Engineering Technician - City-Owner Contract Program

The City of Rochester is committed to a community where all members feel a sense of belonging, recognizing diversity, listening to all voices, and providing equitable services to create an inclusive place to live, play, and work. Equity is central to all our work, and diverse, inclusive teams drive innovation and empower progress.

About the role

This individual will primarily oversee the City of Rochester City-Owner Contract construction program, ensuring that public infrastructure within or due to private development is constructed to City Standards. The Engineering Technician performs senior-level technical civil engineering work in the Engineering Division of the Public Works Department, including project and contract management for city, state aid, and federal aid-administered construction projects. Work may involve project design, contract pre-construction review and administration, post-construction finalization, surveying, staking, inspecting, materials testing, erosion and sediment control inspection, record-keeping, and field locates of City sanitary and storm sewers.

Employees regularly communicate and collaborate with consultants, contractors, property owners, utility companies, and other stakeholders, making independent decisions while informing supervisors of unusual or controversial issues.

Responsibilities

• Perform construction inspection of City improvement projects.
• Manage all aspects of contract management and inspection of assigned projects.
• Engage in professional communication with contractors, consulting engineers, property owners, utility companies, and others affected by the project.
• Inspect erosion and sediment control features to ensure compliance with NPDES Phase 2 construction permit and Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan.
• Maintain program records and files; complete electronic inspection reports promptly.
• Inspect and manage construction features such as roadway base preparation, compaction, and structural forms for proper grade and alignment.
• Ensure materials delivered and used on projects meet specifications.
• Ensure compliance with City standards, State Aid and Federal Highway standards, and applicable city ordinances.
• Review recommendations from the Project Engineer for deviations or field changes.
• Monitor contract work to ensure adherence to plans and specifications.
• Perform pre-construction review and coordination of construction project activities.
• Attend pre-construction meetings with property owners, project engineers, consulting engineers, contractors, and utilities.
• Inspect contract work items for street and utility projects, including bituminous and concrete pavement areas.
• Inspect utility contract work, including water main, sanitary sewer, and storm sewer installation.
• Review and approve material submittals to ensure they meet job-specific requirements.
• Verify consulting engineers perform post-construction finalization of material documents, quantities, inspections, and as-built records.
• Lead weekly onsite construction meetings for projects.
• Provide project notifications and periodic updates to the Public Works management team.
• Verify construction engineers review survey and staking of walks, curb and gutter, drive approaches, and other project features.
• Direct material testing personnel to ensure materials meet specifications.
• Conduct material testing, including concrete air, slump, aggregate gradations, moisture, density, and concrete/bituminous plant monitoring.
• Maintain automated and written project records and files.
• Prepare monthly project estimates and contract change documents (supplemental agreements, work orders, change orders).
• Ensure consulting engineers maintain listings and files of contractor work, including daily diaries, working day charges, and quantity measurements; submit quantities for payment and assessment.
• Prepare correspondence to contractors and others for repairs; provide follow-up as appropriate.
• Review record drawings and maintain a database of new/repaired city infrastructure.
• Provide public service to contractors, citizens, and other agencies.
• Facilitate project-related conflict resolution between parties of City-Owner Contracts.
• Respond to inquiries, complaints, and requests for information regarding construction projects.
• Meet with residents abutting projects to discuss project-related activities and coordination.
• Provide technical and public project information to affected property owners, transportation agencies, City Council, Commissions, neighborhood groups, and other organizations.
• Develop and maintain positive working relationships with property owners, contractors, subcontractors, and city staff.
• Research and perform field locates of City sanitary and storm sewers as requested by stakeholders.
• Research plans for contractors and other stakeholders.
• Represent Public Works in pre-construction conferences and utility coordination design phase meetings.
• Perform bridge construction oversight and inspection, including pre-construction review of plans and project inspection of contract work.
• Provide work direction and immediate corrective feedback on performance deficiencies; relay performance information to the supervisor as appropriate or upon request.
• Perform other duties as assigned or necessary.

Qualifications

A High School diploma or equivalent and six (6) years of experience as an Associate Engineering Technician or equivalent position.

OR

An Associate's degree in Engineering Technology or a closely related field and two (2) years of experience as an Associate Engineering Technician or equivalent position.

OR

A Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering or a closely related field.

OR

An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job.

If you are unsure whether you meet all the requirements but are interested, apply anyway. Your experience may be more applicable than you think, and the City values diverse lived experiences.

Requirements

• Valid driver's license.
• Within two years of hire, obtain the following Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) certifications:
  • Erosion Control Construction Site Management
  • Grading and Base Tester
  • Grading and Base Inspector
  • Concrete Field Tester
  • Concrete Field Inspector
  • Concrete Plant Tester
  • Concrete Strength Tester
  • Bituminous Plant Tester
  • Bituminous Street Inspector
  • Aggregate Production Tester
  • ADA Construction Certification
• OSHA trench safety 'Competent Person Training'.

Desired Skills

• MNLTAP courses: Work Zone Traffic Control and Construction Contract Claims Avoidance and Mitigation.
• Coursework in municipal utility inspection.
• Minnesota "Pipe Layer Card" or similar knowledge.
• Additional MnDOT certifications (listed above).

Physical and Environmental Demands

This position is classified as Medium/Heavy Work: exerting up to 100 pounds infrequently, up to 50 pounds occasionally, up to 20 pounds frequently, and up to 10 pounds constantly.

• Frequent demands: simultaneous and repetitive use of hands, wrists, and fingers.
• Occasional demands: standing, lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, twisting, bending, reaching, and handling.
• Sensory requirements: sight, hearing, and touch.
• Environmental conditions:
  • Extreme cold (below 32°F) and heat (above 100°F).
  • Noise (need to shout to be heard).
  • Exposure to dust, gas, fumes, steam, and chemicals.
  • Work outdoors with no effective protection from weather.
  • Walk on uneven ground (gravel, rocks, mounds, construction sites).
  • Work around moving machinery (forklifts, tractors, mowers).
  • Protective equipment required (respirator, mask, earplugs, gloves, eyewear, etc.).

Pay

The 2026 starting wage is $34.82 to $37.12 per hour, with advancement to $54.88.

Benefits

This position is eligible for benefits offered by the City of Rochester. Visit the benefits tab on the job posting page for details.