Engineer III - Surface Water Management

Snohomish County Public Works is seeking a highly motivated and well qualified licensed Professional Engineer to develop, design, and manage capital improvement projects (including management of consultant contracts).  This Engineer III position will work in the Surface Water Management (SWM) division Capital section. You will be part of a team of engineers and technicians that take projects from concept through construction. 

SWM designs and implements a wide variety of stormwater improvement projects (fish passage improvements, neighborhood drainage improvements, water quality treatment, road flooding reduction, etc.). SWM has a robust annual construction program, delivering 10-15 capital projects per year.  If working on meaningful and challenging capital projects from identification through construction sounds good to you, please consider applying for this Engineer III position.

The successful candidate will have qualities in alignment with SWM’s core values: providing and demonstrating high quality service, leadership, stewardship, accountability, respect, and integrity.  You will have proficiency and expertise in analyzing and designing fish passage, drainage, and water quality projects; project management;  hydraulic and hydrologic computer modeling; developing construction drawings, cost estimates, and project specifications; and overseeing project construction.   Your excellent communication skills and ability to work well with staff and stakeholders with a variety of backgrounds will make you stand out.  Apply for this position to positively contribute to the delivery of high quality projects and service to the residents of Snohomish County.

For further information on Snohomish County Surface Water Management’s programs, please go to www.surfacewater.info.

A Professional Engineer (PE) license is required for this position.

Snohomish County will be invested in your success and growth and below are some highlights of the generous benefits we offer to our employees:

• Flexible work Schedule 

• Sick leave: You will accrue 8 hours of sick leave per month.

• Vacation Leave: you will start out accruing 6.7 hours of vacation each month. Your leave accruals increase based on your years of employment with the County.

• Holiday Pay: The County observes 10 paid legal holidays per year, and provides employees with two floating holidays annually.

• Pension Benefits: County employees are eligible for Washington State PERS enrollment.

• Benefits: The County offers a wide range of benefits including, medical, and dental, vision, life insurance, LTD, deferred compensation and more.
• Pay Increases: Each year you will be eligible for a 5% step increase until you reach the top step. An annual cost of living adjustment may also be included, as negotiated by AFSCME.

Snohomish County, north of Seattle, is located in northwest Washington between the Puget Sound and the Cascade Mountains. The county has rich scenery, numerous activities and a thriving economy.  Snohomish County is a great place to live, work, play, and raise a family.  When joining Public Works, you will work in an environment where innovation, collaboration and continuous improvement is highly encouraged and supported.  We are proud to offer an outstanding benefit package to employees and their dependents. We are invested in your success and growth and offer competitive wages, job flexibility and stability, employer paid ORCA cards, and a friendly, diverse team atmosphere where employees are appreciated and make a real difference providing services for our citizens. We strive to not only provide a meaningful job, but a lifelong career.

Snohomish County - The Future We Choose

Public Works is the largest department in the Snohomish County government with approximately 600 employees.  Snohomish County is one of the fastest growing counties in the nation according to the U.S. Census Bureau.  This growth presents many challenges for the Public Works department in maintaining and improving critical infrastructure such as roads and bridges, managing the solid waste and recycling needs of county residents, and monitoring surface water issues. Visit the Public Works webpage to learn more.

Job Duties

BASIC FUNCTION

                To perform professional engineering assignments in design, construction, land development, or program development, which require advanced expertise in a specialized area of engineering or in multiple engineering related functions. To act as resource to engineers on complex projects or manage projects or project components.

