Transportation Engineer 3

State of Washington • Thurston County – Lacey, WA

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is seeking a Transportation Engineer 3 to serve as the Olympic Region’s Contract Plans, Specifications, and Estimates (PS&E) Specialist. The position provides technical expertise, design support, and quality assurance for transportation projects, reviewing comprehensive plans and supporting project teams throughout design and PS&E development. The specialist helps ensure compliance with WSDOT policies, standards, and requirements and serves as the region’s expert resource on roadside design compliance. The role supports the delivery of safe, reliable, and resilient transportation infrastructure and contributes to a respectful, equitable, and inclusive workplace culture.

The position supports regional design operations through project coordination, technical guidance, review of design documentation, and special assignments. It may also serve as Design Support Supervisor in that person’s absence. The position offers flexible/hybrid remote work options.

Requirements

• Demonstrated experience applying engineering principles, methods, and practices to project management in transportation or construction environments, including expertise in design development, construction techniques, and/or contract administration.
• Ability to oversee and review engineering designs and documentation for accuracy, standards compliance, and constructability, and to supervise preparation of plans, specifications, and cost estimates.
• Advanced proficiency with Windows-based systems and engineering software, including MS Office Suite (Excel, Word, SharePoint, Outlook), MS Teams, computer-aided engineering applications, cloud-based platforms, and system databases for project tracking and information management.
• Advanced professional communication skills, including conveying technical information effectively to diverse audiences, including people without technical backgrounds, virtually, by phone, and in person.
• Ability to lead and supervise a diverse workforce, foster collaboration, build and maintain effective teams, coach and mentor staff, and encourage engagement and professional growth.
• Ability to take action to learn and grow and to meet the needs of others.
• Actively demonstrate a commitment to learning and growth and take action to meet the needs of others.
• Ability to traverse rough, steep, and uneven terrain.

Nice To Haves

• Experience applying transportation project design knowledge in a government agency setting, including navigating public-sector processes, standards, and stakeholder coordination.
• Attainment of or progress toward professional engineering certification or licensure, such as Engineer-in-Training (EIT) or Professional Engineer (PE) licensure in Washington State.
• Foundational civil engineering knowledge, typically gained through a bachelor’s or master’s degree in civil engineering or a closely related field from an accredited institution.

Responsibilities

• Review PS&E contract documents for transportation projects of varying complexity for accuracy, completeness, consistency, and compliance with WSDOT standards and requirements.
• Coordinate the Region Review process, distribute plan sets, review and direct approval of contract special provisions, and verify completion of permits, agreements, and supporting documentation.
• Prepare final contract documents for project advertisement and coordinate preparation and review of addenda during the advertisement phase.
• Provide technical guidance and specialized support to project designers during PS&E development, including preparing specifications, developing Engineer’s estimates, and using engineering software such as Unifier.
• Review and track Design Documentation Packages, Design Variances, and Plans for Approval from initial development through final approval.
• Evaluate roadside design elements for compliance with WSDOT Design Manual policies and provide guidance on design criteria and implementation.
• Contribute to updates of regional manuals and special provisions.
• Participate in weekly project status meetings and facilitate meetings as needed for project coordination and delivery.
• Complete special projects, serve as Design Support Supervisor in their absence, and perform other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Work-life balance commitment.
• Up to 12 paid holidays.
• Full-time employees may earn up to 25 paid vacation days per year.
• Tuition assistance options for permanent employees, including tuition reimbursement programs, participating-college discounts, and eligibility for federal student loan forgiveness.
• Comprehensive benefits package with healthcare options.
• Choice of state retirement programs.

What This Job Offers

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