Inspector Specialist Marine - Washington State Ferries

About the role

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is seeking three Inspector Specialist, Marine positions to serve as senior marine inspectors supporting new vessel construction and modification activities in Panama City, Florida. These roles provide critical oversight of shipyard work to help ensure vessels are built and modified in alignment with contract expectations, approved plans, and applicable standards.

Responsibilities

• Inspect surface preparation, coatings, structural fabrication, and piping installation to ensure compliance with WSF specifications, contract requirements, industry standards, and regulatory requirements.
• Witness testing, coating evolutions, factory acceptance trials, commissioning, and startup activities to support vessel acceptance and operational readiness.
• Identify deficiencies and nonconformances, reject unacceptable work, and verify corrective actions to ensure quality and contract compliance.
• Cook with contractors, regulatory agencies, manufacturers, Project Engineers, and WSF engineering staff to interpret specifications, drawings, and technical requirements.
• Prepare inspection reports, daily reports, deficiency reports, correspondence, and other project documentation; communicate project status, delays, and compliance issues.
• Review contractor documentation, including as-built drawings, specifications, submittals, and time-and-material reports for accuracy, completeness, and compliance.
• Aid with testing procedures, progress validation, technical recommendations, and lessons learned to support successful project delivery and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Valid Driver’s License – Possession of a valid state-issued driver’s license, as demonstrated through application materials and eligibility to operate a motor vehicle for business purposes.
• On-Site Availability – Ability to work on-site in Panama City, Florida, up to 100% of the time, as demonstrated through work history, availability, or applicant responses.
• Marine Construction Inspection – Experience conducting inspections, surveillance, testing observations, acceptance reviews, or quality assurance activities related to vessel construction, fabrication, repair, or marine industrial projects.
• Contract and Regulatory Compliance – Experience evaluating work for compliance with contract requirements, specifications, industry standards, regulatory requirements, or quality control criteria.
• Engineering Drawing and Technical Document Interpretation – Ability to read, interpret, and apply engineering drawings, plans, specifications, construction documents, and technical requirements to verify installation, material usage, and workmanship.
• Marine Systems and Vessel Construction Knowledge – Demonstrated knowledge of vessel layout, ship construction processes, fabrication methods, welding, piping systems, electrical systems, marine equipment, materials, and safety practices.
• Technical Problem Solving and Issue Resolution – Experience identifying technical, production, design, quality, or compliance issues; analyzing impacts; communicating findings; and supporting resolution efforts.
• Stakeholder Communication and Coordination – Experience communicating technical information and coordinating with contractors, engineers, project teams, regulatory agencies, or other stakeholders to support project objectives and compliance.
• Technical Documentation and Reporting – Experience preparing, reviewing, or maintaining inspection reports, daily activity reports, deficiency reports, project correspondence, technical documentation, or contract records.
• Regulatory and Standards Knowledge – Experience applying or interpreting contract documents, industry standards, codes, regulations, or U.S. Coast Guard requirements in a marine, construction, engineering, or industrial environment.
• Project Organization and Accountability – Demonstrated ability to manage priorities, meet deadlines, maintain accurate records, provide timely information, and produce quality work with attention to detail.
• Independent Judgment and Initiative – Experience working independently, exercising professional judgment, prioritizing competing demands, and implementing solutions within established policies, procedures, and project requirements.
• Continuous Learning and Adaptability – Demonstrated commitment to learning, adapting to changing priorities, acquiring new technical knowledge, and supporting continuous improvement initiatives.
• Customer and Service Orientation – Experience supporting internal or external customers through responsive communication, collaboration, and a commitment to meeting stakeholder needs.
• Marine Construction and Industry Practices Knowledge – Working knowledge of marine construction methods, equipment, materials, estimating practices, project costs, and vessel construction processes, as demonstrated through relevant experience, training, or education.
• Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) Eligibility – Ability to obtain and maintain a valid Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) within six months of hire and maintain credential eligibility throughout employment, as demonstrated through applicant attestation and compliance with federal credentialing requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

• Shipyard Construction or Owner’s Representative Experience – Experience serving as a shipyard employee, owner’s representative, military equivalent, or project-level lead responsible for vessel construction, overhaul, renovation, repair, or modernization projects.
• Marine Inspection or Survey Experience – Experience performing vessel inspections, surveys, audits, certifications, or compliance reviews for a regulatory agency, classification society, shipyard, vessel owner, or similar organization.
• Professional Engineering Application – Experience applying engineering principles in ship design, marine engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, or related technical disciplines.
• Regulatory Agency or Classification Society Interface – Experience coordinating with organizations such as the U.S. Coast Guard, American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), or similar regulatory or classification authorities.
• Complex Marine Project Experience – Experience supporting large-scale marine construction, vessel modernization, shipyard production, or capital improvement projects involving multiple stakeholders and technical disciplines.

Benefits

WSDOT offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes a variety of healthcare options. Employees also have their choice of state retirement programs, and much more. For more information, check out this video: Why WSDOT?

Pay

The salary range listed includes the 2% general wage increase, effective on July 1, 2026. In addition to base salary, employees may be entitled to other forms of compensation depending on the type, duties, or location of the position.

Schedule

This position is based in Panama City, Florida.