Job Board

The Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB) is currently seeking a skilled Distribution Engineering Technician I, II, or III to provide excellent customer service to internal and external customers. The Distribution Engineering Team at EWEB is a vital part of ensuring the Eugene community and surrounding areas receive affordable and reliable electricity. You will have the opportunity to work in both rural and urban environments, including a secondary network system.

Please note: EWEB intends to hire one person through this job posting. You do not need to indicate which position you are applying for – EWEB will hire the successful candidate as either an Engineering Technician I, II, or III, depending on qualifications.

This posting will remain open until filled, and the first review of applications will take place on Thursday, March 9.

The Distribution Engineering Technician will work in a team environment to perform both technical office and field tasks to support the design, construction, and maintenance of electric distribution systems and facilities. Examples of job duties for an Engineering Technician I, II, and III include:

Distribution Engineering Technician I:

• Assists higher-level Engineering Technicians in preparing major distribution projects for construction;
• Prepares material, labor, and equipment cost estimates and associated project authorization forms; assists in cost analyses of utility projects, and performs field inspections to specify project needs;
• Provides customers, developers, and/or agencies with project status information as required; receives and responds to customer inquiries regarding policies, rates, street lighting, voltages, basic requests for construction or service changes, etc.;
• Researches, accumulates, maps, and analyzes data from EWEB records, maps, plats, documents, etc.; locates, measures, and records field data of existing utility systems and related physical conditions; field stakes and marks proposed construction projects.

Distribution Engineering Technician II:

In addition to the duties performed by a Distribution Engineering Technician I:

• Researches and accumulates specific customer data from billing records; processes customer agreement forms, contracts, joint-use notices, permit applications, etc.;
• Responds to a wide variety of customer inquiries in writing, in person, and on the phone; processes customer requests for all types of utility services for construction, including preparation of design, material needs, records, contracts, estimates, permits, notices and technical problem solving;
• Assists with review and field verification of engineering designs and engineering standards to assure compatible construction; evaluates problems and makes recommendations for solutions, prepares clear, concise, and thorough daily diaries and as-built notes of facilities being installed;
• Works with EWEB inspector to ensure inspector has all the information required to perform inspections; meets with inspector and customer in pre-construction meeting to ensure each has all the standards and information required for a specific job.

Distribution Engineering Technician III:

In addition to the duties performed by a Distribution Engineering Technician II:

• Takes responsible charge for work activity within area assignment and/or specific job assignments to process all types of utility service requests for construction; takes responsible charge of specific job assignments to process all types of service requests for construction, including preparation of design, material needs, records, contracts, permits, notices and technical problem solving;
• Organizes, schedules, and maintains records for ongoing projects within service area assignment, communicating and consulting with supervisor and lead tech on progress and needs; prepares cost estimates, economic analyses, and project authorizations; reviews and analyzes actual cost data of completed projects;
• Coordinates activities with other EWEB departments; secures verbal permission for easements; identifies and specifies easement needs on preliminary plats received; initiates request for written easements;
• Prepares special reports and studies relating to procedures, practices, forecasts, forms and material, labor and equipment cost studies, etc.; evaluates and recommends improvements; assists in fieldwork during emergency outages; makes investigations of and prepares reports on assigned engineering, economic, and other problems;
• Performs mathematical computations and works on engineering computer programs; gathers and compiles data; develops, enters, and evaluates programs and results.

Minimum Training and Experience Required:

Please note: An equivalent combination of education and experience aligned to successfully perform the essential duties of this job may qualify.

Engineering Technician I:

• Minimum Experience: Two years of experience in drafting, surveying, GIS, CAD, construction management, or utility work involving customer contact
• Education: High School Diploma or Equivalent

Engineering Technician II:

• Minimum Experience: Two years of experience as an Engineering Technician I, or four years of equivalent utility experience in design tasks and customer contact relating to water or electric distribution systems
• Education: Associate degree in an engineering discipline; satisfactory completion of NWPPA staking technician program or other approved technician training course may substitute

Engineering Technician III:

• Minimum Experience: Two years of experience as an Engineering Technician II, or six years of equivalent utility experience in design tasks and customer contact relating to water or electric distribution systems
• Education: Associate degree in an engineering discipline; satisfactory completion of NWPPA staking technician program or other approved technician training course may substitute

Starting Salary and Benefits:

The starting annual salary range for this position, based on level, is:

• Engineering Technician I:   $60,795.44 – $73,247.52
• Engineering Technician II:  $70,378.32 – $84,793.16
• Engineering Technician III: $81,471.70 – $98,158.68

EWEB values total worker health both at work and at home, and provides a robust compensation & benefits package – Read more about our benefits.

