Professional Civil Engineer

KPFF Special Projects Division

Since 1996, KPFF's Special Projects Division has been at the forefront of addressing specialized challenges in project development. With over 150 team members in three offices strategically located in Seattle, WA, Tacoma, WA, and Long Beach, CA, our approach combines dedicated project managers, a skilled technical team, and a commitment to innovation. We offer a comprehensive range of services including civil, structural, and mechanical engineering, machinery design, construction and project management, and planning services.

We specialize in the management and design of heavy civil, structural, industrial, and waterfront infrastructure projects across the United States. Our team thrives on solving unique, multi-disciplinary challenges, collaborating closely with clients such as the Ports of Long Beach, Los Angeles, Tacoma, and Seattle, as well as various municipalities and government agencies.

Join us at KPFF Special Projects Division and be part of a dynamic team driving innovation and excellence in project delivery.

Job Description

You will work on complex civil engineering projects for ports, container terminals, marinas, shipyards, cruise facilities, US Coast Guard facilities, utility infrastructure, brownfield redevelopment, habitat restoration, electrification programs, industrial stormwater systems, and light industrial developments. These projects span planning, design, permitting support, construction documentation, and construction-phase services. You will contribute to multidisciplinary teams delivering waterfront, industrial, and transportation infrastructure throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond.

The role combines technical design, project coordination, client interaction, and mentoring responsibilities. You will work closely with project managers, senior technical staff, and clients while expanding your influence across increasingly complex projects.

What You Will Own

• Prepare engineering designs, calculations, reports, and construction documents for civil infrastructure projects.
• Design grading, drainage, stormwater, sewer, water, and site-development systems.
• Coordinate technical deliverables, project schedules, and budgets with internal project teams.
• Conduct field visits and site inspections to support project planning, design validation, and construction activities.
• Support permitting and regulatory-compliance efforts with the support of trusted permitting partners, throughout project delivery.
• Maintain direct communication with clients and contribute to long-term client relationships.
• Mentor junior engineers and technical staff while supporting their professional development.

Qualifications

What We Require

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering.
• Minimum five years of full-time civil engineering or site-development design experience.
• Professional Engineer license in Washington State or ability to obtain Washington reciprocity.
• Experience preparing civil engineering construction documents using AutoCAD.
• Experience designing site-development infrastructure including grading, drainage, sewer, and water systems.
• Authorized to work in the United States. This position is not eligible for employment visa sponsorship.

Also Valuable

• Familiarity with Civil 3D.
• Familiarity with MicroStation.
• Familiarity with any stormwater and hydraulic modeling software
• Experience working on waterfront or marine infrastructure projects.
• Experience supporting permitting or regulatory-compliance efforts.
• Experience with industrial facilities, ports, terminals, or stormwater programs.

Additional Information

Schedule, Workload, and Travel

You are expected to work in the Seattle office three days per week.

The position includes occasional local and regional travel to project sites throughout Puget Sound and along the Columbia River. Employees may also have opportunities for regional travel associated with training, professional development, and corporate networking activities.

Compensation and Benefits

Base Salary Range: $115,000 to $165,000 annually. In addition to base salary, we offer a highly competitive incentive-based bonus structure paid twice each year.

We are passionate about supporting our employees through flexible and comprehensive Benefits. Our Benefits include:

• 401(k) retirement savings plan with employer contribution (regardless of employee contribution)
• Medical insurance (two plans available to choose from)
• Dental insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Health Savings Account (HSA) with employer contribution
• Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Life insurance
• KPFF Paid Family Leave
• Short-term and Long-term disability insurance
• Paid holidays (including two floating Holidays)
• Paid time off (vacation, sick, jury duty)

Growth Path

During your first year, you will take primary responsibility for the design and reporting associated with a complete civil discipline within a project.

By year three, you will lead the design and reporting for multiple civil disciplines across several projects while coordinating multidisciplinary teams that may include structural, geotechnical, mechanical, and electrical engineers.

Principals and Senior Associates mentor you directly and provide technical guidance, project-management support, and career-development coaching.

This role is structured to prepare experienced engineers for project management responsibilities. As your experience grows, you will take on increasing ownership of project planning, client coordination, budgeting, multidisciplinary team leadership, and project delivery, supported by direct mentorship from Principals and Senior Associates as well as formal and on-the-job training.

How to Apply and What to Expect

The hiring process begins with a screening call to assess alignment with the position requirements, followed by a Teams interview. If selected to move forward, you will participate in a full day of in-person interviews with project leaders and potential future teammates. The hiring process begins with a screening call to assess alignment with the position requirements, followed by a Teams interview. If selected to move forward, you will participate in a full day of in-person interviews in Seattle.

We reimburse reasonable travel and lodging expenses associated with in-person interviews. During the interview process, you will meet with our civil engineering leadership team, the Reporting Center Manager, and several civil engineers with similar experience levels who would be your direct peers on the team.

Out-of-state Professional Engineers are welcome to apply. Professional Engineers currently licensed in California, Idaho, Oregon, Texas, and Louisiana are particularly likely to have experience relevant to our practice; however, any candidate who can obtain Washington State licensure will be considered.

Relocation assistance is negotiable for the right candidate.

Equal Opportunity

KPFF is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to any legally protected characteristic.

Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. Visa sponsorship is not available.

About Us

KPFF Special Projects Division

Since 1996, KPFF's Special Projects Division has been at the forefront of addressing specialized challenges in project development. With over 150 team members in three offices strategically located in Seattle, WA, Long Beach, CA, Tacoma, WA, our approach combines dedicated project managers, a skilled technical team, and a commitment to innovation. We offer a comprehensive range of services including civil, structural, and mechanical engineering, machinery design, construction and project management, and planning services.

We specialize in the management and design of heavy civil, structural, industrial, and waterfront infrastructure projects across the United States. Our team thrives on solving unique, multi-disciplinary challenges, collaborating closely with clients such as the Ports of Long Beach, Los Angeles, Tacoma, and Seattle, as well as various municipalities and government agencies.

Join us at KPFF Special Projects Division and be part of a dynamic team driving innovation and excellence in project delivery.

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KPFF

KPFF, a multi-office, multi-discipline engineering firm, is committed to Excellence, Trust, Relationships, Stability, and Passion. With over 60 years of experience, we provide creative solutions for diverse projects, scales, and industries. Our 1,500 professionals in 36 offices nationwide thrive in a decentralized structure, offering abundant flexibility and numerous opportunities for professional growth. At KPFF, join a legacy of excellence where every engineer contributes to innovative solutions and impactful projects.

KPFF Consulting Engineers participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

KPFF Consulting Engineers is an equal opportunity employer and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, ethnicity, national origin, religion, marital status, sex/gender (including sexual orientation or gender identity), pregnancy, veteran status, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, or any other protected basis.