Bridge Engineer 7 - Washington State Ferries

State of Washington • King County - Seattle – Belltown, WA

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is a multimodal agency with a global reputation for excellence. Our dedicated workforce plans, designs, builds, and operates an integrated transportation system that safely and efficiently moves people and goods throughout the state. Washington State Ferries (WSF) is an essential part of Washington's transportation network. Every year, we carry nearly 20 million passengers across Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands on more than 400 sailings a day. Our dedicated teams with over 2,100 people work together to serve our communities and shape the future of ferry travel. WSF, a division of WSDOT, is currently seeking a Structures Manager to lead the Structural Engineering Group in ensuring Washington State Ferries' terminal structures remain safe, resilient, and reliable for the traveling public. In this leadership role, you will guide a team of engineering professionals, provide sound technical direction, and support the long-term stewardship of critical transportation infrastructure. By fostering collaboration, continuous improvement, and transparent decision-making, you will help advance WSF's core values of Serve, Grow, Trust, Respect, and Navigate while supporting safe, dependable ferry operations. Your leadership will play a vital role in maintaining public confidence and delivering reliable ferry service to the communities we serve. As we navigate a once-in-a-generation transformation to decarbonize our system — guided by our core values Serve, Respect, Trust, Grow Navigate, and bold strategic priorities Service Excellence, Improved Communication and Empowered People — there’s never been a more meaningful time to come aboard at Washington State Ferries.

Requirements

• Growth Mindset: Actively demonstrates a commitment to continuous learning, professional growth, and adapting to new challenges through innovation and continuous improvement.
• Service-Oriented: Demonstrates a willingness to take action to meet the needs of others while fostering collaborative relationships built on trust, communication, and shared success.
• Leadership and Talent Development: Demonstrated ability to provide leadership and direction to structural engineering staff while hiring, training, mentoring, coaching, and developing employees to achieve organizational goals.
• Communication: Demonstrated ability to communicate complex structural analysis, engineering, and design concepts in clear, understandable language, both verbally and in writing, to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Problem Solving and Decision Making: Demonstrated ability to anticipate project challenges, evaluate complex engineering issues, and develop practical, effective solutions that support project delivery and operational objectives.
• Structural Engineering Expertise: Demonstrated knowledge of structural engineering principles, bridge engineering practices, and emerging technologies, including new products, engineering methodologies, industry standards, and applicable bridge engineering codes. Demonstrated ability to serve as a technical resource in structural engineering by conducting research, making technical presentations, interpreting and implementing new technologies, codes, and engineering practices, assisting in the development of engineering standards, and designing and analyzing complex engineering problems.
• Structural Inspection and Regulatory Compliance: Demonstrated knowledge of the National Bridge Inspection Standards (NBIS), AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications, AASHTO Seismic Design Guide Specifications, the Washington State Building Code, and the International Building Code, including wind, seismic, and tsunami loading requirements.
• Current registration as a Licensed Civil Engineer and Structural Engineer in the State of Washington.

Nice To Haves

• Demonstrated experience in the design and/or project management of civil engineering projects, including coordinating project activities, managing schedules, and supporting successful project delivery.
• Demonstrated experience in the construction and/or inspection of transportation structures, with the ability to evaluate work for compliance with engineering standards, specifications, and project requirements.
• Demonstrated knowledge of and experience applying the WSF Terminal Design Manual, WSDOT Bridge Design Manual, Standard Specifications, and Special Provisions in the design, construction, and inspection of transportation infrastructure.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Structural Engineering Group in evaluating, maintaining, and improving the safety, reliability, and resilience of WSF terminal structures.
• Oversee structural engineering analyses, load ratings, PS&E development, and quality assurance for terminal capital and maintenance projects.
• Manage group staffing, project assignments, scheduling, consultant utilization, and employee development.
• Establish structural engineering policies, design criteria, and resilience strategies for seismic, tsunami, and sea level rise considerations.
• Direct structural engineering programs and ensure compliance with applicable engineering standards and regulatory requirements.
• Manage structural engineering consultant contracts, including scopes of work, budgets, schedules, and deliverables.
• Evaluate structural capacity, implement operational restrictions as needed, and provide technical oversight for terminal engineering initiatives.
• Uphold WSF’s strategic priorities (Service Excellence, Improved Communication, and Empowered People) and values (Serve, Grow, Trust, Respect, and Navigate), ensuring they are embedded in WSF’s culture through leadership actions.

Benefits

• Paid Leave – In addition to 12 paid holidays, full-time employees may earn up to 25 paid vacation days per year!
• Tuition Assistance – Permanent employees have several options for assistance with education expenses, including tuition reimbursement programs, government discounts at participating colleges throughout the state, and eligibility for federal student loan forgiveness.
• Plan For Your Future – WSDOT offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes a variety of healthcare options. Employees also have their choice of state retirement programs, and much more.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager