Assistant Area Engineer (WMS Band 2) | Multiple Positions

State of Washington•Cowlitz County - Multiple Locations, WA

9d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is seeking two Assistant Area Engineers, one in Kelso and one in Chehalis, WA. In this role, you’ll support the Project Engineer in delivering highway design and construction projects that meet local, state, and federal standards while staying on scope, schedule, and budget. You’ll help ensure projects are safe, constructible, maintainable, accessible to all modes of transportation, and thoughtfully integrated into the surrounding environment. Safety is at the heart of everything we do. You’ll also champion sustainable transportation practices and help foster a workplace where employees feel included, supported, valued, and safe while strengthening WSDOT’s workforce and the resiliency of our people and transportation system.

Requirements

Licensed as a Civil Professional Engineer in the state of Washington or currently holding a Civil PE license from another state with the ability to obtain Washington State licensure within six (6) months of hire.
Extensive experience applying transportation engineering principles including highway design, construction practices, and surveying.
Proficient in preparing and reviewing plans, specifications, and estimates (PS&E) for complex highway and transportation infrastructure projects.
Experience leading transportation projects through planning, environmental review, design, and construction.
Familiar with transportation system design, environmental compliance, and state and federal project delivery processes.
Demonstrated ability to plan, organize, and deliver multiple projects on time and within budget.
Skilled in developing work plans, coordinating team efforts, and managing schedules.
Experience managing budgets across multiple phases of project development, with a working knowledge of programming and funding processes.
Demonstrated strategic leadership through building and leading effective teams; motivating, coaching, and empowering staff; driving change and process improvements; resolving conflicts; and fostering engagement and collaboration across a diverse, interdisciplinary workforce to deliver multiple projects.
Proven ability to identify issues, evaluate options, and implement practical solutions.
Skilled in conflict resolution and facilitating constructive dialogue.
Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills to engage internal teams, contractors, stakeholders, and the public.
Capable of representing the agency in meetings and on project sites.
Actively demonstrates a commitment to learning and growth.
Takes action to meet the needs of others.

Nice To Haves

Experience designing and procuring transportation projects through design build and design-bid-build methodologies, in accordance with WSDOT standards and procedures.
Familiarity with Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) processes, procedures, and requirements for delivering federally funded transportation projects.
Ability to ensure compliance with federal stewardship obligations, documentation, and reporting standards.
Proven senior-level experience leading organizational and enterprise project change, including shifts in scope, structure, policy, and delivery models.
Adept at applying strategic change management practices to guide teams through complex transitions and ensure successful outcomes.

Responsibilities

Assist the Project Engineer to strategically plan the budget, schedule, and workforce necessary to deliver the Capital Improvement and Preservation Program (CIPP).
Proactively lead an office of professional and technical engineers, including summer interns, temporary employees and engineering consultants, in the design and contract development of multiple transportation improvement and preservation projects and construction projects according to current policies and standards, effective engineering techniques, and good engineering judgment.
Ensure that assigned projects are managed in accordance with WSDOT policy and procedures to meet the desired scope, schedule, budget, and documentation and that contract plans are constructable, permittable, and biddable.
Communicate professionally and effectively in all forms with leadership, colleagues, support groups, local agencies, customers and stakeholders.
Create success by working in partnership with citizens, media, elected officials, contractors, consultants, and outside agencies to plan, build, maintain, and operate an efficient transportation system.
Report on the status of assigned projects to WSDOT Regional and Statewide Executive Management to support and improve accountability.
Coordinate input and resolve conflicts with internal organizations, personnel, outside agencies, consultants and the public.
Be prepared to certify, by use of their Professional Engineer stamp, that all WSDOT standards and policies have been followed.
Ensure projects are delivered in an environmentally responsible manner.