diff --git a/lib/execution_engine2/db/models/models.py b/lib/execution_engine2/db/models/models.py
index 99e115412..e2845c6c2 100644
--- a/lib/execution_engine2/db/models/models.py
+++ b/lib/execution_engine2/db/models/models.py
@@ -339,9 +339,13 @@ class Job(Document):
     meta = {"collection": "ee2_jobs"}
 
     def save(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        self.updated = time.time()
+        self.updated = datetime.utcnow().timestamp()
         return super(Job, self).save(*args, **kwargs)
 
+    def modify(self, query=None, **update):
+        update["updated"] = datetime.utcnow().timestamp()
+        return super(Job, self).modify(query=None, **update)
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return self.to_json()
 
diff --git a/test/tests_for_db/ee2_MongoUtil_test.py b/test/tests_for_db/ee2_MongoUtil_test.py
index 9591f16a1..ee6e77668 100644
--- a/test/tests_for_db/ee2_MongoUtil_test.py
+++ b/test/tests_for_db/ee2_MongoUtil_test.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 import os
 import unittest
 from datetime import datetime
-
+import json
 from bson.objectid import ObjectId
 
 from execution_engine2.db.MongoUtil import MongoUtil
@@ -58,17 +58,55 @@ def test_init_ok(self):
         mongo_util = self.getMongoUtil()
         self.assertTrue(set(class_attri) <= set(mongo_util.__dict__.keys()))
 
+    def test_save_and_modify_updates_timestamp(self):
+        job = get_example_job(status=Status.created.value)
+        updated_ts = job.updated
+        job.save()
+        job.reload()
+        new_updated_ts = job.updated
+        assert new_updated_ts > updated_ts
+        # Now check modify
+        job.modify(add_to_set__child_jobs=["a"])
+        assert job.updated > new_updated_ts
+
     def test_insert_jobs(self):
         """Check to see that jobs are inserted into mongo"""
         job = get_example_job(status=Status.created.value)
         job2 = get_example_job(status=Status.created.value)
+        job3 = get_example_job(status=Status.created.value)
+        # job3.updated = datetime.utcnow().timestamp()
+
+        json_repr = [job.to_json(), job2.to_json(), job3.to_json()]
+        mongo_repr = [job.to_mongo(), job2.to_mongo(), job3.to_mongo()]
+
         jobs_to_insert = [job, job2]
         job_ids = self.getMongoUtil().insert_jobs(jobs_to_insert)
         assert len(job_ids) == len(jobs_to_insert)
         retrieved_jobs = self.getMongoUtil().get_jobs(job_ids=job_ids)
 
         for i, retrieved_job in enumerate(retrieved_jobs):
-            assert jobs_to_insert[i].to_json() == retrieved_job.to_json()
+            original_job_json = json.loads(json_repr[i])
+            original_job_mongo = mongo_repr[i]
+
+            retrieved_job_json = json.loads(retrieved_job.to_json())
+            retrieved_job_mongo = retrieved_job.to_mongo()
+
+            # Cannot compare `id` or `updated` for a job that wasn't yet saved,
+            # and save/updates over-write the updated timestamp
+            # so we should remove them before comparison
+
+            for item in [
+                original_job_json,
+                original_job_mongo,
+                retrieved_job_mongo,
+                retrieved_job_json,
+            ]:
+                for field in ["updated", "_id"]:
+                    if field in item:
+                        del item[field]
+
+            assert original_job_json == retrieved_job_json
+            assert original_job_mongo == retrieved_job_mongo
 
     def test_update_jobs_enmasse(self):
         """Check to see that created jobs get updated to queued"""