Salary: $93,288.00 - $138,552.00 Monthly
Location : Thurston County - Tumwater, WA
Job Type: Full Time - Permanent
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number: 26DOT-HQ-05605
Department: Dept. of Transportation
Division: Headquarters
Opening Date: 09/14/2026
Closing Date: 10/5/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Description
The Opportunity

WSDOT is currently seeking a talented Bridge Engineer 5 to support statewide bridge inspection quality assurance and help ensure the safety, reliability, and longevity of Washingtons bridges. Working alongside the State Quality Assurance Bridge Engineer, this position reviews bridge inspection documentation and field practices, provides engineering guidance to inspectors, and supports accurate and consistent application of federal and state bridge inspection requirements. Bring your technical skills, make an impact statewide, and play a key role in maintaining the integrity of Washington's critical transportation infrastructure.
What to Expect

Frequent statewide travel is an important part of this role. This position requires fieldwork, including overnight travel and periods when you may be in travel status for most of the workweek. When not working in the field, this position offers limited flexible/hybrid remote work options.
Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, you will:

• Perform quality assurance reviews of bridge inspection documentation, historical records, field verification, and supporting engineering information to identify compliance concerns and ensure technical accuracy.
• Lead bridge site visits and comprehensive engineering reviews of inspection reports, load ratings, scour appraisals, Plans of Action, and other technical documents.
• Make engineering determinations regarding inspection requirements, reporting compliance, and technical notifications, and coordinate follow-up actions with bridge inspectors and program staff.
• Serve as a technical resource on National Bridge Inspection Standards (NBIS), National Tunnel Inspection Standards (NTIS), the WSDOT Bridge Inspection Manual, and applicable engineering standards.
• Plan, direct, and complete in-service bridge inspections, exercising engineering judgment to evaluate structural conditions and inspection findings.
• Lead bridge inspection teams during field operations, provide technical oversight, assign inspection activities, and mentor inspectors and other team members.
• Perform inspections using specialized access methods and equipment, including technical rope access, under bridge inspection trucks, bucket trucks, scaffolding, boats, and climbing techniques.
• Develop, update, and deliver technical content for statewide bridge inspection training programs and provide technical guidance through classroom instruction, field demonstrations, webinars, and coaching.
• Assist with development and revision of the WSDOT Bridge Inspection Manual by evaluating changes in regulations, engineering practices, and inspection procedures.

Qualifications

This is a Bridge Engineer 5 position. However, the hiring manager reserves the right to fill the position at a lower level in the based on candidate qualifications, providing an opportunity for an individual to gain the required experience on the job as part of a formal "in-training" plan.
At minimum, the following competencies are required:

• Professional Engineer: Current registration as a Professional Engineer (PE) in Civil engineering or Structural Engineer (SE) license in the State of Washington or ability to obtain within six (6) months of appointment through comity.
• Bridge Structural Analysis: Demonstrated knowledge of structural engineering principles and the ability to interpret structural analysis, bridge load ratings, and engineering evaluations in accordance with AASHTO standards
• Bridge Condition Inspection Training: Successful completion of FHWA-approved comprehensive bridge inspection training, or ability to complete within (6) months of hire.
• Bridge Inspection: Demonstrated basic bridge inspection experience under general supervision of a certified Team Leader, including:
  • Accurately identifying and measuring structural defects;
  • Drafting bridge inspection report documentation;
  • And coordinating logistics, equipment, and traffic control for scheduled bridge inspection trips.
• Engineering Judgement: Basic ability to apply engineering judgement to evaluate inspection findings, propose repair or preservation actions, and elevate complex issues to a senior engineer.
• Technical Professional Knowledge: Working knowledge of 23 CFR 650 (NBIS/NTIS) and experience applying bridge and/or tunnel inspection standards in practice.
• Quality Assurance and Quality Control: Some experience contributing to QA/QC review processes and technical bridge evaluations.
• Effective Communication: Proficiency in verbal and written communication.
• Respectful Workplace: Actively contributes to a work environment that fosters respect, inclusion, and equal opportunity for all.
• Growth Mindset: Actively demonstrates a commitment to learning and growth.
• Service-Oriented: Demonstrates a willingness to take action to meet the needs of others.

