ASSISTANT ENGINEER

Class specifications are intended to present a descriptive list of the range of duties performed by employees in the class.
Specifications are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job.

DEFINITION
Under supervision, performs professional engineering work and administrative tasks associated with the
planning, design, and construction of engineering projects; and performs a variety of tasks relative to the
assigned area of responsibility.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

Assistant Engineer is identified as the first level professional position in the engineering class series. It is
distinguished from positions in the Engineering Technician series in that the latter are primarily engaged
in engineering plan checking and other technical support tasks. It is distinguished from Associate Engineer
in that the latter is the fully-experienced staff engineer overseeing the day-to-day aspects of engineering
project management.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Direct supervision is received from an Associate Engineer, the Engineering Manager (Planning and Water
Resources) and/or the Engineering Manager (Capital and Development).

Technical/functional work direction may be provided to Engineering Technicians.

ESSENTIAL AND MARGINAL FUNCTION STATEMENTS

Essential and other important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Essential Functions:

1. Prepare cost estimates, manages consultant contract, draft scope of work statement and content
for Requests for Proposals and evaluation criteria for use in selecting consultants.

2. Assist senior staff with reviewing and evaluating proposals for consultant work.

3. Assist in reviewing the reports and coordinating with other agencies.

4. Uses project scheduling software to track project milestones and monitor project budgets.

5. Assembles information for inclusion in engineering project status and staff reports as needed.

6. Regular attendance at work site.

Page 1 of 3
Assistant Engineer

Water Resources and Planning

 Knowledge about water systems and preliminary knowledge about hydraulic modeling software.
Conducts analyses and use data with engineering judgement to better plan and optimize water
and wastewater systems.

 Participates and assists with development of water/wastewater master plans, urban water
management plan, water supply assessments; Under general supervision or direction performs
activities to ensure the District's compliance with federal, state and local regulations and prepares
and submits major water resources regulatory reports; apply and administer grants to fund
water/wastewater or recycled water activities; makes preliminary analyses of hydraulic capacity
and/or suitable locations for pipelines and facilities; makes site visits and surveys of field locations
as appropriate.

 Uses GIS software for projects and exhibits and to perform data analysis; map editing; perform
hydraulic modeling on pressurized and gravity pipeline networks for engineering analyses;
maintains system model from system drawings/record drawings; runs planning level scenarios to
develop and support capital projects.

 Coordinates fire flow testing program and assembles and reviews data and statistics relative to
these tests.

Capital and Development Projects

 Assists in planning and developing engineering design projects; prepares engineering plans, follow
specifications, design and project cost estimates for CIP projects; troubleshoots design problems;
may assist with environmental reviews for projects.

 Assists in reviewing engineering reports, plans, or specifications prepared by engineering

consultants or developers; makes engineering calculations to include quantity take-offs and initial
cost estimates for construction; participates in the review of submittals and vendor drawings for
conformance with design requirements.

 Helps with engineering project management work including administration of construction

contracts; attends project review meetings; assists in coordinating construction inspection
activities; does preliminary review of invoices requesting progress payments.

Marginal Functions:
1. Performs related duties and responsibilities as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of:
Basic civil engineering principles, practices, methods, materials and hydraulics.
Fundamentals of engineering economics including cost/benefit analysis.
Engineering project management methods and techniques.
Construction management principles and techniques.
Federal, state, and local laws and regulations affecting water and wastewater utilities.
OSHA regulations and safe work practices.

Page 2 of 4
Assistant Engineer

Skill in:
Using a personal computer and related software for business and engineering applications, proficiency
in Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Ability to:
Learn and apply general engineering principles to the solution of specific engineering problems.
Gather, analyze, and evaluate technical information and make reasoned recommendations thereon.
Assist in the conduct of various engineering project management activities.
Review and evaluate engineering specifications, requests for proposals, contract documents, and design
drawings.
Present technical information to non-technical persons.
Make accurate engineering calculations.
Maintain detailed and accurate records.
Understand and carry out oral and written instructions.
Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
Maintain physical condition appropriate to the performance of assigned duties and responsibilities.
Maintain mental capacity which allows the capability of making sound decisions and demonstrating
intellectual capabilities.
Maintain effective audio-visual discrimination and perception needed for making observations,
communicating with others, reading, writing and operating assigned equipment.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Experience and Training Guidelines

Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A
typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience:
One (1) year of professional engineering or related field/planning experience (including internship
experience), preferably with a water or wastewater utility; experience with and proficiency in ArcGIS,
Innovyze InfoWater/InfoSewer, and AutoCAD Civil 3D, are highly desirable.

Training/Education:
Possession of a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a major in Civil
Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.

Certificate:
Possession of an Engineer-in-Training certificate is highly desirable.

License:
Possession of a valid Class C California driver’s license and a satisfactory driving record.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING CONDITIONS

The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by employees to successfully
perform the essential functions of this class. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to
perform the essential job functions.

Page 3 of 4
Assistant Engineer

Environmental Conditions:
Standard office setting; frequent interaction with District staff and general public.

Physical Conditions:
Incumbents require sufficient mobility to work in an office setting; stand and sit for prolonged periods of
time; operate office equipment including use of a computer keyboard; ability to verbally communicate to
exchange information; use of hands repetitively to operate finger, handle or feel office equipment and
reach with hands and arms. Employees are frequently required to stand and walk.

Mental Demands:
The incumbent is regularly required to use written and oral communication skills; read and interpret data,
information and documents; analyze and solve complex problems; use math and mathematical reasoning;
perform highly detailed work under changing, intensive deadlines, on multiple tasks; work with constant
interruptions.

Vision:
See in the normal visual range with or without correction; vision sufficient to read computer screens and
printed documents and to operate assigned equipment.

Hearing:
Hear in normal audio range with or without correction.

JOB STATUS: Non-Exempt

DATE ADOPTED: October 2005
DATE MODIFIED: July 2021

Safety Sensitive Position

Page 4 of 4