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Per Governor Inslee’s Proclamation 21-14.2 (Download PDF reader), Washington State employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. As a condition of employment, the successful candidate will be required to provide proof of their COVID-19 vaccination as part of the hiring process, prior to their start date. Requests for medical and religious exemptions will be considered. If you have questions, please contact Careers@ecy.wa.gov with “COVID-19 vaccination” in the subject line.  

The Environmental Assessment Program within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill an Environmental Engineer 5 (In-Training) position. The position may be located within any of the following offices: Headquarters Office in Lacey, WA. or our Bellingham Field Office (BFO) in Bellingham, WA. Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.

As a registered professional engineer and senior environmental engineering specialist, you will independently plan and conduct comprehensive water quality studies including pollution loading, transport, and fate for large and complex projects, including Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) calculations. This position is directly related to Ecology’s mission of protecting, preserving, and restoring Washington’s environment.

Agency Mission: Ecology’s mission is to protect, preserve and enhance Washington's environment, and promote the wise management of our air, land and water. The agency’s goals are to prevent pollution, clean up pollution and support sustainable communities and natural resources. 

The Environmental Assessment Program provides a range of scientific, monitoring, laboratory, and quality assurance services. Its mission is to measure and assess environmental conditions in Washington State. The Modeling and TMDL Unit is comprised of a cohesive team of scientists and engineers that work on studies to solve some of the most complex water quality issues in Western Washington.  

During Healthy Washington Roadmap to Recovery, employees are working a combination of in-office and/or telework based on position and business need. Telecommuting is an option for this position. There is flexibility in the number of days per week in the office. Ecology is following current state guidance regarding mask requirements, health screening questions before entry, and social distancing. 

Application Timeline: This position will remain open until filled, with an initial screening date of August 19, 2022. In order to be considered for initial screening, please submit an application on or before of August 18, 2022. The agency reserves the right to make an appointment any time after the initial screening date.

• A healthy life/work balance by offering flexible schedules and telework options for most positions.
• An Infants at Work Program that is based on the long-term health values of infant-parent bonding and breastfeeding newborns.
• Continuous growth and development opportunities. 
• A wellness program that offers education, fitness classes, and an agency-wide fondness for outdoor meetings.
• Opportunities to serve your community and make an impact through meaningful work.

Diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect (DEIR) are core values central to Ecology’s work. We strive to be a workplace where we are esteemed for sharing our authentic identities, while advancing our individual professional goals and collaborating to protect, preserve, and enhance the environment for current and future generations.
 

 
We believe that DEIR is both a goal and an action. We are on a journey, honoring our shared humanity and taking steps to demonstrate our commitment to a vision where each of us is heard, seen, and valued. 

Duties

What makes this role unique? 

In this role, you will work on complex and challenging water quality surface water problems with other Ecology team members and, at times, with external stakeholders and scientists.

What you will do:   

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

The goal class for this position is Environmental Engineer 5 (EE5). We will consider applicants who meet the requirements for the Environmental Engineer 3 and 5 levels. If the finalist meets the requirements for the EE3 level, then they will be placed into a training program to become an EE5 within a specified period of time.
 
At the Environmental Engineer 3 Level: Salary Range: 67 – ($6260- $8216 Monthly)(In-Training)

Option 1: An Engineer-In-Training Certificate or a Bachelor's degree with a major study in one of the following engineering fields: sanitary, civil, geotechnical, water resources, environmental, chemical, mechanical or related field 

AND 

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.
 
Option 2: A Master's Degree with a major study in one of the following engineering fields: sanitary, civil, geotechnical, water resources, environmental, chemical, mechanical or related field
 
 AND 

Registration as a Professional Engineer in the state of Washington or another state based on registration requirements equivalent to those in Washington AND Two years of experience in environmental engineering.

Option 3: A Ph.D. with a major study in one of the following engineering fields: sanitary, civil, geotechnical, water resources, environmental, chemical, mechanical or related field
 
AND 

Registration as a Professional Engineer in the state of Washington or another state based on registration requirements equivalent to those in Washington AND One year of experience in environmental engineering.

At the Environmental Engineer 5 Level: Salary Range: 71 – ($6908 - $9067 Monthly)(Goal Class)
 
Option 1: An Engineer-In-Training Certificate OR a Bachelor's degree with a major study in one of the following engineering fields: sanitary, civil, geotechnical, water resources, environmental, chemical, mechanical or related field
 
 AND 

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.

Option 2: A Master's degree with a major study in one of the following engineering fields: sanitary, civil, geotechnical, water resources, environmental, chemical, mechanical or related field 

AND

Registration as a Professional Engineer in the state of Washington or another state based on registration requirements equivalent to those in Washington AND Four years of experience in environmental engineering.

Option 3: A Ph.D. with a major study in one of the following engineering fields: sanitary, civil, geotechnical, water resources, environmental, chemical, mechanical or related field 

AND

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.

NOTE: Requirements for professional registration as an engineer in the state of Washington are eight years of professional experience (which may include up to four years of college-level engineering education) and successful completion of sixteen hours of professional licensing exams. Applicants qualifying through the licensing equivalency option must achieve professional registration as an engineer in the state of Washington within six months of appointment to this class.

