Water Resources Engineer

Summary

Are you ready to be part of dynamic, diverse, and driven team who step together toward challenges and who strive to continually improve processes and outcomes? We are a well-funded, mission-driven public service agency who work at the interface of risk-reduction/infrastructure-protection and habitat restoration along major rivers throughout King County and we are looking for a talented Water Resources Engineer to join our team. You will have a chance to work on challenging flood hazard identification and mapping projects in locations spanning from steep rivers of the Cascade Mountains to tidally influenced lowlands. These projects are a diverse and technically challenging body of work.
In addition to the current opening, this recruitment may be used to establish a pool of qualified candidates to fill future TLT Engineer II positions throughout the Department of Natural Resources & Parks (DNRP) over the next six (6) months.

About the Role:
We are seeking to hire a Water Resources Engineer (Engineer II) to join the countywide Technical Services team working on water bodies throughout King County. This position is within the Water & Land Resources Division in the River and Floodplain Management Section. This team is focused on identifying and mapping flood hazards, reviewing hydraulic and hydrologic studies, and supporting other work of the River and Floodplain Management Program including our seasonal Flood Warning program, flood risk planning and communications, structural protection of public infrastructure and agency and community partnerships to limit development in flood risk areas.
This position provides excellent opportunities to apply and further develop your engineering skills including 1D- and 2D-hydraulic modeling, hydrologic and GIS analyses, and to conduct research including gathering technical information and field data. You will use your skills to support flood hazard identification and mapping, review of project proposals for flood risk reduction and habitat restoration and assist with floodplain mapping projects and related assignments. You will be working with senior hydraulic engineers on floodplain mapping, floodplain development review, and consultant contracted projects to serve King County residents, community partners and tribes while coordinating with local, state and federal agencies such as Seattle Public Utilities, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, USGS and US Army Corps of Engineers. In your work, you will collaborate with other engineers, geologists, planners, ecologists and you will have the opportunity to collaborate and build relationships with other county divisions and departments, landowners and members of the community.

You will work with myriad sources and types of data including precipitation, stormwater and streamflow data, various surface elevations, topographic data from lidar and PLS surveys, GIS point, line and raster data, and model files from 1D- and 2D-HEC RAS, SRH 2D, HSPF, and other hydrologic and hydraulic model types. You will have the opportunity to receive training to learn and become proficient in new models, updated versions of existing models, new platforms of GIS (ArcGIS Enterprise and ArcGIS Online), and data analysis in GIS, statistics, and other relevant software. Your duties will make you familiar with the King County Surface Water Design Manual, King County flood code and related regulatory requirements. You will receive Swiftwater Awareness, First Aid and CPR training, and be expected to participate in seasonal Flood Warning Center and Flood Patrol operations during your tenure with RFMS.
In the wake of historic flooding in December 2025, we have a greater need to provide technical support to numerous flood risk reduction programs and projects around King County. This 3-year temporary position will immediately make a difference by supporting floodplain engineers who provide expertise to the River and Floodplain Management Program, Water and Land Resources Division and other King County Departments delivering quality work on time for new and on-going projects and programs.

This position follows a hybrid work model, blending remote and in-person work.

About the Team:
The Technical Services Unit in the River and Floodplain Management Section is a team of subject matter experts in hydrology, hydraulics, geomorphology, geology, flood and geohazard identification, and King County’s Flood Warning Program. We work at the intersection of water, sediment and people to help keep residents informed and keep people, property and infrastructure safe from flood hazards. We work across the 80+ staff River and Floodplain Management Program, the primary service provider to the King County Flood Control District and stay up to date on the latest analytical tools, approaches and applications to inform flood risk. From floodplain and channel migration zone mapping to hazard mitigation like home elevations and the 60+-year-old Flood Warning Program, Tech Services staff specialize in finding solutions to ambiguous, complicated questions. We gather, manage, interpret and store large amounts of data including Lidar, aerial ortho-imagery, drone imagery, and field data, collaborate with our partners and contractors to work efficiently and share our results with the public.

