District Engineer, Civil Engineer​/Civil Engineer ; CEIn-Training

District Engineer, Civil Engineer 2 (CE2)/Civil Engineer 1 (CE1) In-Training

Recruitment #2026-2-5678

Full-time, Permanent, Represented position (WPEA)

Location:

Pacific Cascade Region
- Chehalis, WA

Salary: $4,517.00 - $7,043.00 Monthly

Please note:

a conditional offer of employment may be made pending completion of the degree within 4 months of the opening date of this posting.

Review of applications is ongoing. We reserve the right to make a hiring decision or close this recruitment at any time after 2/25/26. It is in your best interest to submit materials as soon as possible.

Want to join something GREAT and make a difference?

Are you someone with strong organizational skills, who can manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously, appreciates the importance of good communication and follow-up, and enjoys working outdoors? Do you want to partner with a great group of hard-working and dedicated professionals who plan, design, layout, and conduct timber harvests in Southwest Washington? If you enjoy engineering challenges and watching your work come to fruition, this is the career for you.

The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has an exciting opportunity. The Lewis District and Pacific Cascade Region are actively seeking a Forest or Civil Engineer. The position will have a duty station in Chehalis, WA. The varied terrain and microclimates in Lewis District provide for many engineering challenges in forest road layout and maintenance.

In this position, you will interact with professionals having diverse talents and skill sets. You will have the opportunity to work frequently with other engineers, foresters, wildlife biologists, GIS professionals, geologists, and heavy equipment operators, to name a few. Collaboration is one of our agency's core goals, and it is our belief that you will benefit by learning while working side by side with others in these fields, and other fields as they learn from you.

Qualifying experience for the Professional Engineer License may be signed off on for engineers with the Engineering in Training certification. Your duties will include developing road plans for the Lewis District Timber Sale Program, which will include evaluating existing roads and structures, locating new road locations, designing new stream crossing structures, and performing harvest system analysis.

Responsibilities:

* Detail-oriented project work and consultation

* Manage forest road projects from initial scoping to closing out construction

* Collaborating between different partners in the Region in the process of putting together road and stream crossing projects

* Creating and maintaining respectful working relationships

* Providing recommendations for actions on bridges, culverts, and other maintenance needs on forest roads

* Providing recommendations on corrections to fish barriers

* Thinking critically and strategically while also meeting project deadlines

* Being part of a dynamic and energetic team

This may be filled as an in-training position. This is designated as a 12-24 month training plan (may be extended to 36 months). If you complete all elements of the training steps in a shorter amount of time, we may waive the remainder of the time required. Candidates will be considered as Civil Engineer 1 (In-Training) or Civil Engineer 2, depending on qualifications.

Required Qualifications:

Civil Engineer 1 (In-Training)

(Salary range: $4,517 - $6,077 per month):

* A bachelor's degree in forest or civil engineering, forest operations, or a related degree;

OR an equivalent combination of experience and/or education.

* Experience in the use of engineering equipment, tools, and software, including in an academic environment.

* Knowledge of forest engineering principles, techniques, and applications, such as logging systems, harvest system design, and road transportation design.

* Knowledge of ground and cable logging systems, and forest road construction equipment and use.

* Knowledge of forest practice standards, laws, and rights-of-way.

* Knowledge of components required for field designing timber sale road plans.

* Positive interpersonal and communication skills.

* Commitment to fostering and supporting an environment that honors diversity, equity, inclusion, and environmental justice practices.

* Perform assigned duties in a manner consistent with applicable laws, regulations, and public records retention and requests are followed.

* DNR

Core Competencies:

* Personal Accountability

* Value Others

* Compassionate Communication

* Inspire Others

* Commitment to Excellence

Civil Engineer 2  

(Salary range: $5,241-$7,043 per month):

* Bachelor's degree in forest or civil engineering, forest operations, or related degree AND one year of experience in forest or civil engineering or related field; OR an equivalent combination of experience and/or education.

* Experience in hydrology and hydraulic structure design procedures.

* Experience in forest practice standards, laws, and rights-of-way.

* Experience using programs such as MS…