Senior Hydraulics Engineer

Title: Senior Hydraulics Engineer (TE4, In-Training) | Multiple Positions

Location: Multiple Locations United States

Salary

$75,045.00 - $122,976.00 Annually

Job Description:

About WSDOT

Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is a multimodal organization with a global reputation for excellence! Our dedicated workforce is responsible to plan, design, build, and operate an integrated transportation system that safely and efficiently moves people and goods throughout the state. In addition to maintaining over 18,000 lane miles of state highway and 4,100 bridges, WSDOT manages the world's longest floating bridge, executes an award-winning Active Transportation Plan, holds a record for the world's widest tunneling project, and operates the largest ferry system in the nation! 

The Opportunity

WSDOT is seeking three Senior Hydraulic Engineers.   Two positions are in the State Hydraulics Office providing statewide support, one within the HQ Stormwater section, and one within the HQ Hydraulics & Floodplain section.  The other position is within the NW Region Environmental Programs Office and focuses on stormwater and drainage for Sound Transit and NW Region projects.  In these roles, you will apply advanced expertise in hydraulics, hydrology, and stormwater engineering to ensure that infrastructure is designed and maintained in harmony with natural systems. From supporting high-profile programs such as Fish Passage, Stormwater Retrofit, and Chronic Environmental Deficiencies, to conducting floodplain and watershed analyses, to responding to emergency repairs, your work will directly improve safety, sustainability, and resilience across the state.

These positions also play a vital role in reviewing and approving complex design submittals-such as drainage plans, hydraulic reports, BMP maintenance strategies, TESC plans, and permits-ensuring full compliance with WSDOT standards as well as state and federal environmental regulations. As a recognized technical expert, you will mentor regional staff, provide statewide guidance, and contribute to a respectful, inclusive workplace culture that reflects WSDOT's core values of safety, innovation, leadership, and sustainability.

Join WSDOT and make a lasting impact on both the built and natural environments, shaping transportation solutions that serve Washington communities today and for generations to come.

We are also offering this as an "in-training" opportunity, which means that depending on your current qualifications, you may begin at a lower level with a formal, structured training plan tailored to your success. Upon completing the plan, you'll earn a promotion to the next job class level-along with at least a 5% pay increase!

What to Expect

Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Senior Hydraulics Engineer will:

• Performs Senior Level Professional Hydraulic Engineering. 
• Conducts analysis of drainage basins.
• Independently review WSDOT Region hydraulic reports, hydraulic specialty reports, stormwater BMP maintenance plans, TESC plans, drainage related permits, agreements and leases that are submitted to WSDOT to ensure hydraulic design and stormwater management practices are incorporated into transportation projects consistent with agency policies, manuals, and procedures.
• Determine flow rates and volumes of stormwater to design flow control best management practices (BMPs), design runoff treatment BMPs, determining seasonal flows during construction windows, and determining flows and conduct calculations to design stormwater conveyance.
• Coordinate with the State Hydraulic Engineer to review and provide final approval or concurrence for Hydraulic Reports and reviews leases, analyses, calculations, and studies that are submitted to WSDOT.
• Serve as the WSDOT hydraulics and stormwater Lead Author for contract development in the areas of stormwater design and construction for Design-Build and Design Bid Build Contracts.
• Assists the Stormwater Manager in creating statewide stormwater and hydraulic policies.
• Oversee designs of complex and unique stormwater treatment and conveyance systems on WSDOT Right of Way (ROW) to meet regulatory and permit compliance. Including communicating design requirements to external agencies and developers working within WSDOT Right of Way and coordinating effective review and concurrence of those designs. 
• Ensure these designs comply with the WSDOT Highway Runoff Manual (WSDOT HRM) and WSDOT Hydraulics Manual (WSDOT HM) policy. 
• Understand the needs for compliance with the WSDOT Municipal Stormwater Permit issued by WA Ecology.
• Collaborate with project engineering offices to identify and resolve stormwater and hydraulic issues, process stormwater and hydraulic deviations, and provide concurrence for hydraulic reports. 
• Coach and mentor region hydraulic staff

