State of Maryland

A Water Resources Engineer V, Hydrology is the supervisory level of engineering work in analysis of water quality, pollution control, and in preparation /analysis of hydrologic and hydraulic designs and planning studies.  Employees in this classification may serve as Project Engineers or as staff Engineer Specialists in a specialty area of a State water resources regulatory agency.  Employees in this classification that function as Project Engineers are required to be specialists in an area of activity and must provide advice and service to the personnel under their supervision, but also to public and private administrative or engineering personnel.  Employees in this classification that function as staff Engineering Specialists are experts and resource persons in specialized activity areas of analysis.  Employees in this classification perform reviews and approvals of engineering proposals, investigations of and solutions (administrative and legal) for water and waste treatment problems, disposal facilities, and hydraulic systems, and hydrology studies.  Employees in this classification supply immediate direction to lower-level Engineers and Technicians assigned to assist in the performance of work.

Employees in this classification receives general direction from a higher-level Engineer or an administrative superior. Work is reviewed for compliance with departmental standardized operating procedures and may require submission of factual reports and engineering presentations before commissions or boards. Work is evaluated on the basis of demonstrated mastery of engineering principles in a specialty area, ability to develop novel applications when faced with an unfamiliar problem, and ability to meet deadlines and to work within existing administrative policies and procedures.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

Project Engineer and Specialty Engineer Option:

Analyzes and approves new or existing waste water treatment facilities in such specialty areas as heavy manufacturing, agriculture, etc.;

Ascertains compliance with water resources laws, regulations policy and procedures and recommends administrative remedies in cases of violation;

Evaluates existing and proposed facilities, construction and method of waste water control and recommends methods for improvement;

Plans and participates in studies, including water quality investigations, of a complex nature to determine actual or potential water pollution sources and control needs;

Develops and presents information used as evidence in legal action at public hearings on pollution problems and water quality standards;

Promotes use of the Maryland Environmental Service;

Participates in meetings and conferences for planning, corrective, or developmental purposes;

Provides technical assistance, information, and recommendations to local, State, interstate, and federal agencies and officials; industrial concerns; consulting engineers; and public and private organizations interested in or responsible for water pollution control;

Prepares amendments to existing legislation and makes recommendations relative to new legislation in the water resources field;

Provides staff supervision of projects contracted to consulting firms;

Organizes the assigned work of staff;

Prepares correspondence and maintains necessary files and records;

Assists in planning complete systems of water treatment and liquid and solid waste disposal to be proposed to and implemented for institutions and municipalities;

Conducts administrative hearings or proposals to modify water quality standards or to investigate direct violations of water quality statues;

Evaluates facilities for disposals storage, or treatment of toxic and hazardous materials;

Supervises the work of lower-level Engineers and Technicians;

Performs other related duties.

Hydrology Engineer Option:

Conducts hydrologic and hydraulic analysis on watersheds performing technical computation and/or computer modeling within a specialty area;

Ascertains compliance with water resources laws, regulations policy and procedures and recommends administrative remedies in cases of violation;

Prepares amendments to existing legislation and makes recommendations relative to new legislation in the water resources field;

Participates in meetings and conferences for planning, corrective, or developmental purposes;

Prepares and scrutinizes engineering project’s final computations for the control and use of water;

Participates in research projects in the field of hydrology and hydraulics;

Analyzes requests for appropriation of surface and groundwaters, dams, and reservoirs, and farm ponds;

Prepares complex hydrologic engineering studies and reports;

Develops and presents information used as evidence in legal actions or public hearings;

Supervises the work of lower-level Engineers and Technicians;

Collects and analyzes hydrologic and hydraulic data;

Plans work for survey parties and Engineering Technicians;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge, at the expert level of proficiency, of the principles of both hydrologic and hydraulic engineering;

Ability to prepare and interpret plans, maps, and specifications;

Ability to consult effectively with contractors and the general public;

Ability to make field investigations;

Ability to organize materials and make clear, comprehensive, and concise reports;

Ability to prepare and clearly present detail reports and recommendations on engineering problems;

Ability to accomplish minor administrative supervisory assignments;

Ability to use engineering instruments with skill and accuracy.

Project Engineer and Staff Engineer Specialty Option:

Education:  A Bachelor’s degree in sanitary, public health, environmental, civil, chemical engineering from an accredited college or university.

                                                               OR

A Bachelor’s degree in engineering and 16 credit hours in biology, hydrology, hydraulics, ecology, and pollution control from an accredited college or university.

                                                               OR

A Bachelor’s degree in the areas of environmental technology, agronomy, ecology, geotechnology, or agriculture with 20 credit hours in engineering; 16 credit  hours in ecology, biology, and pollution control; and a course in differential equations at an accredited college or university.

Experience: Four years of professional experience in an environmental engineering field directly related to water pollution control.

Note: Candidates may substitute fifteen credit hours of graduate education in environmental and/or sanitary engineering from an accredited college or university for one year of the required experience.  Credits used in meeting the minimum qualifications cannot also be used for this substitution.

Hydrology Engineer Option:

Education:   A Bachelor’s degree in engineering and 12 credit hours in hydrology or hydraulics related subjects at an accredited college or university. The following courses are acceptable: basic and intermediate hydraulics, fluid mechanics, engineering analysis and computer programming, surface water hydrology, and groundwater hydrology.

Experience: Four years of professional experience in hydrology/hydraulics involving the analysis of technical data, designs, and/or  specifications of engineering systems, utilities and support facilities related to hydrologic systems.

Note: Candidates may substitute 15 credit hours of graduate level education in the fields of hydrology and/or hydraulics at an accredited college or university for one year of required experience.  Credits used in meeting the minimum qualifications cannot also be used for this substitution.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is not assigned to a bargaining unit, as indicated by the designation of S (Supervisor), M (Manager), T (Agency Head), U (Board or Commission Member), W (Student), X (Used by Agency or Excluded by Executive Order), or Z (Confidential).  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.