STATEMENT OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES

1. Project management, analysis, and design of major improvements and modifications to public works roads and structures; produces design reports and plans, specifications and cost estimates for construction of public works facilities such as roadways, surface water systems, and solid waste sites.
2. Reviews engineering design work to ensure proposed designs meet project needs, engineering specifications and cost regulatory requirements.
3. Conducts or directs the preparation of major planning or design engineering studies by identifying and researching needs and problems in the area of specialization; monitors the collection of field data and the technical evaluations used to develop recommendations.
4. Manages the selection and administration of engineering consultants performing work for planning and reports, plans, specifications, estimates, and on call engineering services.
5. Prepares requests for proposals for professional engineering, consulting, and environmental services; reviews requests from consultants for changes in scope of work and recommends appropriate action.
6. Acts as a technical resource in a specialized area of engineering to resolve complex design and construction problems within the public right of way and provide assistance in correcting related problems on private property.
7. Conducts field trips to inspect project sites during planning and design phases, and during construction for compliance with specifications and plans.
8. Provides technical support and acts as engineering liaison between public works, consulting engineering firms and other governmental agencies; reviews agency documents preparing and presenting comments on behalf of the department.
9. Coordinates the location, notification and preparation of presentations at public meetings for assigned projects and assists in other project manager’s public meetings. Provides technical testimony at Public Hearings or Meetings.
10. Provides technical assistance, guidance, and training to engineering staff.
11. Assigns, leads, and evaluates the work of subordinate employees as required; advises, assists and trains subordinates as necessary. Participates in the selection of new employees, and makes recommendations regarding hiring.
12. Researches and prepares pertinent data and reports for legal counsel for court actions and represents public works on matters pertaining to real property condemnations.
13. Reviews and approves all plans and contract documents before they are used in the public bidding process for county construction projects.
14. Establishes and monitors a current public meeting calendar for all required public information meetings on proposed public works projects; confers with the appropriate project manager and goes through a checklist for all the required logistical details for the meeting.
15. Assures the accuracy of all engineering design standards and standard specifications used by the design staff; updates design standards and specifications as required by the Engineering Manager and maintains up to date files of design standard drawings and standard specifications for staff use.
16. Develops recommendations for mitigating measures to reduce or provide for environmental impacts to the county road system.
17. Supervises or conducts field and laboratory investigations required to obtain representative soil information for potential construction sites; such investigations may be through borings, soundings, sampling or testing.
18. Evaluates field laboratory soils results and makes engineering recommendations pertaining to the foundation design of roadway, bridge foundations, retaining walls and landslide corrections.
19. Manages the civil materials testing laboratory; approves construction materials and their sources, maintains material records, makes recommendations pertaining to material acceptance; establishes related procedures and criteria as necessary.

STATEMENT OF OTHER JOB DUTIES

                Performs related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

                A Bachelor or Science degree in civil engineering or related field, and four (4) years of civil engineering experience; three (3) of which are in the area of specialization; OR, any equivalent combination of training and/or experience that provides the required knowledge and abilities. Must pass job related tests.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

                A Professional Engineer’s License or ability to obtain one by demonstrated training or experience is required for most positions.

                A valid Washington State driver’s license.

Additional Information

KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of:

• Engineering mathematics applied in area of specialization
• Engineering principles and practices and the materials and equipment applicable to the area of specialization
• The current codes, trends, and developments in the field of engineering specialization
• Principles of project management, organization and administration
• Laws and regulations applicable to the area of assignment

Ability to:

• Direct and inspect the work of consultants and contractors on civil engineering studies and projects
• Prepare and manage project activities, including monitoring budgets, work schedules, grant requirements and progress reviews
• Plan, direct and coordinate the work of subordinates
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with other county employees, representatives of other agencies and with the general public
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing
• Prepare of oversee the preparation of engineering studies and plans

SUPERVISION

                Employees report to and receive direction from an engineering supervisor. Employees may lead full-time or temporary employees. A high degree of independent judgment and action is exercised in planning projects and programs and resolving administrative and technical problems within the framework of established codes, policies, budgetary limits and sound engineering practices.

WORKING CONDITIONS

                The work is performed in an office environment with frequent field trips to locations throughout the county to make site visits, attend meetings, or coordinate work activities. Meetings or project requirements may involve working evenings, weekends or holidays as necessary.

Snohomish County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. Accommodations for individuals with disabilities are provided upon request.