City Engineer

City of Mukilteo; Mukilteo (WA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Mukilteo is seeking a Project Engineer to oversee design and construction of municipal capital projects. This role requires a proven ability to manage multiple engineering tasks and collaborate with various public agencies. The ideal candidate will hold a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, six years of relevant experience, and a Washington State Professional Engineer license.

Qualifications

• 6 years' experience in managing and performing design work for capital projects.
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local laws related to engineering.
• Ability to supervise engineering staff and coordinate with multiple agencies.

Responsibilities

• Manage design and construction of City’s capital projects.
• Supervise and evaluate engineering staff performance.
• Prepare plans, specifications, and project budgets.

Skills

Communication

Research and analysis

Problem Solving

Interpersonal skills

Project Coordination

Education

Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering or related field

Washington State Professional Engineer license

Tools

Auto Civil 3D

Project scheduling software

Job description

Provides quality customer service (internal and external), manages design and construction of City’s capital projects, performs advanced civil engineering work in the planning, design, and construction of municipal public works facilities and infrastructure, which include streets, signals, stormwater, parks and municipal buildings; manages, coordinates and reviews development projects for consistency with City codes and standards; oversees both private and City infrastructure construction and performs inspection to assure City development standards are followed. Coordinate plan review, permitting and code compliance inspections with the Planning Department. The position may act as a liaison to other public agencies, engineering consultants, public utilities and developers. This position takes direction from the Public Works Director and serves as the Public Works Director in his/her absence.

• Plans and executes engineering elements related to structures, transportation, including pedestrian access, and surface water management. Develops project budgets and schedule.
• Serves as lead engineer for assigned projects, coordinating and/or directing the work of lower level engineering employees, including coordinating the preparation of plans, specifications and estimates, project design review, environmental compliance, right of way and easement acquisitions, and invoice processing.
• May Supervise and evaluate the performance of engineering staff and support personnel; assigns work, explains engineering concepts and principles and answers questions; assists with the selection, discipline, reassignment and termination of employees.
• Performs project/construction management responsibilities, including coordinating and monitoring construction engineering activities with city staff, consultants and applicable agencies; ensuring compliance with plans and specifications; performing quality control tasks; permit and code compliance inspection, tracking project budget; processing and submitting invoices, requests for information, change orders, and as-built drawings; and performing project close-out responsibilities.
• Provides assistance to contractors and the general public regarding required permits and fees for work within the right of way, such as new streets, parks, stormwater and sidewalk construction.
• Prepares legal descriptions and easement descriptions.
• Assists Public Works Director in developing and managing the division’s budget; assists in formulating short- and long-range plans for the division, including developing, recommending, and implementing new systems, policies and procedures.
• Executes the preparation of plans, specifications, and cost estimates of in house design projects. Manages design projects prepared by consultants; preforms quality reviews of all plans and contract documents before they are used in the public bidding process for city construction projects.
• Provides technical support and acts as engineering liaison between the Public Works Department, consulting engineering firms and governmental agencies, including working with adjacent utility and transportation service providers to coordinate service provision and capital construction projects and reviewing and commenting on other agencies’ planning documents.
• Prepares grant applications and other documents to obtain alternative or supplemental funding sources for programs; may assist with negotiating participation contracts and interlocal agreements with groups, agencies and individuals for approval by city council and administers them.
• Coordinates consultant selection process, including forming selection committee, defining consultant selection criteria, and negotiating professional service agreements for assigned projects; participates in consultant selection process for projects assigned to other staff.
• Participates in preparing a variety of planning documents, including annual and long-range capital improvement programs or comprehensive plans; may coordinate document preparation for short-term plans or prepare a specific element, such as stormwater or transportation, for a long-range or comprehensive plan.
• Prepares a variety of other written documents, such as correspondence, memoranda, city council agenda bills, contracts, agreements, and technical reports in a timely manner.
• Responds to inquiries or complaints from internal and external customers; participates in technical review and public meetings; makes public presentations.
• Serves as Public Works Director in his/her absence.
• Represents the city at public meetings before the planning commission, hearing examiner, and/or the city council on municipal construction projects or design standards; represents the city on inter-agency committees dealing with municipal construction projects or design standards.
• Assists with planning and preparation of division budget, goals and objectives; approves, controls and monitors expenditures according to established procedures.
• Supervises maintenance of records, files reports related to engineering projects.
• Attends departmental related meetings and training sessions during and outside of regular work hours.
• Performs other duties as needed or directed.

