WASHINGTON UTILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION

Respect. Professionalism. Integrity. Accountability.

Energy/Utilities Engineer 3

Help protect the consumers of Washington state!

Salary Consideration: Range 67, Step A ($82,872) – Step L ($108,780) annually.

This position may be filled as an Energy/Utilities Engineer 1 or 2 in-training. The incumbent will advance to the goal class of Engineer/Utilities Engineer 3 after satisfactory completion of the extensive training requirements. The salary for the Energy/Utilities Engineer 1 is $4,653 to $6,107 per month. The salary for the Energy/Utilities Engineer 2 is $5,956 to $7,817 per month.

The starting employment offer will be determined based on the successful candidates’ qualifications. Typically Step M of the pay range is a longevity step.

This recruitment is open until February 18, 2026, at 11:59pm.

UTC reserves the right to render a hiring decision and/or choose to close or extend this recruitment at any given time. Applications for this recruitment could be used to fill comparable positions that open within the next 60 days.

The Opportunity:
The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) is seeking to fill two (2) Energy/Utility Engineer positions to support the mission of the Pipeline Safety Division and is specifically aimed at enhancing public health and safety through regulatory compliance. These positions may be filled with a twelve (12) month in-training plan as an Energy/Utilities Engineer 1 or may be filled with a twelve (12) month in-training plan Energy/Utilities Engineer 2 to the class goal of Energy/Utilities Engineer 3.The positions primarily conduct inspections of regulated hazardous liquid and gas pipeline companies to ensure compliance with state and federal pipeline safety rules and regulations. 

Hybrid: 

Although this is a hybrid opportunity, the successful incumbent must reside within Washington state and must be available to report to the Lacey, Washington headquarters building as needed. 

Travel:

This position will necessitate travel throughout Washington state and occasionally other parts of the U.S. that involve overnight stays for inspections, incidents, training, conferences, and for meetings. This may occur during and/or outside normal work hours (including remote locations) that may include overnight stays.

Who We Are:
Our Mission is to protect the people of Washington by ensuring that investor-owned utility and transportation services are safe, equitable, available, reliable, and fairly priced. 
 

Our Vision is to strive to achieve equitable and fair outcomes as a regulator of utility and transportation services and prioritize inclusion and belonging in the workplace.
 

The UTC is continually recognized for its excellence and integrity as a regulatory agency, as we challenge the status quo and ourselves to ensure equitable outcomes for our customers and the people of Washington State.
  
We recognize that our employees are the key to the agency’s success. We are committed to our work but value balance with our personal lives. We demonstrate our commitment to employees by providing an environment that stimulates professional growth, and offers continuing learning opportunities, meaningful work, and a comprehensive benefits package. For more information about our benefits or working at UTC, please visit our website.
 

What We Offer Our Employees:

• UTC fosters an environment of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, while striving to hire and retain a workforce from the communities we serve. 
• We place importance on a healthy balance between personal and professional lives; offering flexible work schedules, wellness programs, and mobile/telework opportunities.
• Through the state, our employees (and their families) are offered options for medical, dental, vision and basic life insurance. 
• We offer enrollment into the state retirement programs and a deferred compensation plan. 
• Throughout a calendar year, employees receive a minimum of 14 days of vacation leave per year and 11 paid holidays and 1 personal holiday in addition to accruing sick leave.

Our Values:

• Respect - We treat every person and interaction with consideration and goodwill.
• Professionalism - We are committed to excellence in our work and conduct.
• Integrity - We do the right things for the right reasons - trusting others to do the same.

How to Apply:

Interested in joining the UTC team? Apply on careers.wa.gov. We only consider candidates for further screening if the following documents are attached to your completed application packet. 

1. Letter of Interest describing how you meet the position qualifications and why you believe you are the ideal candidate. 
2. Resume detailing your applicable experience and education. 

1. References: At least three (3) professional references with current telephone numbers and email addresses. One (1) contact MUST be your current or most recent supervisor.

The initial screening of candidates will be solely based on the contents and completeness of the application, including answers provided to the Supplemental Questionnaire, along with the required attachments - letter of interest, resume, and references submitted as part of the application process.

