Engineer C - Watershed Protection

Title: Engineer C - Watershed Protection

Location: Austin Texas Center

Full time

Job Description:

JOIN THE CITY OF AUSTIN TEAM

At the City of Austin, we are more than just an employer—we are a vibrant community dedicated to shaping one of the nation's most dynamic and innovative cities. Our guiding principles—Empathy, Ethics, Excellence, Engagement, and Equity — anchor our approach in delivering services that significantly impact the lives of Austin residents. Joining the City of Austin means embarking on a purposeful career, contributing to the community, and being part of a forward-thinking organization that values every employee.

What Makes the City of Austin Special?

• Make a Difference: Join a team driving meaningful change in one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation.

• Diverse and Inclusive Workplace: Work in an environment where every voice is valued, and Innovation thrives.

• Competitive Benefits: Enjoy a comprehensive compensation package that includes generous leave, work-life balance programs, and extensive benefits.

• Retirement Security: Plan for the future with the City of Austin Employees' Retirement System.

• Sustainable Transportation Options: Commute easily with access to public transit and bike-friendly infrastructure.

• Focus on Wellness: Stay healthy through wellness programs, on-site fitness centers, and mental health support.

• Career Growth: Advance your skills and expertise with professional development and leadership opportunities.

• Modern Workspaces: Work in innovative and sustainable environments designed to foster collaboration and inspiration.

By joining us, you become part of a community that values its people and is committed to making Austin the most thriving and resilient city in the country.

Purpose:

Under minimal supervision with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment, this position performs highly complex engineering functions that include designing, planning, and overseeing work in support of construction, maintenance, and alteration of structures, facilities, processes, equipment, and systems.

Duties, Functions and Responsibilities:

 Essential duties and functions, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.

Approves, processes, and seals plans, specifications, or construction documents by applying engineering standardization of practices and principles of highly technical and complex calculations for applied discipline within Local and State regulatory requirements.

• Manages engineering projects that are technically complex, highly visible, priority projects or programs. These projects require a high level of technical proficiency as well as coordinative and administrative responsibility.

• Identifies, evaluates, and provides improvement recommendations with preliminary and final designs and design criteria for assigned program or projects that may be complex and non-routine. Assists in the preparation of preliminary and long-range plans, schedules, estimates, budgets, detailed final plans, specifications, special conditions, and agreements. Provides technical oversight of project progress from design through completion.

• Develops cost estimates, tracks expenditures, and prepares cost estimates and engineering and feasibility reports and studies for projects. Prepares and assists with preliminary contract documents, specifications, and plans. Prepares final plans, specifications, special conditions, and agreements and coordinates and oversees work of contractors, affected public agencies, and utilities. Writes complex technical specifications for construction contracts.

• Reviews plans and approves permits by applying complex engineering standardization of practices and principles for applied discipline within Local and State regulatory requirements.

• Inspects and monitors projects for legal compliance by reviewing work completed by contractors and ensuring compliance to specifications by completing complex calculations that are used to further provide analysis of preliminary results of a project.

• Develops cost estimates or tracks expenditures by reviewing and writing contract change orders in the area of technical expertise and negotiates and recommends financial arrangements for changes to contract.

• Leads, as necessary, activities of a design team in the preparation of preliminary and long-range plans, schedules, estimates, budgets, detail final construction plans, specifications, and agreements.

• Conducts field inspections of work done by contractors to ensure compliance with plans and specifications. Drafts and recommends approval of contract change orders.

• Researches and performs statistical analysis for validation of reports and publication of results in various communication formats.

• Develops standard operating procedures, policies, and ordinances for various contracts or projects. May provide analysis and recommendation of performance of various personnel assigned by contract or projects.

• Is responsible for designing and maintain database systems for project or program areas.

• Prepares and delivers presentations to public, City Council, or customers.

Responsibilities - Supervisor and/or Leadership Exercised:

May provide leadership, work assignments, evaluation, training, and guidance to others.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Must possess required knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential functions of the job can be performed.

• Knowledge of diversified, fundamental scientific and civil engineering concepts, phenomena, and relationships, and utilize such changes in solution of theoretical or practical civil engineering problems.

• Knowledge of advanced mathematical techniques such as trigonometry, calculus, and coordinate geometry.

• Knowledge of modern methods, materials, and techniques of assigned discipline.

• Knowledge of one or more of the following disciplines: Civil, Environmental, Structural, Architectural, Mechanical, and/or Electrical engineering terminology and techniques.

• Knowledge of City of Austin purchasing and contract policies and procedures.

• Knowledge of applicability of established engineering principles and methods.

• Knowledge of phases of the plans review and inspections processes.

• Knowledge of preparation of cost estimates and engineering and feasibility reports.

• Knowledge of regulatory requirements within Local and State ordinances and laws.

• Skill in oral and written technical or general communication including preparation of written reports.

• Skill in negotiations and handling conflict resolution.