NOTE:  Individuals who are interested in applying to this position, and believe they meet licensing requirements for the State of Washington based on reciprocity, are responsible for ensuring they meet licensing requirements for the State of Washington prior to submitting their application materials. These requirements can be found at the following website: WA State: Board of Registration for Professional Engineers: How to get your license: Professional engineer by comity. 

Special Requirements:

Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license.

Desired Qualifications:
 
We highly encourage you to apply even if you do not have some (or all) of the desired experience below.

• Operation and calibration of the following equipment: water quality sensors, continuous data monitors, field meters, leveling rod, measuring tape, canopy densiometer, clinometer, compass; hand level, flow meters, global positioning systems.
• Experience in watershed modeling, including models such as Hydrologic Simulation Program-FORTRAN (HSPF).

• Surface watershed hydrological analysis and proficiency in R, Python or MATLAB, and ARC-GIS.
• Thermodynamics, sediment transport, steady and unsteady state characterization of mass and energy fluxes, hydrologic and hydraulic modeling.
• Knowledge of statistical methods of sampling design and data analysis, mechanistic water quality modeling of aquatic systems, and objectives of the TMDL program.  
• Strong environmental chemistry background.

Note: Having some (or all) of this desired experience may make your application more competitive in a highly competitive applicant pool.

Supplemental Information

Ecology seeks diverse applicants: We view diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect through a broad lens including race, ethnicity, class, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, immigration status, military background, language, education, life experience, physical disability, neurodiversity, and intersectional identities. Qualified candidates from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.


Need an Accommodation in the application and/or screening process or this job announcement in an alternative format?

• Please call: (360) 407-6186 or email: careers@ecy.wa.gov and we will be happy to assist.
• If you are deaf or hard of hearing you can reach the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.
• If you need assistance applying for this job, please e-mail careers@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not send an email to this address to follow-up on the status of your application. You can view the latest status of your application on your profile's main page.
• If you are reading this announcement in print format, please enter the following URL to your search engine to apply: https://ecology.wa.gov/About-us/Get-to-know-us/Jobs-at-Ecology.   

Application Instructions:

It's in the applicant's best interest to submit all of the documents listed below. Applications without these documents may be declined.

• A cover letter describing why you are interested in this position.
• A resume outlining your experience and education (if applicable) as it relates to the minimum qualifications of this position.
• Three professional references.

Please do NOT include your salary history. Wage/salary depends on qualifications or rules of promotion, if applicable.  
 
For Your Privacy:
When attaching documents to your application (such as Resume, Cover Letter, Transcripts, DD-214, etc.):

• Please be sure to remove private information such as your social security number, date of birth, etc. 
• Do not attach documents that are password-protected, as these documents may not be reviewed and may cause errors within your application when downloaded. 

Additional Application Instructions for Current Ecology Employees: 
 
Please make sure to answer the agency-wide questions regarding permanent status as a classified employee within the Washington General Service or Washington Management Service. Do not forget to select Department of Ecology as a response to question 2, and type your personnel ID number for question 3. If you are not sure of your status or do not know your personnel ID number, please contact Human Resources.

Application Attestation: 

The act of submitting application materials electronically is considered affirmation that the information is complete and truthful. The state may verify this information and any untruthful or misleading answers are cause for rejection of your application or dismissal if employed. 

Other Information:

If you have specific questions about the position, please email Cristiana Figueroa-Kaminsky at c.figueroa-kaminsky@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not contact Cristiana to inquire about the status of your application.
 
To request the full position description: email careers@ecy.wa.gov

Why work for Ecology?

As an agency, our mission is to protect, preserve and enhance Washington's environment for current and future generations. We invest in our employees to create and sustain a working environment that encourages creative leadership, effective resource management, teamwork, professionalism, and accountability.

Joining Ecology means becoming a part of a team committed to protecting and restoring Washington State's environment. A career in public service allows you to help solve some of the most challenging problems facing our state, while keeping your health and financial security a priority. We combine one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation with a strong commitment to life/work balance.

Ecology employees may be eligible for the following:
Medical/Dental/Vision for employee & dependent(s), Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), Vacation, Sick, and other Leave*, 11 Paid Holidays per year*, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Tuition Waiver,  Long Term Disability & Life Insurance, Deferred Compensation Programs, Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP),  Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA), Employee Assistance Program, Commute Trip Reduction Incentives (Download PDF reader), Combined Fund Drive, SmartHealth *See the Benefits tab in this announcement for more information 

Student debt: how working for Ecology can help
The Department of Ecology is a qualifying employer for the Public Service Forgiveness Program (PSLF). See https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service for more details.

To learn more about The Department of Ecology, please visit our website at www.ecology.wa.gov and follow, like or visit us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or our blog.

Collective Bargaining: This is a position covered by a bargaining unit for which the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) is the exclusive representative.   

Equal Opportunity Employer: The Washington State Department of Ecology is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, veterans, military spouses or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply. Persons needing accommodation in the application/testing process or this job announcement in an alternative format may call (360) 407-6186. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.

Note: This recruitment may be used to fill other positions of the same job classification across the agency. Once all the position(s) from the recruitment announcement are filled, the recruitment may only be used to fill additional open positions for the next sixty (60) days.