Supervisory Responsibility:
This position may supervise the engineering staff, including any temporary employees
Skills and Abilities Required:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Ability to:

• Communicate effectively, orally and in writing, including the ability to listen effectively and to explain complex issues and applicable legal requirements, policies, and procedures to internal and external customers.

• Understand and explain technical and/or specialized information.
• Perform complex research and analysis.

• Interpret and understand applicable laws, codes, ordinances, regulations, policies and procedures.
• Supervise preparation of design plans, specifications, and quantity and cost estimates for a variety of municipal construction projects.
• Read, interpret and apply engineering plans, specifications, contracts and other construction documents, and drafting procedures related to program area.
• Read and understand legal descriptions.
• Operate Windows base operation system personal computer, including word processing, spreadsheet, and database software applications.
• Knowledge of software applications, such as computer-aided drafting and design, project scheduling related to program area, and Auto Civil 3D software.
• Direct the work of lower-level engineering staff, including giving work assignments and instructions, reviewing work in-progress and as completed, and ensuring compliance with project requirements.
• Critically analyze and resolve or recommend action to management about complex engineering issues or problems.

• Exercise good interpersonal skills including tact, patience and courtesy; ability to interact in a professional manner with personnel, customers, and other agencies.
• Motivate, supervise and direct the work of others.
• Coordinate and schedule complex activities involving several people with competing needs and expectations.

• Work independently, manage multiple projects and meet deadlines.

• Operate a motor vehicle to participate in meetings and other activities held offsite.

Knowledge of, and Experience with:

• Principles, practices and techniques of engineering related to program area.
• Principles, practices and techniques of construction management and inspection.
• Principles, practices and techniques of surveying.
• Federal, state, and local laws, design standards, and technical manuals related to program area.
• Principles, practices and techniques of supervision and training.
• Principles, practices and techniques of municipal budget preparation and control.
• Safety regulations, standards, guidelines, and practices regarding assigned equipment and duties.
• Civil and traffic engineering principles and practices (desirable but not mandatory).
• Modern methods and applications for equipment, drafting techniques, software applications and materials used in civil engineering projects.
• Correct usage, grammar, spelling, punctuation and vocabulary of engineering term and English language.

Physical Requirements:
The physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be required to sit and use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee frequently is required to talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, and visually inspect work.
Work is performed mostly in an office environment with some time spent at construction sites. At construction sites, the employee may be exposed to physical hazards such as moving traffic and heavy construction equipment. The employee must be able to transport himself or herself to and from construction sites and sites of meetings that may be held away from the office, and to move about at the construction sites on uneven terrain and in projects that are under construction. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
Employees must be able to perform multiple work tasks at the same time, perform well with frequent interruptions, and tolerate a fairly high level of stress.
The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.Minimum Qualifications (Education, Experience, Skills):Any equivalent combination of education which provides the applicant with knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the job. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and ability would be:
Experience: Six years’ experience in managing and/or performing design work for capital projects, construction management, including inspection, in the public sector, or related professional experience is required.
Education and Training:Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering or related field, such as construction management, or a combination of education and experience that provides equivalent knowledge is required.
Licenses or Certificates:

• Washington State driver’s license.
• Must possess a Washington State Professional Engineer license.

FIRST REVIEW OF APPLICATIONS: July 8, 2025