Engineer II - Materials Lab

King County; Renton (WA); On-site; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

King County’s Road Services Division seeks an Engineer II for the King County Materials Lab to ensure foundation soils and construction materials meet project requirements. You will document tests, interpret plans, and support geotechnical investigations across road, drainage, and bridge projects.

The role requires BSCE (or 10 years lab/field testing) and proficiency in MS Office and geotechnical software; nuclear density testing and ACI/AMRL proficiency are noted as important.

Qualifications

• Review and interpret engineering plans and specifications for roads, bridges, and drainage structures.
• Collect and test (Field/Lab) construction materials such as aggregate, HMA, and concrete.
• Perform nuclear density testing on soils, aggregates, and HMA and Proctor tests.
• Perform geotechnical explorations and soil lab testing/classification.
• Create daily site visit and test reports; participate in geotechnical reports.

Responsibilities

• Attend coordination meetings to ensure proper materials and procedures are followed.
• Track material quantities and maintain project files.
• Prepare concise and accurate lab and field-testing reports.
• Learn and apply AASHTO, ASTM standards and test methods.

Skills

Review plans and specs

Material sampling & testing

Nuclear density testing

Geotechnical reporting

Data analysis

Education

BSCE or 10 yrs lab/field testing

Tools

Microsoft Office

gINT Software

Job description

The Road Services Division, Engineering Section is recruiting for an Engineer II at the King County Materials Lab. The Engineer II will be under the supervision of Materials Engineer IV working on geotechnical and materials testing. The primary responsibility is to ensure the quality of foundation soils and construction material during construction and maintain related documentation/records for various road, drainage, and bridge projects.

This is an exciting opportunity to work with the Road Services Team and make a difference in our community. If you have a passion for ensuring project integrity and enjoy working collaboratively in a team environment, we encourage you to apply.

Our commitment to Equity, Racial and Social Justice.
The Department of Local Services is deeply dedicated to fosteringEquity, Racial and Social Justicein 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.

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

Applyingequity 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 socialjustice principles that exemplify shared values, behaviors, and practices to all aspects of the work.

To be considered for this opportunity, you must at a minimum, demonstrate knowledge, skill, and ability to:

• Review and interpret engineering plans and specifications for roads, bridges, and drainage structures.
• Collect and test (Field/Lab) construction material samples such as aggregate, Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA), and concrete.
• Perform nuclear density testing on soils, aggregates, and HMA and Proctor test.
• Perform geotechnical explorations and soil lab testing/classification.
• Create daily site visit and test reports
• Participate in data analysis and preparation of geotechnical reports
• Participate in annual AASHTO Materials Reference Laboratory (AMRL) and Cement and Concrete Reference Laboratory (CCRL) proficiency testing procedures and aid in maintaining the laboratory’s AASHTO accreditation.
• Attend coordination meetings to ensure proper materials and procedures are followed.
• Track construction material quantities and maintain project files.
• Work in Microsoft Office and gINT Software and the ability to learn other software.
• Other related material testing duties, as assigned.

• A Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering (BSCE) and two years of engineering experience, or a total of 10 years of work experience in lab and field testing of construction material.
• Solid understanding of soil testing and geotechnical reports requirements.
• Solid understanding of construction material testing and acceptance procedures.
• Good working knowledge with Microsoft Office and Ability to learn technical engineering software.
• Engineering mindset and capability of collecting/interpreting/summarizing engineering data.
• Current Nuclear Gage Operation License
• Current/Ability to obtain American Concrete Institute (ACI) Aggregate and Concrete (Laboratory/ Field/ Strength) Testing Technician-Level 1
• Experience with soil and asphalt/concrete core drilling and equipment
• Current/Ability to obtain HAZMAT Training
• Current/Ability to obtain Flagging and general safety training
• Current/Ability to obtain Radiation Safety Officer Training
• Ability to prepare concise and accurate lab and field-testing reports.
• Ability to collect and summarize data and draft geotechnical and site visit/inspection reports.
• Knowledge and experience in sampling and testing of soils and construction materials in accordance with AASHTO, ACI, WSDOT, ASTM standards and test methods.
• Demonstrate ability to work under tight deadlines with unpredictable or long hours.
• Have strong interpersonal skills and ability to maintain professionalism.
• Demonstrate punctuality and dependability in daily attendance.
  
  

JOB REQUIREMENTS

• Engineering skills and skills in interpreting data and soil/materials testing parameters.
• Possess or ability to obtain and maintain ACI Level 1 Certifications for Aggregate and Concrete within 6 months upon hire
• Possess or ability to obtain and maintain Nuclear Gage Operation License within 6 months upon hire
• Valid Washington State Driver’s License and the ability to travel safely throughout the County including remote locations, in a timely manner.
• Employment will be contingent on the success of a pre-employment physical examination.

INTERVIEW SCHEDULE:The first round of interviews for this position is scheduled to take place the week of November 30, 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.

APPLICATION PROCESS:If you are interested in pursuing this position and supporting King County’s vision for unified, equitable, and high-performing government, please follow the application instructions carefully. Provide us with your work history as applicable, ensuring that you provide details that highlight your ability to fulfill the requirements for this position.

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 Roads Maintenance Facility, 155 Monroe Ave NE Renton, WA 98056.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.