2026-27 Senior Project Engineer

The City of Oregon City is growing and has several exciting public works projects on the horizon:

• Highway 213 & Beavercreek Road Slip Lane Project will convert the existing westbound to northbound yield movement to a free flow movement and construct an acceleration lane on Highway 213 to assist with congestion management at this key regional intersection. 
• The Main Street: 10th to 15th Project is a state earmarked project to complete streetscape improvements in historic downtown Oregon City. 
• Transportation Access Improvements to support future development of the former Rossman Landfill site, utilizing $4M federal RAISE grant funding. 
• WIFIA transmission main phase 3:  Design and Construct 1400 lineal feet of 18” Transmission water main.

This is an opportunity for a motivated individual who is ready to collaborate, and lead quality traffic and transportation projects for our community. As a key member of the Engineering Group, the Senior Project Engineer  will play an integral part in creating meaningful, and long-lasting improvements that will benefit Oregon City for years to come.

Application and resume are required documents to be submitted. This recruitment will close at 5:00 pm on September 10, 2026.

About the City of Oregon City Public Works Department
The Public Works Department is responsible for engineering, water distribution, wastewater collection, stormwater management and the transportation network including one of only four municipal elevators in the world. Located at the confluence of the Willamette and Clackamas Rivers and intersected by I-205, Highway 99E, Highway 213, and Highway 43, Oregon City is geographically unique to the Portland Metro Region.
 
Historic Oregon City is perched on the bluffs overlooking thundering Willamette Falls. Oregon City has easy access to all the amenities of the Portland metropolitan area while maintaining the quality of small-town life. It is ideally located less than 25 minutes from downtown Portland and the Portland International Airport. A community of over 37,000, Oregon City is the County Seat which offers a community college, hospital, and an award-winning Main Street Program.
Summary
Under the direction of the City Engineer, the Senior Project Engineer will lead projects through design and analysis (including regional coordination), bidding and through to construction.

Distinguishing Career Features
The Senior Engineer is part of a two-tiered career path for engineering professionals. Project Engineer refers to the first level, which is to be considered the starting point for new graduate engineers. The Project Engineer is the second level and requires a bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline and active status as an Engineer-In-Training. Advancement to Senior Project Engineer is possible with attainment of Professional Engineer status and registration and the demonstrated ability to review and approve development and capital improvement plans, and lead projects. The Senior Project Engineer is also expected to perform the most complex engineering assignments involving multiple disciplines.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Serves as a senior engineering professional, overseeing and participating with other engineers of multiple specialties, technical staff, and consultants in developing, implementing and evaluating engineering plans, work processes, systems and procedures.
• Designs and provides guidance to other staff or consultants in the design and implementation of a variety of public works construction and upgrades in modalities such as, but not limited to, streets and transportation system infrastructure, structures, and public utility facilities.
• Prepares feasibility and cost estimates. Develops and or reviews engineering specifications to comply with City standards. Develops project schedules and work sequences and sets up and performs progress and quality reviews.
• Develop short- and long-range strategic plans for facility and infrastructure maintenance and development; oversee studies supporting long-range planning of public facilities improvements and expansion of public works services in the City.
• Identify needs for consultant or outside technical services on projects; approve selection, and negotiate contracts with engineering consultants for studies, facility design and inspection; prepare, negotiate, recommend and administer contracts and inter-local agreements with other municipalities and private companies.
• Coordinates and obtains permits from other agencies that demonstrate compliance with federal, state and local laws, codes, and regulations.
• Monitors work-in-progress. Reviews and recommends approval of change orders.
• Negotiates and administers right-of-way and easement agreements and condemnation procedures.
• Conducts senior level review of engineering plans for commercial, industrial and residential structures proposed through the permit process. (Capital Projects and/or Private Development Projects)
• Participates with the Department Director and the City Engineer and others in developing and implementing engineering standards and priorities for the City. Interprets and applies standards in designs and review of consultant work.
• Performs project planning and design, developing and administering project terms and conditions, evaluating contract compliance and compliance with technical policies.
• Preparation and administration of RFPs and hiring of consultants and contractors.
• Conducts engineering studies and provides technical expertise to evaluate the feasibility of proposed or ongoing projects or methods or to determine solutions to existing field problems; assembles and evaluates technical data; provides technical guidance or proposes solutions to an interdisciplinary design or research group.
• Analyzes and prepares reports on effects to the community and environment caused by proposed annexations, zone changes, new construction, traffic and other transportation services. Analyzes impact on water and sanitary collections systems.
• May review plans, structural calculations, and specifications prepared by other engineers and technicians for compliance with City standards, codes and accepted engineering practices. May sign plans as Engineer of Record.
• Coordinates engineering inspections to review compliance with approved designs and plans for commercial buildings, residences and other structures. Verifies compliance with accepted engineering practices and the provisions of City building codes and other pertinent laws and regulations.
• Prepares and makes presentations to Planning and City Commissions, other agencies, and community groups as appropriate.
• Meet with the public, elected officials, neighborhoods, special interest groups, and other stakeholders to discuss project elements, review property impacts, and resolve project concerns.
• Creates, assembles and maintains complete files of capital improvement and other multi-disciplinary projects from conceptual format to completed works.
• Coordinates, prepares, and submits grant applications. Ensures compliance with grant provisions, stipulations, and reporting requirements. Serves as liaison to granting agency.
• Performs other duties as assigned that support the overall objective of the position.

