THE DEPARTMENT
The Public Works department consists of approximately 72 full time employees and is responsible for maintaining and improving the city’s streets, parks, water and stormwater systems, traffic signals, trees, fleet and public buildings. The Engineering Division is responsible for managing the City’s capital improvement program and for the review of development projects for compliance with city standards, ordinances, permits, regulations, and statutes. Public Works is responsible for building and maintaining the City’s infrastructure and facilities, and for providing many of the basic services affecting the daily lives of everyone living, working, visiting, and commuting within the City, including:
- 26 City-owned buildings/facilities and their grounds
- A fleet of over 250 vehicles and pieces of equipment
- 97 miles of streets
- Drinking water delivery for 16,000 customers
- Flood protection and stormwater management programs particularly along the San Francisco Bay, San Francisquito Creek and Atherton Channel
- 14 parks, 2 open spaces, 14 playgrounds, 2 dog parks, 9 sports fields, and 14 tennis/pickleball courts
- Efforts to preserve and expand the urban canopy, including 20,000 public trees
- Multimodal transportation services including 42 traffic signals, safe routes to schools and citywide shuttle programs.
The department has 72 full-time equivalent staff members and a nearly $40 million operating budget supported by over 25 different special/dedicated funding sources for the varied programs and services provided to the community. In addition, the City has an approximately $100 million capital program, in part due to a successful track record in pursuing grants from a variety of local, state and federal sources. Some of the exciting efforts on the horizon include efforts to protect the San Francisco Bay shoreline and adjacent community from sea level rise; efforts to eliminate the City’s reliance on fossil fuels through building and fleet electrification; making investments in transportation safety through strategic quick-build projects and large infrastructure changes like a pedestrian/bicycle undercrossing at Caltrain; and ensuring the equitable delivery of services throughout the entire city in alignment with the goals and programs developed as part of the city’s first environmental justice element underway.
THE POSITION
Are your customer service skills top notch? Love helping people? Be on the front lines, helping to deliver outstanding service to residents and contractors requesting permits for development projects in Menlo Park. The City of Menlo Park is now accepting applications for an Engineering Technician I/II in the Public Works Department in the Land Development section.
Engineering Technician I
This is the entry-level class in the paraprofessional engineering technician series. Initially under close supervision, incumbents with basic technical engineering experience perform work such as responding to inquiries and complaints, maintaining engineering records, performing basic engineering calculations, performing field observations and surveys, researching engineering topics, assisting in the review and issuance of permits, and updating maps and drawings, in addition to performing office and field work related to assigned engineering and transportation projects and programs. Positions at this level usually perform most of the duties required of the II level, but are not expected to function at the same skill level and usually exercise less independent discretion and judgment in matters related to work procedures and methods. Work is usually supervised while in progress and fits an established structure or pattern. Exceptions or changes in procedures are explained in detail as they arise. As experience is gained, assignments become more varied and are performed with greater independence.
Engineering Technician II
This is the journey-level class in the paraprofessional engineering technician series. Incumbents perform the full range of technical work in all of the following areas: field observations and surveys, researching engineering topics, review and issue of permits, and updating maps and drawings, in addition to performing office and field work related to assigned engineering and transportation projects and programs. Positions at this level are distinguished from the I level by the performance of the full range of duties as assigned, working independently, and exercising judgment and initiative. Positions at this level receive only occasional instruction or assistance as new or unusual situations arise and are fully aware of the operating procedures and policies of the work unit. This class is distinguished from the Senior Engineering Technician in that the latter is responsible for technical and functional supervision of lower-level engineering technician staff and performs the most complex duties assigned to the series.