Engineering Technical Writer

 
Join Our Team

The Sonoma County Public Infrastructure (SoCoPi) Department leads the way to a safe and sustainable community by planning, building, managing, and maintaining Sonoma County's investment in quality services and infrastructure. As an Engineering Technical Writer with SoCoPi, you will work closely with management, engineering, and administrative staff to ensure compliance with established state and federal regulations and County policies and procedures that impact contractual and technical documents (i.e., legal descriptions, right-of-way maps, encroachments, records of survey/parcel/subdivision maps, improvement plans, and project specifications) pertaining to County civil engineering projects.

You will also assist in the administration of the public project bid process including the development of requests for proposals and bid reviews. Additionally, the position processes, reviews, and coordinates civil engineering contracts with outside contractors, vendors, and the public; determines contractual requirements for professional service agreements; updates bidding document templates; and composes, reviews, and edits project agreements, construction specifications, and Board agenda items.

As our ideal candidate, you bring to SoCoPi your:

• Experience composing, editing, and finalizing detailed construction project specifications and agreements, and converting technical language into plainer written language
• Ability to prioritize work, organize multiple projects with varying deadlines, and willingness to shift priorities along the way
• Understanding and interpretation of legal requirements, knowledge of Public Contract Code and/or Caltrans specifications are highly desired
• Interest in researching changing regulations to update templates
• Enthusiasm for the work and enjoyment of working in a cooperative, fast-paced environment

What We Offer

Working at the County of Sonoma offers expansive opportunities for growth and development, the ability to be a part of a challenging and rewarding work environment, and the satisfaction of knowing you're working to better our communities. You can also look forward to flexible work arrangements and excellent benefits* including:

• A hybrid telework schedule that meets the needs of our staff, department operations, and the communities we serve may be available depending on the assignment
• Eligibility for a salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range
• Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year
• County paid 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan options
• An annual Staff Development/Wellness Benefit allowance of up to $500 and ongoing education/training opportunities
• County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits
• Retirement fully integrated with Social Security
• May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of County employment

Bring Your Commitment to Public Service to the County of Sonoma

The County of Sonoma is the place to live, grow, and build your career legacy. When you join the County of Sonoma, you'll have the freedom to explore the beauty of our county - its picturesque coastline, majestic redwoods, historic towns, fine dining, award-winning wineries, and a wide variety of entertainment and cultural activities. For additional information about the beauty of our community and the valuable services and support that the County provides our communities, please visit sonomacounty.ca.gov and sonomacountyconnections.org.

*Salary is negotiable within the established range. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found in the Service Employees International Union Local 1021 Memorandum Of Understanding (SEIU MOU) and our Employee Benefits Directory.
 
This recruitment is being conducted to fill an Engineering Technical Writer position in SoCoPi, formerly the Transportation and Public Works Department. This employment list may also be used to fill future full-time, part-time, or extra-help (temporary) positions as they occur during the active status of the list. Qualified County employees who wish to be considered for future positions should consider applying to this recruitment.

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience: Any combination of education and training which would provide the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed. Normally, this would include college-level coursework in civil engineering, English, journalism, or other related subject matter and professional experience supporting engineering and/or public works construction projects that have included document management and contract writing; OR two years of related technical engineering experience which included the review and editing of related reports, manuals, specifications, and/or agreements.

License: Possession of a valid driver’s license at the appropriate level including special endorsements, as required by the State of California, may be required depending upon assignment to perform the essential job functions of the position.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Working knowledge of: techniques of technical writing and editing technical reports; general civil engineering principles, practices, and terminology; public contract law, state and federal code and regulatory compliance; English grammar, vocabulary, spelling, punctuation, and composition; basic mathematics; document structure and formatting techniques; organizational techniques; interviewing and listening techniques; the techniques of writing and editing technical reports, agreements, and grant proposals; contract management principles and roles; insurance requirements and risk mitigation techniques for agreements and contracts; and modern office methods, procedures, data and file management, and software programs.

Ability to: obtain and interpret and maintain technical documents and information; translate and write complex technical ideas and material into clear concise written language; make mathematical calculations; edit, finalize, track, and execute contracts and agreements; analyze and evaluate insurance requirements; observe and work with small details; determine contractual requirements for professional service agreements to ensure performance by consultants; interpret regulations, policies, and agreement provisions; interpret, gather, and organize information; analyze issues and problem solve; follow established procedures; adjust work based on the competing priorities of multiple projects; establish and maintain effective working relationships with other staff and the public; manage related databases and files.

Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying

• Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
• You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
• You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
• Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.