Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Utility Crew Technician

🎯 Role Definition

The Utility Crew Technician is a field-facing operations professional responsible for the safe, efficient installation, maintenance, repair, and inspection of underground and above-ground utility infrastructure including water, sewer, stormwater, gas, and associated appurtenances. This role requires strong hands-on technical ability, adherence to safety and regulatory requirements, solid blueprint and as-built reading, and clear communication with supervisors, inspectors, customers, and cross-functional teams. Utility Crew Technicians routinely perform trenching and excavation, operate heavy and light equipment, execute traffic control plans, document work in GIS or CMMS systems, and respond to emergency service calls.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Utility Laborer / Construction Laborer
Apprentice Utility Technician / Trade Apprentice
Pipefitter Helper or General Maintenance Worker

Advancement To:

Lead Utility Crew Technician / Senior Field Technician
Utility Crew Supervisor / Foreman
Field Operations Manager or Infrastructure Maintenance Manager

Lateral Moves:

Distribution Meter Technician
Water/Wastewater Treatment Operator
Utility Locator / GIS Field Technician

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Perform excavation, trenching, backfilling and compaction for utility installations and repairs while following project plans, trench safety standards (shoring, sloping, benching), and local excavation permits to protect workers and the public.
Install, repair, replace and test water mains, sewer lines, storm drains, lateral connections, service lines, valves, hydrants, manholes and other pipeline appurtenances using hand and power tools and small to medium construction equipment.
Read, interpret and work from blueprints, as-built drawings, utility plans, and GIS mapping to locate existing infrastructure, determine excavation limits and confirm installation tolerances and elevations.
Operate heavy equipment and power machinery safely and effectively — including backhoes, excavators, skid steers, vacuum trucks, trenchers and compactors — to complete installation, repair and restoration tasks per company standards.
Perform pressure testing, leak detection, CCTV sewer inspection, and smoke testing as required; document test results, anomalies, and required follow-up repairs in work orders and inspection reports.
Set up and maintain traffic control and pedestrian safety per MUTCD/Local requirements for open trenches and work zones, including signage, cones, barricades, flagging and temporary lane closures.
Conduct isolation and lockout/tagout of utilities and coordinate temporary bypass pumping or system shut-downs with dispatch, supervisors and customers to minimize service disruption and protect crew safety.
Execute emergency response activities for water breaks, sewer blockages, storm damage and utility leaks on a 24/7 on-call or rotating schedule, ensuring rapid mobilization and safe mitigation.
Perform confined space entry and attendant duties, including atmospheric testing, ventilation, and use of rescue equipment, following permit-required confined space protocols and OSHA or local regulatory guidelines.
Utilize utility locating tools and documentation (electromagnetic locators, ground-penetrating radar, one-call markings) to verify the presence of underground facilities and avoid damage during excavation.
Replace, install and test customer meters, meter boxes and appurtenances, record meter serials and readings, and update billing or CMMS systems as required.
Restore trenches, surfaces and landscaping to pre-work condition by coordinating asphalt, concrete, and surface restoration crews, and by performing final grading, compaction and seeding where applicable.
Maintain accurate, timely documentation of work performed including service orders, field reports, incident reports, daily logs, and GIS/CMMS updates to support asset management and regulatory compliance.
Perform routine and preventive maintenance on company vehicles, tools and equipment, including pre-shift inspections, fueling, minor repairs and coordination for shop-level maintenance.
Coordinate with third-party contractors, inspectors, engineering staff and utility owners to schedule work, obtain permits, and ensure installations meet technical and regulatory specifications.
Follow all environmental protection procedures, best management practices for erosion and sediment control, and proper disposal procedures for contaminated soils and wastewater according to local regulations.
Install and maintain corrosion protection and cathodic protection components where applicable, and participate in monitoring programs to ensure long-term pipeline integrity.
Use power and hand tools — including saws, drills, tapping machines, hydraulic torque wrenches and pipe fusion equipment — to fabricate, assemble and install utility components to specification.
Train, mentor and support junior technicians and apprentices on safe work practices, equipment operation and company standard methods to build team capability and consistency.
Perform routine water quality sampling, basic chemical testing (e.g., chlorine residual), and follow chain-of-custody procedures when required during repair or maintenance activities.
Respond to customer inquiries on-site with professional communication, explain temporary service impacts, and document customer interactions for follow-up with administrative staff.