Qualifications

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

• Professional Credentials: Licensed Professional Civil Engineer in Washington State, Possession within 6 months of a WSDOT Hydraulics Scour Certification, Possession within 6 - 12 months months of a WSDOT Water Crossing and Stream Restoration Design and Documentation certification, Possession within 6 - 12 months of a WSDOT Highway Runoff Manual Training Workshop Certification, Valid driver's license and the ability to operate a state-owned vehicle.
• Technical Expertise: Functions as a technical expert in hydraulic and river analysis, including natural process-based design. Interprets and apply hydraulic and hydrologic systems to complex infrastructure challenges. Performs advanced hydraulic and bridge scour analyses in accordance with FHWA and AASHTO standards. Leads calibration and use of advanced modeling tools such as Hydrologic Engineering Center River Analysis System (HEC-RAS) and Sedimentation and River Hydraulics (SRH)-2D; oversees data management for design support. Develops, updates, and reviews technical standards and contributes to agency manuals and documentation. Prepares and submits design packages in support of Conditional Letters of Map Revision and Letters of Map Revision to FEMA. Independently resolves complex engineering problems with sound technical judgment. Leads field assessments in varied terrain including steep slopes and remote environments.
• Planning, Organization & Execution: Proven ability to independently plan, prioritize, and manage multiple assignments while meeting scope, schedule, and budget requirements. Experience scheduling, tracking, and delivering work activities and project milestones on time. Ability to perform engineering duties in both office and field environments, including varied weather and terrain conditions.
• Communication & Collaboration: Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly convey complex technical information to designers, colleagues, and stakeholders. Skilled in facilitating meetings, presenting technical materials, and delivering training to diverse audiences. Proven ability to collaborate effectively across multidisciplinary teams while also working independently when needed.
• Leadership and Communication: Provides coaching and technical mentorship to engineers at all levels. Develops and delivers statewide training programs in hydraulics and hydrology. Communicates technical content clearly across written, verbal, and visual platforms. Leads collaboration with internal teams and external partners to support program goals.

In addition, the following are required: 

• Valid driver's license and the ability to operate a state-owned vehicle

It is preferred that qualified candidates also have:

• Professional Licensure & Credentialing: Demonstrated ability to obtain and maintain Professional Engineer (PE) registration in the State of Washington, or already holds PE licensure, ensuring compliance with state engineering standards and professional practice requirements.
• Stormwater Treatment Design: Experienced in designing stormwater treatment best management practices (BMPs) to meet regulatory treatment requirements. Understanding of maintenance and operations considerations for stormwater BMP selection and design. 
• Hydraulic Modeling and Software Proficiency: Experienced in calibrating and interpreting results from 1D and 2D hydraulic models to support engineering decisions across diverse project settings. Skilled in managing digital workflows for storing, retrieving, and producing hydrologic and hydraulic data for use in technical reports and design documentation. 
• Bridge Scour Analysis and Design Standards: Demonstrates knowledge of bridge scour mechanisms, including pier, abutment, and contraction scour, including long term channel stability and the implications for infrastructure design and safety. Applies FHWA and AASHTO design guidelines for evaluating scour risk and ensuring structural integrity during high-flow and flooding events. Integrate scour analysis into comprehensive hydraulic assessments for bridge and culvert projects. 
• Floodplain Analysis and Design Standards Demonstrates knowledge of floodplain flow mechanisms, including floodplain, floodway, and no-rise analyses. Integrates floodplain analysis into comprehensive hydraulic assessments for bridge, culvert, and roadway projects.
• Collaboration & Regulatory Compliance: Proven experience working effectively with environmental regulatory agencies, local government entities, and tribal authorities, ensuring project compliance with federal, state, and local environmental requirements. Ability to interpret and apply environmental regulations and design standards to complex engineering projects.

Important Notes 

• This recruitment may also be used to fill additional positions per business needs.
• This position offers flexible/hybrid remote work options.
• This is an in-training position that offers a career path and on-the-job training. This position allows you to progress upward through the Transportation Engineer field and achieve the goal class of a Transportation Engineer 4. Candidates will be considered for a Transportation Engineer 2, 3 or Transportation Engineer 4, depending on their qualifications. The annual salary levels for each position are:

Transportation Engineer 2: $75,045 -$100,951

Transportation Engineer 3: $82,857 - $11,409

Transportation Engineer 4: $91,400 - $122,976

• Positions located in Olympia are not eligible for the legislative approved 5% salary premium for positions in King County. 

• The salary listed includes the legislative approved 5% salary premium for positions in King County. 

• To review the full Position Description, please follow the directions in the "Contact Us" section of this posting.

• In addition to the 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 Collective Bargaining Agreements. Information on other compensation types for non-represented positions can be found in Chapter 357-28 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 www.uscis.gov.

Why WSDOT 

• Work-Life Balance - We offer flexible work schedules that allow you time for your life outside of this excellent opportunity.
• Paid Leave - In addition to 12 paid holidays, full-time employees may earn up to 25 paid vacation days per year!
• Tuition Assistance - Permanent employees have several options for assistance with education expenses, including tuition reimbursement programs, government discounts at participating colleges throughout the state, and eligibility for federal student loan forgiveness.  
• Plan For Your Future - WSDOT offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes a variety of healthcare options. Employees also have their choice of state retirement programs, and much more. Go to State Benefits for more information. 

Check out this video to learn more: Why WSDOT?

WSDOT is an equal opportunity employer. We value the importance of creating an environment in which all employees can feel respected, included, and empowered to bring unique ideas to the agency. Our diversity and inclusion efforts include embracing different cultures, backgrounds and viewpoints while fostering growth and advancement in the workplace. All persons, regardless of race, ethnicity, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, and/ or gender identity, are encouraged to apply. Persons with disabilities needing assistance in the application process, or those needing this job announcement in an alternative format may contact the recruiter listed.