Municipal Infrastructure Designer

The Role

Plans and designs roads, sewers, watermains, and related municipal infrastructure for construction of regional roads and at landfill sites and the airport. Prepares detailed design drawings and quantity estimates for contract administration. Provides 3D models to maintain asset management databases and assist in construction. Provides design support to project management staff and others across the organization. 

Duties/Responsibilities

• Assesses new infrastructure project plans and determines requirements for pre-engineering, functional, and final contract drawings. 
• Plans, reviews, analyses, integrates, and organizes information from topographic survey data, legal survey plans, utility locates, GIS datasets, and historical engineering drawings from various sources (e.g., area municipalities, utility companies) to develop accurate, comprehensive engineering base plans for internal teams and external agencies.  
• Develops functional engineering design alternatives for infrastructure projects, project team assessment, and generates rendering and display boards for public review. Participates in project team meetings to discuss project alternatives.
• Analyzes requirements and designs roads and intersections including roundabouts, bike lanes, sidewalks, multiuse trails, watermains, sanitary and storm sewer pipe systems. Creates computerized 3D surface models to design elevations/grades for quantifying material volumes. Produces final quantity estimates for inclusion in tender documents. Creates detailed engineering contract drawings using corporate CADD styles and standards.
• Creates presentation materials (e.g., display plans, maps, charts, signs, visual aids, 3D graphics) for project team meetings and public consultation centres. Assists project managers with presentation setup and evaluates effectiveness of displays and presentations.
• Collaborates with the corporate GIS team to create, extract, translate, and validate GIS datasets to maintain corporate asset management databases.
• Prepares and coordinates with others to generate designs, drawings, and reports to support construction projects, studies, and reviews including pavement marking plans, traffic signal control plans, signage plans, 3D volumetric calculations, roundabout geometric parameters, and truck turning and sight distance reports.
• Ensures own drawings are accurate, constructible, and aligned with engineering standards.    
• Verifies and produces control point data and coordinate systems as part of contract administration, and establishes contractor layouts and quality assurance during construction. Determines and requests delivery of drone survey data files.
• Conducts technical and design reviews of Ministry applications for approval of new/modified infrastructure projects. Verifies that calculations and designs comply with guidelines.
• Analyses, calculates, and monitors landfill capacity volumes and works with Waste Management staff on design drawings for use by landfill operations staff. Prepares graphics for annual Ministry progress reports, solid waste master plan updates, and public presentations. 
• Orders and processes large scale print/scan requests for the Division and other departments. Implements updates for plotter machine. Occasionally provides guidance and assistance to project managers using the plotter machine.  
• Assists management to develop/maintain corporate design styles and drawing standards for engineering projects. 
• Revises drawings and inspection notes to represent as-built conditions, in collaboration with construction inspectors for project records. Maintains project records and files. 

Additional Duties/Responsibilities

• Provides technical assistance and design support to inspectors during on-site emergencies and for urgent design support as required to prevent project delays. 
• Responds to and fulfils requests from contractors, consultants, municipalities, and utility companies for information and record drawings. 
• Occasionally contacts consultants regarding Ministry application comments. 
• Assigns and monitors the work of summer students. 
• Provides technical guidance including demonstrating design methods, workflows, and quality control practices for staff in other divisions using tools in the Autodesk Construction Cloud.  
• Works independently on concurrent projects and prioritizes work according to established objectives and project schedules determined by management and project managers. 
• Assesses factors when preparing designs and alternatives (e.g., engineering, economic, environmental considerations, impacts to private properties) and problem solves issues including during construction. 
• Meets regularly with project managers regarding project components (e.g., schedule, design alternatives/details). 
• Refers complex and politically sensitive issues to management.
• Performs backup construction surveying and inspection duties as required.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge and skills are acquired through a 3-year college diploma/degree in civil engineering plus 5 years of related experience.
• Eligibility for membership in the Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists (OACETT) in Civil Engineering, at the technologist level.
• Knowledge and skills in estimating principles and technical drawing layout and design.
• Knowledge and skills in storm water management and water/wastewater infrastructure design; construction methods; spatial geometry and empirical geometric guidelines; operational analysis; and safety evaluation for roundabout design and construction.
• Knowledge of and ability to comply with policies and procedures; Ontario Traffic Manuals, highway/urban road design principles; international airport regulations and standards, and legislation (e.g., Ontario Provincial Standards, design guides, Highway Traffic Act, Occupational Health & Safety Act, Environmental Assessment Act, AODA, Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP)).
• Analytical, problem-solving, and continuous improvement skills to work independently on concurrent projects and meet deadlines; adapt and respond quicky to changes in project scope; explore project alternatives individually or as part of a project team; and make recommendations on existing technical standards/procedures.
• Communication and interpersonal skills to coordinate deliverables with others; respond to technical inquiries from all levels of staff; discuss omissions and infractions with other staff and contractors; and participate as an effective team member. 
• Ability to read and interpret design requests/specifications, correspondence, technical reports, journals, topographic maps, legal documents/survey plans, and policy and procedure manuals. 
• Ability to translate design requests and specifications into design drawings and presentation materials for varied audiences; produce engineering designs/drawings, alternatives and impacts; and document work processes. Ability to provide clear, concise written response to information requests.
• Computer skills using Autodesk software (e.g., Civil 3D), graphics design applications, database management software, Microsoft Office, and GIS. 
• Skill designing and manipulating spreadsheets for customized design calculations.
• Knowledge of GIS and SQL databases to create, extract, and validate infrastructure assets to assist in maintaining asset management databases.
• May be required to alter working hours to attend public consultation meetings and meet deadlines and may be requested to work weekend hours to meet deadlines.
• Ability to travel within Waterloo Region.
• Ability to support and demonstrate the Region’s values.