Salary : $76,545.00 - $113,639.00 Annually
Location : King County - Seattle - Other, WA
Job Type: Full Time - Permanent
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number: 26DOT-NWR-13499
Department: Dept. of Transportation
Division: Northwest Region
Opening Date: 09/21/2026
Closing Date: 10/5/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
DescriptionThe OpportunityWSDOT is seeking an experienced Transportation Engineer 3 (In-Training) to serve as a Hydraulic Engineer in Seattle, WA. In this highly impactful role, you'll serve as a technical and regulatory expert within WSDOT's Northwest Region Environmental Program Office, applying your hydraulic engineering expertise to help deliver transportation projects while protecting Washington's natural resources. Your work will directly support WSDOT's mission by providing critical hydraulic engineering reports, reviews, and technical services that help projects meet complex environmental and regulatory requirements.
What to ExpectAmong the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Hydraulic Engineer will:
- Serve as a hydraulic engineer providing guidance and technical review on hydraulic documents and submittals, including Hydraulic Reports, Plans, Specifications, and Estimates (PS&E), emerging construction issues, stormwater Best Management Practice (BMP) Maintenance Plans, and permits.
- Provide technical hydraulic and stormwater expertise to design offices and project teams by reviewing hydraulic documents and submittals, identifying applicable requirements, and providing guidance and information to support transportation project delivery.
- Supports emergency projects and time-sensitive operational needs, including travel to duty station or field sites to address emergent issues.
- Review and evaluate hydraulic documents and technical deliverables for completeness, accuracy, and compliance with WSDOT requirements; identify deficiencies, recommend corrections, and provide technical recommendations to WSDOT staff, consultants, and Design-Builders.
- Review and validate hydraulic calculations and modeling, including evaluating calculations, modeling inputs, reports, spreadsheets, plans, and other technical documents prepared by WSDOT staff, consultants, and Design-Builders.
- Apply and interpret the WSDOT Highway Runoff Manual and Hydraulic Manual to provide technical direction and clarify hydraulic and stormwater requirements for designers, project teams, consultants, and other stakeholders.
- Provide technical direction, training, and mentoring to hydraulic designers and junior hydraulics staff, including guidance on the development of hydraulic documents, calculations, reports, plans, and related technical deliverables.
- Support the resolution of complex hydraulic and stormwater issues by facilitating discussions, addressing policy and procedural questions, and coordinating with the NWR Hydraulics and Environmental Engineering Supervisor and State Hydraulic Engineer when issues require regional or statewide technical consistency.
- Oversee stormwater best management practice (BMP) documentation and tracking, including ensuring BMPs are accurately tracked in SWABS and HATS and reviewing BMP Maintenance Plans for stormwater treatment facilities.
- Ensure hydraulic records are accurately maintained and retained in accordance with state records retention, archival, and WSDOT requirements.
- Support and complete culvert level 2 Inspections and documentation.
QualificationsThis is a Transportation Engineer 3 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.
To be considered for this opportunity, the following competencies are required at the TE3 level:
- Hydraulic, Hydrologic & Stormwater Engineering: Demonstrated ability to analyze and interpret complex hydraulic, hydrologic, stormwater, and drainage information and apply engineering principles to support transportation project delivery and environmental compliance.
- Engineering Standards & Regulatory Compliance: Ability to apply advanced engineering principles, technical guidance, regulatory requirements, and agency policies to evaluate hydraulic and stormwater design solutions and ensure compliance with applicable standards.
- Technical Engineering Review: Ability to prepare, review, and coordinate technical reports, hydraulic analyses, drainage documentation, plans, specifications, calculations, models, and other engineering deliverables for accuracy, completeness, and technical adequacy.
- Engineering Judgment & Risk Analysis: Ability to identify project risks and constraints, evaluate alternatives, and develop practical, technically sound recommendations that support successful transportation infrastructure projects.
- Critical Thinking & Problem Solving: Demonstrated ability to investigate and resolve complex drainage, stormwater, fish passage, erosion control, and hydraulic design challenges using sound engineering judgment and analytical problem-solving skills.
- Project & Workload Management: Ability to manage multiple priorities, schedules, project risks, and competing deliverables in a fast-paced project delivery environment while maintaining quality and meeting established deadlines.
- Communication & Stakeholder Engagement: Ability to effectively communicate complex technical information verbally and in writing to multidisciplinary project teams, consultants, contractors, regulatory and local agencies, Tribes, and non-technical stakeholders.
- Collaboration, Leadership & Mentoring: Ability to work collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams, provide technical guidance and recommendations, and mentor or support the development of less-experienced staff.
