Description
Engineer II - Development
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Nature of Work
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Are you a professional engineer (PE) who is ready to join the Engineering Team at the City of Bellingham? Public Works-Engineering is currently seeking an Engineer II - Development to manage private development projects!
The Engineer II- Development is responsible for performing professional-level engineering work activities and analysis for private development improvement project review and management. This includes construction projects involving water distribution, sewer collection and conveyance, stormwater management and conveyance, street systems, environmental resources, bridges, buildings, traffic and illumination, electrical, treatment facilities and other municipal facility construction. Coordinates project permitting activities, reviews and prepares plans and specifications, manages project budgets, and authorizes project change orders. Has significant public contact with private consultants, engineers, developers, contractors, and the general public. Performs a variety of engineering duties related specifically to the water, stormwater, and sewer utility including hydraulic analysis and modeling, research, comprehensive planning, long-range capital planning and treatment facility design and assessments. This position may periodically rotate among other Project Engineer assignments.
The current full salary range for this position is $9,209/month - $11,156/month. Employees receive step increases annually in accordance with the Teamsters Collective Bargaining Agreement and City policy.
The City places new employees within the published salary range based on qualifications and professional experience as listed on the application material, in accordance with City policy. Candidates who exceed the minimum experience requirements shall be given credit for advanced step placement at the rate of one additional pay step for each two full years of directly related or equivalent professional experience beyond the minimum requirements. Candidates who meet minimum qualifications or have experience that is not directly related or in a lower-level position will be placed at step one in the salary range. For positions that require a bachelor’s degree, one additional step may be granted for applicants with a master’s degree in a related field when the master’s degree is not required to meet minimum qualifications.
For internal candidates, placement within the range is based on City Pay Placement Procedures.
At the City of Bellingham, we offer a comprehensive benefits package that helps you thrive in both your career and personal life. Join our team and enjoy peace of mind knowing that you and your loved ones are well cared for. Here’s a closer look at the outstanding benefits that come with being part of our team. You can find more details on our employment benefits page and labor agreements page.
- 10 hours of vacation leave per month, with increased accrual over time
- 12 paid holidays + 1 floating holiday per year
- 8 hours of sick leave accrued monthly
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and their families
- Life insurance and long-term disability coverage
- Flexible spending accounts and medical insurance opt-out program
- Access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Washington State Retirement plan (DRS) for retirement security
- Optional 457 deferred compensation (Retirement Savings Plan) with employer match
Leave accruals are based on 1.0 FTE, accruals are pro-rated if part-time and require employees to be in paid status at least 120 hours/month.
Closing Date/Time: 02/13/2026 at 4:30 PM
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE JOB:
- Manages assigned private development projects and related activities. Includes plan review and coordination, contract and permit preparation and management, construction over-sight, recommending and approving materials, approving schedules, resolving problems, negotiating change orders, monitoring construction progress, maintaining records of contracts and projects in progress, performing on-site inspections, and approving final acceptance of projects.
- Coordinates, monitors, evaluates, and organizes the performance of and assigns work to professional and technical staff and other support personnel assigned either through special projects or extra work assignments.
- Analyzes existing water, stormwater, street, and wastewater systems; develops, organizes, and maintains system computer models; prepares and develops plans for system replacement and upgrading; prepares feasibility studies, technical reports and engineering alternatives for capital improvements; calculates fire flow estimates and water demands, sewer flows and capacities; develops guidelines and standards; plans future improvements to provide capacity for growth and expansion of the City.
- Coordinates the City’s Utility Service Zone Extension Program: completes feasibility studies; arranges necessary meetings; oversees the application process, coordinates City policy changes with various City departments, local governmental agencies and the general public; makes formal presentations to City Council.
- Manages the City’s Latecomer Program: assures compliance with adopted City ordinances: makes recommendations to the Director of Public Works on changes to the program; conducts an annual review of the fiscal elements of the program; formulates conclusions and makes recommendations for adjustments to fees and/or fee structures.