• Ability to perform more complex engineering computations, calculus, geometry, and trigonometry, rapidly and accurately.

• Ability to interpret and explain maps and other related documents.

• Ability to interpret and make decisions not within established policies and practices.

• Ability to coordinate the efforts of a multi-discipline, multi-agency project team to complete a defined assignment or CIP.

• Ability to communicate and provide direction to peers and assigned personnel.

• Ability to organize, analyze, interpret, and evaluate scientific civil engineering problems and provide practical, cost-effective solutions.

• Ability to observe, compare, or monitor objects and data to determine compliance with prescribed operating or safety standards.

• Ability to use graphic instructions, such as blueprints, schematic drawings, layouts, or other visual aids.

• Ability to use a personal computer, engineering applications, and data management software.

Minimum Qualifications:

Graduation with a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in Engineering or in a field related to the job, plus eight (8) years of engineering experience acquired before and/or after licensing as a professional engineer.

Licenses and Certifications Required:

Licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.) in the State of Texas; or if currently licensed in another state, must have the ability to obtain a Texas P.E. license within six (6) months of employment.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience developing construction plans for Water Quality SCMs.

• Experience with AutoCAD Civil 3D, ArcGIS, and EPA SWMM for hydrologic, hydraulic, and water quality modeling.

• Experience overseeing construction and working with construction crews.

• Ability to coach and develop engineering talent.

• Knowledge of applying code and criteria in the context of engineering design.

Notes to Candidate:

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW:
Please learn more about our department and how we serve our community: What does the Watershed Protection Department do?

POSITION OVERVIEW:

The Stormwater Treatment Program is seeking an experienced, licensed, engineer to design water quality stormwater control measures (WQ SCMs) that improve watershed health by mitigating adverse impacts of urbanization. Sometimes called Green Stormwater Infrastructure, our multi-functional systems are designed to reduce pollution and improve downstream hydrology (better baseflow and erosion potential) while incorporating co-benefits for efficient use of space: nature play, wildlife habitat, trails, even community agriculture. To deliver commitments long-term to the community, we design for maintenance, safe and non-erosive conveyance of design flows, predictable water holding times, and intentional aesthetics.

The successful candidate will join a team including a landscape architect, CAD technician, and several junior engineering staff. We deliver a range of projects from small, fully-in-house design/construction to overseeing large, Capital Projects by engineering consultants and private contractors. Our senior engineer is a leadership role and must contribute positively to an organizational culture of collaboration, "can do" attitude, mentorship, and safety.

Primary work includes construction plan development for WQ SCMs including knowledge of specifications, details, developing quantities, estimating cost, and keeping schedule. Knowledge of applicable code, criteria, and permitting implications are important. Designs may be new facilities or repair / upgrade of existing assets. There will be significant construction oversight and field reconnaissance. Hydrologic, hydraulic, and water quality modeling are needed to quantify and report benefits and optimize SCM systems.

Additional work includes new project prioritization and development and technical assistance to other teams working on items like code and criteria development, monitoring, and compliance. This position will interact with a diverse and multi-disciplinary cross section of people including construction crews, maintenance workers, residents, council members, scientists, and administrative professionals - making customer service and emotional intelligence key skills.

Desired technical skills include experience with AutoCAD Civil 3D, ArcGIS, scheduling with Microsoft Project, retaining wall analysis, and modeling with EPA SWMM.

EDUCATION:

Verification of education will be conducted on the top candidate.

SALARY RANGE:

Min $45.22 - Mid $58.78

DAYS AND HOURS:

40 hours per week, Monday – Friday with the ability for a 60% telework schedule per week after initial training period. Exceptions may apply subject to the business needs of the department.

May require working outside of normal business hours, including emergency events, evenings, weekends, and holidays as dictated by business needs.

TRAVEL:
If you are selected for this position and meet the Driver Safety Standards in the City of Austin Driver Safety Program, you may drive when necessary to multiple locations as part of your regular job duties. Otherwise, you are responsible for getting to and from these locations.

BENEFITS:
Working with the City of Austin provides a number of health and welfare benefits such as low-cost medical, dental, vision, paid leave time, a highly competitive retirement plan, career development opportunities and more. 

ABOUT YOUR EMPLOYMENT APPLICATION (Please read carefully):
When completing the City of Austin Employment Application:

• Include details on the application or prior or current work history with the City of Austin.

• A resume and cover letter is required. It does not substitute for a complete employment application.

• A detailed and complete employment application will help us better evaluate your qualifications and will be used to determine salary if you are selected for this position.

• Include details on the application of any previous employment that you wish to be considered as part of your qualifications and relevant experience. Provide each job title and employment dates for all jobs on the application. Your work history should include duties you performed. “See Resume” is not acceptable and your application will be considered incomplete.

• Work history must include the month and year of employment and whether it was full or part-time work.

• Any relevant work history on the resume must also be reflected in the employment application in order to be considered.