State Pavement Engineer (WMS4)

State of Washington•Thurston County – Tumwater, WA

18d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is seeking a State Pavement Engineer to serve as the department’s statewide technical expert on pavement engineering and pavement asset management based in Tumwater, WA. As part of the HQ Construction Division, you will provide statewide leadership, technical expertise, and strategic direction for pavement design, rehabilitation, preservation, and performance across Washington’s transportation system. In this role, you will establish statewide policies, standards, and technical guidance that shape how WSDOT designs, constructs, preserves, and manages its highway pavement network while advancing innovation, emerging technologies, and long-term system performance. As WSDOT’s final authority on pavement engineering, you will provide expert guidance on complex technical and policy issues, ensure consistent statewide application of pavement standards, and collaborate with state, federal, and industry partners to advance innovation and best practices in pavement engineering. Through strategic leadership, collaboration, and data-driven decision-making, you will help deliver a safe, durable, and cost-effective transportation system that supports Washington’s long-term transportation needs.

Requirements

Pavement Engineering Expertise: Demonstrated ability to design, evaluate, and manage asphalt and concrete pavement systems and rehabilitation strategies.
Asset Management & Data Analysis: Skilled in using performance data, modeling, and life-cycle analysis to guide capital planning and preservation decisions.
Technical Policy Leadership: Ability to develop, interpret, and implement engineering standards, manuals, and statewide technical policies.
Program Strategy & Decision-Making: Proven capability to set long-range direction, prioritize investments, and resolve complex engineering problems.
Strategic Budgeting & Resource Planning: Demonstrated ability to guide budget development, prioritize investments, allocate resources, and support long-range financial planning to achieve program objectives and maximize value.
Innovation & Technology Integration: Experience evaluating and implementing new materials, construction methods, and pavement technologies.
Organizational Leadership: Ability to lead technical teams, develop staff, and manage workload, performance, and resource allocation.
Stakeholder Communication: Ability to communicate complex technical concepts to executives, legislators, industry partners, and national organizations.
Professional Integrity: Demonstrated ethical judgment, accountability, and commitment to public service.
Washington State Professional Engineer (Civil) license.

Nice To Haves

National Pavement Practices: Familiarity with national pavement engineering, pavement design, and asset management practices, including emerging trends, standards, and innovations.
Statewide Program Leadership: Experience leading or managing a complex pavement engineering or transportation asset management program with broad organizational impact.
Program Delivery & Strategic Coordination: Ability to evaluate technical recommendations, determine level of effort, and coordinate project scope, schedules, deliverables, and resources with consultants, customers, and partners.
Policy Implementation & Technical Guidance: Experience providing oversight, guidance, and support for the implementation of engineering policies, standards, procedures, or emerging technologies across multiple teams or programs.
Research & Innovation: Experience developing standards, conducting or overseeing applied research, pilot projects, or technical evaluations, and integrating findings into engineering practice.
Pavement Data & Asset Management Systems: Demonstrated ability to support pavement condition data collection, coordination, reporting, and delivery for pavement management systems such as WSPMS or similar tools.
Legislative & Executive Communication: Experience communicating technical and program information to leadership, elected officials, or through legislative processes.
Partnership & Stakeholder Engagement: Demonstrated ability to build collaborative relationships and work effectively with internal teams, industry groups, consultants, and external stakeholders.
Facilitation & Team Coordination: Ability to lead meetings, coordinate technical teams, and drive work to timely completion.
Judgment & Decision-Making: Ability to make sound technical and operational decisions in complex or high-pressure situations.
Technical Systems & Software: Experience using pavement management systems such as WSPMS and proficiency with Microsoft Office tools, including Excel, Access, and Word.

Responsibilities

Lead the statewide pavement engineering program by developing, implementing, and maintaining pavement design policies, standards, and guidance to ensure consistency, quality, and compliance across WSDOT.
Establish statewide standards, tools, and policies for pavement asset management, preservation, rehabilitation, pavement type selection, design criteria, construction practices, and material selection to support durable, cost-effective pavements.
Provide professional engineering review and final approval of pavement designs, ensuring technical quality, cost effectiveness, and long-term system performance.
Develop long-range strategies for the pavement program, including evaluating and implementing emerging technologies, materials, and practices to improve pavement design, construction, preservation, and asset management.
Collaborate with state, regional, and national transportation partners and industry organizations to share expertise, advance innovation, and influence pavement engineering practices and policy.
Lead pavement research and innovation efforts, including studies, pilot projects, and evaluations of new materials and methods, while determining adoption into WSDOT specifications and practices.
Serve as WSDOT’s final technical authority on pavement policy and practice by resolving complex technical issues and providing guidance on the interpretation and application of pavement standards.
Provide legislative analysis and technical guidance by reviewing legislation, preparing reports and fiscal information, assessing impacts, and supporting pavement-related testimony as needed.
Lead the Pavement Office team by directing workforce planning, staffing, resource allocation, and operational priorities to achieve program goals.
Supervise, coach, and develop staff through hiring, training, performance management, and ongoing professional development.
Provide strategic direction and oversight to ensure the Pavement Office fulfills its mission and aligns with WSDOT’s statewide priorities.
Build and maintain strong partnerships with industry and professional organizations to identify and address emerging pavement policy and technical issues.
Represent WSDOT in research and policy development forums to advance technology transfer, emerging best practices, and innovation in pavement engineering and asset management.