Associate Civil Engineer

JOB DESCRIPTION:

Seattle City Light, a department of the City of Seattle, is one of the nation's largest municipally owned utilities in terms of the number of customers served. Over the years we have worked very hard to keep Seattle's electricity affordable, reliable, and environmentally sound. Today, City Light is a recognized national leader in energy efficiency and environmental stewardship. 

This position is a Dam Safety Engineer (Civil Engineer, Associate) in the Engineering and Technology Operations Division (ETO) within Seattle City Light. The position will support the Owner's Dam Safety Program to ensure safety of the City of Seattle's hydroelectric projects (Boundary, Cedar Falls, Newhalem, Skagit, and South Fork Tolt) and other related structures and facilities. This position will report to the Chief Dam Safety Engineer and will be responsible for assisting City Light implement its Owner's Dam Safety Program (ODSP).

Engineers in the Dam Safety team perform and lead a diverse range of engineering tasks and thus a broad range of skills/abilities are regularly required.  Projects assigned to the Dam Safety team vary in size and type, and often are highly visible within the utility.  The position will assist or lead work with internal stakeholders (other engineering disciplines (civil, mechanical, structural), project delivery, environmental affairs, relicensing, and operations) and external stakeholders (consultants/contractors, emergency management agencies, and regulators.  

Dam Safety engineers have a unique opportunity to enjoy travelling to Seattle City Light's hydro facilities located in beautiful and picturesque areas in Washington such as North Cascades National Park, Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie, and Colville National Forests. This position will report to the Civil Engineer Supervisor 

Job Responsibilities

- Here is more about what you'll be doing:

The responsibilities of this position will include conducting and/or facilitating inspections, monitoring, reporting, and evaluations necessary to ensure the safety of the City of Seattle hydroelectric dams (Boundary, Cedar Falls, Newhalem, Skagit, and South Fork Tolt) and related infrastructure. This position will complete routine or less complex projects with minimal supervision as well as assist or serve as lead under supervision for more complex, highly visible projects as part of a team.  The position is anticipated to accomplish a broad range of tasks, such as:

• Act as project engineer and/or manager on small to medium size dam safety engineering project and work with other stakeholders to accomplish the assigned tasks.

• Lead instrumentation program including instrumentation installation, calibration, troubleshooting, O&M, data and file organization.

• Collect, interpret, analyze, and evaluate surveillance and monitoring data from various instruments installed at the dam, surveys, and inspections.

• Prepare and update dam safety surveillance and monitoring reports and plans (DSSMR/P).

• Conduct periodic dam safety inspections as may be required, including developing inspection plan, coordination, taking notes; completing inspection checklists; and recording field data, photographs, measurements, etc. suitable for inclusion in engineering reports and prepare condition assessment reports.

• Support other activities related to the ODSP as directed by the supervisor such as Emergency Action Plan (EAP), Public Safety Plans (PSP), planning and delivering training, etc.

• Establish and maintain positive collaborative working relationships with hydroelectric facility staff, engineering staff, contractors/consultant, Federal, State, and emergency management authorities through phone calls, meetings, and written communications.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering or Civil Engineering Technology and three years of professional civil engineering experience; or other combinations of education and/or experience which provides preparation to do professional civil engineering work.

Work Environment/Physical Demands

• Most work is performed in a normal City work/office environment.

• Field assignments may entail exposure to all types of weather, traffic, hazardous/toxic substances and work in or near construction sites.

• May be required to lift over 50 pounds.

• May be required to stand, walk, or bend for extended periods of time.

• May be required to work nights, evenings, weekends, and/or holidays.

• Overnight travel may be required.

License, Certification and Other Requirements

Current Washington State driver's license or evidence of equivalent mobility.  This position will require the driving of city vehicles. 

Desired Qualifications

• You will be successful if you have the following experience, skills, and abilities:

• PhD or MSc degree in Civil, Hydraulic/Hydrology, Structural, Geotechnical, Geological Engineering or other related fields preferred. Four or more years of working experience in any of the above fields.

• Registered Professional Engineer, Licensed Geologist, and/or Engineering Geologist in the State of Washington in good professional standing or ability to obtain within 1 year of beginning employment preferred.

• Experience working as project engineer/manager with diverse teams, such as engineers, field crews, project managers, engaged in a variety of complex project engineering, investigation, instrumentation, construction, maintenance, and repair activities on service contracts and projects.

• Proven reliability and a demonstrated ability to work proactively, consistently meeting deadlines and delivering high-quality results.

• Experience in dam inspections and investigations, monitoring and instrumentation, field data collection hydroelectric facilities, geotechnical investigations and monitoring, design and construction of dams or water conveyance structures, preferred.

• Experience in working with large datasets, organizing, analyzing/interpreting data, identifying trends, using innovative and/or sophisticated approaches for data analysis. Excellent writing and presentation skills to document and discuss results and make recommendations.

• Knowledge of or ability to develop knowledge of industry codes, state and federal governmental regulations (particularly related to Dam Safety regulations), and City of Seattle policies and procedures.

• Experience reviewing and checking designs, calculations, shop drawings, and engineering drawings for construction, repair, and maintenance projects.

Please note this job advertisement is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. 

The full salary range for this position is $55.26 to $64.50 per hour.

Application Process

Please submit the following with your online application:

• A cover letter in which you clearly describe how your knowledge, experience, skills, and abilities prepare you for the job responsibilities and qualifications outlined in the job announcement

• A current resume of your educational and professional work experience.

Incomplete applications may not be considered.

Who May Apply: This position is open to all candidates that meet the qualifications.  Seattle City Light values diverse perspectives and life experiences. Applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, disability, religious or political affiliation, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Seattle City Light encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQIA+, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with diverse life experiences.

Job offers are contingent on the verification of credentials and other information required by the employment process, including the completion of a background check. The background check will involve a criminal history check, which includes conviction and arrest records in compliance with the Seattle's Fair Chance Employment Ordinance, SMC 14.17 and the City of Seattle Personnel Rule 10.3. A driving history review may be conducted in compliance with SMC 4.79.020. Applicants will be provided an opportunity to explain or correct background information.

The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents. More information about employee benefits is available on the City's website at: https://www.seattle.gov/human-resources/benefits/employees-and-covered-family-members/most-employees-plans.

Want to know more about Seattle City Light? Check out our web page: https://www.seattle.gov/city-light/about-us/careers.