Job Description

Posting number: 26-00834

Department: Planning and Public Works

Division: PPW OCE (ENG)

Job classification: Civil Engineer 1

Posting type: Open

Categories: Public Works, Transportation, Land Use, Transit, Community Development, Utilities, Project Management, Entertainment

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Examples of duties

Why it's a great opportunity: As a Civil Engineer 1 with Pierce County’s Office of the County Engineer, you will be providing valuable contributions of various transportation design projects for the County including the design of roads, roundabouts, pedestrian accessibility, infiltration trench sizing, pond sizing, erosion control measures, storm water collection, and treatment. You will be involved from the preliminary phase through construction support to final close out of these projects. You will be working and gaining knowledge in AutoCAD, Civil3D, MGS Flood, preliminary design, project estimations, alignments, drainage analysis and design, risk management, and project delivery together with your team and other departments over various scopes of projects. Your contributions will keep Pierce County the best place to live in the Northwest.

Why it's a great department: PPW stewards a healthy and vibrant community by collaboratively planning and investing in our people, infrastructure, systems, and policies. PPW’s team has more than 800 members that collaborate, innovate and inspire in performing essential services to the community. The department is responsible for the County road and levee systems, sewer systems, airports, ferries, building permits, environmental review, sustainability, community planning, and code enforcement - just to name a few!

Learn more about Planning and Public Works here.

How to be successful in the role: Your success will come from your technical contributions to the overall project planning, design, and analysis to ensure timely completion. Your ability to focus on technical skills specific to civil engineering in roads and corridor projects while contributing to team efficiency and help support project delivery will build your success. Your preliminary steps will be of great value during the preparation of engineering design plans, technical specifications, estimates, and reports. Excellent communication both written and verbal will also ensure your success.

Your future in this role: You and the team will support Pierce County's traffic projects and programs and will see the improvements make a direct impact in our community. Pierce County offers robust online learning opportunities available for your continued success. This position has multiple career growth and promotional opportunities within Pierce County to build up a great career.

Core daily responsibilities:

• Performs layout, drafting and design work on a variety of routine civil engineering projects utilizing computer programs. Depending on program to which assigned, may design or review roads, structures, traffic control devices, stormwater collection and disposal systems, and/or other infrastructure.
• Designs and/or prepares contract plans for capital improvement projects.
• Prepares and reviews comprehensive engineering plans, reports, studies and related documents.
• Prepares scopes, cost estimates, specifications, special provisions and related documents for capital improvement projects.
• Prepares or contributes to engineering technical reports or studies such as traffic, hydrology, hydraulic, or geotechnical, reviews calculations or routine work of others.
• Prepares information to support public meetings, hearings, boards, commissions, or elected officials.
• Reviews and investigates citizen concerns and recommends remedial measures.

A classification description with a more detailed list of essential functions can be found here.

Qualifications

• Four years of progressively responsible, broad-based civil engineering experience is required.
• Registration as an Engineer-in-Training or a bachelor’s degree from an ABET accredited program in civil engineering or closely related field may be substituted for experience on a year for year basis.

• A resume and cover letter are required for this position.
• A valid driver’s license is required.

As a condition of employment, the applicant will need to authorize and complete a background check. Information received from the background check is reviewed case-by-case and will not necessarily remove an applicant from consideration.

Supplemental information

To be considered for this opportunity please:

• Complete and submit a detailed online Pierce County Employment Application by selecting “APPLY” above or visiting www.piercecountywa.gov/jobs
• If you have questions about this opportunity, email the Recruitment Team at PCHRRecruit@piercecountywa.gov and include the job number and title.
• Individuals who need accommodation in the application or interview process may contact Human Resources at (253) 798-7480 at least two days prior to the need.
• Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for visa sponsorship.

Our Recruitment Practices: This is a competitive and meritorious selection process. Pierce County applications are reviewed by human hiring staff in accordance with the qualifications listed for the positionPierce County understands applicants may use AI tools when preparing application materials. We recognize these tools can make the process easier; however, we ask that everything you submit genuinely reflects your own experience, skills, knowledge, and writing style.

During the interview process, you may be asked to demonstrate your skills, including writing and subject knowledge, and to speak to your experience in your own voice. Applicants should be prepared to respond to interview questions without relying on AI-generated responses or reading prepared answers from a screen. Any misrepresentation may result in disqualification or separation.

Applicants whose qualifications most closely align with the County’s needs will be eligible for further consideration. Notification of application status typically occurs within two to three weeks after the closing date. Some applicants may receive short notice to participate in additional selection steps, which may include assessments, phone screens, or interviews.

Upon offer, compensation is based on a range of job-related factors, including the requirements of the role, your skills and experience, and internal pay equity.

Our Welcoming Workplace Commitment: Pierce County is committed to fostering a Welcoming Workplace where employees are supported, respected, and able to thrive. We believe a strong public workforce is representative of the community it serves and that fair and just access to opportunity strengthens public service.

Guided by the County Executive’s Forward Together mission, Pierce County works to build communities that are safe, welcoming, and connected. This same commitment shapes how we recruit, develop, and retain our employees. County employees make a direct and visible impact in the lives of residents every day, and we invite you to join us in helping keep Pierce County a place people are proud to call home.