About WSDOT
Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is a multimodal organization with a global reputation for excellence! Our dedicated workforce is responsible to plan, design, build, and operate an integrated transportation system that safely and efficiently moves people and goods throughout the state. In addition to maintaining over 18,000 lane miles of state highway and 4,100 bridges, WSDOT manages the world's longest floating bridge, executes an award-winning Active Transportation Plan, holds a record for the world's widest tunneling project, and operates the largest ferry system in the nation!
 
The Opportunity
WSDOT has a unique and exciting opportunity for an experienced engineer in the Port Orchard Project Engineering Office to assist in the delivery of projects that will provide significant benefits to the local community and environment. Port Orchard is a scenic city located on the Sinclair Inlet with nearby access to many waterfront parks, trailheads, and the Bremerton to Seattle Ferry. The Assistant Principal Engineer will assist in providing leadership, management, and engineering oversight to the Port Orchard Construction and Project Development Office. This position ensures, through effective management and adherence to WSDOT policies, that appropriate standards and Practical Design solutions are incorporated into projects and that construction contracts are administered to the expected quality, safety, and stewardship standards. The Port Orchard Project Engineering Office delivers a diverse range of projects, from unique geographic locations to the types of engineering challenges faced. In addition to project oversight, this position will provide an inclusive office environment that values diversity and creates an atmosphere of respect for all employees and stakeholders. Your work will be pivotal in meeting the goals of this agency.
 
This position directly supports the agency's strategic plan and goal areas of 1) Workforce Development, by providing staff with a workplace that supports and promotes training and development for professional growth and upward mobility; 2) Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, by creating, influencing, and fostering a physically and psychologically safe workplace where all employees feel that they belong; and 3) Resilience, by ensuring, through effective management controls and adherence to WSDOT policies, that delivery of project activities for the Olympic Region are administered to the expected quality, safety, and stewardship standards to support Washington’s long-term resilience.
 
What to Expect
Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Assistant Project Engineer will:

• Assist the Project Engineer to provide leadership, management, and oversight to and engineering field office.
• Apply policy and standards to highway design and construction projects.
• Be responsible for deliverables pertaining to design documents and contract documentation, materials certifications, environmental compliance, change order management, EEO/COA compliance, final records, and contract reporting. 
• Initiate personnel and staffing actions necessary to carry out program delivery. 
• Ensure appropriate and optimum use of the organization’s resources and enhance the effectiveness of employees through timely appraisal and professional development opportunities. 
• Promote a safety focused work environment; actively engage in the Safety Office’s Leading Indicators program.

 
This role requires periodic visits to heavy civil construction sites; site visits may be performed in inclement weather in daytime or nighttime and require traversing rough, steep, and uneven terrain. Periodic weekend and evening work required as needed for delivery or emergency response.

Qualifications
To be considered for this opportunity, the following are required:

• Licensed by the State of Washington State as a professional engineer or be licensed as a professional engineer in another state and be able to obtain licensure in Washington State within six (6) months of employment.
• Strong engineering background, experience managing construction contracts, and supervisory experience.
• Possession of an unrestricted valid driver’s license to legally operate vehicles in Washington State
• Strong working knowledge of principles of management with strategic leadership abilities to build and maintain effective teams; motivate, coach, mentor, and empower employees; embrace and lead change; resolve conflicts; encourage employee engagement; develop and implement process improvements; and demonstrate interpersonal skills to a diverse interdisciplinary workforce in developing and delivering multiple projects.
• Working knowledge of the state and federal department’s design and construction principles and practices, contracting methods and procedures, and program (budget, schedule, environmental, quality, etc.) accountability.
• Experience managing significant design and construction contracts.
• Strong skills in establishing plans and setting objectives and goals that support overall program strategy/results; monitoring, measuring performance, and making necessary course corrections to the same.
• Excellent skills in effective communication with employees, peers, superiors, and the public. Skills to negotiate challenging issues with various stakeholders and facilitate agreement between competing interest groups. Written, verbal, and presentation skills to communicate information effectively and professionally to a diverse audience, including those with non-technical backgrounds, both virtually and in-person, using a variety of electronic media.
• Skills to make responsible, timely, and effective decisions in the best interest of the department, based on an array of complex and competing issues.

