Performs highly-skilled sub-professional engineering work in field and office.

Employees in this class are assigned major projects requiring the skills and judgment of the finest Engineering Technicians.  Under general direction of professional engineers, they develop major projects from initial concept to completed working drawings and specifications.  One of the hallmarks of this class is the development of innovations for solutions to specific local problems, new program concepts and/or limited funds.  These positions are comparable to those of the "independent professional" engineering level in every way except theory.  Promotion to this level is normally by competitive examination.

Under the general supervision of a professional engineer, preplans, develops and drafts complete plans and specifications for major engineering projects, such as fish hatcheries complete with ponds, structures and all systems; marine ferry vessel modifications and repairs; hydraulic, mechanical and electrical;  

Under supervision, computes and designs steel, concrete and wood structures; prepares drawings for vessel modifications and repairs including general arrangements, hydraulic demands, losses and gradients, electrical loads, circuitry and services, and mechanical and electrical appurtenances and functions; computes costs and prepares specifications, invitations to bid, and contracts for all the above; 

Acts as construction inspector; suggests and considers suggestions for change orders, but does not approve change orders with finality; performs ship checks where applicable;  

Computes and plots stadia reductions, rectangular coordinates and other civil engineering and land survey data;  

May work both in field and office, but works primarily in office;  

Performs other related work as required.

Knowledge of:  engineering procedures and practices; finest drafting and illustrating techniques; mathematics, including a wide variety of complex engineering formulas; construction practices.   

Ability to:  use imagination as well as technical know-how in conception and development of entire major projects; perform highest-skilled drafting and computation work; supervise unskilled and semi-skilled aides; withstand long hours at the drafting board or inclement weather in field; travel occasionally.

There may be instances where individual positions must have additional licenses or certification. It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure the appropriate licenses/certifications are obtained for each position.

Persons legally authorized to work in the U.S. under federal law, including Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients, are eligible for employment unless prohibited by other state or federal law.

Five years of experience applying engineering techniques, one of which must have been at a level comparable to Engineering Aide 3. 

College-level course work with major emphasis in engineering may be substituted on a year-for-year basis for up to four years of the required experience.   

Selective Certification:  Eligibles may be certified in accordance with their scores in examination options (civil, field; civil, office; marine ferry vessels; architectural; mechanical; or cadastral) upon request of appointing authority.