Design Manager

Randerson Technical Staffing; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Randerson Technical Staffing is seeking an energetic Transportation Design Manager for a downtown Chicago office to lead a design team on highway and rail projects.

You will oversee project delivery from concept to final design, mentor engineers, ensure QA/QC, maintain client relationships, and pursue new business opportunities. The role reports to the VP of Civil/Transportation and emphasizes collaboration, innovation, work-life balance, and professional growth.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Civil Engineering.
• Registration as a Professional Engineer (PE) in Illinois.
• 10+ years of progressive highway/roadway design experience, 5+ years in team leadership.
• Experience with IDOT, CDOT, Tollway, or transit/rail agencies.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage transportation design team, providing mentorship and technical guidance.
• Oversee development and production of highway plans and specifications for Illinois clients.
• Maintain and grow client relationships and support business development efforts.
• Coach, mentor, and develop staff.
• Promote a culture of innovation and work-life balance.
• Ensure QA/QC is performed on every project.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Project management

Mentoring

Time management

Client relations

Quality assurance

Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering

Tools

Bentley MicroStation

OpenRoads

Job description

Our client is seeking an energetic and driven Transportation Design Manager to join their downtown Chicago office.

As Section Manager of Transportation Design, you will manage a team of talented engineers, oversee projects, and ensure quality delivery for clients. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced project manager who excels at leading highway and railroad design projects. The position reports directly to the VP of Civil / Transportation and works in a collaborative environment that promotes innovation, work-life balance, and professional growth.

What You Will Do

• Lead and manage a transportation design team, providing mentorship and technical guidance
• Oversee and assist with the development and production of highway plans and specifications from start to finish for Illinois clients
• Maintain and grow client relationships and support business development efforts to expand the transportation project portfolio
• Coach, mentor, and develop staff
• Promote a culture of innovation and work-life balance
• Ensure Quality Assurance/Quality Control is performed on every project
• Work on billable projects for the majority of your time, initially including IL 38 Phase II plans, IL 251 Phase I/II, and final design for five Illinois Tollway plazas

Who You Are

• Strong leadership, communication, and project management skills with the ability to motivate and mentor a team
• Technical background managing projects for transportation agencies (IDOT, CDOT, Tollway, or transit/rail agencies) using Bentley MicroStation, OpenRoads, or similar transportation software
• Excellent time management and problem-solving abilities with attention to detail and quality
• Strong organizational and communication skills to create and execute project plans and respond to client requirements
• Bachelor's degree or higher in Civil Engineering
• Minimum 10 years of progressive experience designing highway/roadway projects, including 5 years managing multiple design teams
• Registration as a Professional Engineer (PE) in Illinois required