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State of Washington Classified Job Specification

TRANSPORTATION TECHNICIAN 3

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TRANSPORTATION TECHNICIAN 3
Class Code: 538T
Category: Science & Engineering


Definition

This is the skilled journey level within the Transportation Technician series.

Distinguishing Characteristics

In the office, laboratory and/or field, incumbents perform skilled technical tasks in support of engineering projects and programs. Incumbents typically receive instructions about the work to be done including scheduling and priorities, but work with relative independence in selecting methods and resolving routine problems. Employees at this level are expected to exercise initiative and judgment in independently carrying out assignments according to established policies, procedures and standards. When solutions are not readily attainable, the employee refers the problem to the supervisor. Leadership responsibility is normally limited to on-the-job training of other technical staff. May act as crew leader on specific assignments that do not require ongoing direction from a supervisor.

Typical Work

In addition to independently performing the work described at the Transportation Technician 1 and 2 levels, incumbents perform the level of work described below a majority of the time. This description is not intended to be all-inclusive but representative of the level of responsibility and level of difficulty of the work performed by this class.

Survey

  • Performs all duties on a survey crew including operation of a variety of instruments such as levels, transits, theodolite, EDM and total station; trains other crew members in survey practices and instrument operation; takes notes manually or with data collector, downloads and uploads data collector to/from computer, edits data, accesses mainframe programs and operates personal computer to calculate alignment data, triangulations, benchmarks, grades, etc.; produces plots of survey data on electronic plotter; serves as leader of a two-person leveling crew; acts as assistant party chief and is responsible for survey party operations in the absence of the chief.

Materials

  • Inspects at an asphalt or concrete plant by observing batching operations, performing materials tests, collecting samples, checking plant equipment and procedures, completing paperwork; inspects a precast concrete plant by checking material source, rebar, shape and dimensions, concrete mix and placement, vibration and finished product.
  • In a District or Headquarters quality assurance program, performs the full range of materials tests including complex tests such as soils consolidation, lighting distribution, direct shear and consolidated drained triaxial; operates coring machine to obtain asphalt and concrete cores for pavement studies, test correlation and final record samples, conducts tests and interprets results; at a pre-cast reinforced concrete fabrication plant, inspects steel, forms, concrete and workmanship of products such as inlet boxes, median barrier, retaining wall and noise barrier; schedules and directs work of one to three subordinates in the Headquarters liquid asphalt laboratory or the physical testing section; performs complete physical tests of Portland Cement in the cement testing laboratory.
  • As a journey level Geotechnical field technician, conducts Geotechnical subsurface drilling, testing, and sampling for bridges retaining walls, soil cuts and fills, rock slopes, landslides and pit and quarries statewide; positions require a Resource Protection Well Operator License.

Inspection

  • Interprets highway construction plans, specifications and special provisions; performs layout as required; monitors the contractor's work for one or more major aspects of a project such as excavation, embankment, grading, drainage, asphalt and concrete paving, illumination, signals, signing and pavement markings; collects samples; measures and calculates quantities and prepares notes to support payment for activities inspected; assists in all phases of structures inspection by checking foundation excavation, pile driving, position of reinforcing bars, field testing of concrete, making cylinders, checking placement of concrete into forms and backfill; serves as responsible inspector for smaller, less complex projects such as guardrail, median barriers, landscaping, slope flattening or bridge painting; takes measurements and calculates quantities; completes daily records, force account sheets and other documentation; trains and leads other staff.

Office

  • Independently performs a variety of skilled construction office engineering tasks such as:  checks calculations including elevations, grades, earthwork, etc., and uses computer to resolve engineering problems; checks field notes submitted by inspectors and compiles information; enters information into the computerized ledger system; checks and corrects entries made by others; checks inspector's daily force account sheets, calculates equipment and wage rates and enters into computer; runs pre-estimates and monthly estimates; compiles and calculates final quantities and final estimate; monitors and processes submittals such as requests to sublet, approval of sources and materials documentation; compiles information and prepares the interim, twelve-year and permanent final records; trains and leads others in preparation of the above materials.
  • Performs a variety of skilled project development support tasks such as:  from basic data or worksheets prepared by the designer, manually or by using computer assisted equipment drafts final sheets for design reports, right of way plans, and contract plans; reduces field notes, computes and plots coordinates and elevations, interprets title reports and legal descriptions; checks and revises plan sheets for accuracy of computations and conformance to drafting standards; calculates and checks quantities for contract bid items such as surfacing, paving, drainage; uses mainframe, microcomputers and work stations to create alignments, develop cross sections, determine right-of-way, estimate costs, determine earthwork quantities, monitor schedules; designs items using routine design manual applications; researches and writes portions of design reports, environmental documents and contract specifications; prepares material and exhibits for hearings, public meetings, etc., completes environmental checklists and assists in writing environmental impact statements; assists in writing and processing utility franchises, permits, and service agreements; maintains and makes revisions to right-of-way plans, vicinity maps and other similar technical data.

Bridges and Structures

  • Serves as a structural detailer responsible for complete detailing of complex features of structures of major size or varying characteristics; utilizes full range of standard manual applications; utilizes computer for calculating geometrics; assists in all phases of assessing structural condition including inspections at unusual heights.

Traffic

  • Collects and compiles traffic information and prepares reports, exhibits and displays; assists in development of signing plans and pavement marking patterns; participates in review of traffic control plans; inspects construction traffic control signing and pavement markings; conducts field reviews of signs, signals and other traffic control devices to assess operating efficiency and safety, recommends action and prepares routine response letters.

Maintenance

  • Supplements maintenance staff during snow and ice control season; loads trucks from stockpiles or pits; operates class A trucks to salt, sand and/or plow roadways; cleans ditches of debris and dirt with a hand shovel or mechanical equipment to ensure proper drainage; removes rocks, debris, etc. from roadway.

Performs other work as assigned.

Legal Requirement(s)

There may be instances where individual positions must have additional licenses or certification. It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure the appropriate licenses/certifications are obtained for each position.

Persons legally authorized to work in the U.S. under federal law, including Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients, are eligible for employment unless prohibited by other state or federal law.

Desirable Qualifications

Two years of experience performing semi-skilled technical engineering work as a Transportation Technician 2 or equivalent.

OR

A Bachelor's degree in Engineering.

OR

Certification as an Engineer-in-Training.

OR

A Land Surveyor's license.

Note:  Possession of a valid driver's license may be required.

Note:  Employees will be advanced to Transportation Technician 3 after:

  • Completing three years of satisfactory service as a Transportation Technician 2; and
  • Successful completion of the WSDOT's mandatory training matrix for automatic promotion to the Transportation Technician 3 class; and
  • Passing a qualifying examination.

Class Specification History

New class: Adopted 7-13-78; effective 10-1-78
Revised distinguishing characteristics: 12-14-84
Revised distinguishing characteristics: 5-9-86
Revised definition, distinguishing characteristics, minimum qualifications: 3-13-92
Revised minimum qualifications: 9-9-94
Revised minimum qualifications: 9-9-99
Revised distinguishing characteristics: 9-19-03
Revised new class code: (formerly 66100) effective July 1, 2007.
Base range salary adjustment adopted 6/30/2017, effective 7/1/2017.

Revised Legal Requirements; effective June 6, 2024, due to adopted legislative action.