Bridge Engineer II

King County; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 95,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

King County's Road Services Division seeks an Engineer to join the Bridge team as Bridge Operations Engineer II. The role blends office and field work, performing inspections, civil engineering tasks, and assisting in project management to support the Bridge Unit.

The position requires a BS in Civil Engineering or equivalent, with experience in bridge inspection, Civil3D/AutoCAD, and NBIS/WSBIS familiarity. A strong emphasis on collaboration and equity is noted throughout.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering or equivalent education/experience.
• Experience in bridge inspection, design, and project management.
• Knowledge of WS BIS coding procedures and NBIS.
• Ability to work in office and field environments.

Responsibilities

• Perform routine and special inspections of bridges and roadway structures.
• Prepare work orders and assist in project development and cost estimates.
• Enter data into bridge inventory database and ensure NBIS compliance.
• Coordinate with consultants, regulatory agencies, and the public as needed.

Skills

Bridge inspection

Civil3D/AutoCAD

Project management

Data entry/WSBIS

Education

Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering

Tools

Microsoft Office

WSBIS

Job description

Road Services Division, Engineering Section is recruiting for an Engineer to join their highly productive Bridge team. As the Bridge Operations Engineer II, you will perform bridge inspection, civil engineering, and assist in project management to support the Bridge Unit. This position includes both office and field work! If you have the ability to learn and have the desire to apply your educational knowledge in practice and work together with a highly motivated team, we want to hear from you!

Our commitment to Equity, Racial and Social Justice
The Department of Local Services is deeply dedicated to fostering Equity, Racial and Social Justice in every aspect of our work. Our pledge is to cultivate, embrace, and celebrate the distinct experiences, viewpoints, and perspectives of our people, partners, and the communities we serve. Through this work, we dismantle systemic barriers, address inequities, and actively confront prejudices and biases. We acknowledge this journey is ongoing, and we remain steadfast in our efforts to create a positive impact for our employees and communities alike.
The King County Road Services Division designs, builds, operates, and maintains roads and bridges in unincorporated areas of King County. The Division is committed to ensuring the county's transportation system is safe and efficient for all uses and modes of travel.

To learn more about the Road Services Division, visit us at: About the Road Services Division - King County, Washington

Applying equity, racial, and social justice principles is a daily responsibility and a foundational expectation for all King County employees. In this role, you will apply equity and social justice principles that exemplify shared values, behaviors, and practices to all aspects of the work.

Bridge Inspection

• Perform routine and special inspections of existing bridges and roadway structures
• Recognize bridge deficiencies and recommend cost-effective repairs to maximize useful life of bridge inventory
• Prepare work orders to address needed repairs by county maintenance crews
• Participate in project development work on a bridge work order on a task specific assignment; e.g. engineering drawings, construction planning, permit coordination, cost estimating, product research
• Enter data into the bridge inventory database and review already-entered data to ensure compliance with the Specifications for the National Bridge Inventory (SNBI)
• Prepare bridge inspection reports per WSDOT Bridge Inspection Standards coding and Federal National Bridge Inspection Standards (NBIS)
• Other Duties as assigned

Project Management

• Assist in civil/structural engineering design and project management duties of complex road and bridge design projects in support of and under the direction of a senior project manager
• Support the Bridge Unit with design, development and review of technical reports, plans, specifications and estimates
• Assist in the preparation and review of design plans and specifications
• Coordinate with consultants, regulatory agencies, utility companies, support staff and the public to resolve project issues
• Assure conformance with King County standards and environmental regulations
• Other duties as assigned

• Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering Education or an equivalent combination of education and experience that demonstrates one's knowledge of engineering principles
• Experience working in engineering related field
• Demonstrated experience contributing to a work environment that embraces and encourages diversity in its workforce and where differences are valued
• Experience applying National Bridge Inspection Standards and in the use of the Washington State Bridge Inventory System (WSBIS) coding procedures
• Experience with civil/structural layout and design using Civil3D/AutoCAD, as well as Microsoft Office software such as Access, Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Project
• Experience with Bluebeam software
• Experience with project schedules including review, analysis and tracking of progress
• Skill in effectively managing multiple projects and priorities under close deadlines and changing priorities
• Ability to perform field evaluations in all weather conditions and review and provide recommendations for project scope and construction cost estimates
• Ability to read, interpret and develop engineering plans, specifications and cost estimates for road, bridge, stream and landfill construction, and research and interpret applicable codes, policies and regulations
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively both orally and in writing, and in handling politically sensitive issues
• Ability to respond to frequently changing work responsibilities
• Ability to work with diverse individuals and customers and maintaining effective relationships and demonstrates behaviors that include fairness, respect, and inclusiveness

