Public Works Senior Civil Engineer

Seattle Public Utilities; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 103,000 - 121,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work schedule opportunities

Generous benefits package

Free Orca Pass

City pension plan

Job summary

Seattle Public Utilities seeks a Public Works Senior Civil Engineer to lead the preparation and review of contract documents for major water, wastewater, drainage, and restoration CIP projects. You will stamp front-end specifications, ensure accuracy in APWA and CSI formats, and coordinate bids with design teams, providing technical leadership and ownership throughout the process.

The role emphasizes strong communication, project leadership, and adherence to municipal procurement practices, with

Qualifications

• Bachelor degree required with 5 years civil engineering experience.
• Registration as a Professional Engineer in Washington.
• Experience writing contract specs in APWA/CSI formats.
• Experience bidding and managing municipal CIP contracts.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and review contract specifications (Project Manual) for bidding on municipal infrastructure projects.
• Manage Ad/Bid/Award process for SPU CIP projects.
• Sign and stamp front-end specs (Divisions 0 and 1) and applicable technical specs.
• Develop clear, concise contract specs in APWA and CSI formats.
• Review cost estimates and drawings at 90% and 100% design milestones.
• Identify bid items and write payment language.
• Serve as central contact during bidding; coordinate with design teams.
• Draft and issue Addenda to modify bidding docs for bidders.
• Evaluate contractor bids for responsiveness and responsibility criteria.
• Maintain and update SPU APWA/CSI boilerplate specs.

Skills

Project Manuals

Bid Forms

APWA specs

CSI specs

Written comms

Education

Bachelor degree in Civil Engineering

Job description

Position Description

As a Public Works Senior Civil Engineer at Seattle Public Utilities, you’ll lead the development and public advertisement of contract documents that power major water, wastewater, drainage, and restoration projects across the city. Your engineering expertise and precision will directly shape multimillion dollar CIP construction—placing you at the center of projects that enhance Seattle’s resilience, sustainability, and quality of life. If you’re seeking meaningful impact, high visibility, and true ownership, this role gives you the opportunity to move the city forward with your work.

This role is responsible for preparing, reviewing, and stamping contract documents for municipal infrastructure projects involving water, wastewater, drainage, and related facilities. The ideal candidate brings strong technical expertise in specification writing, contract administration, and construction procurement within a Design/Bid/Build environment. This position also serves as the central city point of contact during bidding.

About Seattle Public Utilities:

Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) is a community-centered utility that delivers vital services to Seattle residents and businesses including drinking water, drainage and wastewater, and garbage/recycling/compost. SPU also provides drinking water for 1.5 million customers in the region. SPU’s work includes system maintenance and improvements and keeping Seattle clean. Over 1,500 SPU employees work with our community to provide affordable and equitable stewardship of our water and waste resources for future generations.

For more information about Seattle Public Utilities (SPU), check out the:

• SPU Website
• SPU Workplace Expectations
• Strategic Business Plan

SPU commits to Our City Values and Race and Social Justice as core principles that guide our work. We actively take steps to dismantle systemic racism and increase service equity. We value diverse life experiences and strive to create a workplace that is welcoming to all. We take steps to be inclusive and equitable in our recruiting, hiring and promotional opportunities.

Why join our team?

About

We know work isn’t only about what you do, it’s also about who you work for and with! SPU provides a fun and family-friendly work environment that supports a work life balance, including:

• Hybrid work schedule opportunities
• Family-friendly and multicultural work environment
• Generous benefits package
• Free Orca Pass
• City pension plan with employer/employee contributions
• Growth potential and advancement opportunities

Job Responsibilities

• Prepare and review contract specifications (Project Manual) for bidding on municipal infrastructure construction projects (water, wastewater, drainage, roads, and facilities) using the Design/Bid/Build contracting method
• Manage the Ad/Bid/Award process for SPU CIP projects
• Sign and stamp (Professional Engineer stamp) front-end specifications (Divisions 0 and 1) and applicable technical specifications
• Develop clear, concise, and accurate contract specifications in both APWA and CSI formats
• Review engineered drawings and construction cost estimates at the 90% and 100% design milestones
• Identify bid items and write corresponding measurement and payment language
• Serve as the central city point of contact during bidding; coordinate with design teams to address bidder questions
• Draft and issue Addenda to modify bidding documents and distribute revisions to all bidders
• Evaluate contractor bids for responsiveness and assess contractor experience for meeting responsibility criteria
• Maintain and update SPU’s APWA and CSI boilerplate specifications

Major Projects Supported

• Water Main Rehabilitation
• Sewer Rehabilitation
• Drainage Rehabilitation
• Combined Sewer Overflow Infrastructure Improvements
• Creek Restoration
• Pond Rehabilitation
• Pump Station Rehabilitation
• Please note this job advertisement is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job.

Qualifications

Education:

Bachelor Degree in Civil Engineering or Civil Engineering Technology (or a combination of education and/or training and/or experience, which provides an equivalent background required to perform the work of the class)

AND

Five (5) years Professional Civil Engineering experience.

License, Certification And Other Requirements

• Registration as a Professional Engineer in the State of Washington.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience developing Project Manuals, including Bid Forms, for competitive bidding
• Experience with writing in both APWA and CSI specifications formats
• Experience identifying bid items for contractor payment
• Experience reviewing cost estimates and engineered drawings
• Experience leading the public bidding of CIP projects
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Workplace Schedule/Environment

• This position requires three (3) days on-site in an office environment. Individual schedules will be agreed upon by the employee and their supervisor.

Who may apply:

The City of Seattle encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with diverse life experience. This position is open to all qualified candidates that meet the minimum qualifications. The City of Seattle values diverse perspectives and life experiences. Applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, disability, religious or political affiliation, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

The full hourly range for this position is $74.99 - $87.31

Benefits:

The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents. More information about employee benefits is available on the City’s website at: https://www.seattle.gov/human-resources/benefits