In addition to the competencies above, candidates at the Bridge Engineer 5 level must also demonstrate:

• Certified Team Leader: Current certification as a Team Leader for bridge and tunnel inspection in accordance with NBIS and NTIS or ability to obtain within six months of appointment.
• Bridge Inspection: Comprehensive experience as a Team Leader for bridge or tunnel inspections, including all common material and span types, NSTM, complex features, and multi-team inspections in accordance with NBIS, NTIS, and WSDOT policies and procedures.
• Effective Training: Facilitates and delivers technical guidance and training to bridge engineers.
• Technical Professional Knowledge: Comprehensive knowledge of NBIS, NTIS, and WSDOT inspection program policies and procedures with demonstrated application in inspection or training activities.
• Effective Communication: Proficiency in verbal and written communication with proven ability to create and deliver presentations, revise technical manuals or guides, and represent the program in technical discussions with local and regulatory partners.

The following qualifications are also required:

• A valid, unrestricted Washington State driver's license.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a valid Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) at the time of hire.
• Ability to work at heights, over waterways, in confined spaces, and outdoors in varying weather and terrain.
• Ability to travel frequently, including overnight travel of up to five days.
• Ability to use specialized inspection equipment and perform technical climbing techniques.

• Ability to respond to emergency situations on a rotation and report to the assigned duty station within 40minutes.

It is preferred that qualified candidates also demonstrate:

• Engineering: Bachelor's degree in engineering from an ABET accredited program.
• WSDOT Bridge Experience: working knowledge of BridgeWorks application and the Washington State Bridge Inspection Manual (WSBIM).
• Bridge Structural Analysis: Demonstrated knowledge of structural engineering principles and the ability to interpret structural analysis, bridge load ratings, and engineering evaluations in accordance with WSDOT standards.

Important Notes

• This recruitment may also be used to fill additional positions per business needs.
• This position requires field work, and overnight travel. When not working in the field, this position offers flexible/hybrid remote work options.
• In addition to the salary range listed, for this specific Bridge Engineer position, an additional 10% assignment pay will be applied when either operating an Under-Bridge Inspection Truck (UBIT) from the bucket or while serving as back-up operator on the bridge deck for a minimum of four (4) hours per working day.
• This position requires frequent overnight travel.
• 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 (6) months of appointment.
• This is a Bridge Engineer 5 position. However, the hiring manager reserves the right to fill the position at a lower level in the based on candidate qualifications, providing an opportunity for an individual to gain the required experience on the job as part of a formal "in-training" plan. The base salaries for each level are:
  • Bridge Engineer 5: $102,996 - $138,552 Annually
  • Bridge Engineer 4: $93,288 - $125,544 Annually
• 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 Information on other compensation types for non-represented positions can be found in of the Washington Administrative Code.

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.
Contact Us

For inquiries about this posting, you may contact the assigned Recruiter at . Please be sure to reference 26DOT-HQ-05605 in the subject line.
More than Just a Paycheck!
Employee benefits are not just about the kind of services you get, they are also about how much you may have to pay out of pocket. Washington State offers one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation.

We understand that your life revolves around more than just your career. Like everyone, your first priority is ensuring that you and your family will maintain health and financial security. That's why choice is a key component of our benefits package. We have a selection of health and retirement plans, paid leave, staff training and other compensation benefits that you can mix and match to meet your current and future needs.

Read about our benefits:
The following information describes typical benefits available for full-time employees who are expected to work more than six months. Actual benefits may vary by appointment type or be prorated for other than full-time work (e.g. part-time); view the job posting for benefits details for job types other than full-time.

N