Sr. Drainage & Wastewater Planning Engineer (Sr. Civil Engineer)

About the role

Ready to help shape Seattle’s water future? Join Seattle Public Utilities as a Senior Drainage and Wastewater Planning Engineer and take the lead on projects that protect our communities, improve water quality, and build a more resilient city.

Seattle Public Utilities is seeking a Senior Drainage & Wastewater Planning Engineer (Senior Civil Engineer) for the Drainage & Wastewater (DWW) Line of Business.

In this role, you will have the opportunity to apply your engineering expertise and work collaboratively with a diverse team to initiate and advance capital projects and programs to reduce combined sewer overflows, improve sewer or drainage system capacity, enhance urban creeks and reduce polluted runoff entering Seattle's bodies of water.

This work will be guided by Shape Our Water – a 50-year community-lead investment plan that supports affordability, climate resilient neighborhoods, community co-benefits, and improved water quality through integrated stormwater and wastewater strategies.

You will join a four-person team responsible for launching and guiding a $179M (2027-2032) North Seattle portfolio of DWW capital improvements across planning, design, and construction phases. This position will report to the DWW North Seattle Capital Portfolio Lead.

For more information about Seattle Public Utilities (SPU), checkout the

• SPU Website
• SPU Workplace Expectations (Download PDF reader)
• Strategic Business Plan

SPU commits to Our City Values and Race and Social Justice as core principles that guide our work. We actively take steps to dismantle systemic racism and increase service equity. We value diverse life experiences and strive to create a workplace that is welcoming to all. We take steps to be inclusive and equitable in our recruiting, hiring and promotional opportunities.

Day to Day essential duties include

• Lead or oversee civil engineering analysis to evaluate solutions for prioritized stormwater, wastewater, floodplain restoration, fish passage barrier removal and CSO projects
• Serve as a technical subject matter expert to peers within the DWW Planning and Portfolio Management Division.
• Lead diverse teams, ensure integration of all team members perspectives, create project management plans for work execution, and coordinate action items and communication.
• Set clear project requirements and ensure projects are adequately resourced and draft scope statements to define existing DWW problems as a part of the project initiation.
• Initiate, negotiate, and finalize partnership approaches, and formalizing through agreements and funding mechanisms.
• Lead consultant and grants/loans procurement and/or negotiation processes, direct and manage execution of tasks.
• Compose business cases and other technical writing and presentations to make project recommendations to SPU leadership based on financial, social and environmental considerations.
• Communicate via presentations, briefings and written updates about capital projects and programs with SPU staff and leadership, department directors and executives.
• Build community relationships with and deepen our commitments to community engagement.
• Lead creative solutions development, innovating for solving for multiple-outcomes and integrating race and social justice principles throughout all aspects of the work.

Additional information

*Please note this job advertisement is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Experience: Five years’ professional civil engineering experience.

Education: Bachelor Degree in Civil Engineering or Civil Engineering Technology

Experience/Education Equivalency: A combination of education/experience/training which provides an equivalent background required to perform the work of the class.

License, Certification and Other Requirements

• Registration as a Professional Engineer in the State of Washington.
• Current Washington State driver's license

Desired Qualifications

• Candidates with progressive experience solving challenging drainage and/or wastewater problems with innovative solutions.
• Subject matter expertise in these areas:
• Wastewater and combined sewer system planning and design.
• Stormwater system planning and design
• Fish passage planning and design
• Green stormwater infrastructure system planning and design
• Resiliency and/or climate adaptation planning in utilities capital projects
• Experience and proficiency in understanding utility system modeling concepts.
• Proven ability to embed Racial and Service Equity in capital project development.
• Effective use and understanding of project management principles from the Project Management Institute (PMI) within project delivery at any project phase.
• Demonstrated experience applying PMI project management practices (scope, schedule, budget, risk and stakeholder management) to deliver complex capital projects throughout the project lifecycle.
• Skilled at clearly and effectively communicating complex technical issues to community, other government stakeholders and executives.
• Effectively leading complex projects with diverse teams of internal staff and consultants with minimal oversight.
• Comfortable shifting between detailed technical work and big picture thinking.

Application Requirement(s)

• A full City of Seattle online application including resume, cover letter and supplemental questionnaire must be fully completed for consideration.
• Your cover letter should address your knowledge and experience related to the position.
• Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Workplace Environment/Telework Expectations

• This position requires 3 days of office and general working hours are 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Friday. City employees will have the option to work remotely two days a week. Individual schedules will be agreed upon by the employee and their supervisor.

Benefits

The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents.

Who may apply: The City of Seattle encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with diverse life experience. This position is open to all qualified candidates that meet the minimum qualifications. The City of Seattle values diverse perspectives and life experiences.