District Assistant Engineer

SOUTH COLUMBIA BASIN IRRIGATION DISTRICT 

Job Description 

Job Title: District Assistant Engineer 

Department: Engineering 

Reports To: Chief Engineer 

Pay Range: GS 8 

FLSA Status: Non-exempt 

SUMMARY  

Provides general engineering support for operation and maintenance activities and modifications  of irrigation facilities. Offers authoritative engineering decisions and interpretations of  specifications. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be  assigned. 

Surveys, investigates, designs, and provides construction coordination, inspection, and recording  of capital improvement projects. Supplies technical specification for alterations of facilities by  permit. Prepares specifications and drawings for improvements to facilities by contractors.  Prepares engineering estimates of costs for projects. Provides special studies relating to claims.  Conducts ponding tests and calculates seepage rates. 

Provides direct support to the Watermaster sections during operation and maintenance  construction activities. Performs pre-surveys, construction staking, post surveys, and generation  of record drawings. 

Provides construction inspection on third party projects. Keeps detailed inspection logs, tracts  inventory, and collects data to generate record drawings at end of projects. 

Works closely with Engineering Tech to provide required inspection reports, project status  updates, construction photographs, and all other information required for billing purposes.  

Participates in the initial planning of proposed projects including but not limited to preparation of  grant applications, field surveys, and computer-aided drawings. 

Inputs, updates, and maintains database of engineering information related to capital  improvements, flow measurements, canal system maintenance, and geographical information  system. 

Utilizes engineering database to produce drawings, maps, and calculations.

Utilizes engineering database to provide information used to coordinate canal improvements and  other engineering projects.  

Works on survey crew to obtain and analyze topographical details of sites. 

May serve as utility locate coordinator for the District. Locates requested utilities utilizing GPS  database and/or field personnel, and attends area utility coordination meetings.  

Provides technical support to assure on-farm activities and needs parallel district requirements.  Consistently applies requirements to all landowners during permitting process, cost sharing  capital improvements, and water consumption calculations. 

Provides technical support to Pump and Electrical Division. 

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES  

May be assigned to supervise Engineering Technician(s). 

QUALIFICATIONS  

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty  satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or  ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with  disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE  

Bachelor's degree (B. S.) from four-year college or university in Agriculture or Civil Engineering  required. Knowledge of AutoCAD, Microstation, or equivalent drafting software. Ability to  generate plans, charts, and graphs using word processing, spreadsheet, and database software.  Ability to prepare plans from legal descriptions and perform calculations to complete  reclassification worksheets. Ability to create, interpret, and communicate engineering plans and  specifications. Understanding of GIS and GPS a plus. 

LANGUAGE SKILLS  

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports,  and legal documents. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers,  regulatory agencies, or members of the business community. Ability to write speeches and  articles for publication that conform to prescribed style and format. Ability to effectively present  information to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors. 

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS  

Ability to apply advanced mathematical concepts such as exponents, logarithms, quadratic  equations, and permutations. Ability to apply mathematical operations to such tasks as  frequency distribution, determination of test reliability and validity, analysis of variance,  correlation techniques, sampling theory, and factor analysis. 

REASONING ABILITY 

Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to  interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal  with several abstract and concrete variables. 

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS  

Engineer In Training (EIT) preferred. Washington State Driver's License required. 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS  

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

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit;  use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is  occasionally required to climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and talk or hear. The  employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and frequently lift and/or move up to  25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision,  color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. 

WORK ENVIRONMENT  

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee  encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations  may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently exposed to outside weather  conditions. The employee is occasionally exposed to moving mechanical parts and vibration.  The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Employee is exposed to irrigation  ditches and structures with rapidly moving water. Employee must access open laterals and  canals with steep slippery side slopes.