Knowledge and Skills

The position requires professional specialization in engineering theory, principles, practices, materials, costs, construction techniques and trends, regulations, standards and equipment. Requires working knowledge of engineering contract administration. Requires working knowledge of and skill in designing projects that involve sequencing of steps and inclusion of multi-disciplinary teams. Requires in-depth knowledge of computer-aided-design and computer-aided-engineering programs. Requires knowledge of right-of-way and condemnation procedures. Requires sufficient human relation skills to convey technical engineering concepts, to facilitate, lead, and guide other professional, trades and technical employees, and to work cooperatively with internal and external customers. Requires technical writing skills sufficient to prepare project specifications, requests for proposal, process documentation, and communications suitable for external distribution. Requires advanced mathematics skills to conduct stress, load bearing, and financial computations.

Abilities

Requires the ability to perform all the responsibilities of the position. Requires the ability to plan, organize, coordinate, and review progress and compliance of engineering and development projects. Requires the ability to prepare, administer and monitor a project budget and anticipate future budgetary needs. Requires the ability to interpret and apply complex rules, regulations, laws. and ordinances. Requires the ability to prepare, review, approve, and interpret engineering plans and specifications. Requires the ability to analyze technical design engineering, construction engineering, and surveying problems. Requires the ability to read design and construction-related drawings. Requires the ability to use Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, Project and Adobe, or equivalent software. Requires the ability to conduct mathematical computations using physics, algebra, analytic geometry, and statistical analysis. Requires the ability to organize and sequence work associated with complex projects, converting them into project action plans. Requires the ability to work cooperatively with senior citizens. Requires the ability to work as a contributing member of a team, work productively and cooperatively with other teams and external customers, and convey a positive image of the City and its services.

Physical Abilities

The incumbent performs work of a sedentary to moderately active nature. Requires sufficient ambulatory ability to walk to project locations, to stand for extended periods of time, and to bend and stoop for limited periods of time. Requires sufficient arm-hand-eye coordination to operate a computer keyboard and pointing devices at a proficient level. Requires visual acuity to create and read three-dimensional and detailed drawings and observe structural work in progress. Requires verbal and auditory ability sufficient to carry on conversations with others and make presentations to groups.
Education and Experience

The position requires a bachelor's degree with a major in civil, structural, or a closely related engineering discipline and five years of progressively responsible professional engineering experience with emphasis on projects.
Any combination of experience and training which ensures the ability to perform the work may be considered as substitution for the above.

Licenses and Certificates

Requires a valid driver's license and ability to pass criminal background check.
Requires active registration as a Professional Engineer, and an Oregon Professional Engineer Certificate within 6 months of employment.

Working Conditions

Work is performed indoors and outdoors where minimal safety considerations exist.

This job/class description describes the general nature of the work performed, representative duties, as well as the typical qualifications needed for acceptable performance. It is not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties, work steps, and skills required of the job.

The City of Oregon City is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
The City of Oregon City is an Equal Opportunity Employer; it is the City’s policy to provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified persons without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, mental or physical disability, uniformed/military service or veteran’s status, use of the worker’s compensation system, expunged juvenile records, or any other protected status or activity in accordance with applicable law. It is the City’s policy to make employment, internship, volunteer selection, etc. decisions based on its evaluation of an individual’s qualifications, ability and contribution to the success of the City.

We will consider any equivalent combination of knowledge, skills, education, certifications, and experience to meet the minimum positions qualifications. If you are interested in applying for this position, we encourage you to think broadly about your background and skillset for the role.

Studies have shown that many candidates are less likely to apply for a job if they do not believe they meet all of the hiring criteria. Our talent acquisition goals include hiring the candidate who is best able to meet the performance objectives of this role. We therefore encourage persons with non-traditional skill sets and experiences to apply, and to take the time to explain how those skills and experiences qualify them for this role.