Electrical Engineer 4 - 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 Marine Electrical Engineer to support the design and modernization of Washington State Ferries' fleet. In this role, you will contribute to the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of the nation's largest ferry system by developing engineering solutions that enhance vessel performance and regulatory compliance. Your expertise will help ensure ferry vessels remain safe, dependable, and ready to serve the traveling public through repair, modification, and new construction projects. This is an opportunity to make a lasting impact on Washington's transportation system while advancing WSF's mission of providing safe, sustainable, and reliable ferry service. 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

• Customer Focus: Demonstrates a commitment to providing responsive, high-quality service that supports internal and external customers and WSF's mission.
• Continuous Learning: Demonstrates a growth mindset by actively seeking opportunities to learn, adapt, and apply new knowledge to improve performance.
• Respect and Inclusion: Contributes to a workplace that values respect, collaboration, equity, and equal opportunity.
• Marine Electrical Engineering: Demonstrates experience designing, analyzing, and supporting shipboard electrical and electronic systems in a shipyard, consulting, or marine engineering environment.
• Engineering Expertise: Applies sound engineering principles to perform technical analyses, calculations, and develop engineering solutions that support vessel systems and equipment.
• Technical Documentation: Interprets engineering drawings, specifications, and technical standards to develop accurate reports, calculations, and design documentation for vessel modifications, repairs, and new construction.
• Communication and Collaboration: Effectively communicates technical information and collaborates with engineers, contractors, regulatory agencies, vessel personnel, and project teams to achieve project objectives.
• Regulatory Compliance: Applies applicable engineering codes, standards, and regulatory requirements to ensure vessel designs meet operational and safety requirements.
• Professional Registration: Holds a Professional Engineer (PE) license in Electrical Engineering in Washington State, or another state with the ability to obtain Washington State licensure within six months of appointment.
• Security Requirements: Ability to obtain and maintain a valid Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) within three months of employment.

Nice To Haves

• Marine Industry Knowledge: Experience applying engineering principles in a marine environment and working with applicable public sector policies and regulatory requirements.
• Technical Proficiency: Demonstrates experience using engineering and design software such as SKM, Rhino3D, ShipConstructor, or similar applications.
• Planning and Organization: Effectively plans, prioritizes, and manages multiple assignments while following detailed technical instructions, meeting deadlines, and working independently with minimal supervision.

Responsibilities

• Design electrical systems, calculations, specifications, and drawings for ferry vessel modifications, repairs, and new construction.
• Ensure compliance with USCG, ABS, IMO/SOLAS, IEEE, and NEC regulations and standards.
• Lead or support electrical engineering for vessel capital improvement and maintenance projects.
• Conduct vessel inspections to verify existing conditions and support engineering designs and modifications.
• Prepare engineering reports, cost estimates, specifications, and procurement documents.
• Coordinate with engineers, designers, and project teams to ensure accurate design and as-built documentation.
• Review engineering documents and vendor submittals for technical accuracy, quality, and regulatory compliance.
• Provide technical guidance, troubleshooting, and training on marine electrical and electronic systems.
• 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: Senior