Salary: $81.17 - $94.12 Hourly
Location : Seattle Municipal Tower, 700 5th Ave., Seattle, WA
Job Type: Civil Service Exempt, Regular, Full-time
Job Number: 2026-00524
Department: Seattle Public Utilities
Division: Project Delivery & Engineering Branch
Opening Date: 06/04/2026
Closing Date: 7/7/2026 4:00 PM Pacific
Position Description
About Seattle Public Utilities:
Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) is a community-centered utility that delivers vital services to Seattle residents and businesses including drinking water, drainage and wastewater, and garbage/recycling/compost. SPU also provides drinking water for 1.5 million customers in the region. SPU's work includes system maintenance and improvements and keeping Seattle clean. Over 1,500 SPU employees work with our community to provide affordable and equitable stewardship of our water and waste resources for future generations.
SPU commits to Our City Values and Race and Social Justice as core principles that guide our work. We actively take steps to dismantle systemic racism and increase service equity. We value diverse life experiences and strive to create a workplace that is welcoming to all.
Position Description
Are you a professional civil engineer with a strong background in supervising multidisciplinary programs, managing infrastructure assets, and leading emergency response engineering? If so, Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) is looking for a
Supervising Civil Engineer to lead an engineering team, and we hope you consider applying!
SPU's Project Delivery and Engineering Branch (PDEB) is seeking a collaborative leader to manage multiple critical utility programs, including corrosion protection, landslides, spot drainage, condition assessment, damage assessment, claims investigation, and emergency response engineering.
This position supervises a dedicated team of 6 to7 direct reports (including 5 engineers and 1 to 2 technical staff) and 1 indirect intern. You will oversee four separate O&M programmatic budgets, balance workloads across both O&M and CIP programs, and interface with multiple external agencies and jurisdictions to ensure our infrastructure remains safe, resilient, and reliable.
Job Responsibilities
- Team Supervision & Leadership: Provide direct supervision to a team of engineers and technical staff. Direct matrixed staff providing specialized expertise (such as electrical engineers) or supporting large-scale inspections.
- Program & Budget Management: Manage four separate O&M programmatic budgets and balance workloads across both O&M and CIP programs in alignment with SPU objectives. Manage program-allocated vehicles, field testing equipment, specific software, and GIS layers.
- Cathodic & Corrosion Protection: Supervise the testing, operation, maintenance, and capital planning of SPU's corrosion protection infrastructure, consisting of sacrificial systems, shock hazard mitigation systems, and approximately 100 impressed current systems across King County. Ensure annual inter-agency testing and reporting are completed per franchise agreements with partners like Sound Transit, Seattle City Light, and the City of Renton.
- Asset Engineering & Condition Assessment: Coordinate infrastructure inspections for facilities requiring planned outages (e.g., steel water tanks, buried concrete reservoirs, and water transmission pipelines). Oversee the use of CCTV robotic inspection equipment, 3rd-party drone scanning, and satellite technologies for leak detection and settlement monitoring.
- Landslide & Spot Drainage Programs: Serve as the lead for City-wide landslide preparedness coordination. Ensure the success of annual City-wide workshops, manage landslide season on-call staffing, and oversee weekly risk reports. Supervise the execution of the related Spot Drainage CIP program to ensure equitable delivery of drainage and landslide prevention capital projects.
- Emergency Response & Claims: Supervise and provide emergency response engineering, pipeline failure assessments, and engineering assistance to SPU field crews. Supervise sewer backup claim investigations, and act as a lead damage assessor or supervisor following seismic events.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications:
- Education: Bachelor's degree in civil engineering or civil engineering technology (or a combination of education, training, and/or experience providing an equivalent background).
- Experience: Requires six (6) years of professional civil engineering experience, including at least two (2) years of supervisory experience.
License, Certification, and Other Requirements:
- Registration as a Professional Engineer (PE) in the State of Washington.
- Current Washington State driver's license or evidence of equivalent mobility.
The Ideal Candidate Will Have:
- Demonstrated experience managing programmatic budgets across O&M and CIP structures.
- Strong collaborative skills to work effectively with interagency partners and alternative jurisdictions.
- Experience guiding prioritization and technical approaches to risk mitigation, landslide preparedness, or asset lifecycle management.
- Ability to develop effective working relationships within a multi-cultural workforce serving a diverse customer base.
- Exposure to all types of weather, Ability to lift 25 lbs, walk on uneven terrain, etc.
Additional Information
Workplace Environment (Telework Expectation): This position allows for the flexibility of a hybrid work schedule. Employees are required to come into the office three times a week. Individual schedules will be agreed upon by the employee and their supervisor.
Application Requirement(s):
- An online application including response to the supplemental questionnaire must be fully completed for consideration.
- A comprehensive Resume and Cover Letter addressing your knowledge, supervisory experience, and technical expertise related to this position.
- The full salary range for this position is: $81.17 - 94.12 per hour.
How to Apply:
- Submit complete City of Seattle online application
- Upload your current resume
- Include a cover letter that addresses your knowledge, experience, and interest related to this position. In your cover letter, please also address the following question: What experience, hobbies or interests do you have that will give you confidence navigating steep forested slopes, climbing ladders, and entering confined space such as a 54" pipe vis a 24" diameter opening?
***DISCLAIMER*** If you do not attach both a current resume and cover letter to your application you may not be considered for the role.
For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact: Kyle Chow at
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:
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:
01
Please select the statement that best describes your professional experience in Civil Engineering
- I have Less than 6 years of Experience
- I have 6 or more years of experience
02
Do you possess a valid Washington State Driver's License (or evidence of equivalent mobility)?
03
Which of the following technical program areas do you have experience in? (Check all that apply)
- Cathodic/Corrosion Protection Infrastructure
- Asset Condition Assessment (CCTV, drones, or facility inspections)
- Landslide Preparedness Coordination & Spot Drainage
- Emergency Response Engineering / Seismic Damage Assessment
- None of the above
Required Question