Project Engineer Iv Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

Salary : $87,024.91 - $145,041.94 Annually
Location : FX. CTY. GOVERNMENT CENTER, 12000 GOVERNMENT CENTER PKWY., FAIRFAX (EJ32), VA
Job Type: FT Salary W BN
Job Number: 26-00853
Department: DPWES Wastewater Management
Opening Date: 05/30/2026
Closing Date: 6/12/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
Pay Grade: S29
Posting Type: Open to General Public
Job Announcement
$5,000 Signing Bonus*
Are you driven by the opportunity to improve essential infrastructure and make a lasting impact on your community? The Wastewater management team in the department is seeking a skilled and passionate engineer to lead the county's Sanitary Sewer Reimbursement Program. This industry leading program plays a critical role in addressing development-driven capacity challenges and ensuring Fairfax County wastewater system can support the needs of the future.
The county requires developers to upgrade sewer which does not have capacity for new development. These upgrades will not only meet the needs of the proposed development but also be sized to accommodate future growth anticipated in the county's Comprehensive Plan. The Reimbursement Program establishes a fair and transparent process for reimbursing developers for a portion of costs when the new infrastructure supports the needs of the community beyond the proposed development. Under supervision of the Engineer V, this position allows you to take the lead on a dynamic and impactful program, guiding the entire reimbursement process from agreement development to construction monitoring and project closeout.
Responsibilities include:

• Monitoring and reporting on the status of developer-led projects from rezoning through construction.
• Serving as a point of contact for developers as they navigate the county's development process.
• Responsible for reviewing reimbursement documentation including formal agreements and reimbursement requests during construction.
• Complete periodic site inspections to monitor construction progress and review change order requests.
• Leading the refinement of templates, agreements, processes, and tracking procedures in support of the reimbursement program.
• Tracking reimbursement program annual spending and projecting future reimbursement cashflow.
• Performing other related tasks as assigned, including engineering or project management support on county master planning efforts.

The Ideal candidate will possess:

• Proven accountability in managing complex processes or projects, consistently delivering accurate work and meeting commitments with minimal oversight.
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to convey technical information clearly, facilitate productive discussions, and provide timely, professional responses to stakeholders and senior management.
• Demonstrated skill in building and maintaining collaborative partnerships with internal staff, external agencies, developers, engineers, and community members.
• Strong process management capabilities, including organizing workflows, maintaining documentation, and identifying opportunities to streamline and improve program procedures.
• Exceptional attention to detail and organizational skills to support thorough document reviews, accurate tracking, and reliable reporting.

DPWES is a diverse, nationally accredited and award-winning public works agency with approximately 1,000 employees providing solid waste, capital facility development, wastewater, stormwater, urban forestry, and land acquisition management services for the most populous county in Virginia. Join our team to help us protect the environment and serve the people of Fairfax County by creating and preserving a sustainable community that is an ideal place to live, work, and play for everyone.
The County offers excellent benefits, including a variety of leave programs to promote balance for employees. This position would be eligible for both annual and sick leave, volunteer leave, numerous paid holidays, and the ability to earn compensatory leave. Learn more in the benefits section below.
Benefits:
Fairfax County Government is committed to our employees, and offers comprehensive benefits, including a defined-benefit retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; paid leave; tuition reimbursement; and reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. Through our LiveWell Program and the County Benefits Division, we endeavor to cultivate a culture of wellbeing that empowers, educates, and engages employees and retirees to make life-long choices that promote a holistic approach to their physical, mental, emotional, social, spiritual, and financial wellness. Please review our awesome benefits:
This position currently will work at the Fairfax County Government Center, located at 12000 Government Center Pkwy, Fairfax VA 22035. The Wastewater Planning and Monitoring Division will be moving to a new County facility at 6000 Freds Oak Rd in Burke, VA. in the Spring of 2027.
Note: Wastewater Management positions are responsible for providing uninterrupted sewer service to residents during extreme inclement weather or other emergencies. This position is designated as emergency service and is subject to 24-hour on-call and may be required to report to work during extreme inclement weather or other emergencies, including after-hours and weekend work during emergency incidents to fulfill emergency service duties.
*A $5,000 signing bonus is available to new county employees hired in the Engineer IV position.
Employment Standards
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
(Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for "Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to") Graduation from a four-year college or university accredited by the Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technologies with a bachelor's degree in the appropriate engineering or architectural field; plus, four years of progressively responsible professional experience in the appropriate engineering or architectural field.
CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:

• A valid driver's license.
• Possession of a valid Virginia Professional Engineer or Architect license.

