Managing Engineer

Full Job Description

The Road Services Division, Engineering Services Section, is seeking an enthusiastic, strategic, agile and collaborative leader to manage 35 employees in the Road and Traffic Engineering unit and the Survey unit.

This Managing Engineer will function as the County Traffic Engineer, with a high level of communication and organizational skills to effectively leverage their expertise and experience to strategically resolve challenges related to traffic, road design/management and survey.

This position will oversee the day-to day management and administrative functions, staff development and management, technical review, and addressing project issues associated with King County’s roadway network.

A high level of expertise and experience in the design and construction of capital projects is expected.

The successful candidate will collaborate with other King County departments and leadership, regional partner agencies, elected, and community-based organizations.

Our commitment to Equity, Racial and Social Justice
The Department of Local Services is deeply dedicated to fostering Equity, Racial and Social Justice in every aspect of our work. Our pledge is to cultivate, embrace, and celebrate the distinct experiences, viewpoints, and perspectives of our people, partners, and the communities we serve. Through this work, we dismantle systemic barriers, address inequities, and actively confront prejudices and biases. We acknowledge this journey is ongoing, and we remain steadfast in our efforts to create a positive impact for our employees and communities alike.

The King County Road Services Division designs, builds, operates, and maintains roads and bridges in unincorporated areas of King County. The Division is committed to ensuring the county's transportation system is safe and efficient for all uses and modes of travel.

To learn more about the Road Services Division, visit us at: About the Road Services Division - King County, Washington

Requirements

Applying equity, racial, and social justice principles is a daily responsibility and a foundational expectation for all King County employees. In this role, you will apply equity and social justice principles that exemplify shared values, behaviors, and practices to all aspects of the work.

Resource Management

• Manage staff in the Road & Traffic and Survey units
• Direct the development and implementation of policies and procedures for the units
• Manage unit work plans, budgets, technical and organizational issues, providing any recommendations to the Section Manager as needed
• Support staff development through training, coaching and mentoring
• Conduct annual evaluations and participate in personnel actions
• Lead recruitment process for vacant positions
• Identify and lead process improvement initiatives to optimize unit workflows

Project/Program Delivery

• Manage and prioritize complex, multi-year and high cost projects
• Develop and negotiate budgets, program proposals, and long-term plans for Traffic Safety, Road Preservation and related programs including establishing priorities, cost estimates and schedules
• Oversee contract development, contract negotiations and the preparation of project plans, specifications, and estimates
• Certify project plans, specifications, estimates and reports
• Provide oversight, quality control and certification of project plans and related documents
• Serve as the Contract Project Engineer and/or Engineer of Record, overseeing each project from conception through construction
• Direct the design and implementation of capital improvement projects

County Traffic Engineer

• Acts as the County Traffic Engineer on behalf of King County
• Provide guidance and oversight for traffic operations, engineering devices and related technologies supporting roadway planning, design, and operations
• Oversee the citizen response process and serving as the responsible signatory for responses
• Manage countywide traffic safety programs including traffic counts, guardrails, high collision locations, pavement markings, roundabouts, school zone treatments, signs, signals
• Oversee the County Traffic Management Center
• Administer design agreements; defining scopes of work, and review work products and payment requests

Technical

• Provide interpretation of technical and professional standards, regulations, and contract
• Direct the development and implementation of policies and procedures

Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering (BSCE), similar field, or any combination of education and experience that clearly demonstrates the ability to perform the duties of the position.
• Ten years of road design, project management, and traffic engineering experience
• Progressively responsible supervisory experience leading work teams that may include hiring, manage work assignments and do performance evaluations.
• Seven years of professional experience in traffic operations and engineering technology related to planning, engineering, and operational needs of the roadway system
• Technical experience interpreting and applying the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), WSDOT, FHWA and AASHTO Guidelines
• Experience applying traffic analysis methods for the design of roadway channelization and traffic calming techniques
• Seven years of administering traffic engineering programs and capital projects
• Experience in interpreting applicable codes, policies and regulations
• Seven years of experience preparing, signing engineering plans and drawings, reading and interpreting engineering plans, specifications and cost estimates for traffic and road projects
• Experience in design and construction oversight for delivery of capital traffic and road projects
• Experience overseeing consultant contracts negotiation and administration
• Strong organizational, time management, and customer service skills
• Ability to effectively interact and communicate technical, policy and political issues, both orally and in writing, to diverse audiences; includes presentations, public speaking, and conveying technical and complex subject matters to diverse audiences.
• Ability and experience to handle politically sensitive issues
• Experience leading a team that contributes to a work environment that embraces and encourages diversity in its workforce and where differences are valued
• Demonstrates behaviors and decision making that reflect fairness, respect, equity and inclusiveness.

Desired Qualification:

• Experience working with or knowledge of Cityworks or other similar asset management systems.

NECESSARY REQUIREMENTS:

• Licensed Professional Civil Engineer (PE) in Washington State or has the ability to obtain one within 6 months of hire date.

Competencies You Bring:

• Strategic Mindset - Seeing ahead to future possibilities and translating them into breakthrough strategies.
• Drives Vision and Purpose - Painting a compelling picture of the vision and strategy that motivates others to action.
• Manages Complexity - Making sense of complex, high quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems.
• Builds Effective Teams - Building strong-identity teams that apply their diverse skills and perspectives to achieve common goals.
• Drives Engagement - Creating a climate where people are motivated to do their best to help the organization achieve its objectives.

Values

• Serve with integrity.
• Show initiative and work hard.
• Prioritize outcomes over optics.
• Center those most impacted and put “boots on the ground.”
• Sove problems with a “yes, and” mindset.
• Work as one, adaptable, mission-driven team.

Additional Information

INTERVIEW SCHEDULE:
Those applicants who pass the initial screening will be invited to participate in a 15-minute phone interview on 1/16/26.
If you are selected to move forward after the phone interview, you will be invited for a 45-minute in-person interview the week of 1/19/26.

WHO MAY APPLY:
This recruitment is open to all qualified applicants and may be used to fill current and or/future career service, term-limited temporary, short-term temporary, and or/special duty positions over the next six months.

APPLICATION PROCESS:
A full and complete King County application is required. You may also provide a resume and cover letter, summarizing how you meet the experience, qualifications, knowledge, and skills for the position.

Applications will be screened for clarity, completeness, and competitiveness. The most competitive candidates may be invited to participate in one or more interviews. Minimum qualifications and answers to supplemental questions must be demonstrated in your application materials.

For interviewing tips, please see the STAR-LA method: star-la_interview_method.pdf

WORK SCHEDULE:
The work week is normally Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., but may at times require work outside of normal business hours. This position is Exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is not eligible for overtime pay.

EMERGENCY DESIGNATION STATUS:
Mission-Critical - Those employees who provide, maintain, and re-establish essential county functions as described in agency Continuity of Operations plans. Unless otherwise directed by the County Executive, department director or agency head, all employees, regardless of designation, are expected to report to work or request leave during an emergency or inclement weather.

UNION MEMBERSHIP: This position is represented by PROTEC17.

We work in the office at least three days a week to foster connection and responsiveness, arrive prepared and on time, and structure meetings with clear goals and next steps.

To learn more about the Department of Local Services, please visit our website at: https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/local-services

Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.

Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class.

Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

To Apply

If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully.

If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.

For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact:

Erika Yanak

Senior HR Analyst

erika.yanak@kingcounty.gov

(206) 477-0320