Engineering Technician

Distinguishing Features of the Class

Under general supervision, to perform sub-professional engineering duties with responsibility for coordinating or conducting work on phases of minor to moderately complex engineering projects including design and administration; or for performing and/or for supervising other sub-professional personnel performing routine or minor engineering project activities on one or more phases of a complex engineering project. Engineering Technicians may serve in a variety of sub-professional engineering assignments including drafting, material testing, drainage studies, inspection or assisting project engineers with the planning, design and construction of streets, sewers and other municipal projects; or may supervise other sub-professional or semi-skilled employees performing phases of engineering projects.

The City of Des Moines promotes a healthy work life balance and offers a comprehensive benefits package including:
Residency Incentive
Volunteer Time
Parental Leave
Vacation and Sick Leave Accruals
12 Paid Holidays
Health/Dental/Life Insurance
Wellness Programs
Tuition Reimbursement Program
Iowa Public Employees Retirement System (IPERS)
Deferred Compensation Plan matching up to 2.5%
Employee Discounts

Acceptable Experience and Training

• Graduation from high school including or supplemented by courses in drafting and mathematics; and
• Five years of progressively responsible experience doing sub-professional engineering work; or
• Any equivalent combination of experience and training in which each year of education in an engineering related field may be substituted for one year of required sub-professional engineering experience.

Transcripts must be submitted with your application or separately to the City of Des Moines Human Resources Department by email to humanresources@dmgov.org, by fax to 515-237-1680, or by mail to 1551 E. MLK Jr. Pkwy, Des Moines, IA 50317 on or before the application deadline.

Required Special Qualifications

• Certification as an Engineering Technician (ET) by the Institute for the Certification of Engineering Technologies sponsored by the National Society of Professional Engineers or, possession of a current Engineer-In-Training (EIT) certificate is preferred.
• Candidates for positions in this class must pass a post-employment offer background check, physical examination and drug screen.
• Possession of a valid Iowa Driver's License or evidence of equivalent mobility is required.

Examples of Essential Work (Illustrative Only)

• Designs and assists in the design of public construction projects.
• Drafts and prepares construction plans and specifications for sanitary and storm sewers, demolition, paving improvements, bridges and other structures; estimates quantities for such projects.
• Performs plan review of building site plans.
• Coordinates inspection of driveway and sidewalk construction, sewer connections, street excavation and other construction activities; analyzes drainage complaints.
• Calculates distances, ties, angles, traverses and closures; computes quantities; determines preliminary grades.
• Prepares simple reports; assists in the preparation of specifications; tests construction materials for conformance to specifications; assists with project administration.
• Supervises other sub-professional and semi-skilled personnel performing phases of engineering projects such as surveyors, drafters, special study squads or utility coordinators.
• Prepares legal descriptions or prepares assessment schedules; enforces contract specifications; and gathers data for engineering projects.
• Researches records to respond to citizen and employee requests as needed; provides project information and record information to the public.
• Performs related work as required.

Click here for Benefit Summary

Closing Date/Time: 11/19/2025 4:00 PM Central

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• City of Des Moines

• 515-283-4213

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