Civil Engineer 3 - Wastewater Utilities

Pierce County Washington; Tacoma (WA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Pierce County is seeking a senior Civil Engineering Manager to lead the Sewer Standards, Planning, and support teams within Development Services, Code Enforcement, and Capital Projects. The role involves hydraulic modeling, basin planning, sewer design, and coordination with planners, finance, and developers using ArcGIS, Bluebeam, FlowMaster, and related tools.

The ideal candidate will have nine years of civil engineering experience, an ABET-accredited degree, and the ability to obtain

Qualifications

• Nine years of progressively responsible civil engineering experience required.
• ABET-accredited degree in civil engineering or equivalent may substitute for up to four years of experience.
• Professional Engineer licensure in another state must obtain WA licensure within six months.
• Resume and cover letter are required for this position.
• Valid driver's license required.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and direction to professional and technical staff implementing a major civil engineering program.
• Schedule and assign employees; approve or deny leave and overtime usage.
• Train and educate staff on criteria and standards; provide engineering guidance and recommendations.
• Assist in recruitment and selection; conduct final interviews and make hires recommendations.
• Conduct performance reviews; manage disciplinary actions as needed.
• Coordinate activities with other sections, departments, and jurisdictions; align team goals with division objectives.

Skills

Leadership

Team management

Communication

Education

ABET-accredited BS in Civil Engineering

Tools

ArcGIS

Bluebeam

FlowMaster

Job description

Why It's a Great Opportunity:

In this role you will lead the team focused on Sewer Standards, Planning, and support for our Development Services, Code Enforcement, and Capital Project Teams. Internally you and your team will provide hydraulic modeling, basin planning, sewer review, standard details, standard processes, sewer design, and coordination for planners, finance, and development teams. Externally you will work with residents, contractors, developers, and smaller communities to provide information on their proposed developments, utility planning for extensions, develop sewer agreements, asset capitalization, and infrastructure review. Software used to facilitate these County needs will be tools like ArcGIS, Bluebeam, FlowMaster, and others. You will be ensuring that the county’s growth is done with essential revision, review, and consideration for future growth and wastewater needs.

Why It's a Great Department:

PPW stewards a healthy and vibrant community by collaboratively planning and investing in our people, infrastructure, systems, and policies. PPW’s team has more than 800 members that collaborate, innovate and inspire in performing essential services to the community. The department is responsible for the County road and levee systems, sewer systems, airports, ferries, building permits, environmental review, sustainability, community planning, and code enforcement - just to name a few!
Learn more about Planning and Public Works here.

How to be Successful in the Role:

Your success will come from utilizing your strong engineering skills but also from supporting your team, customers, division managers, and external stakeholders in efforts towards standardization and development. The ability to share your wide scope across various divisions and departments, handle rapidly shifting priorities, coordinate with diverse teams, and ability to direct miscellaneous tasks will further ensure your success.

Your Future in this Role:

You will have access to professional development through robust online learning and other training opportunities throughout your career to ensure your success. This position has multiple career growth and promotional opportunities in Pierce County to build on a great career while directly impacting the communities in Pierce County.

Core Daily Responsibilities:

• Provides leadership and direction to the professional and technical staff responsible for implementing a major engineering program; delegates authority to personnel commensurate with responsibility and ensures the proper functioning of assigned staff.
• Schedules and assigns employees; approves or denies use of sick leave, vacation leave, and overtime.
• Trains and educates staff on criteria and standards. Provides engineering guidance to staff and makes engineering recommendations to County officials and other departments.
• Assists in developing recruitment and selection processes. Conducts final interviews; recommends individuals for hire.
• Completes reviews and evaluations of subordinate employee job performance. Initiates disciplinary action when necessary.
• Coordinates assigned activities with other sections, departments, and jurisdictions.
• Sets the team’s goals and objectives and participates in the development of the division’s goals and objectives.

A classification description with a more detailed list of essential functions can be foundhere.

• Nine years of progressively responsible, broad based civil engineering experience is required.
• A bachelor’s degree from an ABET accredited program in civil engineering, or a closely related field, may be substituted for experience on a year for year basis, up to four years.
• Professional Engineers licensed in another state must be able to obtain licensure by the State of Washington within six months of employment.
• A resume and cover letter are required for this position.
• A valid driver's license is required.

As a condition of employment, the applicant will need to authorize and complete a background check. Information received from the background check is reviewed case-by-case and will not necessarily remove an applicant from consideration.

Our Recruitment Practices: This is a competitive and meritorious selection process. Pierce County applications are reviewed by human hiring staff in accordance with the qualifications listed for the position. Pierce County understands applicants may use AI tools when preparing application materials. We recognize these tools can make the process easier; however, we ask that everything you submit genuinely reflects your own experience, skills, knowledge, and writing style.

During the interview process, you may be asked to demonstrate your skills, including writing and subject knowledge, and to speak to your experience in your own voice. Applicants should be prepared to respond to interview questions without relying on AI-generated responses or reading prepared answers from a screen. Any misrepresentation may result in disqualification or separation.

Applicants whose qualifications most closely align with the County’s needs will be eligible for further consideration. Notification of application status typically occurs within two to three weeks after the closing date. Some applicants may receive short notice to participate in additional selection steps, which may include assessments, phone screens, or interviews.

Upon offer, compensation is based on a range of job-related factors, including the requirements of the role, your skills and experience, and internal pay equity.

Our Welcoming Workplace Commitment:

Pierce County is committed to fostering a Welcoming Workplace where employees are supported, respected, and able to thrive. We believe a strong public workforce is representative of the community it serves and that fair and just access to opportunity strengthens public service.

Guided by the County Executive’s Forward Together mission, Pierce County works to build communities that are safe, welcoming, and connected. This same commitment shapes how we recruit, develop, and retain our employees. County employees make a direct and visible impact in the lives of residents every day, and we invite you to join us in helping keep Pierce County a place people are proud to call home.