Temporary Office Engineer

Salary: $62.79 - $70.35 Hourly
Location : Seattle Municipal Tower, 700 5th Ave., Seattle, WA
Job Type: Temporary - Benefit Eligible
Job Number: 2026-01126
Department: Seattle City Light
Opening Date: 08/17/2026
Closing Date: Continuous
Language Premium: No

Position 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.

The Project Delivery Business Unit has an exciting opportunity for an Office Engineer in the Construction Management Unit. As a senior construction management professional in this unit, you will act as the single point of contact for construction contractors and be responsible for the on-site construction contract administration of complex public works projects. You must be able to work in an office environment, construction project trailer, remote generation site, or a City Light supplied vehicle, since the location and the siting of the construction projects will dictate the work environment. The primary locations will be Seattle Municipal Tower and South Service Center, with some travel to the remote generation sites. This position will report to the Civil Engineer, Supervisor.

The Construction Management Office Engineer's primary responsibilities are to audit and process contractor payments and manage submittals for Public Works contracting. Duties include auditing payment documentation, preparing payment spreadsheets, creating payment packages, tracking milestones and expenditures against purchase order balances, monitoring submittals intake, routing submittals to the appropriate reviewers for approval, assembling responses, distributing completed submittals, and tracking submittals via project logs. The Public Works progress payment oversight is vital for project controls accuracy with regards to City of Seattle Finance and Administrative Services (FAS) requirements.

This position performs the most complex and difficult technical civil engineering and construction related activities. This person is knowledgeable of the Resident Engineer as well as Office Engineer. This position is vital and cohesive to the organization.

The Construction Management Office Engineer may also have secondary responsibilities in the role of Resident Engineer. The Resident Engineer is the owner's representative to inspect, monitor, survey, or verify information during construction and engineering-related projects. The Resident Engineer performs contract administration activities including, reviewing monthly progress reports, processing monthly and final payments to contractors, verifying final quantities and costs, compiling requisite documentation, reviewing change orders, and auditing as-built records. The Resident Engineer acts as a liaison among consultants, contractors, subcontractors, manufacturers, fabricators or suppliers and negotiates problems of changes, errors or deficiencies to ensure compliance with project specifications.

The Office Engineer's work is primarily in an office environment and the Resident Engineer's role, if required, may involve field visits to active construction projects.

This position will report to the Construction Management Manager.

Job Responsibilities

• Attend project team and pre-construction meetings to coordinate submittals and payment processes;
• Audit construction payment documentation prepared by others;
• Assist and train field personnel with documentation and records as needed;
• Create contractor payment spreadsheets and payment documentation;
• Monitor payments against purchase order amounts and coordinate with project managers;
• Monitor submittals intake and distribute to reviewers;
• Coordinate and assemble submittal review comments and return to contractors;
• Track submittals on project logs;
• Create payment and year-end reports for the unit;
• Produce labor estimates, construction schedules estimates, and liquidated damages calculations for contracts and payments;
• Prepare documentation for project acceptance and close-out;
• Perform other related duties of a comparable level/type as assigned.

Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications

Requires four years civil engineering experience, and an Associate Degree in Civil Engineering Technology or two years of college level coursework in engineering and construction technology (or a combination of education and/or training and/or experience which provides an equivalent background required to perform the work of the class).

Work Environment/Physical Demands

• Most work is performed in a normal City work/office environment.
• Field assignments entail exposure to all types of weather, traffic, hazardotoxic 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.
• Overnight travel may be required.

License, Certification and Other Requirements

You must hold a current valid state issued driver's license from any US state to be verified prior to start date. Out of state license holders will be required to obtain a WA state license within 30 days of hire..

Desired Qualifications - You will be successful if you have the following experience, skills, and abilities:

• Familiarity with construction drawings and specifications;
• Experience with typical Public Works contract measurement and payment specifications and methods;
• Five or more years of construction management experience;
• Broad knowledge of the principals, practices, and processes of civil and utility construction including the materials and methods of typically used in this type of work;
• Good organizational skills and ability to prioritize competing priorities in a fast-paced environment;
• The ability to proficiently process mathematical spreadsheet calculations to a very high degree of accuracy;
• Ability to work collaboratively across multiple functional teams simultaneously;
• Able to monitor and manage deadlines across multiple projects;
• Strong oral and written communication skills;
• Proficiency with MS Outlook, Word, Project, and SharePoint, and a strong grasp of basic Excel spreadsheets.

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.
Emergency Response Commitment:

Seattle City Light is committed to reliable service during emergencies. Through our Emergency Response Program, each employee is assigned a role-usually aligned with their regular duties-to support emergency operations. Your participation is required and vital to helping the utility stay prepared and serve our community when it matters most.

Additional Information
The full salary range for this position is $62.79 to $70.35 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 accepted.

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 , and the A driving history review may be conducted in compliance with 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:

Want to know more about Seattle City Light? Check out our web page:
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:
01

Do you have a valid Washington State Driver License or ability to obtain one within 30 days of hire?

• Yes
• No

02

Do you have professional experience managing projects related to electric utility distribution engineering design and construction?

• Yes
• No

03

Please indicate your highest level of education:

• High School Diploma/GED
• Some College
• Associate's Degree
• Bachelor's Degree
• Master's Degree
• Juris Doctorate (JD)
• None of the above

04

How much professional civil engineering experience do you have?

• None
• Some but less than 1 year
• At least 1 year
• At least 2 years
• At least 3 years
• More than 3 years

05

To participate in the hiring process, Seattle City Light requires strict confidentiality of all related information, including any discussions outside the workplace. This ensures fairness and protects the integrity of the process. This obligation applies during and after the hiring process. Do you understand and agree to maintain this confidentiality?

• Yes, I understand and agree.
• No, I do not agree.

Required Question