Job Title: Town Engineer
Department: Departmentof Public Works
Contract/Grade: Personnel Policies (non-union), Grade 13
Compensation: Pay range $99,279 - $134,026. Actual salary dependent on qualifications.
FLSA Status: Full Time - Exempt
StartDate: Position available July 1, 2026
1. Nature of Work: The Town Engineer provides professional engineering expertise and essentialtechnical support across all divisions of the Department of Public Works (DPW),as well as supplemental support to other Town departments, boards, andcommittees. Work includes planning, design, review, inspection, administration,and coordination of municipal infrastructure projects.
2. SupervisionRequired: Works under the general direction of the Director of Public Works withconsiderable independence in carrying out assigned duties.
3. SupervisionResponsibility: May provide functional direction and technical guidance to DPW staff,contractors, consultants, and interns. May serve as Acting DPW Director asneeded.
4.Confidentiality: Has regular access at the departmental level to awide variety of confidential information, including personnel records, clientrecords, criminal records/investigations, and collective bargainingnegotiations in accordance with the State Public Records Law.
5. Accountability: Responsible for the accuracy, quality, timeliness, and compliance ofengineering work products, inspections, reviews, and recommendations. Errorsmay result in financial loss, regulatory non-compliance, safety risks, orpublic dissatisfaction.
6. Judgment: Guidelines only provide limited guidance for performing the work. They may bein the form of administrative or organizational policies, general principles,legislation, or directives that pertain to a specific department or functionalarea. Extensive judgment and ingenuity are required to develop new or adaptexisting methods and approaches for accomplishing objectives or to deal withnew or unusual requirements within the limits of the guidelines or policies.The employee is recognized as the department or functional area's authority ininterpreting the guidelines, determining how they should be applied, and indeveloping operating policies.
7. Complexity: Work consists of employing many different concepts, theories, principles,techniques, and practices relating to an administrative field. Assignmentstypically concern such matters as studying trends in the field for applicationto the work; assessing services and recommending improvements; planninglong-range projects; devising new techniques for application to the work; andrecommending policies, standards, or criteria.
8. WorkEnvironment: The work environment involves everyday discomfortstypical of offices, with occasional exposure to outside elements. Noise orphysical surroundings may be distracting, but conditions are generally notunpleasant. Employee may be required to work beyond normal business hours toattend evening meetings.
9. Nature andPurpose of Public Contact:
Regular contact with residents, Town staff, elected officials, boards,committees, consultants, contractors, and regulatory agencies to providetechnical information, respond to inquiries, explain engineering concepts, andrepresent the Town's interests.
10. Occupational Risk: Duties generally do not present occupationalrisk with only occasional exposure to risk or stress. A minor injury couldoccur, however, through employee failure to properly follow safety precautionsor procedures. Examples of injury include minor bruises from falls, minor cutsor burns, or minor muscular strains from lifting or carrying heavy equipment ormaterials.
11. EssentialFunctions:The essential functions or duties listedbelow are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that maybe performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not excludethem from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignmentto the position.
1. Responsible forproviding engineering support to all DPW divisions, including the WaterDepartment.
2. Prepare andreview RFPs, technical specifications, bid documents, and project scopes.
3. Provide generalengineering consultation for infrastructure improvement projects to improveproject accuracy, reduce change orders, and minimize constructioninefficiencies.
4. Designsmall-scale drainage improvement projects and oversee in-house constructionwhere feasible.
5. Review plans tomitigate flooding and improve stormwater management.
6. Serve as ActingDPW Director when necessary to ensure continuity of operations. Provideleadership support for capital planning, budgeting, and interdepartmentalcoordination. Support succession planning and organizational development withinthe DPW.
7. Performconstruction inspection and project administration for DPW infrastructureprojects, including drainage improvements, water main replacements, sidewalks,and paving.
8. Ensurecontractor compliance with Town standards, plans, and specifications.
9. Enhance qualitycontrol while reducing inspection costs associated with outside consultants.
10. Reviewengineering plans and issue DPW comments for internal projects and externalapplications before boards such as the Planning Board and Zoning Board ofAppeals.
