DEFINITION

Junior in Civil Engineering/Assistant in Civil Engineering

Under general supervision, to perform professional field and office engineering work which includes design and construction of roads, bridges, sanitation, sewage, drainage, water and other public works facilities; to review less complex engineering plans and specifications and land development projects prepared by professional consultants; and to do other work as required.

Associate Civil Engineer

Under direction, to perform a variety of professional field and office engineering work which includes planning, design and construction of roads, bridges, sanitation, sewage, drainage water, refuse disposal, and other public works facilities; to review engineering plans and specifications and land development projects prepared by professional consultants; and to do other work as required.

Civil Engineer

Under general direction, performs difficult and responsible professional civil engineering work in the field and office; may act as resident engineer on very large or complex construction projects; may supervise subordinate professional and sub-professional engineering personnel engaged in such work; and performs related duties as required.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS


Junior in Civil Engineering is the entry level class in the professional engineering series. Incumbents perform office and field engineering assignments as a trainee working under the guidance of a professional engineer or a technical expert. Incumbents are expected to gradually develop the knowledges and abilities required for the Assistant in Civil Engineering class. More complex and difficult tasks are assigned as knowledges and abilities are developed. Normally incumbents are expected to gain the knowledges and abilities to perform more difficult assignments after a year which would qualify incumbents for promotion to the next higher level of Assistant in Civil Engineering.

Assistant in Civil Engineering is the first working level in the professional engineering series. Incumbents either prepare engineering designs and specifications for projects using standardized methods, or prepare segments of the design work for projects assigned to and supervised by Associate Civil Engineers. Additionally, incumbents review engineering plans and specifications and land development projects prepared by professional consultants. Normally incumbents are expected to gain the knowledges and abilities to perform complex assignments within two years. After obtaining Certification of Registration as a Civil Engineer, incumbents would qualify for promotion to the next higher professional level of Associate Civil Engineer.

Associate Civil Engineer is the journey level professional civil engineer class. Incumbents are expected to perform any field or office assignment with a minimum amount of supervision and work under general direction as a project engineer in charge of a small group of subordinate engineers and/or paraprofessional engineering staff or resource planning staff engaged in a wide variety of responsible civil engineering or land development work and other major projects. Associate Civil Engineers may also review complex plans and specifications prepared by consultants to assure conformity to County design criteria and laws. Additional assignments may include traffic engineering studies and analysis. The Associate Civil Engineer class differs from the higher level class of Senior Civil Engineer who are at the full supervisory level responsible for a major section of the Department of Public Works. The next lower class of Assistant Civil Engineer is distinguished by assignment to the more routine office or field projects.

Civil Engineer requires additional responsibility for: interpreting and coordinating existing engineering policies and methods with other departments and contractors; making regular responsible contacts with professional engineering personnel and contractors; preparing, checking and reviewing detailed and complex engineering plans, specifications and related documents; and organizing design teams or individual projects in order to meet preordained deadlines. 

TYPICAL TASKS

Junior in Civil Engineering/Assistant in Civil Engineering

Prepares routine designs, plans, drawings, specification, and reports for roads, sewers, water, flood control, drainage, bikeways, refuse disposal, water and other public works projects and grants that meet Federal, State and local environmental safety standards; writes construction project specifications; prepares detailed cost estimates; conducts field surveys to identify technical problems and collect data; uses survey data to develop cross sections and alignments; conducts right-of-way research and writes legal descriptions; obtains required permits for projects from other agencies; reviews plans prepared by consultants and other professional engineers to assure conformance with engineering principles and County design criteria; assists in developing and preparing information for documents,
proposals, affidavits, bonds, specifications, change orders and other documents and reports involved in the construction of engineering projects; gathers, compiles and computes data using engineering, drafting and calculating instruments and techniques to prepare designs, plans, estimates, technical reports and specifications for the construction, alteration, maintenance and operation of a variety of engineering projects; provides information to the public, contractors and consultants; may assist in inspecting construction projects for conformance with specifications, safety standards and Federal, State and local regulations; may prepare traffic studies to determine transportation needs and review traffic studies prepared by consultants for accuracy; uses a computer terminal to input, access and analyze data and to perform computer aided design; prepares studies and reports; may supervise staff as assigned.

Associate Civil Engineer

Prepares and/or supervises subordinate staff engaged in the preparation of designs, drawings, plans, estimates and preliminary and final reports on civil engineering projects such as roads, drainage systems, bridges, sewers, water, traffic, refuse disposal sites, flood control, bikeways and related facilities; reviews development plans for major land development projects, large complex grading projects, bridges and other plans and specifications prepared by private builders, contractors, or consultants for conformance to County design criteria and engineering standards, laws and special requirements; prepares and reviews complex engineering calculations; acts as resident engineer on medium to large projects; recommends contract plan and specification changes, inspects work in progress, orders tests and prepares progress reports; assigns, monitors and reviews design and other project work completed by other staff; evaluates proposals, negotiates contracts, monitors progress and reviews work of engineering consultants for County contracts; conducts field studies to identify problems and gather data; conducts field inspections of projects in progress; obtains required permits from other agencies for projects; assists in preparing budget estimates, loan/grant applications and fee rate schedules; conducts moderate to complex engineering studies and/or analysis, identifies and selects alternatives, and makes recommendations; prepares projects cost estimates; provides information to other County Departments, the public, contractors and consultants; assists in the preparation of request for proposals, evaluation of proposals and makes recommendations for award; prepares maps and legal descriptions for right-of-ways, annexation, and record maps; reviews and resolves complaints from the public and other agencies; may prepare Board letters and agenda for committees and commissions; use computer terminal to input, access and analyze data and to perform computer aided design; may supervise staff; prepares reports and makes presentations; provides input into the preparation and update of design criteria and local ordinances.

