Lead Building Official – Engineering IV (Hybrid)

King County; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

King County's Department of Local Services, Permitting Division seeks a Building Official (Engineer IV) to supervise inspection staff, provide technical leadership on plan review, and apply building codes in complex scenarios. You will guide field staff, interpret codes, and resolve challenging permitting issues while coordinating with multiple departments.

The role emphasizes equity, strong customer service, and collaboration across teams to streamline permitting and inspections in

Qualifications

• Education or experience in building construction, architecture, engineering, or related field.
• Experience supervising field-based building inspection staff with technical leadership.
• Extensive experience interpreting and applying building codes in complex situations.
• Broad knowledge of permitting processes including plan review and inspections.
• Ability to evaluate construction methods and site conditions for compliance.
• Strong communication to explain technical concepts to diverse audiences.

Responsibilities

• Supervise and support building inspection staff with day-to-day guidance.
• Provide technical leadership to plan review staff across the division.
• Interpret and apply building codes in complex, real-world scenarios.
• Resolve permitting challenges by applying codes thoughtfully and safely.
• Assist customers with code interpretation and permitting requirements.
• Conduct site visits and determine field conditions and next steps.
• Collaborate with engineering, fire, planning, and customer service teams.
• Develop policies, SOPs, and training materials for consistent code implementation.
• Represent King County in interagency forums and partnerships.
• Support emergency response and rapid damage assessment activities.

Skills

Supervision

Technical leadership

Code interpretation

Customer service

Cross-team collaboration

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office

Electronic plan review systems

Job description

King County's Department of Local Services, Permitting Division seeks a Building Official (Engineer IV) to supervise inspection staff, provide technical leadership on plan review, and apply building codes in complex scenarios. You will guide field staff, interpret codes, and resolve challenging permitting issues while coordinating with multiple departments.

The role emphasizes equity, strong customer service, and collaboration across teams to streamline permitting and inspections in