Civil Engineer 3 - Office of the County Engineer

Salary: $55.24 - $70.31 Hourly
Location : Tacoma, WA
Job Type: Career Service - Full Time
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number: 26-00006
Department: Planning and Public Works
Opening Date: 01/02/2026
Closing Date: 6/5/2026 11:59 PM Pacific


Description
Summary
Why It's a great opportunity: This is a unique opportunity to lead a highly skilled, multidisciplinary team shaping the future of transportation in one of the region's fastest-growing counties. In this role, you will supervise transportation planners, engineers, and GIS asset management specialists who contribute to maintaining, operating, and improving the County's road system. Your leadership will guide critical work such as transportation and traffic modeling, analysis of key traffic data, and development of growth projections that directly inform major capital improvement projects and long-range planning.

You will also play a central role in strengthening how the division delivers projects by helping standardize design guidance, performance metrics, and project delivery processes-ensuring consistency, efficiency, and high-quality outcomes across the organization.

You will have the opportunity to lead and influence several foundational initiatives that shape the County's transportation system for years to come, including:

• Development and advancement of the County Transportation Travel Demand Model.
• Updates to County Road Design Standards and Standard Drawings.
• Modernization of the County Road Design Manual.
• Improvements to the Capital Project Delivery Process.
• Monitoring of division-wide performance metrics.
• Preparation of the Annual Transportation Concurrency Report.

This position supports high-impact programs that improve safety, mobility, and community quality of life, including:

• Vision Zero Safety Action Plan - advancing the goal of eliminating traffic fatalities and serious injuries .
• Six-Year Transportation Improvement Program - planning and prioritizing critical infrastructure investments.
• Traffic Impact Fee Program - ensuring growth contributes to the transportation system it relies on.

This role offers the chance to combine technical leadership, strategic planning, and team development while delivering transportation solutions that directly benefit communities across the county. It is an ideal opportunity for an experienced professional who wants to make a lasting impact on regional mobility, safety, and infrastructure investment.
Why It's a great department: PPW is a diverse and fast-moving department filled with motivated professionals working to ensure Pierce County is positioned to handle growth while building, operating, and maintaining reliable infrastructure to support livable communities. PPW is responsible for a broad and complex portfolio of services that provides unique opportunities to collaborate, innovate, and inspire. We are 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 come from utilizing your engineering skills but also from supporting direct reports, customers, division managers, and external stakeholders in efforts towards standardization and development. Your experience with project management, shifting priorities, and multitasking 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 opportunities in Pierce County to build on a great career while directly impacting the communities in Pierce County.

Core daily responsibilities:

• Manages assigned resources to complete work and secure approval of major engineering programs using acceptable methods of planning and management.
• Provides leadership and direction to the professional and technical staff responsible for implementing a major engineering program; delegates authority to personnel commensurate with responsibility and ensures the proper functioning of assigned staff.
• Trains and educates staff on criteria and standards. Provides engineering guidance to staff and makes engineering recommendations to County officials and other departments.
• Assists in developing recruitment and selection processes. Conducts final interviews; recommends individuals for hire.
• Completes reviews and evaluations of subordinate employee job performance. Initiates disciplinary action when necessary. Responds to grievances at the first level.
• Develops, monitors and controls assigned budget and establishes financial management policies and procedures.
• Assumes overall responsibility for completeness and accuracy of projects and ensures that all regulations and applicable engineering standards and criteria.
• Coordinates assigned activities with other sections, departments, and jurisdictions.
• Sets the team's goals and objectives and participates in the development of the division's goals and objectives.
• Studies, analyzes, 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.
• Develops, implements, and reviews ongoing programs, policies and procedures, assessing job effectiveness and cost efficiencies.

Minimum Qualifications

• A resume and cover letter are required for this position.
• Licensure as a Professional Engineer in the State of Washington
• Nine years of progressively responsible, broad based civil engineering experience 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.
• Professional Engineers licensed in another state must be able to obtain licensure by the State of Washington within six months of employment.
• A valid driver's license is required.

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.

At Pierce County, diversity, equity, and inclusion means commitment, not a single step. We strive to foster an inclusive environment that supports equitable access to opportunities throughout your career. We want to recruit, develop, and maintain a talented workforce from various backgrounds, cultures, lifestyles, and perspectives, committed to our vision. Employees of the County have local, direct, and visible impact in our diverse community. Will you join us in keeping 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


This position requires that a cover letter and resume be attached individually to the application. Have you ensured that both are attached?

• Yes
• No

02


This position requires that you have a PE in the State of Washington or the ability to obtain one in less than 6 months. Do you have a PE in the State of Washington?

• Yes
• No

Required Question