Habitat Restoration Engineer II

King County · United States

This recruitment may be used to establish a pool of qualified candidates to fill future career service Habitat Restoration Engineer II (Eng. II) positions within the Department of Natural Resources & Parks (DNRP) over the next 6 months.

Join Our Team
Design projects that restore rivers, protect communities, and leave a lasting environmental legacy.

The Water and Land Resources Division (WLRD) is seeking an enthusiastic and collaborative Habitat Restoration Engineer II to help design and deliver innovative restoration projects that improve watershed health, restore salmon habitat, reduce flood risks, and strengthen climate resilience throughout King County.

This is more than an engineering positionit's an opportunity to apply your technical expertise to projects that create healthier ecosystems and more resilient communities. Whether you're analyzing river hydraulics, developing restoration designs, conducting field investigations, or collaborating with multidisciplinary teams, your work will directly shape the future of our region's rivers, wetlands, floodplains, and shorelines.

If you're motivated by meaningful public service, enjoy solving complex engineering challenges, and want to see your work make a lasting impact, we'd love to hear from you.

About the Role:
As a Habitat Restoration Engineer II , you will support the planning, design, and construction of capital projects that restore aquatic ecosystems while protecting people, infrastructure, and natural resources throughout King County.

Working as part of the Habitat Restoration Unit, you'll contribute to projects spanning mountain rivers, floodplains, wetlands, estuaries, and marine shorelines. Your responsibilities will include performing engineering analyses, hydraulic and hydrologic modeling, developing engineering plans and specifications, preparing cost estimates, supporting environmental permitting, conducting field investigations, and providing construction oversight.

This position offers exposure to the full project lifecyclefrom early site assessments and conceptual design through construction and project monitoring, allowing you to grow as an engineer while working alongside experienced professionals in engineering, ecology, geology, planning, and environmental science.

Success in this role requires technical curiosity, strong collaboration skills, and a passion for creating sustainable, science-based solutions that benefit both communities and the environment.

About the Team:
The Habitat Restoration Unit (HRU) of the Capital Delivery Section (CDS) is a part of King County's Water and Land Resources Division (WLRD) within the Department of Natural Resources and Parks.

Our multidisciplinary team designs and delivers innovative habitat restoration and mitigation projects that improve watershed health, restore salmon habitat, reduce flood hazards, and advance climate resilience throughout King County. At WLRD, we partner with scientists, engineers, planners, Tribal governments, regulatory agencies, community organizations, and other public agencies to develop solutions that balance ecological restoration with community needs.

Our work supports many of King County's highest priority initiatives, including Clean Water Healthy Habitat, the Strategic Climate Action Plan, the Equity and Social Justice Strategic Plan, and the Land Conservation Initiative. Every project reflects our commitment to environmental stewardship, innovation, collaboration, and public service.

We believe the best solutions come from diverse perspectives and inclusive collaboration. We foster a supportive learning environment where employees are encouraged to develop new skills, share ideas, and contribute to projects that improve the quality of life for current and future generations.

Commitment To Equity and Social Justice: King County, named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is a diverse and vibrant community that represents cultures from around the world. Our True North is to create a welcoming community where everyone can thrive. We prioritize equity, racial and social justice, making it a foundational and daily expectation for all employees. As a Habitat Restoration Engineer II , you will actively apply these principles in all aspects of your work. Learn more about our commitment at style="text-align: center"> Apply now for a rewarding career at the Water and Land Resource Division of King County Department of Natural Resources & Parks (DNRP). Join our talented workforce in protecting and restoring the natural environment and promoting more resilient, sustainable, and equitable communities. Enjoy training, comprehensive benefits , and growth opportunities.

What You Will Be Doing:

• Conduct engineering and technical analyses involving open channel hydraulics, hydrologic data, floodplain and river conditions, hydraulic modeling, and stability of hydraulic structures.
• Prepare plans, specifications, estimates (costs, quantities, and schedules), and technical reports for habitat restoration projects, including the development of conceptual and final designs.
• Contribute to development, implementation and administration of project scopes-of-work, schedules and budgets, environmental documentation, and contracting during all phases of projects.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary design teams to advance project design, coordinate with interested parties, and support environmental permitting.

