Environmental Services Engineer

Position Description

**This position is open until filled. Applications received by February 2, 2026, will receive first consideration.

The City of Tacoma’s Environmental Services Department has exciting opportunities for entry level and experienced engineers to join our Capital Delivery Team designing and delivering diverse and challenging engineering projects. We are a dynamic and fun engineering group that supports a wide variety of projects for the wastewater, stormwater, and solid waste utilities with an annual $30M average capital budget. Environmental Services currently has two openings which may be filled with Associate Engineers, Engineers, Senior Engineers, or Professional Engineers, depending on experience, certifications, and licensure.

The Capital Delivery Group provides a unique opportunity for engineers to work on a wide variety of complex projects covering the full spectrum of municipal infrastructure improvements and may include work in civil, environmental, electrical, and mechanical engineering disciplines. Our capital projects may include wastewater treatment process improvements, storm and wastewater sewer pipe improvements, pump station upgrades, building upgrades, and stormwater green infrastructure projects.

The below video links provide an overview of the award winning, exciting, and diverse engineering projects we often work on:

Central Wastewater Treatment Plant Flood Project:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jp0BiB_5w_8

Process Control System Upgrade:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQPWWadONfU&list=PLHN0JO4Eyqcc9RtkqmwBT3XcZpYheNCQ7&index=48&t=14s

Jefferson Avenue and Hood Street Surface Water Interceptor Project

https://youtu.be/07AtM7lg9LY

The applicants selected for these positions will work in the Center for Urban Waters facility located adjacent to Tacoma’s Thea Foss Waterway in downtown Tacoma with a variety of dynamic and creative engineers, scientists, and technicians.

Primary Responsibilities:
(may vary in complexity and responsibility depending on hired classification level):

• Perform full cycle project management for multi-million-dollar capital projects from planning through construction.
• Prepare technical specifications, calculations, engineering designs, and plans for engineering projects.
• Coordinate closely with stakeholders, including public and private agencies, internal City stakeholders, and team members to ensure successful and efficient project delivery.
• Monitor scope, schedule, budget and workload of team members during design and construction.
• Manage the work of specialty engineering consultants as needed to supplement in-house engineering knowledge and expertise.
• Perform engineering quality control reviews of work products, technical reports, letters, plans, specifications, cost estimates, and as-built drawings.

Qualifications

Associate Civil Engineer Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in civil engineering or directly related field*

Senior Associate Civil Engineer Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in civil engineering or directly related field*
• 2 years of engineering-related experience; or possession of Washington State EIT*

Principal Associate Civil Engineer Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in civil engineering or directly related field*
• 4 years of progressively responsible professional level engineering experience*

Civil Engineer, PE Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Civil engineering or directly related field*
• 4 years of professional level engineering experience*
• Washington State Licensed Professional Engineer

*Equivalency: 1 year of experience = 1 year of education

Desired Qualifications:
Education or experience with civil engineering design and project management, specifically in the disciplines of stormwater and wastewater collection systems, wastewater treatment plants, pump stations, green stormwater infrastructure, roadway design, and solid waste facility management.

Knowledge & Skills

Knowledge & Skills (may vary in complexity and responsibility depending on hired classification level):

• Analysis: use data and information in a clear and rational process to assess and understand issues, evaluate options, form accurate conclusions, and make decisions.
• Research: Effectively identify, collect, organize, and document data and information in ways that make the information most useful for subsequent assessment, analysis, and investigation using current software and techniques. Compile and maintain reports, records, and various other forms of pertinent information in an organized and professional manner.
• Leadership: Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with co-workers, the general public, and other municipalities and federal agencies. Ability to lead small to large working teams. Establish, coordinate, and direct work teams to accomplish assigned tasks to a successful completion. Ability to work as a team member in a managing role. Ability to coordinate multi-disciplined project teams.
• Problem Solving: Use intelligence, common sense, hard work and tenacity to solve particularly difficult or complicated challenges. Employ expertise and credibility, evaluate and resolve complex or sensitive issues and problems.
• Communications Effectiveness: Effective communication both verbal and in writing including the compilation of reports, presentations and records; and interacting respectfully and sensitively with individuals and groups to develop and maintain productive relationships and achieve results. Makes excellent customer service the standard, responding to changing customer needs, and helping customers implement complete solutions.
• Professionalism: Conduct all assignments in a professional and timely manner. Maintain strong work ethic and reliability. Maintain professional skills that apply to all aspects of field of assigned specialty through continued education and/or training. Model effective group behavior such as listening, discussing, negotiating, encouraging and motivating. Maintain current knowledge of industry by reading and interpreting applicable ordinances, rules, regulations, practices, policies and procedures.
• Technical: Proficient in engineering practices and principles within the field of expertise. Experience in complex project design and the preparation of engineering plans, technical specifications, cost estimates and bid documents. Ability to negotiate the means to attain regulatory compliance with agencies. Ability to be innovative and make independent decisions.

