Job Description

Posting number: 2026-00960

Department: Seattle Department of Construction & Inspection

Job classification: Civil Engineer, Senior

Posting type: Open & Promotional

Categories: Engineering

Are you a geotechnical engineer who would like to work on technical and policy issues that guide development in the City of Seattle? We have a rare opportunity to join the Geotechnical Engineering review group at the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI) as a Senior Civil Engineer (Geotechnical) This is a full-time position primarily responsible for determining whether geotechnical engineering features of construction plans comply with applicable codes and professional standards of practice. We are looking for a geotechnical engineer with design and construction experience in shoring, slope stability, and deep foundations, who is conversant or highly skilled with seismic aspects of design.

Our work environment is fast paced with a lot of variety—on any given day, you may be reviewing a 90-ft deep excavation, checking ground improvement design for a liquefiable site, coaching a homeowner on the permit path for a backyard cottage in an environmentally critical area, or following up with a special inspector on excessive shoring movements at a construction site. The ability to multi-task, show initiative, and communicate using variable styles are critical skills. We have a cohesive and supportive workgroup that finds work-life balance. Currently, the group works 3 days a week at Seattle Municipal Tower and 2 days a week remotely; however, other hybrid or in-office arrangements may be required in the future depending upon business needs.

Examples of duties

In this position you will:

• Review construction and land use applications and geotechnical design reports for compliance with the ECA code, Grading code, and Seattle Building code.
• Prepare plan review comments in the form of written correction notices using Bluebeam. Typical technical review issues include slope stability, foundation and shoring requirements, seismic design, and protection of adjacent properties. Coordinate reviews with the Seattle Dept. of Transportation and other City departments, as necessary.
• Assist the group supervisor in code interpretation and developing policy for geotechnical design and earthquake engineering issues.
• Provide on-call coaching, permit facilitation, and design and construction guidance to applicants and SDCI staff on geotechnical issues associated with potential projects. Currently coaching is provided via email using Zendesk and MS Teams; however, in the future, this may change to real-time chats.
• Evaluate geotechnical special inspection reports and final letters; work with inspectors to resolve construction issues.
• Provide technical support (including occasional field visits) to SDCI's Code Compliance group and the Seattle Law Department for enforcement cases.
• Testify on geotechnical issues for projects that are referred to the Hearing Examiner.
• Provide technical information at home fairs, professional organizations, and community groups.

Your effectiveness in this role will depend on your:

• Ability to quickly evaluate plans and provide technical design guidance to customers during on-call or pre-submittal coaching
• Clear written and oral communication skills for explaining technical and code-related issues to the public and design professionals
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment with multiple responsibilities and substantial contact with the public and design professionals.
• Ability to be flexible in applying codes and engineering judgment.
• Interest in reading technical papers in new subject areas to help determine review policy.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

Requires five years professional civil engineering experience and a Bachelor Degree in Civil Engineering or Civil Engineering Technology; (or a combination of education and/or training and/or experience, which provides an equivalent background required to perform the work of the class).

Desired Qualifications:

• Master of Science degree in geotechnical engineering
• Geotechnical design and construction experience in a wide range of project types
• Familiarity with permitting processes in the City of Seattle such as correction notices, special inspections, and the ECA Code.

License, Certifications, and Other Requirements:

• Registration as a Professional Engineer in the State of Washington. For out of state applicants who may not yet have a Washington PE, you must be a licensed PE or GE in another state and apply and obtain reciprocity if you are the successful candidate.

Supplemental information

To be considered for this position, please submit the following with your online application:

• A cover letter in which you clearly describe how your knowledge, experience, skills, and abilities prepare you for the job responsibilities and qualifications outlined in the job advertisement
• A current resume outlining your professional work experience

The full salary range for this position is $74.99/hr - $87.31/hr. Current City employees starting rate of pay will be based on Personnel Rules regarding promotions.

The Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections is a proud participant in the Race and Social Justice Initiative, a citywide effort to realize the vision of racial equity.

We require a strong commitment to customer service and a demonstrated ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse communities and cultures. The City of Seattle values diverse perspectives and life experiences; people of color, women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply.

Benefits
The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents. More information about employee benefits is available on the City's website at: https://www.seattle.gov/human-resources/benefits