11. Coordinateclosely with Planning, Conservation, and other Town departments. Supplement(but not replace) peer review analyses conducted by Planning Departmentengineering consultants.
12. Identify andpursue applicable state and federal infrastructure grants, assist with grantwriting by preparing technical analyses, cost estimates, and conceptual designs,and coordinate grant-funded projects and ensure compliance with grantrequirements.
13. Provideengineering expertise and technical presentations to Town boards and committeesas needed, including but not limited to the Selectboard, Planning Board,Highway Safety Advisory Committee, and Coastal Resiliency Task Force.
14. Assist withshort- and long-term DPW organizational initiatives, including: Revising theStreet Opening Permit process, developing engineering standards and typicalconstruction details, standardizing procedures, documentation, and policiesacross DPW divisions, implementing a DPW work order system, improvingrecord-keeping, asset management, and GIS integration and evaluating plowroutes and developing GIS-based snow and ice management maps
12. Educationand Experience: Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering or a closely relatedengineering field required. Five (5) or more years of progressively responsiblecivil engineering experience, preferably in municipal public works,infrastructure, or related public-sector engineering. Experience with theplanning, design, review, and construction oversight of public infrastructureprojects such as roadways, drainage systems, water utilities, sidewalks, andstormwater facilities. A combination of education, experience, and training canbe considered if it is demonstrated that the required knowledge, skills, andabilities have been achieved. Experience working with contractors, consultants,regulatory agencies, and municipal boards preferred.
Preferred specialRequirements:Registration as a Professional Engineer (P.E.) in the Commonwealth ofMassachusetts is required, or the ability to obtain Massachusetts licensurewithin a specified timeframe.
13. Knowledge,Abilities and Skill
Knowledge:
- Thorough knowledge of civil engineering principles and practices as applied to municipal public works infrastructure.
- Knowledge of drainage design, stormwater management, MS4 regulations, and environmental permitting.
- Knowledge of construction methods, materials, inspection practices, and project administration.
- Familiarity with Massachusetts procurement laws, public bidding requirements, and contract administration.
- Working knowledge of capital planning, asset management, and grant-funded infrastructure projects.
Abilities:
- Ability to analyze complex engineering problems and develop practical, cost-effective solutions.
- Ability to interpret and review engineering plans, specifications, and technical reports.
- Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and prioritize work effectively.
- Ability to communicate technical information clearly to non-technical audiences.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a municipal environment.
- Ability to exercise sound professional judgment in regulatory, operational, and public-facing matters.
Skills:
- Skill in engineering analysis, technical writing, and preparation of reports, plans, and specifications.
- Skill in construction inspection and quality control.
- Skill in using engineering and office software, including CAD, GIS, and Microsoft Office applications.
- Skill in interpersonal communication, customer service, and conflict resolution.
14. WorkEnvironment: Work is performed in a combination of office, field, and meeting environments.Fieldwork may involve exposure to construction sites, roadways, weatherconditions, and uneven terrain.
15. OccupationalRisk: Moderate risk associated with field inspections and construction sites,including exposure to traffic, construction equipment, noise, dust, and adverseweather. Appropriate safety practices and protective equipment are required.
16. Physical andMental Requirements:
Position requires sustained concentration, problem-solving, and analyticalreasoning. Ability to work under deadlines, respond to emergencies, and handlemultiple priorities is required.
16. PhysicalSkills: Ability to stand, walk, climb, bend, and traverse uneven terrain during fieldinspections. Ability to lift and carry materials or equipment weighing up toapproximately 25 pounds.
17. Motor Skills: Requires fine motor skills for computer use, drafting, writing, and operationof office and field equipment. Requires gross motor coordination for fieldactivities.
18. VisualDemands: Requires close visual acuity for reviewing plans, reading reports, and workingat a computer, as well as distance and peripheral vision for field inspectionsand site observations.