Benefits include paid vacation, sick, and flexible leave time; Oregon PERS pension and IAP account; employee wellness program with HRA VEBA contribution; 457 retirement savings account, and more.

Telecommuting:  This position is based in Eugene, Oregon; however, it has been approved as a hybrid work arrangement involving a combination of telecommuting and working on-site; the selected candidate must live in the state of Oregon.

Post-offer background check and drug screen required: Yes

Post-offer physical/functional test required: Yes

Why EWEB?

EWEB offers employees a progressive work culture devoted to providing excellent public service. Our employees work in a fast-paced environment where creativity, innovation, involvement, teamwork, and professional development are supported and encouraged. EWEB is also committed to providing a work environment conducive to the safety, health, and well-being of its workforce, and offers great benefits, including but not limited to health care, vacation and sick leave, pension, holidays, and employee credit union. We consistently rank within the top 100 healthiest employers in the nation!

Founded in 1911, EWEB is Oregon’s largest customer-owned utility. We provide water and electricity to the Eugene community, as well as parts of east Springfield and the McKenzie River valley area.

As a public utility, we do not operate to earn a profit or to serve the investment needs of stockholders. Instead, EWEB is chartered by the City of Eugene to serve the interests of its citizens. We are owned by the people of Eugene and it’s our job to provide reliable, affordable water and electricity for our customers.

Our mission is to enhance our community’s vitality by delivering drinking water and electric services consistent with the values of our customer-owners. And our vision is to do so while being a local utility that inspires our customers to invest in and rely on us.

Our Core Values:

• SAFETY: We value the physical and psychological health and safety of our workforce and the public.
• RELIABLITY: We value the continuous, on-demand delivery of quality drinking water and electricity.
• RESPONSIBLITY: We value the prudent and sustainable stewardship of our customers’ financial and natural resources, including our impact on affordability and role in reducing the greenhouse gases (GHGs) contributing to climate change.
• COMMUNITY: We value our local governance and obligation to transparently serve our community.

Why Eugene?

It’s a city big enough to boast excellent restaurants, arts, and events, but small enough to still feel like a community. It’s also easy to get out of town, making it an ideal place for lovers of outdoor activities, with world-class opportunities for fishing, rafting, bicycling, hiking, and camping. The city is just an hour to the Cascades Mountains or to the Oregon Coast, but you don’t have to leave Eugene to find nature. The Willamette River runs through the middle of the city and there are parks and trails throughout Eugene. Home to the University of Oregon, Eugene is proud to have hosted the 2021 Olympic Track and Field Trials and the 2022 Track and Field World Championships. Whatever you’re looking for, you can find it here!

Equal Employment Opportunity

EWEB takes pride in our commitment to diversity and inclusion among our employees. We embrace and value differences of culture, education, experience, physical ability, and unique perspectives in our workplace. We invite applications from qualified candidates who share our commitment to diversity. Attracting, retaining, and advancing talent from all sources strengthens our bond with the multifaceted community we serve.

Tobacco, Smoke, and Vapor – Free Campus Policy

EWEB fosters an environment promoting good health for both employees and the public. We want to enhance the quality of air, appearance, and employee health in and around EWEB facilities and equipment. Employees, contractors, volunteers, and visitors may not use, distribute, or sell tobacco.

Note: This Job Posting is intended to represent key areas of responsibility. It is not meant to be all inclusive and does not prescribe or restrict the work that may be assigned. Nothing in this description restricts EWEB’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. Job descriptions may occasionally be updated, as necessary, to reflect evolving business needs.