County Engineer

Under the direction of the Public Works Director, the County Engineer is responsible for project development and implementation—including grant and permit applications, utility and agency coordination; design; preparation of plans, specifications and estimates; contract administration, and construction inspection—as well as development review, traffic engineering, the annual pavement preservation program, administration of the County’s Bridge Inspection Program, and other functions as assigned.

The County Engineer must maintain courteous and cooperative working relationships with County personnel, public agencies, and the general public, and work under the guidance of Local/State/Federal regulations and County policies and procedures. Relocation assistance may be available for the ideal candidate.

• Fulfill the statutory duties of County Engineer as provided in RCW 36.80.
• Design, prepare, and coordinate the development of construction engineering plans and specifications on all (as a project manager) or portions of (as a team member) road, bridge, drainage, or traffic signage and design improvements, and other transportation improvement projects and similar designs; develop cost estimates and recommendations toward final cost estimates; certify with a Professional Engineer’s seal and signature, if applicable, that engineering designs conform to accepted professional engineering standards and practices and the requirements of Washington State law.
• Prepare and participate in the development of detailed construction drawings, topographical profiles and related maps and specification sheets used in Public Works design projects; plan and coordinate closely with the County Surveyor.
• Review complex design plans and specifications for conformance to job requirements, develop and check complex specialized contract provisions, design agreements and design calculations, and attend pre‑bid and pre‑construction conferences to outline principal construction features.
• Compute advanced mathematical calculations used in developing profile, cross‑sections, etc.; plot, profile and cross‑section, figure grade lines, calculate plots, traverses and similar criteria; establish points and elevations, proper location and drainage for streets, levees, airport runways and other structures.
• Utilize modern computer‑assisted drafting programs and techniques in plan review and project design; monitor technology trends and make recommendations to the Director as needed.
• Review and coordinate the preparation and use of traffic signs; prepare plans and drawings for other traffic control devices; develop and analyze results of traffic engineering studies; supervise the Traffic Division of road maintenance.
• Check street plans and profiles of short plats and sub‑divisions to assure conformance to standards of the American Public Works Association, State Department of Transportation, and County ordinances; prepare engineer’s reports relative to design deficiencies and recommend proper corrective actions for compliance. Represent Public Works at public hearings.
• Coordinate work products and participate with Quad‑County RTPO.
• Review development plans for storm drainage compliance with County and State Department of Ecology standards; prepare staff reports regarding utilities for proposed developments; design and coordinate subsurface and drainage improvement projects; prepare summaries of design deficiencies and recommend proper corrective actions.
• Explain and interpret agreements to contractors; enter “as built” information to office plans; evaluate partial stage completion and recommend contract payments; prepare construction reports for matching funds and cooperative contracts with federal, state and city governments.
• May oversee all or a portion of the Department’s Flood Control Zone District, coordinating closely with the Department’s Water Resources Manager.
• May oversee portions of the Kittitas County Airport (Bowers Field) in coordination with the Airport Manager.
• Oversee the inspection of the construction of public works projects; review plans and specifications for contract construction work;…