Senior Hydraulic Engineer (TE3, In-Training)

State of Washington; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 114,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid leave

Tuition assistance

Retirement benefits

Flexible/hybrid schedule

Work-life balance

Job summary

Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) seeks a Hydraulic Engineer 3 (In-Training) in Seattle to serve as a technical and regulatory expert in the Northwest Region Environmental Program Office. You will deliver hydraulic reports, reviews and support complex project delivery while protecting natural resources.

The role requires strong leadership and mentorship of junior staff, with opportunities for training and collaboration across multidisciplinary teams in a flexible/hybrid work

Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to analyze hydraulic, hydrologic, stormwater and drainage information.
• Apply engineering principles to transportation projects and environmental compliance.
• Prepare, review, and coordinate technical reports, hydraulic analyses and calculations.
• Mentor hydraulic designers and junior staff.
• Support resolution of complex hydraulic and stormwater issues.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a hydraulic engineer providing guidance and technical review on hydraulic documents and submittals, including Hydraulic Reports, PS&E, BMPs and permits.
• Review hydraulic documents, identify requirements, and support project delivery.
• Supports emergency projects and field travels to address issues.
• Review and validate hydraulic calculations and modeling for accuracy and compliance.
• Apply and interpret the Highway Runoff Manual and Hydraulic Manual for designers and teams.
• Provide technical direction, training, and mentoring to hydraulic staff.
• Coordinate with supervisor on regional consistency and issue resolution.
• Oversee BMP documentation and tracking in SWABS/HATS.
• Maintain hydraulic records per state retention requirements.
• Support culvert level 2 inspections and documentation.

Skills

Hydraulic, Hydrologic & Stormwater Eng

Engineering Standards & Regulatory

Technical Engineering Review

Engineering Judgment & Risk

Critical Thinking & Problem Solving

Project & Workload Management

Communication & Stakeholder Engagement

Collaboration & Mentoring

Engineering Technology & Data Mgmt

Field Assessment & Safety

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Tools

Hydraulic modeling software

SWABS

HATS

Excel

Job description

About WSDOT

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is a multimodal agency with a global reputation for excellence. Our dedicated workforce plans, designs, builds, and operates an integrated transportation system that safely and efficiently moves people and goods throughout the state. In addition to maintaining over 20,000 lane miles of state highway and 4,100 bridges, WSDOT leads an award-winning Active Transportation Plan, manages the world's longest floating bridge, and operates the largest ferry system in the nation!

The Opportunity

WSDOT is seeking an experienced Transportation Engineer 3 (In-Training) to serve as a Hydraulic Engineer in Seattle, WA. In this highly impactful role, you’ll serve as a technical and regulatory expert within WSDOT’s Northwest Region Environmental Program Office, applying your hydraulic engineering expertise to help deliver transportation projects while protecting Washington’s natural resources. Your work will directly support WSDOT’s mission by providing critical hydraulic engineering reports, reviews, and technical services that help projects meet complex environmental and regulatory requirements.

What to Expect

Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Hydraulic Engineer will:

• Serve as a hydraulic engineer providing guidance and technical review on hydraulic documents and submittals, including Hydraulic Reports, Plans, Specifications, and Estimates (PS&E), emerging construction issues, stormwater Best Management Practice (BMP) Maintenance Plans, and permits.
• Provide technical hydraulic and stormwater expertise to design offices and project teams by reviewing hydraulic documents and submittals, identifying applicable requirements, and providing guidance and information to support transportation project delivery.
• Supports emergency projects and time-sensitive operational needs, including travel to duty station or field sites to address emergent issues.
• Review and evaluate hydraulic documents and technical deliverables for completeness, accuracy, and compliance with WSDOT requirements; identify deficiencies, recommend corrections, and provide technical recommendations to WSDOT staff, consultants, and Design-Builders.
• Review and validate hydraulic calculations and modeling, including evaluating calculations, modeling inputs, reports, spreadsheets, plans, and other technical documents prepared by WSDOT staff, consultants, and Design-Builders.
• Apply and interpret the WSDOT Highway Runoff Manual and Hydraulic Manual to provide technical direction and clarify hydraulic and stormwater requirements for designers, project teams, consultants, and other stakeholders.
• Provide technical direction, training, and mentoring to hydraulic designers and junior hydraulics staff, including guidance on the development of hydraulic documents, calculations, reports, plans, and related technical deliverables.
• Support the resolution of complex hydraulic and stormwater issues by facilitating discussions, addressing policy and procedural questions, and coordinating with the NWR Hydraulics and Environmental Engineering Supervisor and State Hydraulic Engineer when issues require regional or statewide technical consistency.
• Oversee stormwater best management practice (BMP) documentation and tracking, including ensuring BMPs are accurately tracked in SWABS and HATS and reviewing BMP Maintenance Plans for stormwater treatment facilities.
• Ensure hydraulic records are accurately maintained and retained in accordance with state records retention, archival, and WSDOT requirements.
• Support and complete culvert level 2 Inspections and documentation.

