Civil Engineer 3 - Office of the County Engineer

Why It's a great opportunity: This is a unique opportunity to lead a highly skilled, multidisciplinary team shaping the future of transportation in one of the region’s fastest-growing counties. In this role, you will supervise transportation planners, engineers, and GIS asset management specialists who contribute to maintaining, operating, and improving the County’s road system. Your leadership will guide critical work such as transportation and traffic modeling, analysis of key traffic data, and development of growth projections that directly inform major capital improvement projects and long-range planning.

You will also play a central role in strengthening how the division delivers projects by helping standardize design guidance, performance metrics, and project delivery processes—ensuring consistency, efficiency, and high-quality outcomes across the organization.

You will have the opportunity to lead and influence several foundational initiatives that shape the County’s transportation system for years to come, including:

• Development and advancement of the County Transportation Travel Demand Model.
• Updates to County Road Design Standards and Standard Drawings.
• Modernization of the County Road Design Manual.
• Improvements to the Capital Project Delivery Process.
• Monitoring of division-wide performance metrics.
• Preparation of the Annual Transportation Concurrency Report.

This position supports high-impact programs that improve safety, mobility, and community quality of life, including:

• Vision Zero Safety Action Plan – advancing the goal of eliminating traffic fatalities and serious injuries .
• Six-Year Transportation Improvement Program – planning and prioritizing critical infrastructure investments.
• Traffic Impact Fee Program – ensuring growth contributes to the transportation system it relies on.

This role offers the chance to combine technical leadership, strategic planning, and team development while delivering transportation solutions that directly benefit communities across the county. It is an ideal opportunity for an experienced professional who wants to make a lasting impact on regional mobility, safety, and infrastructure investment.

Road Design in Pierce County | Pierce County, WA - Official Website

Travel Demand Modeling | Pierce County, WA - Official Website

Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) | Pierce County, WA - Official Website

Why It's a great department: PPW is a diverse and fast-moving department filled with motivated professionals working to ensure Pierce County is positioned to handle growth while building, operating, and maintaining reliable infrastructure to support livable communities. PPW is responsible for a broad and complex portfolio of services that provides unique opportunities to collaborate, innovate, and inspire. We are 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 utilizing your engineering skills but also from supporting direct reports, customers, division managers, and external stakeholders in efforts towards standardization and development. Your experience with project management, shifting priorities, and multitasking will further ensure your success. 

Your future in this role: You will have access to professional development through robust online learning and other training opportunities throughout your career to ensure your success. This position has multiple career growth opportunities in Pierce County to build on a great career while directly impacting the communities in Pierce County.

Core daily responsibilities:

• Manages assigned resources to complete work and secure approval of major engineering programs using acceptable methods of planning and management. 
• Provides leadership and direction to the professional and technical staff responsible for implementing a major engineering program; delegates authority to personnel commensurate with responsibility and ensures the proper functioning of assigned staff.
• Trains and educates staff on criteria and standards. Provides engineering guidance to staff and makes engineering recommendations to County officials and other departments. 
• Assists in developing recruitment and selection processes. Conducts final interviews; recommends individuals for hire. 
• Completes reviews and evaluations of subordinate employee job performance. Initiates disciplinary action when necessary. Responds to grievances at the first level.
• Develops, monitors and controls assigned budget and establishes financial management policies and procedures. 
• Assumes overall responsibility for completeness and accuracy of projects and ensures that all regulations and applicable engineering standards and criteria. 
• Coordinates assigned activities with other sections, departments, and jurisdictions. 
• Sets the team’s goals and objectives and participates in the development of the division’s goals and objectives. 
• Studies, analyzes, and prepares engineering-related reports as required by state, federal and local authorities. Presents findings orally or in writing to county staff, officials, or other agencies. 
• Develops, implements, and reviews ongoing programs, policies and procedures, assessing job effectiveness and cost efficiencies.

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

• A resume and cover letter are required for this position. 
• Licensure as a Professional Engineer in the State of Washington
• Nine years of progressively responsible, broad based civil engineering experience is required. 
• A bachelor’s degree from an ABET accredited program in civil engineering, or a closely related field, may be substituted for experience on a year for year basis, up to four years. 
• Professional Engineers licensed in another state must be able to obtain licensure by the State of Washington within six months of employment.
• 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.

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 [email protected] 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 position. Pierce 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.