Manager-Utility Engineering

SoundTransit; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 107,000 - 213,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Benefits

Retirement Plans

Paid Time Off

Tuition Reimbursement

Job summary

SoundTransit is seeking a Utility Engineer to provide technical guidance in utility engineering, essential for capital projects. This role involves managing both internal staff and consultants, ensuring project delivery is within budget and timeline.

The ideal candidate possesses a Bachelor's in Civil Engineering with substantial utility coordination experience in the transit sector. A competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package including health plans, paid time off, and retirement plans are offered.

Qualifications

• Five years of experience in utility coordination on large-scale rail or transit projects.
• Three years of leadership, budgetary, and planning experience.

Responsibilities

• Leads utility processes to streamline conflict resolution.
• Plans and oversees utility engineering support for capital projects.
• Provides expertise throughout planning, design, and construction phases.

Skills

Advanced understanding of civil engineering principles

Strong communication skills

Negotiation and mediation techniques

Supervisory expertise

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering or related field

Professional Civil Engineer License (preferred)

Job description

Salary range is $107K to $213K with a midpoint of $160K. New hires typically receive between minimum and midpoint, however, we may go slightly higher based on experience, internal equity and market.

Benefits

• Health Benefits: Two medical plans, a dental plan, and a vision plan all at no cost for employee coverage; comprehensive benefits for employees and eligible dependents, including a spouse or domestic partner.
• Long‑Term Disability and Life Insurance.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Retirement Plans: 401a – 10% of employee contribution with a 12% match by Sound Transit; 457b – up to IRS maximum (employee only contribution).
• Paid Time Off: 25 days annually with increases at four, eight, and twelve years of service; additional days for director level and up; 12 paid holidays plus up to two paid floating holidays and up to two paid volunteer days per year.
• Parental Leave: 12 weeks for new parents.
• Pet Insurance.
• ORCA Card: All full‑time employees receive an ORCA card at no cost.
• Tuition Reimbursement: Up to $5,000 annually for approved tuition expenses.
• Compensation Practices: Competitive salaries based on market rates and internal equity; emphasis on work‑life balance, professional development, and recognition.

General Purpose

Reports to the Director of Project Engineering within the Center of Excellence in the Capital Delivery department. Provides technical and strategic guidance for utility engineering activities necessary to support the agency's needs for capital projects and operations. Serves as the subject matter expert and is responsible for the oversight, development, and implementation of utility engineering technical criteria, policies and procedures necessary to support design, construction, and operational needs. Manages staff and/or consultants to ensure projects are delivered on time and within budget. Coordinates assigned activities with other disciplines and departments as necessary.

Essential Functions

• Leads the development and implementation of utility processes and strategies aimed at streamlining conflict resolution, reducing the frequency of utility conflicts and relocations, expediting permitting timelines, and ensuring adherence to project cost, schedule, and budget baselines.
• Plans, directs, manages, and oversees the work of assigned staff and consultants providing utility engineering support for capital projects and operational needs.
• Supervises, coaches, trains, and motivates staff; provides staff development opportunities and manages employee relations.
• Develops and maintains agency utility engineering standards, policies, and procedures, including exploration methods, agreements, easements, letters of concurrence, utility base mapping, as‑built maintenance, and third‑party reviews.
• Oversees and owns Sound Transit's utility‑related technical requirements and criteria, including design criteria, standard specifications, and drawings.
• Ensures processes, policies, and practices are consistently and effectively applied.
• Provides utility engineering expertise throughout planning, design, and construction phases of capital projects to ensure compliance with agency, utility, and AHJ requirements.
• Supports project delivery through scope development, cost estimating, scheduling, negotiations, relocation strategies, conflict resolution, and easement coordination.
• Serves as a subject matter expert and responds to inquiries from the public, contractors, consultants, and staff on utility engineering issues.
• Collaborates with Construction, Engineering, Operations, and other teams to continuously validate and improve requirements based on industry’s best practices.
• Assists in negotiations and establishment of agreements with property owners, third parties, contractors, and consultants.
• Administers utility engineering contracts and monitors consultant and contractor performance to ensure compliance.
• Participates in procurement processes for consultant agreements and construction contracts.
• Stays current on emerging trends and developments in utility engineering, incorporating innovations and best practices into agency standards.
• Attends and participates in professional groups, committees, boards, and commissions; prepares and delivers reports, presentations, and correspondence as needed.
• Champions and models Sound Transit's core values and demonstrates values‑based behaviors in everyday interactions across the agency.
• Contributes to a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion in alignment with Sound Transit's Equity & Inclusion Policy.
• All employees must follow agency safety rules, regulations, and procedures related to their duties.
• All employees must integrate sustainability into everyday business practices.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience: Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, or related field. Five years of experience in utility coordination, preferably on large‑scale rail or transit projects; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Three years of leadership, budgetary, planning, and workforce management experience.

Preferred Licenses or Certifications: Professional Civil Engineer License issued by the State of Washington.

Required Knowledge and Skills

• Advanced understanding of principles and practices of civil engineering and utility design.
• Strong understanding of Federal, State, and Local codes and regulations.
• Understanding of supervision techniques and principles.
• Understanding of contract procurement and management principles; able to prepare scope‑of‑work and independent cost estimate for consultant staff argumentation.
• Ability to effectively manage, prioritize and delegate workload among assigned staff.
• Ability to work independently and demonstrate effective time management and organization skills.
• Ability to collaborate with others and establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Ability to manage stakeholders and facilitate consensus.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills to convey detailed technical information concisely and accurately to others.
• Negotiation and mediation techniques.
• Supervisory and team leadership expertise.
• Ability to utilize computer software programs to complete assigned work and prepare reports.
• Ability to prepare, review, interpret, analyze, and modify complex engineering plans, drawings, specifications, contract documents, and engineering reports for conformance to professional standards and approved budgets.
• Ability to interpret and administer policies and procedures sufficient to discuss, resolve, and explain them to staff and other constituencies.

Preferred Knowledge and Skills

• Familiarity with Western Washington utility agencies and companies.
• Familiarity with local agency permitting processes.
• Advanced understanding of project management techniques and principles.
• Experience with progressive design‑build or other alternative delivery methods.
• Ability to apply advanced project management and program development techniques and principles.

Physical Demands / Work Environment

• Work performed in a hybrid office and field environment.
• Position requires on‑call work to provide engineering support in emergency/urgent design or operational issues.
• Responsible for navigating pre‑construction sites, assessing conditions, and resolving problems; may be subject to bending, climbing, eye/hand coordination, grasping, hearing, pushing, pulling, reaching, repetitive motions, sitting, standing, talking, seeing, walking, and carrying or lifting up to 25 pounds.
• Field work may expose employees to dangerous machinery, extreme weather conditions, physical harm, hazardous chemicals, and/or extreme noise.
• Agency promotes a safe and healthy work environment and provides appropriate safety and equipment training as required.

EEO Statement

Sound Transit is an equal employment opportunity employer. No person is unlawfully excluded from employment action based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status or other protected class. The agency is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.