Please note, see resume will not substitute for completing the "work experience" section of the application or supplemental questionnaire.

Duties

The Position:

Reporting to the Energy/Utility Engineer 4, these positions respond to and investigate incidents, provide technical assistance to pipeline operators, local governments and communities, and improve safety laws and regulations.

What you’ll do:

You’ll be responsible for validating and enhancing safety standards for natural gas and hazardous liquid pipelines located within the state. This is done primarily by conducting inspections of regulated hazardous liquid and gas pipeline companies to ensure compliance with state and federal pipeline safety rules and regulations. This work will require someone who is independent, with efficient time management skills, balancing competing priorities.

These positions interact with other pipeline safety engineers, UTC Consumer Protection and Regulatory Services staff, support staff, and assistant attorney general assigned to the program. Additionally, you’ll interact with other officials from the Federal Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), other state pipeline safety program representatives, regulated pipeline personnel, local government, and the general public.  

Additional duties include, but aren’t limited to the following: 

• Conducts independent complex standard and specialized inspections and assessments of both interstate and intrastate gas and hazardous liquid pipeline facilities, operations, and maintenance in order to determine compliance with state and federal regulations.  
• Investigates natural gas incidents and hazardous liquid accidents to determine cause, operator responsibility and potential violations of Federal and State Pipeline Safety Standards. Prepares a written report of findings and conclusions with potential recommendations for enforcement actions.
• Reviews and analyzes records pertaining to operators’ compliance with Federal Pipeline Safety Standards (i.e., 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) sections 191 through 199), and state gas and liquid pipeline safety rules as defined by Washington Administrative Codes (WAC). 
• Conducts compliance activities to include, but are not limited to, review of operation and maintenance manual, operation and maintenance activities, evaluation of operator’s design and operation of equipment, pipelines, pipeline pressure control and overpressure protection devices. This will involve field work in remote locations for extended periods. 
• Performs activities that include calculations of pressure relief capacity, safe operating pressures, corrosion control procedures to preserve integrity of steel pipe systems, odorization monitoring operation and maintenance plans, emergency plans and procedures to ensure public safety during an emergency.
• Compiles, prepares, enters, and updates records, data, reports and other information in program databases, files, and other storage media in order to document inspection and investigative findings.

Supplemental Information

READ THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION COMPLETELY: 

• These positions are overtime eligible per the requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act.
• These positions are represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE).
• Carefully review your application and any requested attachments for accuracy, spelling, and grammar before submitting.

If you have gotten this far and are thinking you do not qualify, consider again! Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At the UTC, we are dedicated to building a diverse and authentic workplace centered in belonging. If you are excited about this role but your experience does not align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may just be the candidate needed for this or other roles.

All information may be verified; additional documentation may be required. Candidates may be disqualified if the education and/or work experience does not include information used to meet the minimum qualifications of the job.

The UTC is an equal opportunity employer. We want to make sure you have an equal opportunity to join our team. Our commitment is making sure current and future employees are treated fairly and equally without regard to age, sex (including gender identity), race, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, marital status, or religious or political affiliation.

Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this announcement in an alternative format may contact humanresources@utc.wa.gov. For TTY service, please call the Washington Relay Service at 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6384.

For more information about the UTC, please visit:

www.utc.wa.gov, www.twitter.com/wautc and www.facebook.com/wautc

The State of Washington: 
 http://access.wa.gov

Energy/Utilities Engineer 1 In-Training Level Required Education, Experience, and Competencies:

• Bachelor's degree in engineering with a focus on mechanical, structural/civil, or related field from an accredited institution whose accreditation is recognized by the US Dept. of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or a foreign equivalent. Equivalent education or experience may be substituted for the degree on a year-for-year basis. "Equivalent education or experience" refers to a combination of college-level coursework or training and relevant technical experience that has provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform independent pipeline safety inspections and investigations.

AND

• One (1) year of relevant work experience in federal and state enforcement of pipeline safety regulations including the design, construction, operation and maintenance of pipeline systems.