Selection Process & Supplemental Information

Application Process

Interested individuals should complete the online application and attach a resume and cover letter by the closing date and time listed on the job announcement. Applications received without attaching the required materials may not progress in the selection process.

Applicants who are eligible for veterans scoring criteria (Veterans Preference) MUST attach a copy of their DD-214 member copy 4 (proof of military discharge form) at time of application to be eligible for review for Veteran's Preference points.

Get Assistance

For assistance with the application process or questions regarding this job announcement please contact the Human Resources office at (253) 591-5400 by 4:00 p.m. of the closing date of the job announcement.

For technical difficulties using the Neogov system, call the applicant support line at 1-855-524-5627 between 6:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. This will allow us to assist you before the job announcement closes.

Communication with the City of Tacoma

We primarily communicate via email during the application process. Emails from Tacoma.gov and/or governmentjobs.com should be placed on your safe domain list to ensure that you receive notifications in a timely manner. As a precaution, you may also want to check your junk email folders.

City of Tacoma’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

At the City of Tacoma, we're on a mission to make our workforce as diverse and inclusive as the community we serve. We're committed to eliminating racial and other disparities, and we actively seek out candidates from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures. Join our team at the City of Tacoma and help us build a more vibrant, inclusive, and equitable community for all.

The City of Tacoma believes that diversity of thought, background, and experience contributes to our success and innovation. If you’re passionate about this role and our mission, we encourage you to apply. If you have a less traditional background, we want to hear about your transferrable skills and experience. We value a variety of perspectives and are excited to see what you bring to the table.

The Community

Tacoma is centrally located just 32 miles south of the city of Seattle and 31 miles north of the state capital, Olympia. The City of Tacoma is also home to the Port of Tacoma, which is among the largest container ports in the United States. Like most cities in the northwest, Tacoma is surrounded by beautiful nature, offering residents many opportunities for outdoor adventures.

Largely suburban in nature with a small, but dense, urban core, Tacoma is home to numerous institutes of higher learning that attract students from across the country. The University of Washington Tacoma, Pacific Lutheran University, University of Puget Sound, a satellite campus of the Evergreen State College, three community/technical colleges, and several trade and business schools are within Tacoma's geographic area. Downtown's Cultural District is the site of the Washington State History Museum, Museum of Glass, the Tacoma Art Museum, and America's Car Museum.

With its affordable housing and distinctive neighborhoods and business districts, the city has been recognized numerous times as a best city to live in the nation. To see a few of the great things Tacoma has to offer, view this YouTube Video!

View this exciting video to learn more about the City of Tacoma: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2n5MWl8KFvI

Compensation & Benefits

Pay Details:

Engineer, Associate Hourly Rate: $43.95 - $61.87
Engineer, Senior Hourly Rate: $54.60 - $76.88

Engineer, PE Hourly Rate: $58.70 - $82.67

Engineer, Principal Hourly Rate: $63.10 - 88.85

Employee Benefits | City of Tacoma

The City of Tacoma provides excellent medical, dental and vision plans for the whole family; paid holidays and paid leave; participation in the Tacoma Employees' Retirement System (alternate plan for Police/Fire); continuing education and advancement opportunities and a growing variety of City-sponsored health and wellness opportunities and incentives.

Medical Coverage: For eligible employees and their families, including domestic partners and dependent children age26 or younger.

Dental Coverage: For eligible employees and their families, including domestic partners and dependent children age26 or younger.

Vision Coverage: For eligible employees and their eligible dependents.

Paid Leave: City employees are entitled to received paid holidays, sick/vacation leave or personal time off (PTO), depending upon union affiliation and appointment type.

Insurance Plans: Employees are covered by a long-term disability plan. Short-term and expanded long-term disability insurance plans are also available to employees. The State Industrial Insurance Act also covers employees.

Deferred Compensation: Income can be set aside on a pretax basis and invested for supplementation of normal retirement income.

Retirement: All employees of the City, except members of the Police and Fire services, Tacoma Rail and certain project employees, are included in the Tacoma Employees' Retirement System. Information on the Tacoma Employees' Retirement System can be found at www.cityoftacoma.org or by calling (253) 502-8200.

Other Employment Information

Direct Deposit: Employees are paid on a bi-weekly schedule by direct deposit.

Salary Increases: Based on satisfactory job performance, the City provides for a regular progression of salary increases for most classifications according to the salary schedule.

Union Affiliation: Many job classifications are covered by union security provisions which require union membership, dues, or payment of equivalent service fees.

Note: The provisions of this job announcement do not constitute an expressed or implied contract. Any provision contained herein may be modified and/or revoked without notice.

Closing Date/Time: Continuous

• 

• City of Tacoma

• 253-591-5400

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