Assistant Civil Engineer - Inspector

City of New York•New York, NY

15h

About The Position

The NYC Department of Environmental Protection’s Bureau of Water and Sewer Operations, Division of Construction Management – Connections Unit, is seeking Inspectors to support housing and infrastructure initiatives under the City of Yes zoning reforms and the Mayor’s SPEED initiative. Under direct supervision and with limited latitude for independent judgment, the selected candidate performs civil engineering work of moderate difficulty and responsibility supporting water and sewer permitting, construction compliance, and protection of public infrastructure. The position involves field inspections of water and sewer connection work and related infrastructure, including projects associated with affordable housing, accessory dwelling units, and rezoning-driven construction. The Inspector verifies that materials, workmanship, excavation, and installation methods comply with DEP specifications, approved permits, and engineering documents; identifies field conflicts, deficiencies, unauthorized work, and non-compliant installations; and maintains inspection records, reports, photographs, and documentation using DEP systems including PARIS. The Inspector also reviews plans and permits before site visits, participates in meetings with engineering and construction professionals and DEP staff, assists with investigations of complaints and infrastructure issues, and supports expedited permitting and inspection processes. The role may include assisting with process improvements, inspection tracking, digital workflows, and other technical, inspectional, and administrative duties for the Connections Unit and Bureau.

Requirements

A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college in civil engineering and one year of full-time satisfactory experience in civil engineering work; or a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and a master's degree from an accredited college in civil engineering.
A valid New York State driver's license is required.

Responsibilities

Conduct field inspections of sewer and water connection work performed by licensed plumbers, contractors, and developers to ensure compliance with DEP standards, approved permits, and engineering plans.
Inspect construction work and materials to verify compliance with current DEP standards and specifications.
Maintain accurate and detailed inspection records, field reports, photographs, and site-visit documentation, including through PARIS and related digital platforms.
Participate in meetings with Design Engineers, Professional Engineers, Licensed Plumbers, contractors, developers, architects, and DEP staff to discuss project progress, inspection findings, compliance issues, and corrective measures.
Participate in engineering studies, investigations, and examinations relevant to Connections Unit operations.
Inspect certified sewer connection installations, site connection work, and related infrastructure associated with affordable housing developments, accessory dwelling units, and rezoning-driven construction projects.
Verify that construction materials, workmanship, excavation practices, and installation methods conform to DEP specifications and approved engineering documents.
Review field conditions and identify conflicts, deficiencies, unauthorized work, or non-compliant installations that may affect City water distribution or wastewater collection systems.
Support expedited permit processing and inspections under the SPEED initiative by helping reduce delays and improve turnaround times for Certificates of Occupancy and permit approvals.
Assist with investigations of complaints, emergencies, illegal connections, damaged infrastructure, and other field issues affecting water and sewer operations.
Review approved plans, permits, sketches, and engineering documents before inspections to check that field work follows approved designs and regulatory requirements.
Assist with process improvements, enhanced inspection tracking, and digital workflow initiatives intended to support increased permit volumes and improved customer service.
Perform related inspectional, technical, and administrative duties as needed to support the Bureau and Connections Unit.