Landscape Architect

City of Seattle•Seattle, WA

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

Join us in shaping Seattle’s streets! At the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), we don’t just move people—we connect communities, build safer streets, and create a more sustainable city. With a bold vision for the future, we’re tackling big challenges: making travel safer, cutting carbon emissions, and ensuring reliable, affordable transportation for everyone—no matter who they are or where they live. Seattle is growing fast, and we’re growing with it. Thanks to a historic voter-approved $1.55 billion investment in transportation in 2024, we’re building sidewalks, fixing bridges, and improving transit connections to keep our city moving. We’re a team of problem solvers, planners, engineers, communicators, and field crews—bringing purpose-driven work to life. Now, we need passionate, innovative talent like you. Let’s build a Seattle that works for everyone—together! SDOT's Right of Way Maintenance and Urban Forestry Division has an exciting new position for a Landscape Architect to plan, design, and inspect landscape architecture work in public right of way. This role will also be responsible for preparing and reviewing landscape, irrigation, and urban design plans for SDOT capital and interagency projects. This position reports to the Principal Landscape Architect in SDOT Urban Forestry.

Requirements

A baccalaureate degree in Landscape Architecture
At least three (3) years of professional landscape architectural experience
Registration as a professional Landscape Architect in the State of Washington is required for employment.
Current Valid State of Washington Driver License.
An equivalent combination of education and experience that demonstrates the ability to perform the position duties.

Nice To Haves

ISA Certified Arborist
Three years of experience in transportation (e.g. streetscapes, boulevards, plazas, trails, or transit stations)
Experience designing and/or inspecting automatic irrigation systems
Experience using soil cells or structural soil
Experience with natural drainage systems

Responsibilities

Serves as landscape project lead for projects developed in house, including streetscapes, landscapes, environmental restoration, plazas, trails, planters, and beautification projects.
Provides subject matter expertise for environmentally critical areas (ECAs) covered by Title 25 of the Seattle Municipal Code.
Prepares and reviews restoration plans for ECAs within public rights-of-way (wetlands, streams, wetland and stream buffers, and steep slopes).
Prepares and reviews construction drawings, details, and specifications for City irrigation systems in public rights-of-way; performs irrigation calculations to confirm flow and pressure; prepares applications for Water Availability Certificates; prepares and audits watering schedules to minimize water use while meeting landscape requirements.
Reviews plans and specifications developed by consultants for compliance with city standards for planting, erosion control, and irrigation.
Serves as liaison between consultant Landscape Architects and the Senior Landscape Architect to ensure projects are designed for long-term sustainability.
Oversees landscape construction; responds to construction submittals and RFIs; samples and tests materials; inspects irrigation, soil preparation, planting, seeding, mulching, and weed control; maintains records on City projects; onboards SDOT landscape and irrigation assets.
Prepares and tracks cost estimates, budgets, and schedules for landscape establishment; inspects sites during establishment; serves as liaison with SDOT landscape and irrigation crews; reviews establishment activities and recommends changes to meet permit requirements and ensure long-term sustainability.
Serves as the subject-matter expert responding to public inquiries related to landscape architecture work on SDOT projects; participates in community meetings; maintains Landscape Architecture license and membership in good standing with American Society for Landscape Architects.