State of Maryland

A Hydrographic Engineering Associate is the advanced level of sub-professional technical work in the field of engineering, hydrography, surveying and marine construction.  Employees in this classification are required to function as highly experienced surveyors in marine work involving the use of nautical surveying instruments for the determination of geographic positions and the compilation of charts depicting hydrographic data for marine projects and may act as survey party chief.  Employees in this classification may also act as experienced marine construction experts, familiar with all phases of a project, beginning with contacts with the general public, to design, estimation, and construction phases.  Employees in this classification are responsible for carrying out operations, usually on an independent basis.  Employees in this classification assign, review and approve the work of and train lower-level Hydrographic Engineering Associates and other sub-professional personnel.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from a Hydrographic Engineering Associate IV, or Engineer in the form of review of completed work, primarily for adherence to policy.

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.

The Hydrographic Engineering Associate III is differentiated from the Hydrographic Engineering Associate II in that the Hydrographic Engineering Associate III acts as highly experienced surveyors of marine work involving the use of nautical surveying instruments and may also act as experienced marine construction experts, familiar with all phases of a project while the Hydrographic Engineering Associate II performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.  The Hydrographic Engineering Associate III is differentiated from the Hydrographic Engineering Associate IV in that the Hydrographic Engineering Associate IV has supervisory responsibility for lower-level Hydrographic Engineering Associates.

Supervises surveys of submerged bottoms, shorelines and coastal areas of the Chesapeake Bay and other Maryland waters;

Locates more complicated leaseholds and other classified bottoms and determines accurate positions for the placement of buoys, beacons, and other hydrographic boundary markings;

Constructs and supervises construction of charts of submerged lands and shorelines showing locations of leaseholds and boundaries of classified bottoms;

Computes geographic positions and determines courses and distances through spherical formulae, provides basic design and analysis of shoreline structures and checks computations of material quantity take-offs;

Provides technical assistance in solving shore erosion problems to private property owners;

Computes distances, azimuths, elevations, and geographic and plane coordinates from data obtained from field surveys;

Meets the public, governmental officials, etc. to convey and acquire certain appropriate information as directed;

Provides guidance, training, and instruction to lower-level Hydrographic Engineering Associates and summer employees;

May act as construction inspector, which involves interpretation of construction plans specifications;

May prepare progress reports of marine activities, provide preliminary cost estimates for marine construction projects, prepares basic technical reports;

May act as survey party chief;  

Performs other related duties

Knowledge of the principles and methods used in hydrographic surveying and mapping;

Knowledge of algebra, geometry, and trigonometry;

Knowledge of geodetic controls;

Knowledge of engineering plans for dredging operations and marine construction;

Knowledge of civil engineering principles;

Knowledge of hydrographic surveying principles and techniques, and geodetic controls;

Knowledge of engineering plans for dredging operations and marine construction;

Ability to organize and supervise hydrographic survey parties;

Ability to conduct coastal and hydrographic surveys;

Ability to interpret engineering plans and specifications;

Ability to make hydrographic and geodetic computations;

Ability to engage in continuous active field work requiring physical stamina;

Ability to issue concise instructions to survey parties on marine assignments;

Ability to work harmoniously with others;

Ability to prepare routine reports regarding completed projects;

Ability to supervise survey parties.

Education:   Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate including at least four courses in mathematics and/or science.

Experience: Two years of experience performing full performance level Hydrographic Engineering Associate work in the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.  

                                                             OR

Experience: Seven years of experience involving any combination of hydrography, engineering, surveying, or construction inspection work including two years of experience in hydrographic engineering associated activities.

Notes: 

1. Candidates may substitute credit hours in the field of engineering, geology, physics, oceanography, mathematics (excluding basic, required courses) from an accredited college or university at the rate of 15 credit hours for one year, up to a maximum of two years of required experience.

2. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a non-commissioned officer in Civil Engineering classifications or Civil Engineering or Quarrying Specialist specialty codes in the hydrographic engineering field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.

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 assigned to Bargaining Unit B- Administrative, Technical and Clerical classes.  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.

Employees in this classification are eligible to receive overtime compensation.  An employee who works more than the normal workweek is entitled to be compensated for that overtime as provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 8-305.