Top Candidates Will Have

• WSDOT Bridge Lead Inspector Certification
• Experience in use of the WSBIS Bridgeworks sequel server database for bridge inspection reporting and support to other staff using this complex program

Necessary Requirements

• Valid Washington Driver's License or the ability to obtain a Washington State license within 30 days of hire.
• An offer of employment will be contingent on the success of a pre-employment physical examination.

Working Conditions

• Work performed in the office and field.
• Ability to be on call for bridge emergencies, especially in the event of damages, earthquakes and county-wide flooding situations.
• Ability to work outdoor under unfavorable weather conditions and perform bridge inspections at heights over 100 feet using mechanical access equipment including an Under Bridge Inspection Truck (UBIT).
• Able to perform bridge inspection work in chest deep flowing water.
• Works outdoors, which may require climbing on bridges and walking on uneven, rocky or rough ground.
• Must be able to safely negotiate and traverse steep slopes, and to perform work in the field at a variety of construction sites.
• Often required to stand and reach with arms and hands; carrying and moving objects.
• Must be able to work a variety of work hours including attending evening meetings and working nights and/or weekends and holidays when required.

INTERVIEW SCHEDULE

The first round of interviews for this position is scheduled to take place the week of September 21, 2026.

WHO MAY APPLY

This position is open to all qualified applicants and may be used to fill current and or/future career service, term-limited temporary, short-term temporary, and or/special duty positions over the next six months. First consideration will be given to current PROTEC17 members in the same classification that are eligible for lateral transfer.

If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, or you would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process, please contact Janice Antonio at [e-mail]

For interviewing tips, please see the STAR-LA method: star-la_interview_method.pdf

WORK SCHEDULE

The work week is normally Monday through Friday, 8.00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but may at times require work outside of normal business hours. This position is Non-Exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standard Act and is eligible for overtime pay, with prior supervisor approval.

EMERGENCY DESIGNATION STATUS

This position has been designated as: Non-Mission Critical - Employees who staff county functions or services that may be delayed, suspended, or diverted in an emergency while essential functions are prioritized Mission Critical. Unless otherwise directed by the County Executive, department director or agency head, all employees, regardless of designation, are expected to report to work or request leave during an emergency or inclement weather.

UNION MEMBERSHIP

PROTEC17

TELEWORKING REQUIREMENT

We will work in the office at least three days a week to foster connection and responsiveness, arrive prepared and on time, and structure meetings with clear goals and next steps. The work associated with this position will be performed by teleworking, field work, onsite work and meetings as needed. The primary onsite location is at King Street Center, 201 S. Jackson, Seattle, WA 98104. Employees must reside in Washington State and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.

King County's Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values unite us.

King County serves residents with a relentless sense of urgency, delivering on commitments with transparency and accountability. We are action-oriented, creative problem solvers who collaborate across roles, engage directly with communities, and challenge the status quo to achieve meaningful impact. As a unified team, we uphold high ethical and stewardship standards, embrace change, stay curious, and continuously improve. Across all interactions, we listen first, act quickly, and stay aligned as a team to earn and sustain public trust. Learn more about our Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values here and visit our Why work at King County page here.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on sex, race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religious affiliation, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age except by minimum age and retirement provisions, pregnancy, status as a family caregiver, parental status, marital status, military status or status as a veteran who was honorably discharged or who was discharged solely as a result of the person's sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, citizenship or immigration status, genetic information, or other protected class. However, to the extent that distinction or differential treatment on the basis of citizenship or immigration status is authorized by either federal or state law, regulation, or government contract, it is not an unfair practice.

Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.