Pipelayer; Grade 18 AFSCME Local

In accordance with the Merit System Rules and Regulations, an eligible list, which will be valid for a one-year period, and which will be used to fill vacancies during that period, is being established for this classification. Applicants on the eligible list will be certified in accordance with the Merit System and appropriate union contracts. Applicants may submit online employment applications using the NEOGOV online application system available at

New Castle County is an Equal Opportunity Employer

The examination process for this posting may include an evaluation of training and experience, a written examination, a computerized exam, an oral board interview examination, a performance examination or any combination of the above in order to qualify applicants for placement on the eligible list. The eligible list will be used to fill vacancies that occur within the next year. The appropriate number of names on the eligible list as prescribed by Merit System Section 26.03.505 will be certified to the hiring department for consideration to fill the vacant position(s).

New employees are generally hired at the starting salary and may be eligible for merit increases each year upon receipt of a satisfactory performance evaluation, up to the maximum salary.

Performs semi-skilled manual work in connection with the installation of pipe or the removal and replacement of one or more sections of broken pipe in a sewer line in which sewage is flowing; does related work as required.

An employee in this class performs routine work consisting of manual tasks requiring some skills. The duties require heavy physical labor in laying pipe or removing and replacing sections of broken pipe and related construction tasks. This employee works under the immediate supervision of a Pipelayer Supervisor who lays out the details of each specific assignment and constantly checks the work in progress and upon completion.

This employee normally works under conditions involving a certain degree of risk in the close confines of trenches of varying depth and stability conditions. The work is frequently complicated by the presence of other utilities in the trench such as gas, electric, water, and telephone. This employee must demonstrate a willingness to learn to perform assignments of progressively increasing difficulty, must read blueprints, and consistently work to line and grade in restricted situations and frequently in raw sewage.

• Lays various types of pipe, particularly those used in sanitary sewer and stormwater construction;
• Grades and smooths the bottom of a trench to specified elevation using a shovel or other hand tools, and places bedding material when required;
• Guides pipe section into position as it is lowered into trench using a rope or hoist;
• Inserts spigot end of pipe into bell end of previously laid section;
• Adjusts pipe to line and grade and positions pipe using bedding stone;
• Reads blueprints to verify accuracy of line construction or to determine where to lay out line;
• Seals joints with materials such as cement, molten lead or leadite;
• Selects, measures and cuts off pipe as required;
• Places fill and compacts;
• Lowers bracing timbers by hand or by use of rope and sets screw jacks;
• Digs earth away from pipes in trench using a pick and shovel;
• Builds forms, makes braces, and performs other tasks in pipe construction;
• Performs the work of a Maintenance and Construction Worker when not performing the above tasks;
• May drive a pick-up vehicle or van;
• Promotes an ongoing attitude of dedication to excellent public service and ensures that external and internal customers are provided with the highest quality of service;
• Operates a personal computer and other related equipment in the course of the work.

Some knowledge of, and the ability to learn, a variety of semi-skilled manual tasks associated with the construction of pipe lines; ability to understand and follow blueprints with supervisory assistance; good knowledge of the types of pipe and the basic principles of measuring and cutting pipe;…