Design Team Lead (TE3)

Transportation Engineer 3

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is a multimodal agency with a global reputation for excellence. Our dedicated workforce plans, designs, builds, and operates an integrated transportation system that safely and efficiently moves people and goods throughout the state. In addition to maintaining over 20,000 lane miles of state highway and 4,100 bridges, WSDOT leads an award-winning Active Transportation Plan, manages the world's longest floating bridge, and operates the largest ferry system in the nation!

WSDOT is currently seeking a Transportation Engineer 3 for the Tumwater/Lacey Design Office (TLDO). In this role, you will serve as a design team leader responsible for overseeing the successful development and delivery of highway transportation projects that improve the safety, quality, and capacity of Washington's transportation system. This position leads and supports a team of engineers and technicians through project design activities, coordination with specialty groups, schedule management, quality review, and communication with project stakeholders. A strong candidate will possess effective leadership and collaboration skills, sound engineering judgment, strong organizational and communication abilities, and the ability to manage multiple priorities while ensuring compliance with agency policies, procedures, standards, and stewardship expectations that support WSDOT's mission and long-term resilience goals.

Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Design Team Lead will:

• Manage assigned transportation design projects, including project scope, schedule, budget, plans, specifications, estimates, and associated design documentation.
• Review engineering plans and specifications for compliance with established standards, policies, and procedures.
• Coordinate field reviews, survey data, environmental commitments, and right-of-way agreements needed for project design and plan preparation.
• Communicate project status, schedules, technical information, and design deliverables with Specialty Groups, project stakeholders, and external customers.
• Prepare and review plans, specifications, estimates, schedules, correspondence, engineering documents, and technical transportation engineering data.
• Supervise, coach, mentor, and support engineering design team members while providing guidance, training, and performance feedback.
• Plan, assign, and review work assignments to ensure timely completion, quality standards, and compliance with safety policies and labor requirements.

To be considered for this opportunity, the following competencies are required :

• Engineering Knowledge: Demonstrated experience applying engineering principles, methods, and practices to project management in transportation or construction environments. This includes expertise in design development, construction techniques, and/or contract administration.
• Project & Design Oversight: Ability to oversee and review engineering designs and documentation to ensure accuracy, compliance with standards, and constructability, while supervising the preparation of plans, specifications, and cost estimates.
• Technical & Digital Proficiency: Advanced skills in operating Windows-based systems and engineering software, including MS Office Suite (Excel, Word, SharePoint, Outlook), MS Teams, computer-aided engineering applications, cloud-based platforms, and system databases for project tracking and information management.
• Communication Skills: Advanced skills in professional communication, specifically in communicating technical information effectively and professionally to a diverse audience, including those with non-technical backgrounds, virtually, by phone, and in person.
• Leadership & Supervision: Skills to lead and supervise a diverse workforce by fostering collaboration across boundaries, building and maintaining effective teams, coaching and mentoring staff, and encouraging engagement and professional growth.
• Growth Mindset: Actively demonstrates a commitment to learning and growth.
• Service-Oriented: Takes action to meet the needs of others.

In addition to the competencies above, the following are also required :

• Ability to travel within the region to perform site and field visits, and to attend meetings or training.
• Ability to traverse rough, steep, and uneven terrain.

It is preferred that qualified candidates also demonstrate:

• Public Sector Transportation Knowledge: Demonstrated ability to apply knowledge of transportation project design within a government agency setting, including navigating public sector processes, standards, and stakeholder coordination.
• Professional Certification: Demonstrated commitment to professional engineering standards through attainment or progression toward certification, such as Engineer-in-Training (EIT) or Professional Engineer (PE) licensure in Washington State.
• Civil Engineering Education: Demonstrated foundational knowledge of civil engineering principles and practices. This knowledge may have been gained through professional experience and/or formal education.

This recruitment may also be used to fill additional positions per business needs. This position offers flexible/hybrid remote work options. Travel within the region is an expectation of the position and may be required on a regular, sporadic, or as needed basis. In addition to base salary, employees may be entitled to other forms of compensation depending on the type, duties, or location of the position. For union-represented positions, more information on other forms of compensation can be found in the applicable Collective Bargaining Agreements. Information on other compensation types for non-represented positions can be found in Chapter 357-28 of the Washington Administrative Code.

WSDOT does not use the E-Verify system, therefore we are not eligible to extend STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT). For more information, please visit www.uscis.gov.

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. Go to State Benefits for more information.

Applications for this recruitment will be accepted electronically. Your relevant experience may be evaluated to determine salary. Therefore, it is very important that the "Work Experience" portion of the application be completed in as much detail as possible.

In order to be considered for this opportunity, please include the following with your online application:

• An attached Resume outlining (in reverse chronological order) your experience to date.
• An attached Cover Letter that further explains your qualifications and indicates why you believe you are a viable candidate for this role.
• Contact details for a minimum three (3) individuals who can attest to your work performance, technical skills, and job-related competencies. This information can be entered in the "References" section of the online application; does not require an additional attachment.

WSDOT is an equal opportunity employer. We value the importance of creating an environment in which all employees can feel respected, included, and empowered to bring unique ideas to the agency. Our diversity and inclusion efforts include embracing different cultures, backgrounds and viewpoints while fostering growth and advancement in the workplace. All persons, regardless of race, ethnicity, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, and/or gender identity, are encouraged to apply.