Engineer Associate/Engineer-Architect 1/2 - Forest Engineer

Natural Resources; Alaska; On-site; USD 62,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

The Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection is seeking a statewide forest engineer to plan, design, and construct forestry infrastructure across Alaska. You will balance operational needs with soil and water protection, lead heavy equipment programs, and coordinate with partner agencies on large facility projects.

This role requires strong knowledge in civil engineering, forest management, project management, and public planning, plus the ability to work in rugged terrain and travel by

Qualifications

• Engineering Associate with 8 years of progressive experience or equivalent.
• PE or Architect registration for higher levels; professional licensure required.
• Substitution: ABET courses or a ABET-accredited bachelor's degree may substitute for experience.

Responsibilities

• Plan, design, and construct forestry infrastructure such as roads, bridges and culverts.
• Balance project needs with soil and water resource protection.
• Supervise Heavy Equipment program and support fire suppression activities.
• Coordinate with partner agencies on facilities design and large projects.

Skills

Civil Engineering

Forest Management

Project Management

Public Planning

Oral and Written Communication

Education

ABET-accredited program in engineering/architecture/land surveying

Bachelor's degree in engineering/architecture/land surveying

Job description

What You Will Be Doing:

In this role, you will serve as the statewide forest engineer responsible for planning, designing, and constructing forestry infrastructure, including roads, bridges, culverts, and material sites, to support responsible and economical access to Alaska’s forest resources. You will coordinate and manage projects that balance operational needs with protecting soil and water resources and provide forest engineering expertise to support harvest unit design and related field operations on complex terrain. You will supervise the division's Heavy Equipment program, which constructs and maintains state forest roads and provides fire suppression support. You will work closely with partner agencies as the division's lead for facilities design and construction projects, including serving as a liaison for large facility projects managed by the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities. You will have a lasting impact by developing forest transportation infrastructure in a way that conserves world-famous fish streams and protects public safety.

Mission and Values/Culture:

The mission of the Division of Forestry & Fire Protection’s forestry program is to develop, conserve, and enhance Alaska’s forests to provide Alaskans with a sustainable supply of forest resources. We lead forest management, forest practices, wildland fire management, and cooperative forestry programs across the state. Our influence crosses ownership boundaries through leadership of all-risk incident management teams, management of federal timber resources under the Good Neighbor Authority and Shared Stewardship Agreements, and up-to-date best management practices that apply to all commercial forests.

Benefits of Joining Our Team:

You will join a dynamic team overseeing a wide range of forestry operations, with opportunities for professional development. The work provides exposure to Alaska's unique physical and cultural environment. This position and environment will offer many opportunities to adapt lessons learned elsewhere and develop new approaches in contemporary forest infrastructure management. Career-long training and innovation are building blocks of our culture.

The Working Environment You Can Expect:

This position may be located in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, or Ketchikan. For the right fit, the position could potentially be located in another division office. This role blends in-office and field site work across Alaska’s remote landscapes and may involve travel by ATV, snowmachine, small aircraft, or boat. Fieldwork can include rugged terrain, wildlife encounters, and year-round work in challenging weather conditions. Candidates who enjoy dynamic, hands-on work in both natural environments and active construction environments will thrive here.

We are looking for a candidate who possesses the following position-specific competencies.

Civil Engineering: Knowledge of the concepts, principles, theories, and methods required to plan, design, construct, operate, and maintain facilities such as buildings, transportation systems, water and sanitary systems, and other public works systems.

Forest Management: Knowledge of the concepts, principles, and theories of silviculture and forest ecology, forest use, management, harvesting, conducting inventories, regeneration, sustainability, and conservation; and the role of disturbances in timberland resources.

Project Management: Knowledge of the principles, methods, or tools for developing, scheduling, coordinating, and managing projects and resources, including monitoring and inspecting costs, work, and contractor performance.

Public Planning: Knowledge of functions, principles, methods, and techniques of public planning, including those related to community planning, outdoor recreation planning, and natural resource management, such as demand forecasting, environmental impact analysis, financial forecasting, and land use planning and zoning.

Oral and Written Communication: Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral and written presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately.

Minimum Qualifications

Engineering Associate

– Starting Salary: $44.84

Eight years of progressively responsible work experience in engineering, land surveying or architecture, of which one year was as an Engineering Assistant 3 with the State of Alaska, or the equivalent elsewhere.

Substitution:

ABET-accredited college or technical school courses in engineering, architecture, land surveying, or a closely related curriculum may be substituted for the non-specific required experience (3 semester/4 quarter hours equal one month). A bachelor's degree with a major in engineering, architecture or land surveying from an institution accredited by ABET may substitute for four years of the non-specific required experience.

Engineer/Architect 1

– Starting Salary: $47.89

Registration as a Professional Engineer (PE) or Architect.

Note: Positions in this class require professional registration as either an Engineer or an Architect. The employer will designate which professional field is required for each position.

Engineer/Architect 2

– Starting Salary: $51.16

Registration as a Professional Engineer (PE) or Architect, and one year of professional experience as an Engineer/Architect 1 or Engineering Associate with the State of Alaska, or the equivalent.

Additional Required Information

** Please read the information below carefully. **

At the time of application

the applicant must attach the following items as individual documents; failure to provide the requested documentation may result in non-consideration. If you cannot attach documents, you may also email these documents to the contact provided in this job posting prior to the closing of this recruitment. Required documents include:

Cover letter – see below for instructions.

Transcripts if using education to meet the minimum qualifications; unofficial transcripts are acceptable.

If invited to interview

please bring the following materials. Failure to do so may result in loss of consideration. Required documents include:

Valid driver's license

A copy of your three most recent performance evaluations, or two letters of recommendation from former supervisors.

A list of three professional references, one of which must be your current or most recent supervisor. Please include their job title, current phone number, and email address.

SPECIAL NOTICES

This position requires travel within the State, including remote locations where public accommodation is not available. Must be comfortable traveling in small aircraft and boats, and operating ATVs. Ability to walk through steep, uneven, rocky, or heavily vegetated terrain in highly variable weather is required.

This position requires possession of, or access to, firearms. The incumbent will have access to and the option to carry a firearm for wildlife protection while working in remote locations with limited outside communication and must be able to think clearly and act decisively in stressful situations.