Temporary Office Engineer

City of Seattle; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 96,000; Full time

Job summary

Seattle City Light, a department of the City of Seattle, is seeking an Office Engineer for the Construction Management Unit. The role focuses on on-site contract administration, auditing payments, and managing submittals for Public Works projects, with travel to remote generation sites as needed.

You will work under the Civil Engineer, Supervisor, reporting to the Construction Management Manager. Primary duties include processing contractor payments, creating payment packages, tracking

Qualifications

• Requires four years civil engineering experience.
• Associate Degree in Civil Engineering Technology or two years of college coursework in engineering and construction technology.
• Equivalent education/experience may be considered.

Responsibilities

• Audit construction payment documentation and prepare payment packages.
• Monitor submittals intake and distribute to reviewers.
• Create contractor payment spreadsheets and payment documentation.
• Prepare documentation for project acceptance and close-out.
• Coordinate and assemble submittal review comments and return to contractors.

Skills

Construction drawings

Construction management

Civil construction

Excel skills

Collaboration

Deadline management

Communication skills

Education

Associate Degree in Civil Engineering Technology

Two years of college coursework in engineering and construction technology

Tools

MS Outlook

Word

Project

SharePoint

Excel

Job description

Seattle City Light, a department of the City of Seattle, is one of the nation’s largest municipally owned utilities in terms of the number of customers served. Over the years we have worked very hard to keep Seattle's electricity affordable, reliable, and environmentally sound. Today, City Light is a recognized national leader in energy efficiency and environmental stewardship.

The Project Delivery Business Unit has an exciting opportunity for an Office Engineer in the Construction Management Unit. As a senior construction management professional in this unit, you will act as the single point of contact for construction contractors and be responsible for the on‑site construction contract administration of complex public works projects. You must be able to work in an office environment, construction project trailer, remote generation site, or a City Light supplied vehicle, since the location and the siting of the construction projects will dictate the work environment. The primary locations will be Seattle Municipal Tower and South Service Center, with some travel to the remote generation sites. This position will report to the Civil Engineer, Supervisor.

The Construction Management Office Engineer’s primary responsibilities are to audit and process contractor payments and manage submittals for Public Works contracting. Duties include auditing payment documentation, preparing payment spreadsheets, creating payment packages, tracking milestones and expenditures against purchase order balances, monitoring submittals intake, routing submittals to the appropriate reviewers for approval, assembling responses, distributing completed submittals, and tracking submittals via project logs. The Public Works progress payment oversight is vital for project controls accuracy with regards to City of Seattle Finance and Administrative Services (FAS) requirements.

This position performs the most complex and difficult technical civil engineering and construction related activities. This person is knowledgeable of the Resident Engineer as well as Office Engineer. This position is vital and cohesive to the organization.

The Construction Management Office Engineer may also have secondary responsibilities in the role of Resident Engineer. The Resident Engineer is the owner’s representative to inspect, monitor, survey, or verify information during construction and engineering‑related projects. The Resident Engineer performs contract administration activities including, reviewing monthly progress reports, processing monthly and final payments to contractors, verifying final quantities and costs, compiling requisite documentation, reviewing change orders, and auditing as‑built records. The Resident Engineer acts as a liaison among consultants, contractors, subcontractors, manufacturers, fabricators or suppliers and negotiates problems of changes, errors or deficiencies to ensure compliance with project specifications.

The Office Engineer’s work is primarily in an office environment and the Resident Engineer’s role, if required, may involve field visits to active construction projects.

This position will report to the Construction Management Manager.

• Attend project team and pre‑construction meetings to coordinate submittals and payment processes;
• Audit construction payment documentation prepared by others;
• Assist and train field personnel with documentation and records as needed;
• Create contractor payment spreadsheets and payment documentation;
• Monitor payments against purchase order amounts and coordinate with project managers;
• Monitor submittals intake and distribute to reviewers;
• Coordinate and assemble submittal review comments and return to contractors;
• Track submittals on project logs;
• Create payment and year‑end reports for the unit;
• Produce labor estimates, construction schedules estimates, and liquidated damages calculations for contracts and payments;
• Prepare documentation for project acceptance and close‑out;
• Perform other related duties of a comparable level/type as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Requires four years civil engineering experience, and an Associate Degree in Civil Engineering Technology or two years of college level coursework in engineering and construction 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).

Work Environment/Physical Demands

• Most work is performed in a normal City work/office environment.
• Field assignments entail exposure to all types of weather, traffic, hazardous/toxic substances and work in or near construction sites.
• May be required to lift over 50 pounds.
• May be required to stand, walk, or bend for extended periods of time.
• Overnight travel may be required.

License, Certification and Other Requirements

You must hold a current valid state issued driver’s license from any US state to be verified prior to start date. Out of state license holders will be required to obtain a WA state license within 30 days of hire.

Desired Qualifications

You will be successful if you have the following experience, skills, and abilities:

• Familiarity with construction drawings and specifications;
• Experience with typical Public Works contract measurement and payment specifications and methods;
• Five or more years of construction management experience;
• Broad knowledge of the principals, practices, and processes of civil and utility construction including the materials and methods of typically used in this type of work;
• Good organizational skills and ability to prioritize competing priorities in a fast‑paced environment;
• The ability to proficiently process mathematical spreadsheet calculations to a very high degree of accuracy;
• Ability to work collaboratively across multiple functional teams simultaneously;
• Able to monitor and manage deadlines across multiple projects;
• Strong oral and written communication skills;
• Proficiency with MS Outlook, Word, Project, and SharePoint, and a strong grasp of basic Excel spreadsheets.

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. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Emergency Response Commitment

Seattle City Light is committed to reliable service during emergencies. Through our Emergency Response Program, each employee is assigned a role—usually aligned with their regular duties—to support emergency operations. Your participation is required and vital to helping the utility stay prepared and serve our community when it matters most.

The full salary range for this position is $62.79 to $70.35 per hour.

Who May Apply

This position is open to all candidates that meet the qualifications. Seattle City Light 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. Seattle City Light encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQIA+, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with diverse life experiences.

Job offers are contingent on the verification of credentials and other information required by the employment process, including the completion of a background check. The background check will involve a criminal history check, which includes conviction and arrest records in compliance with Seattle’s Fair Chance Employment Ordinance, SMC 14.17 and City of Seattle Personnel Rule 10.3. A driving history review may be conducted in compliance with SMC 4.79.020. Applicants will be provided an opportunity to explain or correct background information.

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.

Want to know more about Seattle City Light? Check out our web page: https://www.seattle.gov/city-light/about-us/careers.