Assistant Civil Engineer - Inspector

About the role

The Bureau of Water and Sewer Operations within the NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) seeks to hire Inspectors to support the Department's accelerated housing and infrastructure initiatives under the City of Yes zoning reforms and the Mayor's SPEED initiative. The Bureau is responsible for the operation, maintenance, and protection of the City's drinking water and wastewater collection systems, ensuring compliance with DEP standards and regulations.

Responsibilities

• Conducting field inspections of sewer and water connection work performed by licensed plumbers, contractors, and developers to ensure compliance with DEP standards, approved permits, and engineering plans.
• Ensuring that construction work, materials, and work performed by licensed plumbers or contractors comply fully with current DEP standards and specifications.
• Maintaining accurate and detailed records of inspections and site visits; documenting findings objectively and comprehensively to support sound engineering conclusions.
• Participating in professional meetings with Design Engineers, Professional Engineers, Licensed Plumbers, and Contractors, as well as internal unit staff, to discuss project progress, resolve issues, and ensure alignment with regulatory standards.
• Engaging in engineering studies, investigations, and examinations relevant to the operations of the Connections Unit.
• Inspecting certified sewer connection installations, site connection work, and related infrastructure associated with affordable housing developments, accessory dwelling units (ADUs), and rezoning-driven construction projects.
• Verifying that construction materials, workmanship, excavation practices, and installation methods conform to current DEP specifications and approved engineering documents.
• Reviewing field conditions and identifying conflicts, deficiencies, unauthorized work, or non-compliant installations that may impact on the City's water distribution or wastewater collection systems.
• Maintaining accurate, detailed, and timely inspection records, field reports, photographs, and documentation utilizing DEP permitting and inspection systems, including PARIS and related digital platforms.
• Supporting expedited permit processing and inspection operations associated with the SPEED initiative by assisting in reducing inspection delays and improving turnaround times for Certificates of Occupancy and permit approvals.
• Participating in meetings with Professional Engineers, Registered Architects, Licensed Master Plumbers, contractors, developers, and DEP personnel to discuss inspection findings, project status, compliance issues, and corrective measures.
• Assisting in investigating complaints, emergencies, illegal connections, damaged infrastructure conditions, and field issues affecting water and sewer operations.
• Reviewing approved plans, permits, sketches, and engineering documents prior to inspections to ensure field work is performed in accordance with approved designs and regulatory requirements.
• Assisting with the implementation of process improvements, enhanced inspection tracking procedures, and digital workflow initiatives intended to support increased permit volumes and improved customer service.
• Performing related inspectional, technical, and administrative duties as required to support the operations of the Bureau of Water and Sewer Operations and the Connections Unit.

Requirements

• A valid New York State driver’s license is required.

Qualifications

• One year of full-time satisfactory experience in civil engineering work, or
• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college in civil engineering, or
• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and a Master's degree from an accredited college in civil engineering.

Preferred Skills

• Basic understanding of engineering principles, with a focus on water and sewer systems.
• Strong organizational and communication skills, both oral and written.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and familiarity with Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
• Ability to work in outdoor field conditions and interact professionally with licensed plumbers, testers, owners, customers, and other City Agencies.

Benefits

DEP is an equal opportunity employer with a strong commitment to the diversity of its organization and workforce. Your voluntary response to the NYCAPS on-line application section for referral information will assist in tracking the success of their outreach and recruitment efforts. Please be sure to indicate your source of referral to this job.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.

Contact Information

Recruitment Contact: recruit@dep.nyc.gov
For additional information about DEP, visit www.nyc.gov/dep

Additional Information

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.