Secondary Functions

Assist with inventory management by tracking parts, consumables and tools, recommending reorder levels, and coordinating pickups or deliveries to the job site.
Support as-built documentation efforts by taking field measurements, photographs, and GPS coordinates and uploading data to asset management or GIS platforms.
Participate in continuous improvement initiatives by identifying repetitive failure modes, contributing to root cause analysis and suggesting corrective actions to reduce future service disruptions.
Provide on-the-job input to supervisors and engineers to refine construction details, sequencing and cost-saving opportunities while maintaining safety and quality.
Help develop and update standard operating procedures (SOPs), permit templates and checklists to align field practice with regulatory compliance and operational efficiency.
Support cross-functional teams during small projects or emergency events, including coordination with electrical, stormwater, and street maintenance crews.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Trenching, excavation and shoring techniques with demonstrated knowledge of OSHA excavation standards and best practices for crew protection.
Operation and basic maintenance of heavy equipment: excavators, backhoes, skid steers, vacuum trucks, trenchers and compactors.
Utility installation and repair skills including pipe cutting, threading, fusion, socketing, jointing, and valve/hydrant servicing across ductile iron, PVC, HDPE and clay pipe systems.
Proficient in reading and interpreting construction plans, as-built drawings, schematics, and GIS map layers to locate utilities and verify installation accuracy.
Confined space entry and attendant procedures, including use of gas monitors, ventilation equipment and emergency rescue protocols.
Traffic control planning and implementation consistent with MUTCD standards, flagger certification, and temporary traffic management for work zones.
Proficient use of handheld locating equipment, ground-penetrating radar (GPR) basics, and one-call (811) marking processes to prevent utility strikes.
Experience with CMMS/GIS systems, electronic work order entry, mobile tablets and basic field data capture for asset management.
Ability to perform pressure testing, leak detection, CCTV inspection and execute corrective repairs based on diagnostic results.
Metering and metering replacement experience, including meter verification, calibration checks, and secure handling of customer-owned devices.
Basic vehicle and equipment preventative maintenance skills including daily inspections, greasing, fueling and minor mechanical troubleshooting.
Knowledge of environmental controls and BMPs for sediment, erosion and contaminated material handling.

Soft Skills

Strong safety mindset and ability to enforce and follow safety protocols consistently across the crew.
Clear oral and written communication skills for interacting with supervisors, customers, inspectors and peers in high-pressure situations.
Problem-solving aptitude, able to diagnose field issues quickly and recommend practical, code-compliant solutions.
Time management and task prioritization skills to balance emergency calls, scheduled maintenance, and capital projects effectively.
Team orientation with the ability to mentor apprentices while taking direction from supervisors and engineers.
Customer-service focus with a professional demeanor when addressing homeowner or business concerns during repairs or outages.
Adaptability and resilience to work in diverse weather and site conditions while maintaining productivity and safety.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or GED is typically required.

Preferred Education:

Technical certificate, vocational training, or associate degree in construction technology, utility technology, civil engineering technology, or a related field.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Construction Trades / Heavy Equipment Operation
Utility Technology / Pipeline Technology
Civil Engineering Technology
Environmental Science / Water Resources

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 1–5 years of direct field experience in utility construction, water/wastewater or pipeline operations; entry-level candidates with relevant apprenticeship or military experience will be considered.

Preferred:

3+ years of progressively responsible utility crew experience, including demonstrated ability to operate heavy equipment, conduct pressure testing and perform confined space entry.
Prior municipal, utility, or contractor field experience on water mains, sewer systems or stormwater infrastructure.

Certifications and Licenses (preferred or required depending on employer):

Class B Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) or ability to obtain within a defined timeframe.
Confined Space Entry Certification and documented permit-required confined space training.
OSHA 10 / OSHA 30 or equivalent safety training.
First Aid / CPR and HAZWOPER or hazardous materials awareness training where applicable.
Traffic Control / Flagging certification (MUTCD-compliant).
Backflow prevention, meter technician certification, or NCCER/industry trade certifications are a plus.

This profile is written to reflect real-world Utility Crew Technician duties, skills and progression and is optimized to be discoverable by recruiting systems and search (keywords: Utility Crew Technician, utility technician, excavation, trenching, water main repair, sewer maintenance, traffic control, confined space, vacuum truck, GIS, CMMS).