Salary : $116,400.00 - $142,488.00 Annually
Location : Thurston County - Lacey, WA
Job Type: Full Time - Permanent
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number: 26DOT-HQ-0W634
Department: Dept. of Transportation
Division: Headquarters
Opening Date: 09/08/2026
Closing Date: 10/6/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Description
The Opportunity

WSDOT is seeking an experienced, civil, environmental, or water-resources engineer and mission-driven leader to join our State Hydraulics Office as the Fish Passage Design Manager in Lacey, WA This is a unique opportunity to lead some of Washington's most challenging fish passage, stream restoration and transportation water-crossing projects. If you have a strong background in hydraulics, fish passage, stream restoration, geomorphology, scour or related water-resources engineering and are ready to apply that expertise at a statewide level, this position offers an opportunity to make a lasting difference.
As the Fish Passage Design Manager, you will lead the Fish Passage Section serving the Olympic Region while also providing statewide technical leadership for fish passage, stream restoration, and streambed scour design. You will work alongside engineers, project teams, Tribal governments, regulatory agencies, and other partners to turn complex environmental and transportation challenges into practical, resilient solutions where rivers, fish, infrastructure, and the public safety intersect. Your work will directly influence how WSDOT designs and delivers transportation projects that restore fish passage, protect communities and infrastructure, improve stream function, and keep Washington moving. You will also help shape statewide engineering practices, mentor technical professionals, advance practical, resilience solutions that balance environmental stewardship with the needs of a modern transportation system. If you are looking for a leadership role where your technical expertise can influence projects, policy, and engineering practices across Washington, we want to hear from you.
What to Expect

Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, you will:

• Lead statewide fish passage and stream restoration policy and standards by developing, implementing, and enforcing design criteria, policies, and procedures for fish passage, stream restoration, streambed scour, and hydraulic practices.
• Direct the Fish Passage Design program and provide statewide technical authority by leading the Olympic Region Fish Passage Design Section and serving as the final technical authority for complex, high-risk design decisions.
• Ensure quality and consistency in project delivery by overseeing and approving hydraulic and restoration design products and ensuring deviations from standards are technically justified, documented, and approved.
• Guide multidisciplinary project delivery across scoping, design, and construction for Fish Passage, Mega, Improvement, and Chronic Environmental Deficiencies projects.
• Provide advanced hydraulic engineering expertise through complex analyses of hydrology, hydraulics, scour, lateral migration, and by establishing guidance for bridge hydraulics, water crossing design, and habitat-integrated restoration.
• Strengthen workforce expertise by mentoring, training, coaching, and developing staff, consultants, and project engineers statewide.
• Coordinate with partners and represent WSDOT with regulatory agencies, Tribal governments, federal partners, and technical organizations at regional and national levels.
• Support program integration and infrastructure resilience by contributing to bridge scour, stormwater retrofit, major drainage, and chronic environmental deficiency programs, including budgeting, policy updates, and long-term strategy.
• Provide emergency response leadership by serving as a statewide hydraulic expert during emergency events and providing technical analysis, risk assessment, and executive-level communication.
• Advance WSDOT's values by incorporating environmental stewardship, safety, responsive service, innovation, and long-term sustainability into decisions and project delivery.

Qualifications

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

• Technical Leadership in Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering: Applies advanced expertise in fish passage, stream restoration, streambed scour, and transportation hydraulics to guide complex design, construction, and restoration solutions.
• Policy Development and Implementation: Leads development, interpretation, and implementation of complex engineering and environmental policies and ensures consistent application of standards.
• Strategic Leadership and Organizational Alignment: Sets direction and priorities for programs with statewide impact and aligns multidisciplinary teams, resources, and stakeholders to achieve agency goals.
• Program and Financial Management: Applies management principles to program delivery, budgeting, resource allocation, prioritization, and performance management across large-scale programs.
• Project Delivery and Execution Excellence: Directs complex, multidisciplinary projects through development, design, and construction while ensuring quality, consistency, and compliance.
• Decision-Making Under Uncertainty: Exercises independent judgment in high-risk or ambiguous situations and balances technical, financial, environmental, and legal considerations.
• Change Leadership and Continuous Improvement: Leads organizational change and process improvements that enhance efficiency, consistency, and quality.
• Collaborative Leadership and Influence: Builds relationships across organizational boundaries, including internal teams, executive leadership, regulatory agencies, Tribal governments, and industry partners, and influences outcomes without direct authority.
• Workforce Leadership and Development: Leads, mentors, and develops staff and indirect reports while building technical capacity and accountability.
• Communication and Executive Presence: Communicates complex technical and policy information clearly to executives, engineers, stakeholders, and external partners.
• Stakeholder and Regulatory Engagement: Coordinates with federal, state, and local agencies, Tribal governments, and industry partners to achieve compliant and collaborative outcomes.
• Systems Thinking and Integration: Integrates engineering, environmental, operational, and policy considerations to develop practical, forward-looking solutions.
• Growth Mindset: Actively demonstrates a commitment to learning and growth.
• Service-Oriented: Takes action to meet the needs of others.

In addition to the competencies above, the following are also required:

• A valid driver's license.
• Registration as a Professional Engineer in Washington State.
• Ability to obtain WSDOT Water Crossing and Stream Restoration Design and Documentation Certification within six months.
• Ability to obtain WSDOT Scour Certification within six months.

It is preferred that qualified candidates also demonstrate:

• Hydraulic and Transportation Engineering Expertise: Demonstrates advanced expertise in hydraulic engineering and transportation design and construction and/or advanced academic preparation in civil engineering or a related field, with emphasis in hydraulics or water resources.

Important Notes

• This recruitment may also be used to fill additional positions per business needs.
• This position offers flexible/hybrid remote work options.
• 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.
• 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

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-0W634 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.

Note: If the position offers benefits which differ from the following, the job posting should include the specific benefits.

Insurance Benefits
Employees and their families are covered by medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance. There are multiple medical plans with affordable monthly premiums that offer coverage throughout the state.

Staff are eligible to enroll each year in a medical flexible spending account which enables them to use tax-deferred dollars toward their health care expenses. Employees are also covered by basic life and long-term disability insurance, with the option to purchase additional coverage amounts.

To view premium rates, coverage choice in your area and how to enroll, please visit the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) website. The Washington Wellness program from the Health Care Authority works with PEBB to support our workplace wellness programs.

Dependent care assistance allows the employee to save pre-tax dollars for a child or elder care expenses.

Other insurance coverage for auto, boat, home, and renter insurance is available through payroll deduction.

The Washington State Employee Assistance Program promotes the health and well-being of employees.

Retirement and Deferred Compensation
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