Qualifications You Bring:

• Bachelors degree from an accredited college or university in Civil Engineering, Water Resources Engineering, OR a closely related field; alternatively, four years of progressively responsible civil engineering experience may substitute for the degree requirement, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience may be considered.
• Demonstrated experience in the design and construction of water resources projects, including stormwater management, flood control, and habitat restoration, with expertise in preparing technical analyses and reports, performing hydraulic modeling and open channel hydraulic engineering, and developing engineering design plans, specifications, and cost estimates.
• Established experience collaborating effectively with diverse, multidisciplinary technical teams across multiple professional disciplines.
• Proficient in using AutoDesk Civil 3D or equivalent drafting software to support engineering design and produce detailed design plans.
• Ability to take verbal and written directions to perform tasks independently on assigned projects, while keeping colleagues apprised of technical issues and schedule commitments.

• Engineer in Training (EIT) Certification or the ability to obtain it in one (1) year

Competencies You Bring:

• Action Oriented: Taking on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm.
• Resourcefulness: Securing and deploying resources effectively and efficiently.
• Collaborates: Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Communicates Effectively: Developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.
• Nimble Learning: Actively learning through experimentation when tackling new problems, using both successes and failures as learning fodder.

It Would Be Great if You Also Bring:

• Advanced training or applied experience with the fields of hydrology, hydraulics, geomorphology, ecology, or river science.
• Comprehensive knowledge of preparing plans, specifications, and cost estimates for projects in aquatic and marine environments.
• Ability to participate with perseverance, patience, and levity on multiple projects with overlapping deadlines.
• Demonstrated understanding of and experience working in situations requiring cross-cultural sensitivity and centering racial equity and social justice principles, and environmental justice.
• Experience using hydraulic modeling and geospatial analysis software, such as HEC-RAS, SRH-2D, ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Field Maps

Onsite Work Details:

• Work Location: The Capital Delivery/Management & Support Section works in a hybrid model, with days in the office, and field, as well as telecommuting. The ratio of remote to onsite work will be dependent on business needs and is subject to change. The primary onsite location is King Street Center, 201 S. Jackson St, Seattle, WA Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements. King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. The individual selected for this opportunity will join an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work as we transition to the department's hybrid environment. Employees will be provided with a County-issued laptop and must maintain a in-home workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours.
• Work Schedule: This full-time position works a 40-hour work week. This position is covered under the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and is overtime eligible.
• Union Representation: These positions are represented by PROTEC Local 17A bargaining unit.
• Physical Requirements: These positions require the ability to walk on uneven terrain for extended periods of time. Field conditions include brushy, forested environments; river, stream and wetland corridors; and slippery, uneven surfaces and dynamic conditions in the outdoors. Work tasks also likely will include in-water situations involving wading and the use of rafts or canoes.

Application and Selection Process:

We welcome applications from all qualified applicants, but first consideration will be given to all current King County PROTEC Local 17A bargaining unit employees eligible for a lateral transfer (transferring within the Engineer II classification and having passed probation). We value diversity, diverse perspectives and life experience and encourage people of all backgrounds to apply.

To apply, submit your completed application materials:

• Complete Online Application with response to supplemental questions ( Required )
• Resume ( Required )
• Cover Letter ( Required )
• Note: Additional documents won't be considered during minimum qualification screening.

Who to Contact: For more information regarding the Habitat Restoration Engineer II recruitment, please contact William R. Herbert at wherbert@kingcounty.gov .


Discover More About the Water and Land Division by visiting our website .
Discover More About DNRP: Visit our website , explore an interactive map of our recent accomplishments and check us out at Facebook , X (formerly Twitter) , LinkedIn , TikTok , Instagram , YouTube and Keeping King County Green News .

Sign up for Job Alerts to be notified of additional career opportunities with King County. Select the Natural Resources category for DNRP opportunities and explore other categories of interest.

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.

Application Process

If you are interested in pursuing this position and supporting King Countys vision for unified, equitable, and high-performing government, please follow the application instructions carefully. Provide us with your work history as applicable, ensuring that you provide details that highlight your ability to fulfill the requirements for this position.

If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, or you would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process, please contact William R. Herbert at wherbert@kingcounty.gov

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King County serves residents with a relentless sense of urgency, delivering on commitments with transparency and accountability. We are action-oriented, creative problem solvers who collaborate across roles, engage directly with communities, and challenge the status quo to achieve meaningful impact. As a unified team, we uphold high ethical and stewardship standards, embrace change, stay curious, and continuously improve. Across all interactions, we listen first, act quickly, and stay aligned as a team to earn and sustain public trust. Learn more about our Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values here and visit our Why work at King County page here.

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