Engineer V

$5,000 Signing Bonus*

Fairfax County's Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES) seeks a highly experienced engineering professional to serve as an Engineer V within the Wastewater Design and Construction Division. This position plays a critical leadership role in delivering large, complex capital improvement projects for the County's wastewater collection and conveyance systems.

Functions as a senior technical leader and Owner's Representative, overseeing planning, design, and construction activities to ensure projects are delivered safely, on schedule, within budget, and in full compliance with county standards and regulatory requirements.

As part of the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES), you will be joining a nationally accredited and award-winning public works agency with over 1,000 dedicated professionals. DPWES manages critical services across the county, including wastewater, stormwater, solid waste, land acquisition, capital facilities, and urban forestry. Our mission is to create and preserve a sustainable, healthy, and resilient community for the 1.2 million residents of Virginia's most populous county.

Why Work for DPWES
DPWES offers the opportunity to lead high-impact wastewater infrastructure projects that directly support public health, environmental protection, and long-term system reliability. Employees benefit from a collaborative work environment, meaningful leadership responsibilities, and the ability to shape the County's critical infrastructure investments.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and supervise a multidisciplinary team of engineers, inspectors, technicians, and consultants responsible for wastewater design and construction activities.
• Serve as the Owner's Representative for major wastewater capital projects, providing oversight from conceptual planning through final construction close-out.
• Manage all aspects of construction and contract administration, including:
  • Design review and constructability evaluation
  • Preparation of bid documents and participation in procurement
  • Pre-construction and construction meeting leadership
  • Review and approval of pay applications, schedules, RFIs, and shop drawings
  • Change order entitlement analysis, cost review, and negotiation
  • Claims mitigation and resolution
• Ensure compliance with Fairfax County standards, technical specifications, safety requirements, environmental regulations, and quality assurance protocols.
• Coordinate with internal stakeholders, regulatory agencies, plant operations staff, consultants, and contractors to resolve technical, contractual, and schedule-related issues.
• Monitor project budgets, schedules, and risks, and implement corrective actions as needed to maintain project performance.
• Participate in consultant selection committees, value engineering workshops, and continuous process improvement initiatives.
• Provide leadership in safety awareness, staff development, organizational improvement, and environmental stewardship.
• Support emergency response efforts and report to the County's Emergency Operations Center (EOC) as required.

• Experience serving as an Owner's Representative on wastewater planning, design and/or construction projects.
• Demonstrated experience in wastewater infrastructure, including collection systems, conveyance facilities, and associated capital improvements.
• Proven expertise in construction management and contract administration for public-sector infrastructure projects.
• Strong knowledge of construction methods, inspection practices, scheduling, cost control, and risk management.
• Ability to lead technical teams and manage consultant and contractor performance.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience presenting to management, stakeholders, and the public.

• Benefits
• Retirement

(The illustrative duties listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list. A complete list of position duties and unique physical requirements can be found in the position job description.)
Depending on the functional area of assignment:

• As a branch chief plans, directs and supervises the work of a group of engineers or architects in the design or construction of highly complex projects such as buildings, transportation or stormwater projects, solid waste management or wastewater facilities that includes inter-departmental and partnership project to assure project design and project management are timely, cost effective, and high quality;
• Manages the required regulatory review and approves construction documents for compliance with applicable County codes and policies;
• Leads and participates on various county and stakeholder committees to facilitate improved processes, develop new policies and procedures and recommend revisions to codes, ordinances and design standards;
• Supervises the work of a group of engineers in the review of subdivision plans for impact on critical county infrastructure, such as stormwater management, wastewater treatment, or main traffic arteries;
• Heads planning and conservation programs of significant impact;
• Makes high level decisions on annual budget, blanket procurement contracts, consultant contracts, or investment in software updates;
• Performs the most difficult or highly technical design reviews or reviews of site or subdivision plans and capital projects;
• Ensures work performed under contract meets county standards and agreed upon specifications and timeframes, and permit and regulatory requirements;
• Signs off on the work of the branch and may sign and seal own work product and/or that of subordinate staff;
• Provides technical engineering guidance and input on key projects throughout the conceptual, preliminary and final design and construction phases;
• Supervises work performed under contract and maintains professional control of projects to completion;
• Attends public meetings and conferences, and makes recommendations concerning county budget appropriations for operations and/or projects;
• Prepares manuals, reports, standard operating procedures, and guidelines for the operation of the work group, branch, or division;
• Reviews and supervises proposed revisions to technical design standards and ordinances;
• Prepares and makes presentations to boards, commissions, committees, and senior management;
• May serve on leadership and management working groups including business area teams;
• Serves on technical committees and provides expert testimony at public hearings;
• Provides code related technical training;
• Registered Architect may sign and seal own work product and/or that of subordinate staff.

(The knowledge, skills and abilities listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list.)
Depending on the functional area of assignment:

• Considerable knowledge of the principles, theory and practice of civil, architectural, and environmental engineering or urban planning;
• Considerable knowledge of computer applications and software (such as CAD) that is associated with the preparation of plans and engineering computations;
• Considerable knowledge of topographic and construction surveying;
• Considerable knowledge of common methods and equipment used in engineering construction and of inspection methods used in reviewing such work;
• Considerable knowledge of real property descriptions;
• Considerable knowledge of environmental testing methods;
• Considerable knowledge of the principles and practices of contract procurement and management; Knowledge of Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code and the codes and ordinances which apply to building construction in Fairfax County;
• Ability to review construction documents, designs and proposals for costs, design requirements and compatibility with County standards, guides and operational needs;
• Ability to collect and compile research data;
• Ability to oversee and coordinate the work of a diverse professional and para-professional engineering/architectural staff;
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively both orally and in writing and interact effectively with the public;
• Ability to prepare technical reports and to present findings in a clear and concise format;
• Ability to engage others in the design and implementation strategies that maximize employee potential and foster high ethical standards in meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals;
• Ability to acquire and administer human, financial, material, and information resources in a manner that instills public trust and accomplishes the organization's mission, and the ability to use new technology to enhance decision making;
• Ability to explain, advocate, and express facts and ideas in a convincing manner;
• Ability to negotiate with individuals and groups internally and externally;
• Ability to develop an expansive professional network with other organizations;
• Ability to identify and navigate the internal and external politics that impact the work of the organization;
• Ability to develop and implement an organizational vision that integrates key County and program goals, priorities, values, and other factors.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following:
(Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for "Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to")
Graduation from a four-year college or university accredited by the Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technologies with a bachelor's degree in the appropriate engineering or architecture field; plus, five years of progressively responsible professional experience in the appropriate engineering or architectural field, including one year of supervisory experience.

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:

• A valid driver's license.
• Possession of a valid Virginia Professional Engineer or Architect license.

• Experience delivering complex wastewater capital projects for a municipal or utility owner.
• Familiarity with Fairfax County DPWES standards, capital project delivery processes, and procurement practices.
• Experience supervising professional engineering staff.
• Demonstrated ability to negotiate contracts and change orders effectively in the public-sector environment.