Energy/Utilities Engineer 2 In-Training Level Required Education, Experience, and Competencies:

• Bachelor's degree in engineering with a focus on mechanical, structural/civil, or related field from an accredited institution whose accreditation is recognized by the US Dept. of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or a foreign equivalent. Equivalent education or experience may be substituted for the degree on a year-for-year basis. "Equivalent education or experience" refers to a combination of college-level coursework or training and relevant technical experience that has provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform independent pipeline safety inspections and investigations.

AND

• Two (2) years of relevant work experience in federal and state enforcement of pipeline safety regulations including the design, construction, operation and maintenance of pipeline systems.

Energy/Utilities Engineer 3 Level Required Education, Experience, and Competencies:

• Bachelor's degree in engineering with a focus on mechanical, civil, or related field from an accredited institution whose accreditation is recognized by the US Dept. of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or a foreign equivalent. Equivalent education or experience may be substituted for the degree on a year-for-year basis. "Equivalent education or experience" refers to a combination of college-level coursework or training and relevant technical experience that has provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform independent pipeline safety inspections and investigations.

AND 

• Three (3) years of relevant work experience in federal and state enforcement of pipeline safety regulations including the design, construction, operation and maintenance of pipeline systems. 
• Possess basic skills in the use of software comparable to MS Word, Excel, and Outlook. Ability to navigate the internet to find and download information. Ability to use agency unique databases to establish and update information and to extract information for reporting purposes. 

OR 

• Seven (7) years of progressively responsible engineering experience in federal and state enforcement of pipeline safety. 

Demonstrated competency in the following areas (competency may be gained through education, experience, or a combination thereof):

• Analytical Skills - Ability to examine, interpret and organize data from various sources in the identification of essential information and underlying principles or trends. Forms accurate interpretation and conclusion concerning information and develops appropriate action plan to take in response to those conclusions. In the absence of clear guidelines or information, use judgment and critical thinking to develop appropriate meaning and form conclusions necessary to resolve the problem or issue.
• Research Skills - Knowledge of where and how to access required data and information; anticipates additional resources.  Reviews gathered materials, drawing out and recording relevant information. Recognizes when additional sources of information should be consulted and when information is suspect, vague, or needs to be supplemented or verified. Organizes, documents, and communicates research results and information in a way that can be understood, interpreted, and acted upon by end-users.
• Inspection Skills - Use critical observation skills to inspect equipment, facilities, programs, records or operations of pipeline companies. Use analytical skills to identify factors affecting or contributing to issues of noncompliance, to recognize trends and forecast anticipated problems, hazards, and issues that have not yet surfaced. Identify and determine specific safety improvement recommendations or requirements at the site location.
• Knowledge of Investigative Techniques - Understands documentation requirements, chain of custody, rules of evidence and interviewing techniques.
• Knowledge of Relevant Laws and Regulations - Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of federal and state pipeline safety laws, rules and regulations and the ability to explain and enforce these rules and regulations.
• Knowledge of Pipeline Operations and Systems - Demonstrates understanding of varied pipeline operations and systems, construction practices and engineering specifications, and compliance issues associated with pipeline operations and systems and sound engineering principles.

Demonstration of EDI Competencies (expected of all employees) 

• The ability to take action to learn and grow. 
• The ability to take action to meet the needs of others. 

Demonstration of UTC Core Competencies (expected of all employees):

• Accountability 
• DEI Knowledge, Understanding, & Commitment 
• Self-Awareness and Commitment to Growth 
• Cultivating Mutually Beneficial and Trusting Strategic Partnerships 
• Inclusive Excellence & Allyship 
• Measuring Success and Improvement 
• Customer Focus 
• Results Focus 
• Communication Skills 
• Adaptability/Flexibility 
• Self-Development 
• Continuous Process Improvement 

Preferred/Desired Qualifications:

• An advanced degree in engineering with a focus on mechanical, structural/civil, or related field from an accredited institution whose accreditation is recognized by the US Dept. of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or a foreign equivalent.
• Licensed professional engineer. 

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