PUBLIC WORKS ENGINEER

Job Description

Put your engineering skills to work where they matter most. Ferry County is seeking a County Engineer who wants to focus on technical work, meaningful projects, and community infrastructure, without the added responsibility of supervising a department or managing personnel.

• County Applications are available on our county website.  www.ferry-county.com
• Email applications to: riskmgmt@co.ferry.wa.us
• Mail applications to: HR/Risk, 350 E Delaware Ave #15, Republic, WA 99166

This is an exempt full-time position with benefits.

• Annual Salery for 2026 $80,168.40
• Annual Salary for 2027 $92,196
• 32 hours a week part-time telecommuting can be negotiated.

Position Summary

The Public Works Engineer provides professional engineering expertise, technical guidance, and project oversight for the District’s Public Works infrastructure, facilities, and capital improvement programs.

This position serves as a principal technical advisor to the Board of Commissioners on Public Works engineering matters and is responsible for providing independent professional analysis, recommendations, and engineering judgment to support the Board’s decisions.

The Public Works Engineer works closely with the Public Works Director and District staff to coordinate the planning, design, construction, maintenance, and improvement of public infrastructure. The position may provide technical direction and establish engineering priorities for staff and consultants but does not have direct supervisory responsibility for District employees.

The Public Works Engineer reports directly to the Board of Commissioners.

The Public Works Engineer shall serve as the District’s designated professional engineer and shall have professional responsibility and authority for engineering activities performed by or on behalf of the District that require the services, direction, supervision, or professional judgment of a Washington-licensed professional engineer.

Essential Functions

Engineering and Technical Services

Provide professional civil engineering expertise and independent engineering judgment concerning District infrastructure, facilities, utilities, roads, drainage, stormwater, and other public works systems.
Evaluate existing infrastructure and identify maintenance, repair, replacement, rehabilitation, and capital improvement needs.
Develop and maintain long-range infrastructure planning recommendations for consideration by the Board of Commissioners.
Prepare or oversee preparation of engineering studies, technical reports, feasibility analyses, cost estimates, plans, specifications, and construction documents.
Review engineering plans, specifications, designs, studies, reports, and technical documents prepared by consultants, contractors, staff, and other agencies.
Ensure engineering recommendations and project designs are consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, standards, permits, and accepted engineering practices.
Provide technical interpretation and recommendations regarding engineering standards, construction requirements, infrastructure conditions, and project alternatives.
Serve as the District’s technical resource on complex public works engineering matters.

Capital Improvement and Project Management

Assist the Board and Public Works Director in developing and maintaining the District’s Capital Improvement Program.
Identify and prioritize capital improvement projects based on infrastructure condition, public need, regulatory requirements, risk, cost, and available funding.
Develop project scopes, preliminary budgets, schedules, and implementation strategies for Board consideration.
Manage or oversee assigned capital projects from planning and preliminary design through permitting, design, bidding, construction, inspection, and closeout.
Coordinate with engineering consultants, architects, contractors, surveyors, utilities, regulatory agencies, and other governmental entities.
Review project progress, costs, schedules, change orders, claims, and technical issues and provide recommendations to the Board.
Monitor construction projects for compliance with approved plans, specifications, contracts, permits, and applicable standards.
Review and recommend approval of contractor pay applications, change orders, project modifications, and final project documentation within established authority.
Identify project risks and provide timely recommendations to the Board regarding cost, schedule, scope, safety, regulatory, and technical issues.

Board of Commissioners Support

Serve as the principal engineering advisor to the Board of Commissioners.
Attend Board meetings and present engineering reports, project updates, technical findings, recommendations, and alternatives.
Prepare staff reports, technical memoranda, presentations, and other materials necessary for Board decision-making.
Explain complex engineering and infrastructure issues in clear, understandable terms to elected officials and the public.
Provide independent professional recommendations to the Board, including identification of potential risks, costs, alternatives, and long-term implications.
Respond to Board requests for engineering analysis, investigations, studies, and recommendations.
Assist the Board in establishing public works engineering priorities, capital improvement strategies, and infrastructure policies.

Regulatory Compliance and Permitting

Monitor changes in applicable federal, state, and local regulations affecting District infrastructure and public works projects.
Coordinate with regulatory agencies and assist the District in obtaining required permits and approvals.
Provide technical guidance concerning environmental, stormwater, water quality, transportation, utility, construction, and other applicable regulatory requirements.
Assist in ensuring District projects comply with applicable Washington State requirements and recognized engineering standards.
Advise the Board and Public Works Director regarding regulatory risks, compliance requirements, and potential changes affecting District operations or projects.

Technical Direction and Coordination

Provide technical direction to Public Works staff as necessary to accomplish Board-approved engineering objectives and projects.
Establish technical priorities, procedures, standards, and project requirements within the scope of professional engineering responsibility.
Coordinate engineering activities with the Public Works Director to ensure consistency between Board direction, engineering requirements, department operations, and available resources.
Provide guidance and technical support to staff without assuming responsibility for personnel supervision, discipline, hiring, termination, scheduling, or performance evaluation.
Coordinate the work of outside consultants, contractors, and other professional service providers engaged by the District.
Review the technical work of consultants and contractors and make recommendations concerning performance, deliverables, and compliance with contract requirements.

Budget and Financial Planning

Provide engineering input into the development of annual public works budgets and long-range capital improvement funding requirements.
Prepare project cost estimates and financial forecasts for engineering and capital projects.
Assist in evaluating funding alternatives, grants, loans, rates, assessments, and other financing mechanisms applicable to public works projects.
Assist the Board and Public Works Director in evaluating project priorities in relation to available funding and long-term financial obligations.
Monitor project expenditures and provide recommendations concerning budget adjustments when necessary.

