Engineering Technician

Overview

Position Overview:

This Individual Placement is designed to provide an entry-level professional opportunity to serve directly with a federal land management agency, developing relevant skills, qualifications, and experience. The service focuses on field data collection to provide a comprehensive assessment of current conditions in relation to recent natural disasters and their impacts on the weather. Hurricane Helene, along with many other recent impacts, has created significant impacts on the Blue Ridge Ranger District. The individual placement will serve alongside Forest Service technicians and specialists in various resource areas, including trail management, wilderness stewardship, engineering, archaeology, outdoor recreational facilities, wildlife management, silviculture, forestry, and wildland fire management. While the service will focus on utilizing technology and GIS to collect real-time data from the field, the exposure and training are designed to provide the individual placement with the experience necessary to compete for an entry-level position with a land management agency upon program completion. Most tasks will be primarily focused on erosion control. Storm-damaged or improperly maintained roads lead to erosion, resulting in excessive entry of pollutants into waterways. Out of the district’s 500 miles of road, it is estimated to seek improvements of approximately 150 to 200 miles during this period of disaster repair.

Description of Duties: 

Roadway Disaster Data Collection

·       Serve with the Supervisor to gain an understanding of the data needed and the overall intent of the assessment.

·       Build an assessment plan for the district to prioritize different resource needs and concerns.

·       Gain proficiency with GIS technology and applications

·       Keep consistent records of data gathered.

Maintenance Planning

·       Serve with the Engineering Technician to gain an understanding of road condition expectations. 

·       Assist Engineering with routine activities to include road condition surveys, site assessments, mapping, road feature counts, etc…

·       Assist in Engineering to prioritize needs. 

·       Assist Engineering in plan development, 811 marking, cost estimate, and procurement.

Maintenance Operations.

·       Assist Engineering with safety notifications, site preparation, and pre-stage.

·       Assist Engineering with mobilization.

·       Use a variety of hand tools, power tools, and limited complexity equipment operation under the supervision of certified personnel.

·       Assist team with clean-up and monitoring after the day is completed.

Potential environmental/human risk involved with this term of service: uneven terrain, physical exertion, inclement weather, and remote service sites. 

Tagged as: Conservation