Utility Locator

Utility Locator

First review of applications will be Monday, August 3, 2026.

A Utility Locator identifies, locates, and marks the location of City of Mesa subsurface utilities in order to minimize accidental damage or disruption of service due to construction excavation activities. An employee in this class performs a variety of skilled and semiskilled activities to facilitate safe excavation. These activities include locating and marking existing City-owned underground infrastructure including: natural gas (including high-pressure gas and regulator stations and vaults), electric primary and secondary lines (including J-boxes and vaults), water lines, gas and water valves (including electronic markers), wastewater lines, e-Streets fiber (including J-boxes and vaults), reclaim water system, chilled water/district cooling system, storm water collection system, streetlights, and traffic signals (including fiber optic, telephone, and loop components).

This class also performs "checks and wraps" gas line inspections and gas pipeline repairs as necessary in association with contractor gas line repair activities. An employee in this class has responsibility for identifying short circuits in a gas cathodic protection system, and for performing repairs to tracer wire shorts in the gas system. As the Utility Locator usually works alone, an employee in this class is expected to exercise considerable initiative in moving efficiently through the day's work assignments.

Also, considerable independent judgment must be used, as the accuracy of the locate depends heavily upon how well the readings from the equipment are interpreted. An employee in this class must also be able to read and interpret electronic quarter section and plat maps to facilitate locating utility lines. Employees in this class perform assignments in hazardous traffic environments and are required to use appropriate safety equipment and procedures.

An employee in this class uses computers and a variety of specialized, sensitive electronic equipment to locate utility lines and valves in the right-of-way and utility easement. The position performs related duties as required.

The Utility Locator class is distinguished by its full-time responsibility for locating underground utilities, where accuracy of the marks is crucial. This class is subject to emergency call-out and stand-by, and must be willing to work overtime as required. This class is supervised by the Utility Locator Supervisor through meetings, conferences, reports concerning volume and timeliness of locates, problems encountered, and overall results achieved.

This class is FLSA nonexempt.

Employee Values:
All employees of the City of Mesa are expected to uphold and exhibit the City's shared employee values of Knowledge, Respect, and Integrity.

Minimum Qualifications Required. Any combination of training, education, and experience equivalent to graduation from high school or GED. Two years' full-time employment in underground or utility construction-related work involving some responsibility for reading and interpreting project plans, blueprints, electronic quarter section and plat maps, or related materials; OR two years' full-time employment using electronic locating devices.

Special Requirement. Must possess a valid Class D Arizona Driver's License by hire or promotion date.

Substance Abuse Testing. This class is subject to DOT Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) drug and alcohol testing as outlined in 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 199.

Preferred/Desirable Qualification. Personal computer (PC) experience and experience using electronic locating devices is desirable.