Assistant Area Engineer (WMS Band 2) | Multiple Positions

State of Washington • Cowlitz County - Multiple Locations, WA

7d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is hiring two Assistant Area Engineers, one in Kelso and one in Chehalis, Washington. The role supports the Project Engineer in delivering highway design and construction projects that meet local, state, and federal standards and remain within scope, schedule, and budget. Projects are expected to be safe, constructible, maintainable, accessible to all transportation modes, and thoughtfully integrated into the surrounding environment. The role also promotes sustainable transportation practices and an inclusive, supportive, and safe workplace.

Assistant Area Engineers help plan and deliver WSDOT's Capital Improvement and Preservation Program. They lead professional and technical engineering staff, interns, temporary employees, and consultants in the design and contract development of transportation improvement, preservation, and construction projects. They ensure projects comply with WSDOT policies and procedures and that contract plans are constructible, permittable, and biddable. The position involves communicating with agency leadership, colleagues, local agencies, customers, stakeholders, contractors, consultants, elected officials, media, and the public; reporting project status to regional and statewide executive management; coordinating input and resolving conflicts; and ensuring environmentally responsible delivery. The engineer must be prepared to certify compliance with WSDOT standards and policies using their Professional Engineer stamp.

Requirements

• Licensed as a Civil Professional Engineer in Washington State, or currently holding a Civil PE license from another state with the ability to obtain Washington licensure within six months of hire.
• Extensive experience applying transportation engineering principles, including highway design, construction practices, and surveying.
• Proficiency 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.
• Familiarity 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.
• Skill in developing work plans, coordinating team efforts, and managing schedules.
• Experience managing budgets across multiple phases of project development and working knowledge of programming and funding processes.
• Demonstrated strategic leadership, including building and leading effective teams, motivating and coaching staff, driving change and process improvements, resolving conflicts, and fostering engagement and collaboration across a diverse interdisciplinary workforce.
• Ability to identify issues, evaluate options, implement practical solutions, resolve conflicts, and facilitate constructive dialogue.
• Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills for engaging internal teams, contractors, stakeholders, and the public.
• Ability to represent the agency in meetings and on project sites.
• Commitment to learning and growth.
• Service-oriented approach and willingness to take action to meet the needs of others.

Nice To Haves

• Experience designing and procuring transportation projects through design-build and design-bid-build methods in accordance with WSDOT standards and procedures.
• Familiarity with Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) processes, procedures, and requirements for federally funded transportation projects, including federal stewardship, documentation, and reporting obligations.
• Senior-level experience leading organizational and enterprise project change, including changes in scope, structure, policy, and delivery models, and applying strategic change management practices to guide teams through complex transitions.

Responsibilities

• Assist the Project Engineer in planning the budget, schedule, and workforce needed to deliver the Capital Improvement and Preservation Program.
• Lead an office of professional and technical engineers, interns, temporary employees, and engineering consultants in design and contract development for transportation improvement, preservation, and construction projects.
• Manage assigned projects in accordance with WSDOT policies and procedures, meeting scope, schedule, budget, and documentation requirements.
• Ensure contract plans are constructible, permittable, and biddable.
• Communicate professionally with leadership, colleagues, support groups, local agencies, customers, and stakeholders.
• Partner with citizens, media, elected officials, contractors, consultants, and outside agencies to plan, build, maintain, and operate the transportation system.
• Report assigned project status to WSDOT Regional and Statewide Executive Management.
• Coordinate input and resolve conflicts involving internal organizations and personnel, outside agencies, consultants, and the public.
• Certify, using a Professional Engineer stamp, that applicable WSDOT standards and policies have been followed.
• Ensure projects are delivered in an environmentally responsible manner.
• Promote sustainable transportation practices and contribute to an inclusive, supportive, and safe workplace.

Benefits

• Flexible work schedules.
• Up to 12 paid holidays.
• Full-time employees may earn up to 25 paid vacation days per year.
• Tuition reimbursement and other education assistance options for permanent employees, including government discounts at participating colleges and eligibility for federal student loan forgiveness.
• Comprehensive benefits package with a variety of healthcare options.
• Choice of state retirement programs.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: No Education Listed