Qualifications

This is a Transportation Engineer 3 position. However, the hiring manager reserves the right to fill the position at a lower level in the classification series based on candidate qualifications, providing an opportunity for an individual to gain the required experience on the job as part of a formal “in-training” plan.

To be considered for this opportunity, the following competencies are required at the TE3 level:

• Hydraulic, Hydrologic & Stormwater Engineering: Demonstrated ability to analyze and interpret complex hydraulic, hydrologic, stormwater, and drainage information and apply engineering principles to support transportation project delivery and environmental compliance.
• Engineering Standards & Regulatory Compliance: Ability to apply advanced engineering principles, technical guidance, regulatory requirements, and agency policies to evaluate hydraulic and stormwater design solutions and ensure compliance with applicable standards.
• Technical Engineering Review: Ability to prepare, review, and coordinate technical reports, hydraulic analyses, drainage documentation, plans, specifications, calculations, models, and other engineering deliverables for accuracy, completeness, and technical adequacy.
• Engineering Judgment & Risk Analysis: Ability to identify project risks and constraints, evaluate alternatives, and develop practical, technically sound recommendations that support successful transportation infrastructure projects.
• Critical Thinking & Problem Solving: Demonstrated ability to investigate and resolve complex drainage, stormwater, fish passage, erosion control, and hydraulic design challenges using sound engineering judgment and analytical problem-solving skills.
• Project & Workload Management: Ability to manage multiple priorities, schedules, project risks, and competing deliverables in a fast-paced project delivery environment while maintaining quality and meeting established deadlines.
• Communication & Stakeholder Engagement: Ability to effectively communicate complex technical information verbally and in writing to multidisciplinary project teams, consultants, contractors, regulatory and local agencies, Tribes, and non-technical stakeholders.
• Collaboration, Leadership & Mentoring: Ability to work collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams, provide technical guidance and recommendations, and mentor or support the development of less-experienced staff.
• Engineering Technology & Data Management: Experience using engineering software, databases, spreadsheets, hydraulic or hydrologic modeling tools, and other technical systems to analyze, document, track, and manage engineering and project information.
• Field Assessment & Safety: Ability to conduct field reviews and evaluate stormwater, drainage, and hydraulic conditions within transportation right-of-way environments while working safely under varying site and weather conditions.

To be considered for this opportunity, the following competencies are required at the TE2 level:

• Foundational Hydraulic, Hydrologic & Stormwater Engineering Knowledge: Demonstrated ability to learn and apply foundational engineering principles, hydraulic and hydrologic concepts, stormwater guidance, and transportation-related technical requirements in support of transportation projects.
• Technical Analysis, Documentation & Problem Solving: Demonstrated ability to gather and analyze technical information, identify issues or potential concerns, and assist with developing recommendations. Ability to review, prepare, or support technical documentation and project deliverables, including reports, calculations, plans, specifications, and related materials associated with hydraulics, drainage, or stormwater systems.
• Transportation Project Delivery & Regulatory Knowledge: Demonstrated ability to learn and apply technical processes, policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements related to transportation project development and delivery, including the ability to apply new technical information and guidance to assigned work.
• Project Coordination, Organization & Technology: Demonstrated ability to organize and prioritize assigned tasks, schedules, and deliverables while supporting multiple projects and competing priorities. Ability to use computer software, spreadsheets, databases, mapping tools, and other technical systems to organize information and support engineering and project coordination activities.
• Communication & Collaboration: Demonstrated ability to communicate technical information effectively, both verbally and in writing, and work collaboratively with multidisciplinary project teams, consultants, internal stakeholders, and other partners to establish and maintain productive working relationships.
• Field Safety, Professional Development & Continuous Learning: Demonstrated ability to learn and apply field safety practices while conducting field reviews within transportation right-of-way environments and varying weather and site conditions. Demonstrated commitment to continuous learning, professional development, and growth within the hydraulic, hydrologic, and stormwater engineering field.

