Engineering Inspector

About the Department

The purpose of this classification is to perform work functions associated with inspection of private and municipal improvement projects.  

Position Duties

The following duties are normal for this classification.  The omission of specific duties does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this classification.   Other duties may be required and assigned.  Specific duties listed may not be required for all positions within this classification but are determined by the normal requirements for the particular position.

Acts as the city engineer's representative with authorization to inspect private and municipal construction work and materials to determine conformance with established standards and specifications.

Performs field inspections of construction sites, specifically: roadway construction, concrete construction, sanitary sewer construction, storm sewer construction, and installation and construction of water distribution system; checks and verifies elevations.

Monitor construction sites for compliance with federal/state storm water phase II regulations.

Inspect construction site Best Management Practices (BMP) and enforcement procedures including water quality sampling, outfall mapping, evidence documentation, investigate complaints, and appear in court as necessary.

Assists storm water personnel as assigned.

Inspects grade levels on roadways, curb lines, and pipelines.

Supervises compaction testing; supervises air and mandrel testing; analyzes test results; maintains records.

Measures and records quantities of materials used in construction projects.

Locates existing water valves/mains for contractors; turns valves on/off in preparation of the connection of new mains to existing system.

Inspects right-of-way clearings and roadway bores; monitors flow tests of hydrants.

Operates equipment, tools and instruments associated with inspection activities, specifically: motor vehicles, handheld computers, sanitary sewer disk locators, level, surveyor distance measures, manhole hooks, chipping hammers, bush axes, probing rods, measuring wheels, and tape measures.

Reads and interprets maps, drawings and blueprints.

Processes documentation associated with departmental operations, per established procedures and within designated time frames; distributes documentation or maintains records.

Prepares/maintains records documenting inspection activities.

Prepares/maintains records documenting inspection activities; maintains accurate field notes/records of utility locations, contractor payments, and construction material quality and quantity.

Reviews applications for progress payments on contracts.

Prepares punch lists to inform engineers or contractors of problems noted.

Prepares and/or receives various forms, reports, logs, punch lists, plats, plans, diagrams, specifications, or other documents; processes and forwards as appropriate.

Coordinates work activities with other departments, contractors, engineers, and outside agencies.

Communicates via telephone and/or two-way radio; provides information; takes and relays messages and/or directs calls to appropriate personnel; responds to requests for service.

Responds to requests for information from officials, employees, the public or other individuals.

Uses knowledge of word processing, spreadsheet, database management, and other software programs to operate a computer in an effective and efficient manner.

Provides assistance to survey workers; conducts land surveys to determine precise location and measurements of points, elevations, lines, areas, and contours; marks points of measurement; measures distance between survey points; places stake at designated points and drives stakes into ground; cuts/clears brush and trees from line of survey; calculates grades, elevations, angles and distances; maintains records.

Provides assistance to other positions or other departments.

Performs clerical functions.

Must accomplish the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodations, in a timely manner.   

Recommends policies and procedures that guide and support the provision of quality services by the Department.

Incorporates continuous quality improvement principles in day-to-day activities.

Must meet regular attendance requirements.

Must be able to maintain good interpersonal relationships with staff, co-workers, and managers.

Performs other related duties as required. 

Minimum Qualifications

High school diploma or GED required; college course work with emphasis in Civil Engineering preferred; five (5) years of experience and/or training in inspection, management, or construction in the field of civil engineering; or any equivalent combination of education, training and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills and abilities for this job. If assigned to the Water & Sewer division of OCE, a Grade I Water Operator License is preferred. Dependingon position assigned, must be able to read and interpret Manual on Uniform Traffic Control through Work Zones.  Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license.

Depending on position assigned, must be able to obtain and maintain the following certifications and/or attend the following courses at a rate of at least one (1) certification or course per year:  Roadway Technician, Trench Shoring and Safety in Excavation (OSHA), Asphalt Paving Materials & Construction Quality Control and Acceptance Technician, Work Zone Traffic Control Level 1 Technician, Nuclear Gauge Safety Certification, Compaction and Density Testing Technician, Hazardous Material Training, Erosion and Sedimentation Control Inspector Training, QCI Storm Water course offered by the Alabama Homebuilders Association, and Asphalt Level I Technology, Earthwork/Base Technology, Radiation Safety, and Roadway Technology offered by the National Center for Asphalt Technology.  Additional certifications and/or courses may be authorized by the City Engineer and/or his/her designee.

Other Qualifications

The following requirements are normal for this classification.  Specific requirements may not apply to all positions within this classification but are determined by the normal requirements for the particular position.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:   Must be able to operate a variety of equipment, machinery and tools which may include a motor vehicle, handheld computer, sanitary sewer disk locator, level, surveyor distance measure, manhole opener, chipping hammer, bush ax, probing rod, measuring wheel, tape measure, computer, copy machine, blueprint copier, calculator, telephone, two-way radio, handheld GIS device, etc.  Physical demand requirements are at levels of those for heavy work.

DATA COMPREHENSION: Requires the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable functional, structural, or compositional characteristics (whether similar to or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people, or things which may include forms, reports, maps, blueprints, regulatory documents, operational manuals, procedural manuals, and reference materials.

INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION: Requires the ability to speak with and/or signal people to convey or exchange civil engineering and land surveying information, including giving/receiving assignments and/or directions to/from co-workers, assistants, managers, or supervisors as well as communicating with the general public.

LANGUAGE ABILITY: Requires ability to read a variety of civil engineering and land surveying documentation, directions, instructions, and methods and procedures.   Requires the ability to write job related documentation and reports with proper format, punctuation, spelling and grammar, using all parts of speech.  Requires the ability to speak with and before others with poise, voice control, and confidence using correct English and well-modulated voice.

INTELLIGENCE: Requires the ability to learn and understand relatively basic civil engineering and land surveying principles and techniques, to understand departmental policies and procedures, to make independent judgments in absence of supervision, and to acquire and be able to expound on knowledge of topics related to primary occupation.

VERBAL APTITUDE: Requires the ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, and to follow verbal and written instructions.

NUMERICAL APTITUDE: Requires the ability to add and subtract, multiply and divide, calculate decimals and percentages, determine time and weight, and perform high school level trigonometry.

FORM/SPATIAL APTITUDE: Requires the ability to visually inspect items for proper length, width, and shape using job related equipment which may include a level, measuring wheel, and tape measure.

MOTOR COORDINATION: Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes in using job related equipment and to operate motor vehicles.

MANUAL DEXTERITY: Requires the ability to handle a variety of items, job related equipment, control knobs, switches, etc.  Must have the ability to use one hand for twisting motion or turning motion while coordinating other hand with different activities.  Must have average levels of eye/hand/foot coordination.

COLOR DIFFERENTIATION: Requires the ability to discern color.

INTERPERSONAL TEMPERAMENT: Requires the ability to deal with and relate to people beyond giving and receiving instructions.  Must be able to adapt to and perform under moderate stress when confronted with an emergency.

PHYSICAL COMMUNICATION: Requires the ability to talk, express, or exchange ideas by means of spoken words and/or hear and perceive nature of sounds by ear.