Civil Engineer 2 - Transportation Improvement Section

Salary: $50.28 - $63.66 Hourly
Location : Tacoma, WA
Job Type: Career Service - Full Time
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number: 26-00625
Department: Planning and Public Works
Division: PPW OCE (ENG)
Opening Date: 05/28/2026
Closing Date: 6/21/2026 11:59 PM Pacific


Description
Summary
Why it's a great opportunity: In this role you will be the team lead and project manager in all aspects for transportation project design. While overseeing the design of these transportation projects, you will also set the schedule to meet the preliminary engineering and final engineering phases to meet the construction advertisement date. You will also connect with project partners to include teams from right-of-way, bridges, environmental services, traffic, consultants, road maintenance, survey, and construction. Your leadership and project management will assist in guiding the team in respect to scope, budget, and on time delivery. Supporting software for planning and reports such as Bluebeam, ArcGIS, AutoCAD Civil3D, MGS Flood, and others are available. Ensuring high quality project focus will keep the counties transportation improvement program on track.


Why it's a great department: PPW stewards a healthy and vibrant community by collaboratively planning and investing in our people, infrastructure, systems, and policies. PPW's team has more than 800 members that collaborate, innovate and inspire in performing essential services to the community. The department is responsible for the County road and levee systems, sewer systems, airports, ferries, building permits, environmental review, sustainability, community planning, and code enforcement - just to name a few!

How to be successful in the role: Your success will ultimately come from successful project completion but also from compliance with federal and state agencies and funding. You will need to successfully communicate verbally and on formal documents County intent to the public, property owners, community groups, utilities, and occasionally local tribes. Resource collaboration and strong communication with other teams and divisions of Planning and Public Works will further ensure your success.


Your future in this role: You will have access to professional development through robust online learning and other training opportunities throughout your career to ensure your success. This position has multiple career growth and promotional opportunities in Pierce County to build on a great career while directly impacting the communities in Pierce County.

Core daily responsibilities:

• Develops, administers, designs, and inspects capital improvement projects, which may include roadway, sidewalks, ADA improvements, shared use paths, roundabouts, traffic control devices, storm sewer structures, water quality/quantity facilities, or other appurtenances. Reviews traffic and sewer design and specification components of these capital improvement projects.
• Reviews existing franchise utilities in the Rights of Way and coordinates conflicts and conflict resolution.
• Studies, analyzes, reviews and prepares engineering-related reports as required by state, federal and local authorities. Presents findings orally or in writing to county staff, officials, or other agencies.
• Reviews and recommends changes to consultant engineer prepared plans to meet County standards.
• Reviews projects for compliance with Critical Areas and environmental regulations and writes project conditions.
• Prepares and reviews comprehensive engineering plans, specifications and cost estimates.
• Plans, coordinates, and manages development of systems for the County including administration of contracts and agreements with consultants.
• Calculates and verifies pay quantities for proper payment for contracted services, reviews calculations and accuracy of submittals.
• Serves as field engineer or project manager in charge of various construction projects.
• Plans, assigns, and assists technicians and lower-level engineers in construction project inspection and administration.

Minimum Qualifications

• Registration as an Engineer-in-Training AND
• Seven years of progressively responsible experience related to the position is required.
• A bachelor's degree from an ABET accredited program in civil engineering, or a closely related field, may be substituted for experience on a year for year basis, up to four years.
• A valid driver's license is required.
• A resume and cover letter are required for this position.

Preferred qualifications:

• A Professional Engineer's license is desirable.

As a condition of employment, the applicant will need to authorize and complete a background check. Information received from the background check is reviewed case-by-case and will not necessarily remove an applicant from consideration.
Supplemental Information
To be considered for this opportunity please:

• Complete and submit a detailed online Pierce County Employment Application by selecting "APPLY" above or go to:
• If you have a question about this opportunity, please email the Recruitment Team at and specify the Job Number and Title.
• If you do not have internet access, you may visit your local public library or any WorkSource location and use their computers.
• Individuals needing accommodation in the application, testing process or need this job announcement in an alternative format may call Human Resources at View phone number on click.appcast.io, at least two days prior to the need.

This is a competitive selection process. Your application will be reviewed and evaluated for the quality and quantity of education/experience in the areas listed. Applicants whose qualifications most closely correspond to the County's needs will be eligible for further consideration. Notification of application status normally occurs 2 to 3 weeks after the closing date. Short notice may be given to applicants to participate in further selection processes which may include assessments, phone screen, and interviews.

Pierce County is committed to fostering a Welcoming Workplace where employees are supported, respected, and able to thrive. We believe a strong public workforce is representative of the community it serves and that fair and just access to opportunity strengthens public service.


