Perform computer modeling of King County’s wastewater service area and conveyance system in support of the Wastewater Treatment Division’s capital projects. Modeling will simulate both the hydrologic responses of the basins as well as the hydraulic behavior of conveyance facilities. Modeling of receiving waters includes water and sediment quality and transport of nutrients or contaminants of concern. Modeling work will be performed for a variety of WTD projects, such as developing Design Flow Technical Memoranda for Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) projects and for WTD’s Conveyance System Improvements Projects.

WTD is committed to the principles of equity and social justice. We value diverse perspectives and life experiences in our workforce and are committed to building a culturally diverse and inclusive environment. WTD strives to provide equitable services to residents and businesses across King County.

To learn more about the Wastewater Treatment Division click on the below links: http://www.kingcounty.gov/environment/wtd/About.aspx http://www.kingcounty.gov/environment/wtd/About/Vision.asp

Who is Eligible: This position is open to all qualified applicants.

Entry Level Duties May Include:

• Calibrate King County’s sewer system models (using MIKE URBAN) to measured data.
• Evaluate flow data for consistency and reasonableness.
• Quantify the fit of model output compared with measured data.
• Estimate storage and treatment sizes to bring King County CSOs into control.
• Perform hydraulic modeling to evaluate project alternatives.
• Perform hydraulic modeling to determine the impacts of CSO projects on downstream facilities.
• Synthesize wastewater facility construction costs to support conveyance system cost estimating software.
• Perform modeling of Puget Sound, simulating the fate and and transport of contaminants of concern as well as nutrient and oxygen levels.
• Perform modeling of treatment plant processes
• Develop or update software for data analysis
• Write technical memoranda documenting modeling process and results.
• Present model work to King County and other stakeholders
• Participate on project teams during pre-design and evaluate alternatives and control strategies

Journey Level Duties may include:

• Perform hydrologic and hydraulic modeling for combined and separated sewer systems.
• Calibrate computer models and perform hydraulic modeling to determine sizing of conveyance and combined sewer overflow facilities.
• Develop wastewater flow projections to assess future wastewater facility needs.
• Perform Water Quality modeling of rivers and bays and/or Puget Sound.
• Develop a hydrodynamic and water quality simulation model for Puget Sound and perform modeling analyses to evaluate potential effects of treatment plant discharges and CSOs.
• Provide technical expertise and modeling assistance to the water quality assessment projects, including development of modeling algorithms and tools for nutrient/chemical/biological fate and transport in fresh water systems;
• Perform Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modeling
• Perform modeling of treatment plant processes
• Develop graphical display programs for computer model input/output.
• Develop software tools to synthesize modeling information into future conveyance system planning and design.
• Conduct conveyance system analysis to determine most effective solution to conveyance limitations in the King County collection system.
• Write technical memoranda documenting modeling process and results.
• Participate on project teams during pre-design and evaluate alternatives and control strategies.

Required Qualifications:
Entry Level:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field.
• Two years of engineering work, preferably with hydrologic/hydraulic modeling experience. Additional formal training in scientific/technical areas such as hydraulics, hydrology, computer science, or water quality modeling is desirable and may substitute for engineering experience.
• Good verbal and writing communication skills

Journey Level:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering or related field.
• An Engineer-In-Training (EIT) certificate or BS plus four years of engineering work commensurate with an EIT. The training and/or experience should include a preponderance of sewer and/or surface water modeling experience.
• Good verbal and writing communication skills

Necessary Special Requirements:
Entry Level:

• Strong background in numerical modeling.
• Understanding of open channel hydraulics
• Strong multitasking skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively, with tact and diplomacy.
• Competency in Visual Basic (VBA), FORTRAN, or C programming, and in Microsoft Office, to develop work products.

Journey Level:

• Entry level requirements plus:
• Strong background in numerical wastewater, stormwater, and/or water quality modeling.
• Experience calibrating the hydrologic, hydraulic and/or water quality responses for sewer, stormwater, or receiving water systems.
• Strong understanding of hydraulics, including unusual or severe situations that may impact facilities or data collection.

The successful candidate will embody the following competencies:
Decision Quality – Makes sound decisions, even in the absence of complete information. Relies on a mixture of analysis, wisdom, experience, and judgment when making decision. Considers all relevant factors and uses appropriate decision-making criteria and principles. Recognizes when a quick 80% solution will suffice.

Nimble Learning – Learns quickly when facing new situations. Experiments to find new solutions. Takes on the challenge of unfamiliar tasks. Extracts lessons learned from failures and mistakes.

Values Differences – Seeks to understand different perspectives and cultures. Contributes to a work climate where differences are valued and supported. Applies others’ diverse experience, styles, backgrounds, and perspectives to get results. Is sensitive to cultural norms, expectations, and ways of communicating.

License / Certification:
A Valid Washington State Driver’s License
Engineer In Training registration (EIT)

Highly Desirable:

• Strong computer programming experience (e.g., Visual Basic, VBA, FORTRAN, Python, MATLAB, C, C++, etc.)
• Experience calibrating sewer, stormwater or water quality models, such as the RDII, MOUSEHD, MIKE-1D, and RTC modules of the Mike Urban/MIKE+ model.
• Strong Excel spreadsheet programming experience
• Master’s degree in Engineering
• Knowledge of King County and City of Seattle sewer systems and controls.
• Experience using an automated calibration tool.

Physical Requirements: Ability to safely visit various construction sites and wastewater treatment and conveyance facilities.

Work Environment: Work is performed in both a home office environment and in the field at wastewater treatment facilities of various types throughout King County. These sites may not be served by public transit.

Union Representation: This position is represented by the Technical Employee’s Association (TEA).

For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact:
Diana Eberly
Senior Human Resource Analyst
206-477-6899
Diana.eberly@kingcounty.gov

Forbes recently named King County as one of Washington State’s best employers. 

Together, with leadership and our employees, we’re changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation’s best places to live, work and play. 

Guided by our “True North“, we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles–we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer
No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

To Apply
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