In addition, the following are required at all levels:

• Hydraulic & Hydrologic Reporting: Ability to prepare clear, accurate, and technically sound hydraulic analysis and hydrologic reports and related engineering documentation.
• Hydraulic Modeling & Calculations: Ability to perform hydraulic calculations and use hydraulic and hydrologic modeling software to analyze drainage, stormwater, and hydraulic conditions and support engineering recommendations.
• Hydraulics, Hydrology & Stormwater: Knowledge of hydraulic and hydrologic principles and stormwater processes, including applicable rules, regulations, standards, and requirements.
• Technical Analysis & Documentation: Ability to review and analyze technical information, identify and summarize key findings, and communicate results in clear, concise, and well-structured reports, memoranda, and hydraulic or engineering documentation.
• Technical Adaptability & Continuous Learning: Ability to learn and adapt to evolving policies, procedures, standards, technology, and practices to maintain current knowledge and effectiveness within the hydraulic engineering specialty.
• Organization & Work Management: Ability to organize work, manage multiple assignments, track progress, establish priorities, and meet established deadlines with appropriate direction and supervision.
• Microsoft 365 Proficiency: Ability to use Microsoft 365 applications, including Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint to develop, analyze, document, communicate, and manage engineering and project information.
• A valid driver’s license and the ability to operate state-owned vehicles.
• Complete confined space training within 6 months of hire.
• Complete Headquarters Hydraulics Stream Design Training within 6 months of hire.

It is preferred that qualified candidates also demonstrate:

• Hydraulic & Environmental Engineering: Ability to analyze and evaluate complex hydraulic and environmental issues and apply engineering principles to the design and development of highway drainage systems, culvert fish passage projects, stream relocations, and related transportation infrastructure.
• WSDOT Project Delivery & Environmental Compliance: Knowledge of WSDOT manuals, guidance, policies, procedures, project delivery processes, environmental compliance requirements, hydraulic documentation standards, and coordination practices applicable to transportation project development and delivery.

Important Notes

• This recruitment may also be used to fill additional positions per business needs.
• This position offers flexible/hybrid work options. In-person office and field time are requirements of the position. Position is not eligible for full remote work.
• The salary listed includes the legislative approved 5% salary premium for positions in King County.
• In addition to base salary, employees may be entitled to other forms of compensation depending on the type, duties, or location of the position. For union-represented positions, more information on other forms of compensation can be found in the applicable Collective Bargaining Agreements. Information on other compensation types for non-represented positions can be found in Chapter 357-28 of the Washington Administrative Code.
• This position is subject to the drug and alcohol testing requirements of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). For more information, please go to DOT Drug & Alcohol Testing.
• This is a Transportation Engineer 3 position. However, the hiring manager reserves the right to fill the position at a lower level in the classification series based on candidate qualifications, providing an opportunity for an individual to gain the required experience on the job as part of a formal “in-training” plan. The base salaries for each level are:

• Transportation Engineer 3: $84,520 – $113,639
• Transportation Engineer 2: $76,545 – $102,967

• WSDOT does not use the E-Verify system, therefore we are not eligible to extend STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT). For more information, please visit www.uscis.gov

Why WSDOT

• Work-Life Balance – We offer flexible work schedules that allow you time for your life outside of this excellent opportunity.
• Paid Leave – In addition to 12 paid holidays, full-time employees may earn up to 25 paid vacation days per year!
• Tuition Assistance – Permanent employees have several options for assistance with education expenses, including tuition reimbursement programs, government discounts at participating colleges throughout the state, and eligibility for federal student loan forgiveness.
• Plan For Your Future – WSDOT offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes a variety of healthcare options. Employees also have a choice of state retirement programs, and much more. Go to State Benefits for more information.

How to Apply

Applications for this recruitment will be accepted electronically. Your relevant experience may be evaluated to determine salary. Therefore, it is very important that the “Work Experience” portion of the application be completed in as much detail as possible.

In order to be considered for this opportunity, please include the following with your online application:

• An attached Resume outlining (in reverse chronological order) your experience to date.
• An attached Cover Letter that further explains your qualifications and indicates why you believe you are a viable candidate for this role.
• Contact details for a minimum of three (3) individuals who can attest to your work performance, technical skills, and job-related competencies. This information can be entered in the “References” section of the online application; does not require an additional attachment.

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WSDOT is an equal opportunity employer. We value the importance of creating an environment in which all employees can feel respected, included, and empowered to bring unique ideas to the agency. Our diversity and inclusion efforts include embracing different cultures, backgrounds and viewpoints while fostering growth and advancement in the workplace. All persons, regardless of race, ethnicity, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, and/ or gender identity, are encouraged to apply. Persons with disabilities needing assistance in the application process, or those needing this job announcement in an alternative format may contact the recruiter listed.

Contact Us

For inquiries about this posting, you may contact the assigned Recruiter at [e-mail]. Please be sure to reference Senior Hydraulic Engineer #13499 in the subject line.