Guided by the County Executive's Forward Together mission, Pierce County works to build communities that are safe, welcoming, and connected. This same commitment shapes how we recruit, develop, and retain our employees. County employees make a direct and visible impact in the lives of residents every day, and we invite you to join us in helping keep Pierce County a place people are proud to call home.
We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time.
Employee benefits are not just about the kind of services you get, they are also about how much you may have to pay out of pocket. Pierce County offers a competitive benefits package that offers flexibility and peace of mind. We are proud to offer Employee Resource Groups, a focus on professional development in our , and a County Book Club.


We understand that your life revolves around more than just your career and that your priority is making sure that you and your family maintain health and financial security. That's why choice is a key component of our benefits package. We have a selection of and , , staff training and other compensation benefits that you can mix and match to meet your current and future needs.

Our benefits:

Vacation (Annual Leave)
After approximately six months, employees receive six days of vacation leave.
Since we value your experience, the amount of vacation you can accrue increases the longer you work with us. Vacation accrues on a bi-weekly basis for full-time employees as follows:

Vacation Accruals:
During years 1-3, 12 Days
During years 4-7, 16 Days
During years 8-13, 20 Days
During years 14-18, 23 Days
During years 19, 24 Days
During years 20, 25 Days
During years 21, 26 Days
During years 22, 27 Days
During years 23, 28 Days
During years 24, 29 Days
During years 25 & thereafter, 30 Days

A maximum of 45 days may be carried from one year into the next.
Pro-Rated for Part-Time based on % of 1.0 FTE.

Military Leave:
Pierce County has a proud history of supporting the armed forces and provides members of the armed forces with up to 21 days paid military leave per state fiscal year.

Holidays:
Some full-time employees are entitled to eleven paid holidays as follows:
New Year's Day - January 1
Martin Luther King, Jr's birthday - Third Monday in January
President's Day - Third Monday in February
Memorial Day - Last Monday in May
Juneteenth - June 19
Independence Day - July 4
Labor Day - First Monday in September
Veteran's Day - November 11
Thanksgiving Day - Fourth Thursday in November & Friday after
Christmas Day - December 25

Personal Holidays:
Regular full-time and regular part-time employees, and employees occupying limited duration positions, shall also receive two additional paid personal holidays. Paid personal holidays shall only accrue for those employees on County payroll as of January 1 of each year or the first work day following January 1 and must be taken during the calendar year in which it was accrued.

Furlough:
Some Pierce County employees may be designated to receive 10 "furlough" days per year in lieu of holidays. Furlough days are available for use on January 1 and must be scheduled and taken within the calendar year. Employees who leave employment with Pierce County must reimburse the employer for used furlough days based upon the number of remaining holidays.

Sick Leave:
Sick leave accrues on a bi-weekly basis, at the rate of one day per month.

Insurance Benefits:
Employees and families are covered by medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance. There are multiple medical plans with very affordable monthly premiums that offer coverage throughout Pierce County. Employees are eligible to enroll each year in a flexible spending plan, which enables them to use tax-deferred dollars toward their health care and dependent care expenses. Employees also have the opportunity to participate in supplemental life and long term disability insurance plans. To view premium rates, summary of benefit coverage, and other information, please visit the website.

Retirement and Deferred Compensation:
Pierce County employees are members of the State of Washington's Department of Retirement System (DRS) and depending on the position or previous DRS enrollment will be able to enroll in one of many programs DRS offers. For additional information, check out the web site.

Employees also have the ability to participate in the Nationwide Deferred Compensation Plan. This is a supplemental retirement savings program that allows you control over the amount of pre-tax salary dollars you defer as well as the flexibility to choose between multiple investment options.

Social Security:
All Pierce County employees are covered by the federal Social Security and Medicare systems. The county and the employee pay an equal amount into the system.
ORCA Passport Program
Pierce County employees may participate in the County's ORCA (One Regional Card for All) Passport program.
Your Pierce County issued ORCA card is loaded with an annual Passport pass. The pass automatically renews every year. The pass will provide you with free transportation on regularly scheduled service on several public transit systems.

Miscellaneous Benefits:
Please visit website for more information.

Telework/Remote Options:
Some departments allow for telework or work-from-home options dependent on the body of work. Learn more about our telework policy
**All employees are required to be WA State residents after 30 days of employment.
01


A resume and cover letter are required to be attached individually to your application for consideration of this position. Have you ensured that both are attached?

• Yes
• No

02


Are you a current Pierce County Civil Engineer 1, Engineering Technician 3, or Engineering Technician 4, who has been employed since at least July 26, 2024, and does NOT have an Engineer-in-Training (EIT) certification?

• Yes
• No

Required Question