Senior Engineering Associate - Civil

Salary: $104,707.20 - $133,432.00 Annually
Location : Portland Building, 1120 SW 5th Ave, OR
Job Type: Regular
Job Number:
Bureau: Portland Bureau of Transportation
Opening Date: 10/05/2026
Closing Date: 10/19/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

The Position
Job Appointment: Full-Time
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8 am-5 pm. An alternate schedule may be available.Work Location: 1120 SW 5TH AVE, PORTLAND, OR 97204Benefits: Please check our benefits tab for an overview of the benefits for this position.
Union Representation: PROTEC17To view current labor agreements, please visithttps://www.portland.gov/bhr/employee-relations/labor-relations/labor-agreements.

Application Material: Please click APPLY to submit your application via the City of Portland's online portal. You will need to respond to attach a resume and cover letter.

Senior Engineering Associates support PBOT's technical engineering efforts by performing design and review tasks on capital projects. This includes managing and leading projects and contributing specialized design work to larger projects. Assignments range from intermediate to complex, requiring application of advanced engineering theory, independent judgment, and sound decision-making under the general direction of a registered Professional Engineer.

About Civil Engineering Drafting (CED) Section:

The CED section delivers engineering design for multimodal capital projects-such as arterial and neighborhood street reconstruction, traffic safety enhancements, and pedestrian/bicycle facilities. Success in this section requires strong communication, technical curiosity, and the ability to prioritize and adapt in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
What you'll get to do:

• Performs, directs or reviews design work under the general direction of professional engineers who serve as resource experts and review work for accuracy and quality.
• Develops project concepts using information gathered through research and investigation; performs necessary computations; does cost/benefit analysis; makes recommendations on design criteria; produces preliminary and final designs after approval; makes modifications in design if needed.
• Performs plan review by applying advanced technical knowledge to verify engineering components meet code requirements.
• Performs project management duties including managing assignments from inception to completion, preparing cost estimates, serving as liaison between City and contractor, checking progress of work, keeping project records, recording changes as they occur and making reports.
• Operates computers to input or obtain data, research master files, analyze data, make calculations, prepare reports and maintain data files; runs prepared programs, modifies existing programs as needed for specific application and writes new programs as needed; develops and runs computer modeling and management information system programs.
• Prepares or directs contract bidding process including writing specifications, estimating probable costs, preparing bid documents, reviewing contractor qualifications, participating in meetings with contractors and monitoring work progress after contract is awarded.

An Ideal Candidate will have:

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering or similar field;
• Passed the FE exam at time of hire
• At least two years of civil engineering work experience;
• Experience working for a public agency preferred
• Ability to deliver a high level of customer service, and to carry out their responsibilities with initiative, independence, and creativity while exercising sound problem-solving skills; and
• Have an interest in transportation engineering and multi-modal transportation safety.

Who you are:

• Excellent Communicator: Strong communication skills, including written, in-person, virtual, and group settings to both technical and non-technical individuals.
• Relationship Builder: Values building trust, partnerships, and relationships to support a team-oriented culture and accomplish objectives with others effectively.
• Innovative: Has an aptitude for continuous improvement and can excel in working in changing work environments. Has demonstrated the ability to remain flexible, agile, and calm.
• Technically Strong: Has strong technical skills and subject matter expertise in multimodal transportation engineering as well as relevant civil design software and can provide technical guidance to staff.
• Professional: Is effective in a professional, diverse, multi-cultural environment. Treats customers, co-workers and employees with respect and is accountable.
• Results Driven: Can take charge, bring focus, and finish tasks in a timely, accurate and professional manner in a high paced and dynamic work environment.
• Sound judgment: Can weigh tradeoffs and make independent decisions about complex issues and can balance competing needs in a fast-paced environment.
• Dedicated: Has a passion for public service and holds a high level of pride in making sure that projects, tasks, and emergencies are effectively and efficiently completed

Questions?:Terrol Johnson
Senior Recruiter
terrol.johnson@portlandoregon.gov
To Qualify

Applicants should specifically address and demonstrate in their cover letter and résumé how their education, training, and/or experience meet each of the following minimum qualifications:

