County Engineer

Job Description

Under the direction of the Public Works Director, the County Engineer is responsible for project development and implementation (including grant and permit applications, utility and agency coordination; design; preparation of plans, specifications and estimates; contract administration, and construction inspection), development review, traffic engineering, annual pavement preservation program, administration of the County’s Bridge Inspection Program and other functions as assigned. Must maintain courteous and cooperative working relationships with administrative and other County personnel, public agencies, and the general public, and work under the guidance of Local/State/Federal regulations and County policies/procedures. Relocation assistance may be available for the ideal candidate.

Examples of Duties:
Engineering Duties

• Fulfill the statutory duties of County Engineer as provided in RCW 36.80.
• Design, prepare, and coordinate the development of construction engineering plans and specifications on all (as a project manager) or portions of (as a team member) road, bridge, drainage, or traffic signage and design improvements, and other transportation improvement projects and similar designs. Develop cost estimates and recommendations towards final cost estimates. May certify with Professional Engineer’s seal and signature, if applicable, that engineering designs conform to accepted professional engineering standards and practices and the requirements of Washington State law.
• Prepare and participate in the development of detailed construction drawings, topographical profiles and related maps and specification sheets used in Public Works design projects planning and construction coordinating closely with the County Surveyor.
• Review complex design plans and specifications for conformance to job requirements. Develop and check complex specialized contract provisions, design agreements and design calculations and attend pre-bid and pre-construction conferences to outline principle construction features.
• Compute advanced mathematical calculations used in developing profile, cross-sections, etc. Plot, profile and cross-section, figure grade lines, calculate plots, traverses and similar criteria. Establish points and elevations, proper location and drainage for streets, levees, airport runways and other like structures.
• Utilize modern computer assisted drafting programs and techniques in plan review and project design; monitor technology trends and make recommendations to the Director as needed.
• Review and coordinate the preparation and use of traffic signs; prepare plans and drawings for other traffic control devices; develop and analyze results of traffic engineering studies. Supervise the Traffic Division of road maintenance.
• Check street plans and profiles of short plats and sub-divisions in order to assure conformance to standards of the American Public Works Association, State Department of Transportation, and County ordinances. Prepare Engineer’s reports relative to design deficiencies and recommend the proper corrective action in obtaining compliance. May represent Public Works at public hearings.
  Coordinate work products and participate with Quad-County RTPO.
• Review development plans for storm drainage compliance with County and State Department of Ecology Standards. Prepare staff reports with respect to utilities for proposed developments. Design and coordinate subsurface and drainage improvement projects. Prepare summaries of design deficiencies and recommend the proper corrective action.
• Explain and interpret agreements to contractors; enter “as built” information to office plans. Evaluate partial stage completion and recommend contract payments. Prepare construction reports for matching funds and cooperative contracts with federal, state and city governments.
• May oversee all or a portion of the Department’s Flood Control Zone District coordinating closely with the Department’s Water Resources Manager.
• May oversee portions of the Kittitas County Airport (Bowers Field) coordinating with the Airport Manager.
• Oversee the inspection of the construction of public works projects; review plans and specifications for contract construction work; observe the work of the contractor and verify that it conforms to plans and specifications.   Request and monitor material quality control review, sampling and analysis; preparation of soil profiles (testing and sampling) in connection with roadway location and construction design; evaluation of construction materials.  Ensure record files relative to sampling and testing are complete and accurate. May prepare and review the preparation of monthly cost and progress estimates, other engineering data and final reports upon the completion of construction jobs. Ensure that all phases of road projects proceed on schedule. Ensure compliance from utility companies and other organizations involved in projects and that their construction meets specifications.
• Coordinate contractor laboratory tests of soil conditions and all testing of materials associated with Department construction projects.
• Coordinate with surveyors in the computation of survey field notes and the preparation of topographic and contour maps, plans, profiles, cross-sections, mass diagrams, and other data; personally, does the more difficult computations and engineering drafting. Review the computations, drawings, and mapping of surveyors or consulting engineers; prepares estimates of materials and earthwork quantities and costs for construction and maintenance of structures; may prepare and check property descriptions.
• Assist general public by answering questions and making referrals relative to special use permits, road improvements, and developments, both in the office and at neighborhood meetings; explain requirements of special use permit process, developments and road improvement districts and methods of establishing them; maintain close coordination between parties involved (citizens, Commissioners, other Public Works officials) from beginning to project end.
• Prepare more difficult and administrative reports, develop correspondence, records, and comprehensive reports as assigned in support of engineering projects.
• Direct investigations and work with appropriate personnel to develop resolutions of claims and complaints from contractors or property owners. Maintain office records of design, construction and other engineering activities, as required by County, State, and Federal regulations.
• Coordinate with the County Surveyor to ensure accurate, complete and quality field survey data is collected and that information is acquired in a cost-effective, efficient manner. Direct the preparation of, and prepare, more complex property descriptions.
• Develop and maintain effective relations with the public. Represent Public Works on various committees, at neighborhood organization and community meetings, public hearings, before governmental bodies, and in legal processes.
• Assist in the development of a needs assessment in regards to the reconstruction, rehabilitation and/or routine maintenance of the County’s transportation system.
• Perform routine and in-depth inspections for all types of bridge and culvert deficiencies and maintenance items that require replacement, rehabilitation and/or repair.
• Oversee the County’s bridge inspection program.
• Lead all required annual County Road Administration reporting efforts.
• Oversee all transportation improvement grant applications and manage grant compliance requirements.

Staff Management

• Supervise the Design Construction and Bridge Program divisions. Provide professional direction and support to all engineering and technical positions.
• Mentor and provide professional level oversight to Engineer in Training.
• Oversee daily and weekly work schedules, approve weekly timesheets and paid leave requests.
• Train and coach staff, develop and conduct performance evaluations with assigned staff, and make performance improvement and disciplinary recommendations to the Public Works Director.
• Assist in the hiring and onboarding of new staff.

This job description is a summary of the primary functions and expectations for this position. Additional department-related duties may be assigned as required.