Civil Engineer 

Supervises a group of engineers and draftsmen engaged in the preparation of preliminary studies, reports, designs, calculations, cost estimates, and specifications for a wide variety of construction and maintenance projects. Supervises the preparations of contract documents, including advertisement for bids, instructions to bidders, detailed specifications and contract bonds. Reviews proposed subdivision and re-subdivision of land for conformance with existing laws and ordinances; reviews complex structural plans and specifications for conformance with the building code. Inspects and/or supervises the inspection of a wide variety of major and complex engineering projects. Makes field inspections of land slides, structural failures and complex structural problems and prepares recommendations thereon. Reviews designs, calculations, drawings and cost and quantity estimates in contract specifications for engineering sufficiency and accuracy. Supervises the preparation of drawings, maps, plats and legal descriptions in connection with right-of-way acquisitions.

EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS

Knowledges

Junior in Civil Engineering

• Working knowledge of basic civil engineering design and drafting;

• Working knowledge of chemistry, physics and mathematics as applied to civil engineering;

• Some knowledge of the principles of hydraulics, hydrology and strength of materials;

• Some knowledge of the principles of structural analysis;

• Some knowledge of the principles of surveying;

• Some knowledge of the application of data processing to solve engineering problems.

Assistant in Civil Engineering

The above, plus:

• Working knowledge of civil engineering principles and practices including design, construction and inspection as applied to less complex public works projects;

• Working knowledge of the principles of hydrology, hydraulics, strength of materials and structural analysis;

• Some knowledge of the methods, materials and equipment used in public works construction;

• Some knowledge of highway alignment and grade standards.

• Working knowledge of civil engineering practices and procedures including design, construction methods and techniques, strength and properties and uses of materials, hydraulics, specification, and structural engineering;

• Working knowledge of engineering mathematics and economics;

• Working knowledge of laws and ordinances relating to design and construction standards;

• Working knowledge of road structure design;

• Working knowledge of testing procedures and equipment and materials inspection;

• Working knowledge of hydrology and hydraulic design engineering, surveying methods and construction;

• Some knowledge of the application of data processing to solve engineering problems;

• Some knowledge of the principles and practices of traffic engineering (one position).

Civil Engineer

• Thorough knowledge of civil engineering practices and procedures including design, construction methods and techniques, strength and properties and uses of materials, hydraulics, specification, and structural engineering;
• Thorough knowledge of hydrology and hydraulic design engineering, surveying methods and construction;
• Working knowledge of engineering mathematics and economics;
• Working knowledge of laws and ordinances related to design and construction standards;
• Working knowledge of road structure design;
• Working knowledge of testing procedures and equipment, and materials inspection;
• Some knowledge of the application of data processing to solve engineering problems;
• Some knowledge of the principles and practices of traffic engineering and sanitary engineering.
  

Ability to

Junior in Civil Engineering

• Prepare plans and specifications including design and layout;
• Gather data and solve engineering problems;
• Perform engineering calculations;
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with others;
• Prepare clear, concise reports;
• Learn to review engineering plans and specifications prepared by private builders, contractors and/or consultants;
• Input, access and analyze data using a computer terminal.

Assistant in Civil Engineering

The above, plus:

• Plan, design and prepare cost estimates for less complex public works projects; 
• Present technical material and reports to a nontechnical audience. 

Associate Civil Engineer

• Plan and design complex public works projects/facilities;
• Review engineering plans and specifications prepared by private builders, contractors and/or consultants;
• Make inspections of all phases of engineering work in progress;
• Coordinate work of contractors and County staff;
• Enforce contract specification and requirements;
• Make accurate estimates of cost of materials and construction time;
• Perform with a minimum of supervision;
• Enforce common safety practices and procedures;
• Prepare and present clear, concise and comprehensive reports;
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with others;
• Assign, schedule and review the work of subordinates on an assigned project;
• Present technical material to a nontechnical audience;
• Input, access and analyze data using a computer terminal.

Civil Engineer

• Plan and design complex public works projects/facilities;
• Review engineering plans and specification prepared by private builders, contractors and/or consultants;
• Make inspections of all phases of engineering work in progress;
• Coordinate work of contractors and County staff;
• Enforce contract specification and requirements;
• Make accurate estimates of cost of materials and construction time;
• Perform with a minimum of supervision;
• Enforce common safety practices and procedures;
• Prepare and present clear, concise and comprehensive reports;
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with others;
• Assign, schedule and review the work of subordinates on an assigned project;
• Present technical material to a nontechnical audience;
• Input, access and analyze data using a computer terminal.

• Possess and maintain a valid California Class C Driver's License.

• Possess and maintain a valid California Class C Driver's License.
• Completion of the Engineer-in-Training portion of the examination for Registration as a Civil Engineer in the State of California.

Associate Civil Engineer

• Possess and maintain a valid California Class C Driver's License.
• Possession of a valid certificate of registration as a Civil Engineer issued by the California State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers. 

Civil Engineer

• Possess and maintain a valid California Class C Driver's License. (Must respond to field emergencies and inspections in County pick-up).
• Possession of a valid certificate of registration as a Civil Engineer issued by the California State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers.
  

Bargaining Unit: General Representation
EEOC Job Category: 02 
Worker's Comp Code: 0285
Occupational Grouping: Engineering & Related

EE1SPEC 


CE:sjh