Field Technician, SUE

Cobb, Fendley & Associates•San Antonio, TX

9d•Onsite

About The Position

CobbFendley is seeking an experienced SUE Field Technician for its San Antonio office. The Field Technician supports successful field operations and project completion through underground utility locating, vacuum excavation, field documentation, and coordination with project and survey personnel. The role performs routine assignments with limited supervision and may serve as project lead on small SUE projects. It may also include cross-training in telecommunications, surveying, and other SUE field services. The position is primarily outdoors, with approximately 80% of duties performed outdoors and 20% in indoor office or warehouse spaces. It requires in-person work and is not eligible for remote work. Employees generally work 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday, with standard operating hours of 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CST and a generally one-hour unpaid lunch. Hours may fluctuate with department needs, including overtime, and field hours may vary with project workload. Local, regional, and interstate travel, including occasional overnight stays, is required. Field conditions may include construction sites and traffic work zones, uneven surfaces, confined spaces, extreme heat or freezing temperatures, high noise, allergens, and wildlife hazards. The job involves use of personal protective equipment, pneumatic, hand, and power tools, and potentially driving large pickup trucks with trailers or operating watercraft. Employees may need to lift and carry equipment weighing up to 50 pounds and walk long distances of three or more miles.

Requirements

High school diploma, GED, or demonstrated equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
At least 3 years of field experience.
Knowledge of field operations, methods, procedures, safety requirements, and environmental considerations associated with civil infrastructure work in outdoor settings.
Skills using industry-standard tools, equipment, and computer software to perform field tasks, document work, and communicate effectively.
Ability to safely operate required equipment and travel locally, regionally, and interstate, with occasional overnight stays.
Ability to work in varying weather, terrain, and environmental conditions.
Ability to remain alert and responsive in lane-closure zones adjacent to high-traffic and dynamic areas.
Ability to lift, carry, and balance equipment and supplies weighing up to 50 pounds.
Ability to walk long distances of 3 or more miles and climb on uneven surfaces.
Ability to perform physical activities including reaching, bending, stooping, carrying, lifting, pushing, pulling, and handling objects.
Regular use of personal protective equipment and pneumatic, hand, and power tools.
Ability to work in person; the position is not eligible for remote work.

Responsibilities

Perform routine field assignments with limited supervision and develop technical knowledge and field capabilities.
Coordinate with project staff and survey personnel as directed, and ensure utility markings and field data are documented appropriately.
Safely operate equipment and, as needed, vehicles including large vehicles with or without trailers; perform routine vehicle maintenance.
Travel locally and out of state, including overnight stays, and potentially cross-train in telecommunications, survey, or other SUE field services.
Follow safety procedures and project requirements, including SDS, EAP, PSP, JSA, QA/QC, PPE, and traffic control plans; identify and evaluate workplace hazards.
Perform entry-level air and hydro vacuum excavation and assist with exposing underground utilities safely and efficiently.
Apply utility locating methods to identify buried telephone, fiber optic, coaxial, electric power, gas, water, sanitary sewer, and storm sewer infrastructure.
Read and interpret DOT, municipal, and other technical plans and prints to determine underground utility type and size.
Operate or assist with vacuum truck equipment during excavation and utility locating activities.
Locate, designate, and mark underground utilities across quality levels within prescribed quality and accuracy limits.
Perform QL-A SUE locating using nondestructive techniques, including potholing and soil excavation with air or hydro wands, concrete saws, core drills, and vacuum hose systems, to determine utilities’ precise horizontal and vertical position, size, and type.
Perform QL-B SUE designating with electromagnetic equipment such as pipe and cable locators to determine the existence and horizontal position of underground utilities.
Perform GPR scanning when included in the project scope and document estimated electronic depth readings.
Document site conditions and SUE information with photographs or video, and perform sewer video inspections when necessary.
As needed, perform QL-C SUE by documenting visible utility features and appurtenances, and QL-D SUE by reviewing utility records and coordinating with utility representatives.
Record accurate underground utility field data and sketches using CobbFendley’s ArcGIS Online SUE Collector/GIS mapping software.
Serve as project lead on small SUE projects and troubleshoot some utility issues involving geophysical equipment.
Conduct utility feature inventories and collect attributes such as ownership, material, size, direction, and estimated depth.
Conduct passive and inductive sweeps to identify unknown or unmarked utilities within project limits.
Prepare and maintain field sketches, photographs, and supporting documentation for utility investigations and project deliverables.

Benefits

Competitive compensation package
401(k) matching and profit-sharing contributions
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
Health insurance
Vision insurance
Dental insurance
Short-term and long-term disability insurance
Employer-funded and voluntary life insurance
Tuition reimbursement
Continuing education programs
Paid parental leave for FMLA-eligible employees: eight weeks for maternity and two weeks for paternity or adoption cases
Extended office closure from December 25 through January 1
New-hire onboarding and integration program
Professional and personal development through in-house training and collaborative resources