2 - Forest Engineer (PCN 10-9905)

State of Alaska•Multiple Locations, AK

About The Position

The Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry & Fire Protection, is recruiting a Forest Engineer for a position based in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, or Ketchikan, with potential consideration for another division office. The position serves as the statewide forest engineering lead, planning, designing, and constructing forestry infrastructure—including roads, bridges, culverts, and material sites—to support responsible, economical access to Alaska’s forest resources. The work balances operational needs with soil and water protection and provides engineering expertise for harvest unit design and field operations on complex terrain. The Forest Engineer supervises the division’s Heavy Equipment program, which constructs and maintains state forest roads and supports fire suppression. The position also coordinates with partner agencies and leads facilities design and construction projects for the division, including serving as liaison for major facility projects managed by the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities. The role contributes to forest transportation infrastructure that conserves fish streams and protects public safety. The division’s forestry program develops, conserves, and enhances Alaska’s forests to provide a sustainable supply of forest resources. It leads forest management, forest practices, wildland fire management, and cooperative forestry programs statewide, including work across ownership boundaries through incident management teams, federal timber programs, and best management practices. The work combines office duties and field site work across Alaska, potentially involving travel by ATV, snowmachine, small aircraft, or boat. Field conditions may include rugged terrain, wildlife encounters, and challenging weather throughout the year. Travel may include remote locations without public accommodation. The position requires comfort traveling in small aircraft and boats, operating ATVs, walking on steep, uneven, rocky, or heavily vegetated terrain, and possession of or access to firearms for wildlife protection in remote areas.

Requirements

Engineering Associate: Eight years of progressively responsible work experience in engineering, land surveying, or architecture, including one year as an Engineering Assistant 3 with the State of Alaska or equivalent experience elsewhere. ABET-accredited coursework in engineering, architecture, land surveying, or a closely related curriculum may substitute for non-specific required experience at three semester or four quarter hours per month; an ABET-accredited bachelor’s degree in engineering, architecture, or land surveying may substitute for four years of non-specific required experience.
Engineer/Architect 1: Registration as a Professional Engineer (PE) or Architect; the employer designates which professional field is required for each position.
Engineer/Architect 2: Registration as a Professional Engineer (PE) or Architect, plus one year of professional experience as an Engineer/Architect 1 or Engineering Associate with the State of Alaska, or equivalent experience.
Valid driver's license; proof of licensure is required before reporting for duty.
Ability to travel within Alaska, including to remote locations without public accommodation; comfort traveling in small aircraft and boats and operating ATVs.
Ability to walk through steep, uneven, rocky, or heavily vegetated terrain in highly variable weather.
Must possess or have access to firearms and be able to think clearly and act decisively in stressful situations while working in remote locations with limited outside communication.
Competencies include civil engineering; forest management; project management; public planning; and oral and written communication.
A cover letter of two to three paragraphs, no longer than one page, addressing experience specific to forest infrastructure engineering is required.
Applicants must answer the supplemental questions and rate their proficiency in each listed competency.

Nice To Haves

Interest in dynamic, hands-on work in natural and active construction environments.
Ability to adapt lessons learned elsewhere and develop new approaches in contemporary forest infrastructure management.

Responsibilities

Plan, design, and construct forestry infrastructure, including roads, bridges, culverts, and material sites.
Coordinate and manage projects while balancing operational needs with protection of soil and water resources.
Provide forest engineering expertise for harvest unit design and related field operations on complex terrain.
Supervise the division’s Heavy Equipment program, which constructs and maintains state forest roads and provides fire suppression support.
Lead the division’s facilities design and construction projects and coordinate with partner agencies.
Serve as a liaison for large facility projects managed by the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities.
Develop forest transportation infrastructure in ways that conserve fish streams and protect public safety.