Description
About the position
Job Appointment: Full time, regular
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. An alternate schedule may be available
Work Location: Hybrid- 5001 N Columbia Blvd, Portland, OR 97203. Remote work must be performed within Oregon or Washington. For more information, click here.
Benefit: Please check our benefit tab for an overview of benefit for this position
Language Pay Premium Eligible: This position is or may be eligible for Language Pay Differential for qualifying employees
Union Representation: Professional Technical Employees (PROTEC17). To view labor agreements, current and future, please visit the Current City Labor Agreements page.
Application Material: Please click APPLY to submit your application via the City of Portland’s online portal. You will need to attach a resume and cover letter. Note: Do not include your age, date of birth, or the dates you attended or graduated from school. Only provide this information if it is specifically requested to meet job requirements or to follow federal, state, or local laws or rules
Are you interested in a role where you can help shape vital infrastructure that serves the people and environment of Portland?
Are you a passionate engineer who thrives in collaborative, diverse teams?
Do you bring strong problem-solving skills, experience in water or wastewater infrastructure, and a commitment to public service?
POSITION SUMMARY
The Bureau of Environmental Services (BES) is seeking a Civil Engineer (Engineer- Civil) to join the Treatment and Pumping Systems Division, providing plan review, engineering design and analysis, and supporting the construction and rehabilitation of wastewater treatment facilities and pump stations that protect public health and enhance the resilience of Portland’s wastewater and stormwater systems.
What you’ll get to do:
- Perform engineering planning for major capital construction and/or maintenance programs.
- Design, review and construct engineering plans and drawings; prepare engineering analyses, calculations, technical reports, and specifications,
- Serve as project manager for various engineering and construction projects, overseeing project scopes, schedules, budgets, risks, and milestones in alignment with BES capital project practices.
- Review and monitor work by outside consultants and administer consultant contracts.
- Support construction activities, perform site visits, and help resolving field issues.
- Prepare and deliver presentations of technical data and results to technical review committees, bureau staff and other governmental agencies.
- Coordinate capital construction projects with multidisciplinary project teams and represent the bureau on multi-jurisdictional projects.
- Integrate sustainability, seismic resilience, and equity considerations into engineering solutions and project delivery.
- Support change management and ensure smooth transition of new assets to operations and maintenance teams.
About the Bureau of Environmental Services
This is an exciting time to join the Bureau of Environmental Services (BES). Together we are re-imagining the work we do to ensure it aligns with Our Values:
- We implement equity in our workplace, business practices, and service delivery.
- We value our customers and partners.
- We carefully manage our watersheds, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure, and financial resources.
- We encourage leadership among our employees in our City and community.
- We support a diverse, collaborative, healthy, and engaged workforce.
- We urge respectful communication and transparency.
- We advance innovative, sustainable, and resilient solutions.
At BES, we value our customers and partners; Portlanders’ sense of connection to their waterways; conscientious stewardship of our watersheds, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure, and financial resources; a diverse, collaborative, healthy, and engaged workforce; leadership among our employees and in our City and community; equity in our workplace, business practices, and service delivery; clear communication and transparency; innovative, sustainable, and resilient solutions.
BES is seeking talented individuals from diverse racial, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds with knowledge, ability, and experience working with a broad range of individuals and communities; and that desire to work collaboratively and creatively to broaden the variety of innovative ways to partner with and serve all Portland communities.
To learn more about the work we do at BES, click on the link: About Environmental Services | Portland.gov
Our BES 10-Year Strategic Plan can be found here: download (portland.gov)
Questions? We're here to help!
If you have questions about this recruitment or need assistance, contact:
Tamara Larison, Senior Recruiter
Tamara.larison@portlandoregon.gov
Bureau of Human Resources
The following minimum qualifications are required for this position:
- Experience reviewing, preparing or directing the preparation of complex plans, specifications and legal contracts.
- Knowledge of theory, principles and practices of either civil, structural, electrical, mechanical or chemical engineering design and project management.
- Knowledge of modern techniques and equipment used in design, construction and maintenance of water or wastewater infrastructure.
- Experience conducting difficult technical research, analyzing complex engineering and mathematical problems, evaluating alternatives, and recommending or adopting effective courses of action.
- Skill in clearly communicating scientific and technical matters to diverse stakeholders, including non-technical individuals.
- Ability to collaborate effectively within multidisciplinary teams and manage multiple tasks or project assignments simultaneously.
