Engineering Consultant & Contracts Officer (Environmental Engineer 3 or 5)

Engineering Consultant & Contracts Officer

The Department of Ecology is hiring an Engineering Consultant & Contracts Officer (Environmental Engineer 3 or 5) within the Toxics Cleanup Program (TCP).

Location Options:

• Headquarters Office in Lacey, WA.
• Central Region Office in Union Gap, WA.
• Eastern Region Office in Spokane, WA.
• Northwest Region Office in Shoreline, WA.
• Southwest Region Office in Lacey, WA.

Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the selected duty station.

Note: If the selected duty station is the Northwest Region Office in Shoreline, the salary will include an additional 5% premium pay due to its location in King County. Salary range: $7,585 - $11,538 monthly.

Schedule:

• This position is eligible for telework and flexible schedule options.
• You may telework most of your work time with occasional in-person meetings and activities.
• Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.

Application Timeline:

• Apply by July 16, 2026.
• Applications submitted after the date above may not be reviewed unless additional qualified applicants are needed.

Duties

The Toxics Cleanup Program is looking for an Engineering Consultant & Contracts Officer who's excited about supporting meaningful environmental cleanup work across Eastern Washington. In this role, you'll partner with project managers to guide sites through investigations, cleanup design, and corrective action, helping move contaminated properties toward healthier, more resilient futures. You'll also lead the way on public works and architectural/engineering (A/E) contracting, shaping clear, effective contracts and providing practical engineering and construction insight every step of the way. If you enjoy collaboration, variety, and using your technical skills to make a positive impact on Washington's environment and communities, this is a great opportunity to do just that.

• Provide engineering technical expertise and manage Architectural and Engineer and Public Works contracts to comply with applicable law and policy.
• Provide project management to support projects and help maintain appropriate timelines.
• Facilitate the process to secure both Architectural and Engineering and Public Works contracts, including contract development, bid specifications, evaluations and protests, contract awards, construction claims, dispute resolution and contract execution through electronic workflow.
• Manage ongoing contracts, including reimbursement requests, reviewing project progress reports, preparing change orders, and maintaining contract files and records.
• Regularly evaluate contracts and processes for areas of improvement and increased efficiency.
• Perform construction inspections at the site.

Learn more about what it is like to be an Engineer at the Department of Ecology

Qualifications

This position offers an in-training plan and may be filled at the Environmental Engineer 3 or 5 level, depending on your qualifications. If you qualify at the EE3 level and are hired, you will progress through an in-training plan to become an EE5 within a specified time period.

Required Qualifications:

At the Environmental Engineer 3 level (In-Training)

Pay Range 68, $7,224 - $9,712 monthly

• Registration as a Professional Engineer in the state of Washington or another state based on registration requirements equivalent to those in Washington AND
• Three years of experience in environmental engineering which includes the following:
• Strong communication and collaboration skills Ability to communicate complex technical or project information clearly and work effectively with internal staff, contractors, and partners to support coordinated and timely project delivery.
• Commitment to equity and inclusion Experience applying inclusive practices and considering diverse perspectives to ensure fair, transparent, and accessible processes in project or procurement work.
• Contract oversight and vendor performance management Skilled in overseeing professional service or project-based contracts, monitoring deliverables and schedules, and addressing performance issues to ensure high-quality and compliant outcomes.
• Leading or coordinating technical projects Ability to guide project activities from planning through completion, monitor progress, resolve barriers, and align work with organizational goals.
• Applied environmental or engineering knowledge Demonstrated competence interpreting and applying environmental, engineering, or technical principles to evaluate designs, plans, recommendations, or project work for effectiveness and compliance.
• Procurement and competitive selection processes Skilled in conducting proposal evaluations, facilitating fair and transparent selection processes, and negotiating terms to secure qualified service providers and protect organizational interests.

At the Environmental Engineer 5 level (Goal Class)

Pay Range 73, $8,172 - $10,989 monthly

• Registration as a Professional Engineer in the state of Washington or another state based on registration requirements equivalent to those in Washington AND
• Five years of experience in environmental engineering which includes the following:
• Strong communication and collaboration skills Ability to communicate complex technical or project information clearly and work effectively with internal staff, contractors, and partners to support coordinated and timely project delivery.
• Commitment to equity and inclusion Experience applying inclusive practices and considering diverse perspectives to ensure fair, transparent, and accessible processes in project or procurement work.
• Contract oversight and vendor performance management Skilled in overseeing professional service or project-based contracts, monitoring deliverables and schedules, and addressing performance issues to ensure high-quality and compliant outcomes.
• Leading or coordinating technical projects Ability to guide project activities from planning through completion, monitor progress, resolve barriers, and align work with organizational goals.
• Applied environmental or engineering knowledge Demonstrated competence interpreting and applying environmental, engineering, or technical principles to evaluate designs, plans, recommendations, or project work for effectiveness and compliance.
• Procurement and competitive selection processes Skilled in conducting proposal evaluations, facilitating fair and transparent selection processes, and negotiating terms to secure qualified service providers and protect organizational interests.

Note: Individuals who are licensed as professional engineers in another U.S. jurisdiction or foreign country and wish to apply for this position must qualify for licensure in Washington State by comity. Applicants are responsible for reviewing and ensuring they meet Washington's comity requirements before submitting application materials. Licensing requirements can be found on the Washington State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors website: How To Get Your Professional Engineer License When Licensed in Another Jurisdiction.

Desired Qualifications:

• Developing and managing complex technical or project-based contracts Demonstrated experience preparing bid materials, evaluating proposals, and administering multiple concurrent contracts to ensure clear expectations, accountability, and successful project delivery.
• Environmental cleanup regulations and practices Ability to interpret and apply laws, policies, and technical guidance related to contaminated site cleanup or similar regulatory frameworks to support sound project decisions and compliance.
• Training, advising, or mentoring staff Skilled in explaining processes, requirements, and best practices to help staff build knowledge, improve consistency, and support organization-wide understanding.
• Working on multidisciplinary environmental or engineering projects Ability to collaborate with technical specialists, project managers, and stakeholders to integrate scientific, engineering, and regulatory considerations into effective project strategies.
• Evaluating contractor or project performance Demonstrated ability to assess quality, timeliness, and adherence to expectations to identify lessons learned and support continuous improvement.

If you are excited about this role and meet the required qualifications, we encourage you to apply. Desired qualifications reflect additional knowledge, skills, or experience that are nice to have but not required. Studies have shown that some applicants, especially women and people of color, are less likely to apply unless they meet every listed qualification. At the Department of Ecology, we are dedicated to building a diverse and authentic workplace centered in belonging, and we welcome applicants with varied backgrounds and unique perspectives.

Supplemental Information

Ecology does not use the E-Verify system; therefore, we are not eligible to extend STEM Optional