The work King County performs along its major rivers is at the forefront of developing and implementing innovative, multi-benefit solutions addressing today's environmental, river management and habitat challenges. The Water & Land Resources Division (WLRD), the parent Division for the River and Floodplain Management Section (RFMS) is comprised of dedicated, experienced, professionals delivering a diverse portfolio of environmental and engineering services, including flood risk management, stormwater management, water quality improvement, salmon recovery, fish passage improvement, noxious weed removal, and support to agriculture and forestry in King County. This portfolio puts the WLRD at the center of key initiatives launched by the County Executive, including the Flood Hazard Management Plan, Clean Water Healthy Habitat, Fish Passage Restoration, and the Land Conservation Initiative.

Who Are We?
The Water and Land Resources Division (WLRD) is at the forefront of King County’s efforts to protect and restore clean water and healthy habitat and strengthen the resilience of communities, environment, and infrastructure in the face of climate change. We are a dedicated workforce of more than 450 supported by an annual budget of ~$280 million. WLRD has a strong track record of developing innovative strategies to protect working farms and forests, restore habitat, improve water quality, and provide county residents with equitable access to green space. We house the Land Conservation Initiative, which aims to preserve our last, most important lands. Our forestry and agricultural programs help individuals protect their lands and support local food production. We house four salmon recovery forums where we collaborate with scores of partners to plan, design, and build habitat projects. We partner with regional jurisdictions to help residents and businesses reduce the threats posed by production, use, storage, and disposal of hazardous materials. We are the primary service provider to the King County Flood Control District, contributing to flood preparedness and constructing and maintaining facilities that restore rivers and reduce risk. Our one true local service to unincorporated King County is stormwater management, protecting water quality, reducing flooding, and building and maintaining facilities. Finally, we provide regional science and laboratory services to an array of customers, maintaining high-quality data sets used to assess water quality and habitat trends, and provide Best Available Science to inform decision making. In two words, we are a watershed utility.

Commitment To Equity and Social Justice:
King County, named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is a diverse and vibrant community that represents cultures from around the world. Our True North is to create a welcoming community where everyone can thrive. We prioritize equity, racial and social justice, making it a foundational and daily expectation for all employees. As a Water Resources Engineer , you will actively apply these principles in all aspects of your work. Learn more about our commitment at http://www.kingcounty.gov/equity .

Apply now for a rewarding career at the Water and Land Resource Division of King County Department of Natural Resources & Parks (DNRP). Join our talented workforce in protecting and restoring the natural environment and promoting more resilient, sustainable, and equitable communities. Enjoy training, comprehensive benefits , and growth opportunities.

Job Duties

What You Will Be Doing:
Assist senior staff in various work assignments including hydrologic analyses, 1D and 2D hydraulic modeling, and GIS analysis.Act as task manager of floodplain mapping projects to assist with production of maps, profiles and floodplain elevations for various FEMA and non-FEMA studies. Research, organize and assess technical information. Coordinate the preparation of technical documents.Review of work for floodplain compliance. Review hydraulic modeling inputs, outputs and model parameters. Plan, develop and implement field data collection for projects.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

Qualifications You Bring:

• Bachelors in civil engineering or equivalent with an intermediate level of experience in hydraulic modeling of natural systems.
• Demonstrated working knowledge of open channel hydraulics, river mechanics, and/or floodplain management.
  
• Strong working knowledge of HEC-RAS-1D, -2D, and ArcGIS Pro.
• Demonstrated strong oral and written communications skills.
• Strong problem solving and analytical skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively on a team and also independently to accomplish tasks with minimal supervision.

Competencies You Bring:

• Collaborates: Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Values Differences: Recognizing the value that different perspectives and cultures bring to an organization.
• Communicates Effectively: Developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.
• Nimble Learning: Actively learning through experimentation when tacklingnew problems, using both successes and failures as learning fodder.
• Tech Savvy: Anticipating and adopting innovations in business- building digital and technology applications.
• Manages Ambiguity: Operating effectively, even when things are not certain, or the way forward is not clear.