Public and Interagency Relations

Represent the District in meetings with regulatory agencies, neighboring jurisdictions, utilities, consultants, contractors, community organizations, and the public regarding engineering and public works matters.
Establish and maintain effective professional relationships with state and local agencies and other organizations.
Respond to technical inquiries from property owners, contractors, consultants, agencies, and members of the public.
Attend public meetings, hearings, and community meetings when engineering expertise or project representation is required.

Authority and Reporting Relationship

The Public Works Engineer is a professional position that operates with substantial independence and is accountable directly to the Board of Commissioners for assigned engineering responsibilities.

The Public Works Engineer:

Reports directly to the Board of Commissioners.
Receives policy direction and priorities from the Board.
Provides independent professional engineering advice and recommendations to the Board.
Works collaboratively with the Public Works Director on implementation of Board-approved projects and policies.
Provide technical direction to Public Works staff and consultants.
Does not have direct supervisory authority over District employees.
Does not hire, terminate, discipline, conduct formal employee evaluations, approve personnel actions, or otherwise exercise personnel-management authority over Public Works staff without consultation of the Public Works Director or Board Of County Commissioners.
Does not replace or assume the administrative responsibilities of the Public Works Director.
May direct or coordinate technical work necessary to accomplish Board-approved engineering projects, while personnel management remains with the Public Works Director.
Nothing in this description limits the authority of the Board of Commissioners to assign additional engineering, technical, or project-related responsibilities consistent with the position.

Professional Engineering Authority

The Public Works Engineer shall be a Washington State-licensed Professional Engineer and shall exercise independent professional engineering judgment within the scope of the Engineer’s license. The Engineer shall have professional responsibility and authority for engineering activities of the District that require professional engineering services, including engineering analysis, design, technical review, engineering recommendations, and other professional engineering services.

The Public Works Engineer shall maintain professional independence in matters requiring professional engineering judgment and shall have authority to recommend, approve, reject, or require modification of engineering work based upon applicable laws, regulations, engineering standards, project requirements, and professional judgment.

The Public Works Engineer may provide technical and professional engineering direction to Public Works staff and consultants. Such direction is technical in nature and does not constitute personnel supervision. Personnel supervision, including hiring, discipline, performance evaluation, scheduling, and other personnel actions, remains the responsibility of the Public Works Director or other designated administrative authority.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, or a closely related engineering field.
Professional Engineer (PE) license in the State of Washington, or the ability to obtain Washington registration within an established period following appointment.
Two years of progressively responsible professional engineering experience, preferably involving public works, municipal infrastructure, utilities, transportation, construction, or capital improvement projects.
Demonstrated experience with public works project development, design, construction, and project management.
Valid Washington State driver’s license or ability to obtain one within [30] days of employment.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience working for a municipality, county, special purpose district, utility district, or other public agency.
Experience presenting technical information and recommendations to an elected governing board.
Experience managing public works capital improvement projects.
Knowledge of Washington State public works laws, regulations, permitting requirements, and contracting practices.
Experience with grant-funded public works projects.
Experience coordinating engineering consultants and contractors.
Familiarity with Washington State Department of Transportation, Department of Ecology, and other applicable state and federal standards and requirements.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of:

Principles and practices of civil and public works engineering.
Public infrastructure planning, design, construction, maintenance, and rehabilitation.
Engineering design standards, specifications, and construction practices.
Public works contracting and project delivery methods.
Capital improvement planning and project budgeting.
Applicable federal, state, and local regulations governing public infrastructure.
Construction inspection, contract administration, and project closeout.
Engineering economics, cost estimating, and life-cycle infrastructure considerations.

Ability to:

Exercise sound and independent professional engineering judgment.
Analyze complex infrastructure problems and develop practical solutions.
Provide objective technical advice to elected officials.
Translate complex engineering information into clear recommendations for non-technical decision-makers.
Manage multiple projects, deadlines, and priorities.
Review and evaluate engineering work prepared by consultants and contractors.
Establish technical direction without exercising personnel supervisory authority.
Communicate effectively with elected officials, staff, contractors, consultants, regulatory agencies, and the public.
Prepare clear, accurate technical reports and recommendations.
Work independently while maintaining effective coordination with the Public Works Director and District staff.

Working Relationships

The Public Works Engineer maintains a professional working relationship with the Board of Commissioners, Public Works Director, District employees, Consultants, Contractors, Regulatory Agencies, other Governmental Agencies, Utilities, Property Owners, and members of the public.

The position is expected to maintain a clear distinction between technical engineering authority and administrative/personnel authority. Technical direction provided by the Public Works Engineer is intended to accomplish Board-approved engineering objectives and does not constitute employee supervision.

Physical and Environmental Requirements

The position requires the ability to work in an office environment as well as periodically visit construction sites, public infrastructure, facilities, and project locations.

Work may involve walking on uneven terrain, climbing stairs or ladders, entering construction areas, and exposure to weather, noise, dust, traffic, and other field conditions. Appropriate personal protective equipment may be required when visiting construction sites.

Disclaimer

This job description describes the general nature and level of work performed by employees in this position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, knowledge, skills, abilities, or working conditions associated with the position. The Board of Commissioners may assign additional duties consistent with the purpose and scope of the position.

Ferry County is an equal opportunity employer, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, marital status, national origin or handicap status and is committed to maintaining a drug free workplace.