- Participates in the initial planning of proposed projects and plans including preparation of requests for proposals. Prepares and monitors the preparation of project reports, comprehensive plans, designs, plans, drawings, specifications, estimates, spreadsheets, and graphic presentation materials for public works construction projects and plans. Includes collecting, gathering, and interpreting engineering data for more complex engineering projects. Solicits requests for proposals for consulting services and manages and monitors consultant contracts. Conducts studies and coordinates surveys for design and construction of public works projects. Prepares applications and obtains regulatory permits.
- Represents the Department on issues related to water, wastewater, storm water, and streets; provides information; prepares inter-local agreements and communicates with a variety of City departments, state and local agencies and local governments to resolve issues and deal with regulatory compliance and concerns.
- Responds to inquiries, complaints, or requests for information from other departments, agencies and the general public; provides information and resolves concerns regarding City requirements and processes.
ADDITIONAL WORK PERFORMED:
- Assists other department staff with the preparation of grant applications.
- May be assigned to manage public improvement projects and related activities.
- May act as the lead position within the Development Unit of Public Works Engineering, as assigned.
- Performs other related work of a similar nature or level.
Requirements
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WORKING ENVIRONMENT:
Work is performed in an office setting with extensive work at a computer workstation and occasionally outdoors in all weather conditions on City streets and rights-of-ways, in close proximity to roadway traffic, noxious fumes, heavy equipment and occasionally in confined spaces with infrequent lifting of heavy objects. Some travel to professional meetings is expected.
Physically perform the essential functions of the position, including:
- Operate a computer and other office machinery such as a keyboard, mouse, phone, and fax machine;
- Communicate accurate information and ideas with others;
- Transport objects weighing up to 35 pounds;
- Occasionally traverse uneven terrain.
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Experience and Training
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- Bachelor's degree in civil engineering or related field.
- Two (2) years of experience as a professional engineer (PE) required.
An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to provide the applicant with the knowledge, skills and ability to successfully perform the essential functions of the job will be considered.
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Necessary Special Requirements
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- Professional Engineer’s license at time of hire required. Must obtain WA State PE License within 6 months of hire.
- Valid Washington State driver’s license and good driving record. Applicant must submit a three-year driving record prior to hire.
- Adaptability and flexibility to accept schedule changes as necessary, and willingness to accept “call out” status for emergency situations.
- Employment contingent upon passing a criminal conviction and local background check (see Fair Hiring Practices below).
- Verification of ability to work in the United States by date of hire.
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Selection Process
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**You are encouraged to print a copy of this job announcement for your reference as the process moves along**
Please ensure your application is complete and all required information has been provided. Standard completeness means all application fields (contact information, personal information, education, work experience, references, and supplemental questions). Application materials should comprehensively document your experience and skills related to the position responsibilities and experience/training requirements. As part of the City’s commitment to reducing bias in the hiring process, Human Resources redacts personally identifiable information for reviewers. Only the documents listed as required will be reviewed.
Interviews for the most qualified candidates are tentatively scheduled for March 11, 2026. Invitations to participate in the Interview process will be sent via e-mail on or around February 27, 2026.
Please Note: Candidates will receive updates regarding application status via email. Please be sure to check your email frequently, including your spam folders for messages filtered by your email providers.
Equal Opportunity:The City of Bellingham is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not make decisions on the basis of an individual's race, religion, creed, color, national origin, sex, marital status, age (40+), disability, retaliation, sexual orientation or gender identity, honorably discharged veteran or military status, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking, use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, or any other basis prohibited by local, state, or federal law. All are encouraged to apply for employment.
Fair Hiring Practices- The City provides individuals who have been arrested or convicted of a criminal offense an equal and fair opportunity to obtain employment.
- The City will not inquire about an applicant's criminal history until after a conditional job offer has been made.
- The City will disregard the prior arrest and conviction record of an otherwise qualified individual unless the offense is directly related to the job position for which the individual has applied.
- The City will notify an otherwise qualified applicant about a potentially disqualifying conviction and give the applicant an opportunity to submit information regarding the accuracy of the criminal records as well as evidence of mitigation or rehabilitation, as appropriate.