It Would Be Great if You Also Bring:

• WA State driver's license.
• A Licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.) in the State of Washington, or Engineer-in-Training Certification.
• Drone pilot's license (part 107 certification)
• Skill at handling politically sensitive issues.

Supplemental Information

Working Conditions:

• Remote and Onsite Work Details: The Technical Services Unit works in a hybrid model, with days in the office as well as telecommuting. The ratio of remote to onsite work will be dependent on business needs and is subject to change. The primary onsite location is King Street Center, 201 S. Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98104.
• Remote Work Location Requirement: Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements. King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. The individual selected for this opportunity will join an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work as we transition to the department's hybrid environment. Employees will be provided with a County-issued laptop and must maintain a home workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours.
• Work Schedule: This full-time position will work a 40-hour work week. This position is covered under the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and is overtime eligible. The typical work schedule is 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday- Friday . Work outside the typical work schedule including early mornings, evenings and weekends may be required from time to time. Participation in flood warning and emergency response programs and activities in support of King County's Flood Warning Center operations should be anticipated during flood events.
• Union Representation: This position is represented by PROTEC Local 17A bargaining unit.
• Physical Requirement: This position has a regular requirement to walk and navigate uneven ground outside along rivers, in forests, and rural areas during inclement weather and at all hours. These work areas can be dark, pose difficult terrain features, and often require specialized safety gear such as personal floatation devices (PFD). Position will require participation in flood emergency response requiring Swiftwater awareness training.

Application and Selection Process:
We welcome applications from all qualified applicants. We value diversity, diverse perspectives and life experience and encourage people of all backgrounds to apply.

Application materials will be screened for clarity, completeness and alignment with the experience, qualifications, knowledge, and skills essential for this role to determine which candidates may be invited to participate in one or more panel interviews. The final candidate will be required to successfully pass a pre-employment physical. Please ensure that your application materials clearly detail how your skills and experience meet the minimum qualifications outlined in this posting.

Applications without the following required materials may not be considered for this position.

To apply, submit a:

• Complete Online Application with response to supplemental questions.
• Cover Letter.
• Resume (not required but will be reviewed if submitted).

Note: Additional documents won't be considered during minimum qualification screening.

Who to Contact: For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact Isaac Good at (206) 848-0576 or igood@kingcounty.gov .

Discover More About the Water Land & Resources Division: Visit our website .

Discover More About DNRP: Visit our website , explore an interactive map of our recent accomplishments and check us out at Facebook , X (formerly Twitter) , LinkedIn , TikTok , Instagram , YouTube and Keeping King County Green News .

Sign up for Job Alerts to be notified of additional career opportunities with King County. Select the Natural Resources category for DNRP opportunities and explore other categories of interest.

Forbes recently named King County as one of Washington State's best employers. Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

Guided by our " True North ", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles--we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer: No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and support our employees' health and well-being. Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs:

• Excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage options: King County provides eligible employees with options, so they can decide what’s best for themselves and their eligible dependents
• Life and disability insurance: employees are provided basic coverage and given the opportunity to purchase additional insurance for both the employee and eligible dependents
• Retirement: eligible King County employees may participate in a pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and a 457(b) deferred-compensation plan
• Transportation program and ORCA transit pass
• 12 paid holidays each year plus two personal holidays
• Generous vacation and paid sick leave
• Paid parental, family and medical, and volunteer leaves
• Flexible Spending Account
• Wellness programs
• Onsite activity centers
• Employee Giving Program
• Employee assistance programs
• Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position
• Training and career development programs

For additional information about employee benefits, visit our Benefits, Payroll, and Retirement Page .

This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible King County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the CBA prevails.

NOTE: Benefits for Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Short Term Temporary (STT) positions, including leave eligibility and/or participation in the pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, will vary based upon the terms and details of the position. Short Term Temporary positions are not eligible for an ORCA transit pass.

For inquiries about the specifics of this position, please contact the recruiter identified on this job posting.

Closing Date/Time: 7/12/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

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