An individual who possesses a valid Professional Engineer or Architect license in another state will be granted a temporary exemption to this requirement pending the Board for Architects, Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, Certified Interior Designers & Landscape Architects decision regarding that individual's application for reciprocity.
Please note that if the selected candidate is licensed in another state, they will be required to obtain a Virginia PE or RA license through the reciprocity process within twelve (12) months of the award letter date as a condition of employment.
NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background and driving record check to the satisfaction of the employer.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Three (3) years of experience with the design or construction of wastewater utilities.
• One (1) year of experience navigating the land development process in Fairfax County and/or neighboring jurisdictions.
• One (1) year of experience with budgetary planning, tracking, and reporting at the project or program level.
• One (1) year of experience in Construction Management.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing. Ability to lift and carry items weighing up to 30 lbs. Ability to operate county vehicles to various locations throughout Fairfax County to attend meetings, provide coverage, and to review inspection of contractors. Ability to physically navigate rough terrain and typical construction sites to perform field inspections at project sites or potential sites for future facilities. Ability to produce organized and legible handwritten, typed/computer generated documents including the use of graphics. Ability to wear required personal protective equipment in an outdoor environment, including hardhat, eye protection, hearing protection, safety footwear, long pants, sleeved shirt, and personal fall arrest harness. Visual acuity is required to read data on computer monitor; incumbent must be able to operate keyboard driven equipment and to use other automated technology to input, access and retrieve information. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.
SELECTION PROCEDURE:
Panel interview and may include exercise.
BONUS ELIGIBILITY:
Positions within this classification that are general merit may be eligible for a one-time hiring incentive bonus for new county employees only. This bonus program requires a signed payback agreement between the department and employee.
Fairfax County is home to a highly diverse population, with a significant number of residents speaking languages other than English at home (including ) We encourage candidates who are bilingual in English and another language to apply for this opportunity.
Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.
Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. TTY 703-222-7314. EEO/AA/TTY.
#LI-JT1
Merit Positions
Fairfax County is proud to offer employees an attractive and comprehensive benefits program, including the following:

• Medical/Vision/Dental Insurance Coverage
• Group Term Life Insurance
• Long Term Disability
• LiveWell Program
• Flexible Spending Programs
• Paid Leave (annual, sick, parental, volunteer activity, and more!)
• Paid Holidays
• Deferred Compensation
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employees' Child Care Center
• Continuous Learning Opportunities

Please click for a summary of our benefits.
NOTE: Fairfax County Government is a qualifying employer under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. For more information about the PSLF program:
For additional details please visit the
Non-Merit Positions

1. Non-Merit Benefit Eligible: scheduled to work a minimum 1,040 hours and no more than a maximum of 1,560 hours in a calendar year.
   • Medical/Vision/Dental Insurance Coverage
   • Flexible Spending Program
   • Deferred Compensation
2. Temporary: scheduled to work a maximum of 900 hours in a calendar year.
   • No benefits

01
What is the highest level of education that you have completed?

• Less than 12th grade
• High school diploma or GED
• Some college
• Associate's degree
• Bachelor's degree
• Master's degree
• Doctorate degree

02
If you answered "Some college" for the highest level of education completed, please indicate the number of quarter or semester hours you have completed towards a degree.

• Less than 45 quarter hours
• 45 to less than 90 quarter hours
• 90 to less than 135 quarter hours
• 135 to less than 180 quarter hours
• 180 or more quarter hours
• Less than 30 semester hours
• 30 to less than 60 semester hours
• 60 to less than 90 semester hours
• 90 to less than 120 semester hours
• 120 or more semester hours
• Not applicable

03
Please indicate the major(s) or minor(s) for your completed degree(s). Check all that apply.

• Engineering
• Architectural
• Other (related field)
• Other (non-related field)
• Not applicable

04
If you answered "Other (related field)" or "Other (non-related field)" for the previous question, please list all of your majors and minors. If this question does not pertain to you, or you do not have a degree, enter "Not applicable".
05
How many years of full-time equivalent professional progressively responsible professional experience in the appropriate engineering or architectural field do you possess?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five to less than six years
• Six to less than seven years
• Seven to less than eight years
• Eight years or more

06
Do you currently possess a valid driver's license?

• Yes
• No

07
Do you have a valid Professional Engineer (PE) or Registered Architect (RA) license from the Commonwealth of Virginia or similar registration from another state and can achieve Virginia registration within one year of the start of employment?

• Yes
• No

08
If you responded "Yes" to the previous question, please list your license number, the expiration date, and the state in which you are licensed. If this is not applicable to you, enter "N/A".
09
How many years of experience do you possess with the design or construction of wastewater utilities?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five years or more

10
How many years of experience do you possess navigating the land development process in Fairfax County and/or neighboring jurisdictions?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five years or more

11
How many years of experience do you possess with budgetary planning, tracking, and reporting at the project or program level?

• None
• Less than on...