Supervising Engineer IV

King County•Seattle - Regional area, WA

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

This recruitment is open only to current King County employees. External applicants are not being considered. In addition to the current opening, this recruitment may be used to establish a pool of qualified candidates to fill future Engineer IV career services vacancies within the Department of Natural Resources and Parks over the next 12-months. The Strike Team in the River and Floodplain Management Section is a well-funded, mission-driven team who work at the interface of risk-reduction/infrastructure-protection and habitat restoration along major rivers throughout King County. This Supervising Engineer (Engineer IV) position is a full-time Career Service role in the River and Floodplain Management Section within the Water and Land Resources Division (WLRD). The role is to lead a team of engineers dedicated to the delivery of flood risk reduction projects that foster healthy rivers and resilient floodplain communities. This engineering team is part of the Stike Team known for its collaborative approach and ability to deliver innovate solutions for projects along the major rivers of King County. The team priorities include completing design of active capital projects and the challenging work to develop and implement an approach to repair dozens of flood risk reduction facilities damaged during the catastrophic flooding of December 2025. The Supervising Engineer will have responsibility for engineering oversight of designs being completed in the Unit and will be the direct supervisor for 6 engineers on the team. The successful candidate will collaborate with the Strike Team Unit Supervisor and Supervising Capital Project Manager to manage all phases of project delivery in the team portfolio including multiple complex and politically visible capital projects. In addition to working closely with staff throughout the River and Floodplain Management Section, this position will also require close coordination with the River and Floodplain Capital Unit and WLRD staff to implement a fast-moving work program. This work may include interface with Flood Control District staff and elected officials from King County and other jurisdictions. This position follows a hybrid work model, blending remote and in-person work.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science from an accredited college or university in civil engineering, environmental engineering, water resources, or closely related field.
Demonstrated experience with open channel hydraulic engineering, river mechanics, large river engineering project design and/or floodplain management project design including production of river engineering and technical analysis/reports and hydraulic modeling.
Demonstrated experience leading all aspects of design plans, specifications, or estimates (PSE) creation for multiple river and floodplain management capital projects.
At least ten (10) years of increasingly responsible experience is required. This experience should include expertise in field inspection, construction management, or project management of large-scale public works contracts (>$1M) and navigating challenges such as contractor relations, change order management, permit conditions, environmental condition enforcement.
Experience should also include managing and implementing work of others (teams or junior staff), including assigning and scheduling work, reviewing products, and providing training and oversight.
Demonstrated experience working collaboratively with a diverse, multidisciplinary technical team from different professional backgrounds and participating with perseverance, patience, and levity on high-paced projects with overlapping deadlines.
Candidate will be required to lead and teach job requirements to team including design, construction management, and field inspections skills.
Strong written, verbal, and graphic communication skills to communicate clearly and effectively with people of varying technical and cultural backgrounds.
Demonstrated understanding of and experience working in situations requiring cross-cultural sensitivity and centering racial equity and social justice principles, and environmental justice.
Demonstrated ability to lead effectively using tact and judgement while working in adverse or high-pressure situations such as flood emergency response.
Experience should include high-pressure situations in-office, in field conditions, and during execution of construction contracts.
Licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Washington in good standing the ability to obtain the license within six-months of hire.

Nice To Haves

Master’s of Science in civil engineering, environmental engineering, water resources, environmental science, natural resource management, urban/regional planning, communications, public administration or closely related field.
Advanced knowledge and understanding of hydrologic and open channel hydraulic principles and geomorphic processes with an understanding of and experience in preparing plans, specifications, and cost estimates.
Construction management or contracting training or certification.
A growth mindset and sense of humor.

Responsibilities

Provide engineering supervision, technical oversight, and quality control to an interdisciplinary team for the design and implementation of river and floodplain management capital improvement projects, often involving complex, sensitive, and politically visible issues.
Be a team supervisor / people leader for the engineers on the Strike Team including being responsible for hiring, performance management, career development, coaching and mentoring, and fostering a work culture where staff feel valued, utilized, and engaged.
Collaborate with the Strike Team Unit Supervisor and Supervising Capital Project Manager to set and maintain collaborative team culture, plan delivery of work, identify and communicate priorities to the team, foster opportunities for team development, maintain safety culture, and deliver assigned work program.
Lead teams in the planning, design, and construction of river and floodplain management projects, including revetment, levee, floodwall or floodplain repairs, removals, and reconnection projects.
Provide and/or direct technical, and quality engineering review of capital projects to apply accepted design and engineering standards, and oversee and supervise the preparation, review and approval of engineering design and construction contract documents.
Assist in the development, implementation, and continual improvement of workflow processes to ensure consistency in implementation and effective delivery of capital projects.
Proactively apply principles of Equity and Social Justice to build and maintain relationships internally within the team and Division as well as with other jurisdictions, governmental agencies, tribes, community members, and other interested parties by using effective engagement, communication and outreach efforts.
Collaborate with colleagues across the River and Floodplain Management Program to participate in the development of annual capital improvement projects and budgets, including estimating costs, assigning work, and setting priorities.