Design Build Transportation Design Manager

Jacobs; Austin (TX); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 270,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) plan

Stock purchase plan

PPTO

Job summary

Jacobs is seeking a Design Build Transportation Design Manager to lead the design delivery of major highway and bridge projects across the U.S. This is a high-impact leadership role for a transportation professional who thrives in fast-paced alternative delivery environments and mentors teams to deliver exceptional results.

The role requires a Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering, a PE license, and 15+ years of experience managing complex transportation design programs, including design-build and PPP

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering required.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license required.
• 15+ years of experience managing complex transportation design projects.
• Experience as Design Manager on major Design-Build and/or P3/PPP projects.
• Proven experience delivering highway and bridge infrastructure from concept through construction.

Responsibilities

• Lead design delivery for large, complex transportation projects (Design-Build, P3/PPP).
• Act as primary design leadership representative with clients, contractors, and stakeholders.
• Direct multidisciplinary design teams across offices for seamless delivery.
• Manage scope, schedule, budget, quality, and risk.
• Collaborate with controls/scheduling to monitor performance and EV metrics.
• Maintain high standards of technical quality and coordination.
• Develop execution strategies, staffing plans, and resource allocations.
• Mentor project engineers and discipline leads to support success.
• Foster strong communication among design, construction, and project management teams.
• Review schedules and milestones across all disciplines.
• Identify scope changes and assess impacts on delivery and budgets.
• Support business development: client engagement, interviews, and proposals.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Stakeholder management

Team leadership

Project management

Education

Bachelor's in Civil Engineering

PE license

Job description

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.

Your impact

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by delivering some of the nation's most complex and transformative transportation infrastructure projects. We're seeking an experienced Design Build Transportation Design Manager to lead the design delivery of major highway and bridge projects across the U.S. This is a high-impact leadership opportunity for a transportation professional who thrives in fast-paced alternative delivery environments and is passionate about building strong teams, driving innovation, and delivering exceptional results for our clients.

What You'll Do

• Lead the overall planning, coordination, and delivery of design for large, complex transportation projects, including Design-Build and P3/PPP pursuits and contracts.
• Serve as the primary design leadership representative with clients, contractors, owner representatives, and key project stakeholders.
• Direct multidisciplinary design teams across multiple offices, ensuring seamless collaboration and execution in a high-performance environment.
• Manage project scope, schedule, budget, quality, and risk while maintaining alignment with client expectations and contractual obligations.
• Partner with project controls and scheduling teams to monitor performance, analyze earned value metrics, and proactively address project challenges.
• Ensure the highest standards of technical quality, design coordination, and project delivery excellence.
• Develop project execution strategies, staffing plans, and resource allocations to support successful project outcomes.
• Lead and mentor project engineers, discipline leads, and technical staff to foster project success and professional growth.
• Drive effective communication among design, construction, and project management teams throughout all phases of project delivery.
• Review and validate project schedules, financial performance, and delivery milestones across all disciplines.
• Identify scope changes and evaluate potential impacts on project delivery, budget, and client agreements.
• Support business development efforts, including client engagement, strategic planning, interviews, and proposal presentations.
• Represent Jacobs at client meetings, industry events, project reviews, and public presentations.
• Collaborate with transportation leaders across the company to support the continued growth of Jacobs' national Design-Build practice.

What Makes You a Great Fit

• Proven success leading complex transportation design programs in alternative delivery environments.
• Strong leadership, communication, and relationship-building skills with the ability to influence diverse stakeholders.
• Experience managing multidisciplinary teams while balancing technical excellence, schedule commitments, and financial performance.
• Ability to thrive in collaborative, fast-paced project environments where innovation and problem-solving are critical.

Here’s what you’ll need

• Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license.
• 15+ years of experience managing complex, multidisciplinary transportation design projects.
• Experience serving as Design Manager on one or more major Design-Build and/or P3/PPP transportation projects.
• Demonstrated experience delivering highway and bridge infrastructure projects from concept through construction.

Our health and welfare benefits are designed to invest in you, and in the things you care about. Your health. Your well-being. Your security. Your future. Employees have access to medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance, a 401(k) plan, and the ability to purchase company stock at a discount. Eligible employees may also enroll in a deferred compensation plan or the Executive Deferral Plan. Jacobs has an unlimited U.S. Personalized Paid Time Off (PPTO) policy for full-time salaried/exempt employees, seven paid holidays, and caregiver leave. And certain roles may be eligible for additional rewards, including merit increases, performance discretionary bonus, and stock.

The base salary range for this position is $150,000.00 to $270,000.00. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

Job posted on August 03, 2026. This position will be open for at least 3 days.

We value collaboration and believe that in-person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work.