1. Ability to build and maintain professional, collaborative working relationships with contractors and co-workers, supported by clear communication and consistent follow-through.
2. Ability to apply advanced technical skills to engineering design work including relevant engineering and office software tools and to build new skills as methods and tools change.
3. Knowledge of engineering principles, practices, and theory related to transportation and public works construction, including physics, mathematics, design standards, general engineering concepts and applicable codes.
4. Ability to interpret and apply information from plans, specifications, maps, design manuals, and complex laws, regulations, and codes.
5. Ability to communicate effectively in both technical and non-technical language, orally and in writing, and to work constructively through differing viewpoints.
6. Knowledge of project and construction management and its influence on budgeting, scheduling, cost control, and safety practices, along with the ability to manage multiple assignments and balance design quality with cost-effective solutions.

Applicant must also possess:

• An Engineer-In-Training Certification, i.e., passed the State Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination at time of appointment.
• A valid state driver's license

The Recruitment Process

STEP 1: Apply online between October 5, 2026, and October 19, 2026
Required Application Materials:

• Cover letter.
  • Details are key! The city uses a merit-based system, so your cover letter should be thorough and specifically address each qualification listed in the "To Qualify" section of the job announcement. Your cover letter can exceed one page to ensure you can provide detailed information for every qualification. Follow the instructions, as a subject matter expert will be evaluating your details to confirm that you meet the minimum requirements.
• Resume
• Answer to Supplemental Questions (click on the Questions tab to preview the questions)

Optional Application Materials:

• Veteran's Preference documents (e.g., DD214-Member 4, VA Benefit Letter) must be submitted by the closing date.
• Update: As of March 3, 2025, if you have already submitted veteran documents and qualified for preference, you do not need to resubmit them for future recruitments.
• To update or remove veteran preference for this recruitment or from your profile, contact the recruiter listed in the job announcement.

Application Tips:

• Your cover letter can exceed one page but no more than three, to ensure you can provide detailed information for every qualification. A subject matter expert will evaluate your details to confirm that you meet the minimum requirements.
• Your résumé should support the details described in your cover letter.
• How We Determine Pay: The City of Portland is covered by the Your salary is determined based on the experience listed in your resume that is directly related and equivalent to the position for which you are applying. It is strongly encouraged to include any transferable experience (paid or unpaid, regardless of how recent) to ensure your offer is reflective of all your relevant experience.
• E-mailed and/or faxed applications will not be accepted.
• Do not attach any additional documents.
• Please note that all completed applications for this position must be submitted no later than on the closing date and time of this recruitment.
• You can use AI tools to assist with your job application, but please make sure to personalize your responses to supplemental questions. Avoid copying and pasting. We encourage the use of AI to generate ideas and then tailor them to reflect your own experiences and skills.
• All applications must be submitted via the City's online application process.

Step 2: Minimum Qualification Evaluation: week of October 19, 2026

• An evaluation of each applicant's training and paid and unpaid experience, as demonstrated in their resume and cover letter, is weighted 100%.
• Your resume and cover letter will be the basis for our evaluation of your qualifications for this position. Incomplete or inappropriate information may result in disqualification.
• You have 14 days from the notice of the minimum qualification evaluation results to let us know if you would like to review and discuss your evaluation results. Please read the for complete information.
• Additional evaluation may be required before the establishment of the eligible list and/or final selection.

Step 3: Establishment of Eligible List: week of October 26, 2026

• Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications will be placed on the equally ranked eligible list.

Step 4: Selection (Interview): TBD

• The hiring bureau will review and select candidates to interview.

Step 5: Offer of Employment: TBD

Step 6: Start Date: TBD

• A start date will be determined after all conditions of employment have been met.

*Timeline is approximate and subject to change*

Additional Information

Click here for additional information regarding the following:

• City of Portland Core Values
• Recruitment Process - Work Status
• Veteran Preference
• ADA, Pregnancy, and Religious Accommodations

Did you know? The City of Portland has How to Apply Videos and offers How to Apply Classes once per month. If you have questions after watching the videos you are invited to contact the recruiter listed on the announcement.