- Engineering Technology & Data Management: Experience using engineering software, databases, spreadsheets, hydraulic or hydrologic modeling tools, and other technical systems to analyze, document, track, and manage engineering and project information.
- Field Assessment & Safety: Ability to conduct field reviews and evaluate stormwater, drainage, and hydraulic conditions within transportation right-of-way environments while working safely under varying site and weather conditions.
To be considered for this opportunity, the following competencies are required at the TE2 level:
- Foundational Hydraulic, Hydrologic & Stormwater Engineering Knowledge: Demonstrated ability to learn and apply foundational engineering principles, hydraulic and hydrologic concepts, stormwater guidance, and transportation-related technical requirements in support of transportation projects.
- Technical Analysis, Documentation & Problem Solving: Demonstrated ability to gather and analyze technical information, identify issues or potential concerns, and assist with developing recommendations. Ability to review, prepare, or support technical documentation and project deliverables, including reports, calculations, plans, specifications, and related materials associated with hydraulics, drainage, or stormwater systems.
- Transportation Project Delivery & Regulatory Knowledge: Demonstrated ability to learn and apply technical processes, policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements related to transportation project development and delivery, including the ability to apply new technical information and guidance to assigned work.
- Project Coordination, Organization & Technology: Demonstrated ability to organize and prioritize assigned tasks, schedules, and deliverables while supporting multiple projects and competing priorities. Ability to use computer software, spreadsheets, databases, mapping tools, and other technical systems to organize information and support engineering and project coordination activities.
- Communication & Collaboration: Demonstrated ability to communicate technical information effectively, both verbally and in writing, and work collaboratively with multidisciplinary project teams, consultants, internal stakeholders, and other partners to establish and maintain productive working relationships.
- Field Safety, Professional Development & Continuous Learning: Demonstrated ability to learn and apply field safety practices while conducting field reviews within transportation right-of-way environments and varying weather and site conditions. Demonstrated commitment to continuous learning, professional development, and growth within the hydraulic, hydrologic, and stormwater engineering field.
In addition, the following are required at all levels:
- Hydraulic & Hydrologic Reporting: Ability to prepare clear, accurate, and technically sound hydraulic analysis and hydrologic reports and related engineering documentation.
- Hydraulic Modeling & Calculations: Ability to perform hydraulic calculations and use hydraulic and hydrologic modeling software to analyze drainage, stormwater, and hydraulic conditions and support engineering recommendations.
- Hydraulics, Hydrology & Stormwater: Knowledge of hydraulic and hydrologic principles and stormwater processes, including applicable rules, regulations, standards, and requirements.
- Technical Analysis & Documentation: Ability to review and analyze technical information, identify and summarize key findings, and communicate results in clear, concise, and well-structured reports, memoranda, and hydraulic or engineering documentation.
- Technical Adaptability & Continuous Learning: Ability to learn and adapt to evolving policies, procedures, standards, technology, and practices to maintain current knowledge and effectiveness within the hydraulic engineering specialty.
- Organization & Work Management: Ability to organize work, manage multiple assignments, track progress, establish priorities, and meet established deadlines with appropriate direction and supervision.
- Microsoft 365 Proficiency: Ability to use Microsoft 365 applications, including Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint, to develop, analyze, document, communicate, and manage engineering and project information.
- A valid driver's license and the ability to operate state-owned vehicles.
- Complete confined space training within 6 months of hire.
- Complete Headquarters Hydraulics Stream Design Training within 6 months of hire.
It is preferred that qualified candidates also demonstrate:
- Hydraulic & Environmental Engineering: Ability to analyze and evaluate complex hydraulic and environmental issues and apply engineering principles to the design and development of highway drainage systems, culvert fish passage projects, stream relocations, and related transportation infrastructure.
- WSDOT Project Delivery & Environmental Compliance: Knowledge of WSDOT manuals, guidance, policies, procedures, project delivery processes, environmental compliance requirements, hydraulic documentation standards, and coordination practices applicable to transportation project development and delivery.
Important Notes - This recruitment may also be used to fill additional positions per business needs.
- This position offers flexible/hybrid work options. In-person office and field time are requirements of the position. Position is not eligible for full remote work.
- The salary listed includes the legislative approved 5% salary premium for positions in King County.
- 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.
- This position is subject to the drug and alcohol testing requirements of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). For more information, please go to
- This is a Transportation Engineer 3 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:
- Transportation Engineer 3: $84,520 - $113,639
- Transportation Engineer 2: $76,545 - $102,967
- 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
