Engineer III (Design)

Snohomish County is hiring for an Engineer III role within Public Works’ Engineering Services Design team in Everett, WA. This hybrid position supports transportation and public works design and planning, with opportunities to lead technical teams, coordinate consultants, and provide expert guidance across complex projects.

What you’ll do

• Lead project management, analysis, and design for major improvements and modifications to public works roads and structures, including producing design reports, plans, specifications, and cost estimates for construction of roadways, bridges, surface water systems, and solid waste sites.
• Review engineering design work to confirm solutions meet project needs, engineering specifications, and cost regulatory requirements.
• Direct or conduct major planning and design studies by identifying and researching needs and problems in your area of specialization, monitoring field data collection and technical evaluations that support recommendations.
• Manage the selection and administration of engineering consultants delivering planning and design products, including plans, specifications, estimates, reports, and on-call engineering services.
• Prepare requests for proposals for professional engineering, consulting, and environmental services; review consultant requests for changes in scope and recommend appropriate actions.
• Serve as a technical resource in specialized engineering to resolve complex design and construction issues within the public right of way and help correct related problems on private property.
• Conduct field trips during planning and design phases and during construction to inspect sites for compliance with specifications and plans.
• Act as an engineering liaison between Public Works, consulting engineering firms, and other governmental agencies; review agency documents and prepare comments on behalf of the department.
• Coordinate public meeting logistics, including location, notification, and presentation preparation for assigned projects; provide technical testimony at public hearings or meetings.
• Provide technical assistance, guidance, and training to engineering staff.
• Assign, lead, and evaluate the work of subordinate employees as needed, including advising, assisting, training, and participating in hiring recommendations.
• Research and prepare pertinent data and reports for legal counsel for court actions, and represent Public Works on matters involving real property condemnations.
• Review and approve plans and contract documents before county construction projects enter the public bidding process.
• Maintain and update required public meeting calendars through coordination with the appropriate project manager and checklist-based logistical planning.
• Ensure the accuracy of engineering design standards and standard specifications used by design staff, including updating files of standard drawings and specifications as requested by the Engineering Manager.
• Develop recommendations to mitigate and reduce environmental impacts to the county road system.
• Supervise or conduct field and laboratory investigations to obtain representative soil information for potential construction sites, including borings, soundings, sampling, and testing.
• Evaluate soil test results and make recommendations for foundation design for roadway, bridge foundations, retaining walls, and landslide corrections.
• Manage the civil materials testing laboratory, approve construction materials and sources, maintain materials records, and recommend material acceptance criteria and procedures.
• Perform related duties as required.

What you bring

• Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering or related field, plus four (4) years of civil engineering experience, with three (3) years in the area of specialization; or an equivalent combination of training and/or experience that provides the required knowledge and abilities.
• Must pass job-related tests.
• A Professional Engineer’s License, or ability to obtain one by demonstrated training or experience (required for most positions).
• Valid Washington State Driver’s License.
• Job offers are contingent on successful completion of reference and background checks.
• Snohomish County will not sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa for this opportunity.

Benefits and support

• Earn a Pension with Washington Department of Retirement Systems (DRS) PERS pension vesting.
• Excellent medical, dental, and other benefits, including retirement through the Washington State Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) administered by DRS.
• Choice of three comprehensive medical insurance plans with low deductibles.
• Flexible work schedules for some positions.
• Employee development and training opportunities, plus career development training.
• Sick leave: accrue 8 hours per month.
• Vacation Leave: start at 8 hours per month, totaling 2.4 weeks in your first year.
• Holiday Pay: observe 11 paid legal holidays and provide two floating holidays annually.
• Benefits package including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, LTD, deferred compensation, and more.
• Deferred Compensation: county match up to 1 percent of base monthly salary if you participate in the Deferred Compensation Plan (DCP).
• Pay increases: annual step increase until reaching the top step.
• COLA: effective January 1, 2027, all six step salary tables add a seventh step at the top of each pay grade.
• Employer paid ORCA cards.
• Advancement opportunities.

Hybrid and working conditions

• Office environment with frequent field trips to locations throughout the county for site visits, meetings, and coordination.
• Meetings or project requirements may involve working evenings, weekends, or holidays as necessary.
• Telework is available on a hybrid schedule as assigned: full-time in the office for up to one (1) year, then anticipated two (2) days in office and three (3) days remote, with telework subject to change.
• Employees receive a County issued laptop; telework requires a home workspace with internet connection and a Snohomish County Telework agreement.
• Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to the worksite to respond to reporting requirements.