Highways Design Lead, Southwest Division

Mott MacDonald•Orange, CA

28d•$225,000 - $275,000•Hybrid

About The Position

At Mott MacDonald, we are driven by purpose and powered by brilliant people. As a trusted engineering, management, and development consultancy, we work with clients to solve complex challenges and deliver sustainable outcomes that make a meaningful difference for the communities we serve. When you join us as an experienced professional, you will bring your expertise to work that matters while continuing to grow your career. You will collaborate with talented colleagues across disciplines and geographies, contribute your perspective, and help shape better outcomes through technical excellence, innovation, and integrity. Build on your experience while helping shape what comes next. At Mott MacDonald, you'll work alongside talented people on complex and rewarding projects that make a real difference. We value fresh perspectives, encourage collaboration, and provide opportunities to expand your skills, take on new challenges, and grow your career. Whether you're deepening your technical expertise, broadening your leadership experience, or exploring new opportunities across our business, you'll be supported by a team that is committed to helping you succeed. At Mott MacDonald, we trust our brilliant people to do brilliant things in engineering, management, and development services, supporting multisector project work in over 150 countries. As one of the largest employee-owned companies in the world, we pride ourselves on our ability to deliver exceptional outcomes through our network of 20,000+ talented consultants. With sustainability and innovation at the heart of all our sectors in North America, including, Buildings, Energy, Transportation, and Water. We believe in empowering our people to excel, learn, and grow, offering diverse opportunities to contribute to career-defining work. Join us and be part of a collaborative environment where your ambitions are united with ours, and you can truly shape your story. We are seeking an experienced Highways Design Lead to join our team in Orange, CA. The ideal candidate will hold a California Professional Engineer (PE) license and bring 25+ years of expertise in highway and transportation design. This individual will lead complex design projects, mentor teams, and drive successful pursuits for PSR, PA&ED, and PS&E phases.

Requirements

California PE license required.
25+ years of experience in highway and transportation design.
Proven track record of winning and delivering PSR, PA&ED, and PS&E pursuits.
Strong background in Caltrans design standards and processes.
Demonstrated ability to build and lead design teams.
Experience with alternate project delivery methods preferred.
Excellent communication, leadership, and client management skills.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with Caltrans procedures and specifications.
Alternative Project Delivery experience.
Strategic thinking and ability to manage complex projects.
Proficiency in relevant design software and tools.

Responsibilities

Lead and manage highway and transportation design projects from concept through delivery.
Build and develop high-performing design teams to execute projects efficiently.
Oversee preparation of Project Study Reports (PSR), Project Approval & Environmental Documents (PA&ED), and Plans, Specifications & Estimates (PS&E).
Ensure compliance with Caltrans design standards and other applicable regulations.
Collaborate with clients, stakeholders, and internal teams to deliver innovative solutions.
Support and lead alternate project delivery methods (Design-Build, CM/GC) as needed.
Drive business development efforts, including proposal preparation and pursuit strategy.
Promote the Mott MacDonald Brand for Design services, identifying industry events to sponsor and attend.