It is preferred that qualified candidates also have:

• Two (2) years of progressively responsible experience as a licensed professional engineer in construction or design of highways, bridges, and related structures.
• Four (4) years of demonstrated and progressively responsible managerial/supervisory experience in managing a diverse workforce.
• Experience supervising public sector employees in a union environment.
• Excellent knowledge of the department's design and construction principles and practices, contracting methods and procedures, stewardship agreement, and program (budget, schedule, environmental, quality, etc.) accountability.

 
*To review the full Position Description, don't hesitate to contact the recruiter in the Contact Us section of this posting.
 
Important Notes 

• This recruitment may also be used to fill additional positions per business needs.
• This position offers flexible/hybrid remote work options.
• This position is expected to attend in-person staff and contract administration meetings as needed.
• Travel is an expectation of the position and may be required on a regular, sporadic, or as needed basis. Overnight travel may be required.
• This position requires a Professional Engineers License issued by the State of Washington. License holders from other states will be expected to obtain a WA State PE license within six months of appointment. 
• The recruiting efforts for this position may be extended beyond the displayed closing date for as long and until a sufficient candidate pool has been established. However, the first review of applications will be conducted May 29, 2024. The Appointing Authority reserves the right to make a hiring decision at any time thereafter. It is to your benefit to submit your application as soon as possible.
• In addition to base salary, employees may be entitled to other forms of compensation depending on the type, duties, or location of the position. For union-represented positions, more information on other forms of compensation can be found in the applicable Collective Bargaining Agreements. Information on other compensation types for non-represented positions can be found in Chapter 357-28 of the Washington Administrative Code.
• WSDOT does not use the E-Verify system, therefore we are not eligible to extend STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT). For more information, please visit www.uscis.gov. 

Why WSDOT 

• Work-Life Balance – We are committed to ensure that our staff experience the reward of public service, while also sustaining a routine that suits each individuals’ lifestyle. As such, there are a number of flexible schedule options available, including telework options for eligible positions.
• Paid Leave – In addition to 12 paid holidays, full-time employees mayearn up to 25 paid vacation days per year!
• Tuition Assistance – Permanent employees have several options for assistance with education expenses, including tuition reimbursement programs, government discounts at participating colleges throughout the state, and eligibility for federal student loan forgiveness.
• Plan For Your Future – WSDOT offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes a variety of healthcare options. Employees also have their choice of state retirement programs, and much more. Go to State Benefits for more information. 

Check out this video to learn more: Why WSDOT? 
How to Apply
Applications for this recruitment will be accepted electronically. Your relevant experience may be evaluated to determine salary. Therefore, it is very important that the “Work Experience” portion of the application be completed in as much detail as possible.
In order to be considered for this opportunity, please include the following with your online application:

• An attached Resume outlining (in reverse chronological order) your experience to date.
• An attached Cover Letter that further explains your qualifications, and indicates why you believe you are a viable candidate for this role.
• Contact details for a minimum three (3) individuals who can attest to your work performance, technical skills, and job-related competencies. This information can be entered in the “References” section of the online application; does not require an additional attachment. 

 
Please click the "APPLY" button to proceed. Note that you will be prompted to either sign in, or create an account. This step is required in order to submit an application to this opportunity.

WSDOT is an equal opportunity employer. We value the importance of creating an environment in which all employees can feel respected, included and empowered to bring unique ideas to the agency. Our diversity and inclusion efforts include embracing different cultures, backgrounds and viewpoints while fostering growth and advancement in the workplace. All persons, regardless of race, ethnicity, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, and/ or gender identity, are encouraged to apply. Persons with disabilities needing assistance in the application process, or those needing this job announcement in an alternative format may contact the listed Recruiter.
 
WSDOT does not use the E-Verify system, therefore we are not eligible to extend STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT). For more information, please visit www.uscis.gov. 

Contact Us
For inquiries about this posting, you may contact the assigned Recruiter, Alyssa Nastasi, at alyssa.nastasi@wsdot.wa.gov. Please be sure to reference 24DOT-OR-3W053 in the subject line.