Environmental Services Principal Professional Engineer

Position Description

The Environmental Services Department’s Capital Delivery Group is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Principal Professional Engineer interested in leading diverse and challenging engineering projects and supervising a small team that may include professional and associate engineers and engineering technicians. We are a dynamic and fun engineering group that supports a wide variety of projects for the Wastewater, Stormwater, and Solid Waste utilities with a $30M average annual Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) budget. 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. Our capital projects may include wastewater treatment plant process improvements, storm and wastewater sewer pipe improvements, pump station upgrades, building upgrades, and green stormwater infrastructure projects.

This position significantly contributes to Environmental Services Department’s mission to provide sustainable and cost-effective management services to protect the environment and recover value from Tacoma’s waste streams. The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of civil engineering principles, strong technical expertise, project management experience, and proven leadership abilities.

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

Jefferson Avenue and Hood Street Surface Water Interceptor Project

https://youtu.be/07AtM7lg9LY

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=49&t=14s

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.

Responsibilities:
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Conduct feasibility studies, site investigations, and analysis to assess project viability and identify potential challenges or risks.
• Perform full cycle project design and management for multi-million-dollar capital projects from planning through construction. Prepare technical specifications, calculations, engineering designs, and plans for engineering projects.
• Provide quality assurance reviews of engineering designs, drawings, specifications, and calculations, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and industry best practices.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including architects, contractors, and consultants, to ensure effective project coordination and delivery.
• Provide mentorship and career guidance to junior engineers, supporting their professional development and growth.
• Supervise staff, manage workloads, coordinate training, provide quality assurance reviews, and monitor progress toward project goals.
• Conduct regular project meetings, communicate project progress to stakeholders, and address any issues or concerns that arise.
• Monitor and control project budgets, resources, and contracts.
• Stay updated with advancements in civil engineering technologies, codes, and regulations, and apply them to enhance project efficiency and quality.
• Manage personnel actions such as resolving grievances and issues, conducting performance evaluations, and providing recommendations for hiring, terminations, discipline, and salary actions.

Qualifications

Minimum Education*
Bachelor's degree in civil engineering or directly related field.

Minimum Experience*
5 years including 1 year prior as a licensed professional engineer or project lead/intermittent supervisor

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

Desired Experience
5 years as a licensed professional engineer specializing in wastewater, stormwater, and solid waste capital project delivery.

Knowledge & Skills

• 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 apply online by completing the application and attaching 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.
If you are a veteran and would like to be considered for veteran's preference points, please attach a copy of your DD214 to your application.

City of Tacoma's Commitment to Diversity 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.

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! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2n5MWl8KFvI

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.

Compensation & Benefits
Pay Details: Hourly Rate: $61.26 - $86.25
Annual Salary: $127,420.80 - $179,400.00

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: 10/31/2025 5:00 PM Pacific

• 

• City of Tacoma

• 253-591-5400

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