701 Ocean Street, Room 510, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060. For information, call (831) 454-2600. Hearing Impaired TDD/TTY: 711. Applications will meet the final filing date if received in one of the following ways: 1) In the Personnel Department by 5:00 p.m. on the final filing date, 2) Submitted online before midnight of the final filing date. Following a review for minimum qualifications, applicants who are selected to move forward in the recruitment process will be notified that they must submit a completed conviction history questionnaire in order to continue to the examination phase of the process.

IF YOU HAVE A DISABILITY THAT WOULD REQUIRE TEST ACCOMMODATION, CALL (831) 454-2600. WOMEN, MINORITIES AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY.

To comply with the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act, Santa Cruz County verifies that all new employees are either U.S. citizens or persons authorized to work in the U.S.

An Equal Opportunity Employer

NOTE: The provisions of this bulletin do not constitute an expressed or implied contract.