Regional Materials Engineer (WMS Band 3) | Vancouver

State of Washington•Vancouver, WA

39d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is seeking a skilled and experienced Regional Materials Engineer to lead materials management and provide pavement expertise in the Southwest Region. Based in Vancouver, WA, this key role reports directly to the Region Construction Engineer and is central to ensuring safe, durable, and cost-effective transportation infrastructure. As the Region Materials Engineer, you will manage the Southwest Region Materials Office, overseeing geotechnical and pavement design reports to support project delivery across Area Engineering Offices (AEO's). You will provide paving and materials expertise during construction, including materials testing oversight to ensure quality and compliance. Additionally, you will identify, prioritize, and plan pavement preservation projects while coordinating with Program Management, Engineering, and Maintenance to develop a cohesive regional strategy. You will also supervise and support the Construction Trainer, fostering professional growth and knowledge sharing across the region. This is an outstanding opportunity for a materials engineering professional with leadership experience to make a tangible impact on the safety, reliability, and performance of Washington's transportation network.

Requirements

Licensed Civil Engineering Expertise: Possession of a Professional Civil Engineer License in Washington with extensive experience in transportation engineering, highway design, construction practices, pavement design, drainage systems, geotechnical evaluations, and overall infrastructure performance.
Strategic Leadership & Personnel Management: Proven ability to lead diverse, multi-disciplinary teams through change while fostering engagement, development, and retention. Skilled in team empowerment, delegation, and maintaining cohesion in alignment with federal, state, union, and agency policies.
Advanced Project & Construction Management: Experienced in managing complex transportation projects from planning through construction, including budgeting, scheduling, resource allocation, cost control, inspection, slope analysis, and application of performance metrics and material testing standards.
Program & Portfolio Oversight: Demonstrated expertise in leading multi-program portfolios, managing workloads, staffing, technical support, environmental compliance, and materials sourcing, including knowledge of mining regulations and sustainability standards.
Engineering Standards, Testing & Quality Assurance: Deep understanding of AASHTO and ASTM standards, tester qualification, and certified equipment verification programs, with experience evaluating design viability, material performance, and risk mitigation in lab and field settings.
Executive Communication & Interagency Collaboration: Skilled in communicating strategic and technical information to internal teams, external agencies, contractors, executives, and legislative bodies. Experienced in cross-functional collaboration, stakeholder engagement, policy communication, and technical writing.
Respectful Workplace: Demonstrated ability to contribute to a work environment that fosters respect, inclusion, and equal opportunity for all.

Nice To Haves

Specification Interpretation and Documentation: Demonstrated ability to interpret WSDOT Standard Specifications for road, bridge, and municipal construction projects, and to prepare project-specific special provisions in alignment with WSDOT policies.
Materials Approval and Testing Expertise: Proven experience with materials approval, acceptance, and verification procedures for public works projects, including familiarity with testing protocols and quality control standards for heavy civil construction.
Programming and Project Framework Knowledge: Understanding of WSDOT's programming framework, including the ability to apply programmatic requirements to project planning and delivery.
Technical Systems and Application Proficiency: Experience using WSDOT computer applications, including SR View, MATS, SAM, and the Washington State Pavement Management System (WSPMS), to support project tracking, data analysis, and reporting.

Responsibilities

Provide leadership and management for the SW Region Material Laboratory.
Provide technical expertise to Project Engineers, Construction Engineering, and the Regional Administrator regarding project design issues and construction related materials testing, inspection, and other materials related problems.
Manage the region Qualified Tester Program and annual reporting with assistance from the Independent Assurance Inspector.
Review the annual Region Independent Assurance report and recommend approval to the Region Construction Engineer.
Oversee the region construction training and inspector certification programs in collaboration with the Region Construction Trainer.
Assist the Region Construction Trainer with scheduling training and travel arrangements.
Provide cost and schedule commitments for Materials Lab deliverables for all SW Region projects.
Review materials testing, reports, and other deliverables accomplished by the Materials Lab staff to ensure they are accurate and completed within established cost and schedule commitments.
Provide interim recommendations to support timely project delivery when requested by AEO's.
Certify Final Reports using Professional Engineer (PE) stamp and signature and facilitate other signatures when required based on the report and WSDOT policy.
Manage and supervise the duties of the Radiation Safety Administrator for the SW Region in accordance with the Department of Health (DOH) guidelines.
Support the implementation of policies and objectives set by the Regional Administrator and the State Materials Engineer.
Provide short- and long-range planning regarding pavement deficiencies and identify and select roadways for the P-1 Preservation Program for the forthcoming biennia.
Provide analysis and PE certified pavement and surfacing recommendations.

Benefits

Work-Life Balance - We offer flexible work schedules that allow you time for your life outside of this excellent opportunity.
Paid Leave - In addition to 12 paid holidays, full-time employees may earn up to 25 paid vacation days per year!
Tuition Assistance - Permanent employees have several options for assistance with education expenses, including tuition reimbursement programs, government discounts at participating colleges throughout the state, and eligibility for federal student loan forgiveness.
Plan For Your Future - 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.

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