Applicants must also possess:
- Certificate of registration as a Professional Engineer.
- A valid state driver’s license may be required for certain assignments.
- Oregon State Board of Engineering Examiners and Licensed Surveyors (OSBEELS) PE License required within six months from the date of hire
Education/Training:
A typical way of obtaining the knowledge, skills and abilities outlined above is graduation from a four-year college or university with a degree in civil, mechanical, electrical, chemical, structural, or environmental engineering;
AND
four years of responsible professional engineering experience; or an equivalent combination of training and experience. Experience in a public agency is preferred.
STEP 1: Apply online between August 3, 2026 - August 31, 2026
Required Application Materials:
- Cover letter
- Details are key! The city uses a merit-based system, so your cover letter should be thorough and specifically address each qualification listed in the "To Qualify" section of the job announcement. Your cover letter can exceed one page, to ensure you are able to provide the detailed information for every qualification. Follow the instructions, as a subject matter expert will be evaluating your details to confirm that you meet the minimum requirements.
- Resume
- Note: Do not include your age, date of birth, or the dates you attended or graduated from school. Only provide this information if it is specifically requested to meet job requirements or to follow federal, state, or local laws or rules.
- Answer the three (3) Supplemental Questions (click on the Questions tab to preview the questions)
Optional Application Materials:
- If you wish to request Veteran's Preference, please submit your veteran documents (e.g., DD214-Member 4, VA Benefit Letter) by the recruitment's closing date.
- Effective January 1, 2026, the State of Oregon law ORS 408.225 - 408.238 is amended to expand eligibility for Veterans’ Preference to current and former Oregon National Guard service members. If applicants are existing state or former Oregon National Guard servicemembers, they are encouraged to attach appropriate documentation to their future recruitment applications.
- Update: As of March 3rd, 2025, if you made the eligible list and met the eligibility to receive veteran preference, you will no longer need to submit veteran documents for future recruitments.
If you need to update or remove your veteran preference for a specific recruitment or from your master profile, please contact the recruiter listed in the job announcement.
Application Tips:
- Your cover letter can exceed one page, to ensure you are able to provide the detailed information for every qualification. A subject matter expert will be evaluating your details to confirm that you meet the minimum requirements.
- Your résumé should support the details described in your cover letter.
- How We Determine Pay:The City of Portland is covered by theOregon Equal Pay Act.Your salary is determined based on the experience listed in your resume that is directly related and equivalent to the position for which you are applying. It is strongly encouraged to include any transferable experience (paid or unpaid regardless of how recent) to ensure your offer is reflective of all your relevant experience.
- Do not attach any additional documents.
- Please note, all completed applications for this position must be submitted no later than on the closing date and time of this recruitment.
- You can use AI tools to assist with your job application, but please make sure to personalize your responses to supplemental questions. Avoid copying and pasting. We encourage use AI to generate ideas and then tailor them to reflect your own experiences and skills.
- All applications must be submitted via the City's online application process.
- E-mailed and/or faxed applications will not be accepted.
Step 2: Minimum Qualification Evaluation: Week of August 31, 2026
- An evaluation of each applicant's training, paid and unpaid experience, as demonstrated in their cover letter, and resume, weighted 100%.
- Your cover letter and résumé will be the basis for our evaluation of your qualifications for this position. Incomplete or inappropriate information may result in disqualification.
- You have 14 days from the notice of the minimum qualification evaluation results to let us know if you would like to review and discuss your evaluation result. Please read the City of Portland Administrative Rule 3.01 for complete information.
- Additional evaluation may be required prior to establishment of the eligible list and/or final selection.
Step 3: Establishment of Eligible List: Week of September 7, 2026
- Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications will be placed on the equally ranked eligible list. (Update if a Ranked list or other type of list is used)
Step 4: Selection (Interview): September 2026
- Hiring bureau will review and select candidates for an interview
Step 5: Offer of Employment: October 2026
- Some positions will require those offered employment to complete and sign a criminal background statement before being considered for employment. (Include if requires an in-depth background investigation.)
Step 6: Start Date: October 2026
- A start date will be determined after all conditions of employment have been met.
*Timeline is approximate and subject to change.
Click here for additional information regarding the following:
- City of Portland Core Values
- Recruitment Process - Work Status
- Equal Employment Opportunity
- Veteran Preference
- ADA, Pregnancy, and Religious Accommodations
Apply Here
PI286225811
