DESIGN MANAGER – DESIGN BUILD HIGHWAY/ MANAGED LANES

HNTB; Chelmsford (MA); On-site; USD 287,000 - 458,000; Full time

Job summary

HNTB is seeking a Design Build (DB) Design Manager to lead highway/managed lanes projects across the U.S. The role involves directing teams, managing client relationships, and delivering quality design work on time and within budget.

The position requires travel and the ability to work from any HNTB office nationwide. Qualified candidates have a relevant degree, 12 years of experience including mega projects, and a proven track record in design-build environments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and 12 years of relevant experience including 6 years delivering mega projects.
• Experience leading mega/super mega highway/design-build projects.
• Strong client communication and financial management skills.

Responsibilities

• Develops key client relationships and acts as primary contact on assigned projects.
• Manages project financials, budgets, schedules and scope to meet goals.
• Staffs projects per Work Plan and mentors project staff.
• Collaborates with leadership to solve challenges and meet objectives.
• Leads mega-project pursuits and presents to clients.

Skills

Client relationships

Financial management

Staff mentoring

Staffing leadership

Proposal presentations

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Professional Engineer (PE) certification

DBIA certification

Project Management Professional (PMP)

Job description

What We're Looking For

At HNTB, you can create a career that is meaningful to you while building communities that matter to all of us. For more than a century, we have been delivering solutions for some of the largest, most complex infrastructure projects across the country. With our historic growth, it is an exciting time to join our team of employee-owners.

What We're Looking For

At HNTB, you can create a career that is meaningful to you while building communities that matter to all of us. For more than a century, we have been delivering solutions for some of the largest, most complex infrastructure projects across the country. With our historic growth, it is an exciting time to join our team of employee-owners. Now is the right time to join HNTB’s growing Design Build (DB) Organization! We are seeking a DB Design Manager (Highway/ Managed Lanes) to lead teams on our largest projects and pursuits. This officer-level role requires significant experience collaborating with contractors and a successful track record of leading teams, as design manager, on nationally significant highway infrastructure projects. The position can be based from any HNTB office nationwide and requires travel to project offices. The selected candidate will be accountable for achieving HNTB’s 4 for 4 performance objectives—delivering quality work on time, on budget, and to the client’s satisfaction—on super- and ultra-mega design projects with fees ranging from $25 million to more than $100 million.

What You’ll Do

• Develops and nurtures key client relationships and is the primary company contact on assigned projects. Communicates effectively with clients to identify needs and evaluate alternative business solutions and strategies.
• Responsible for financial performance on projects. Proactive management of cash, budget, schedule and project scope to ensure adherence to project goals and completion to the client's satisfaction.
• Sets priorities, obtains commitments, and engages required resources through collaboration with Group Directors, Department Managers and/or Section Managers to staff projects according to the project Work Plan.
• Collaborates with office and division leadership in solving challenges and ensuring business objectives are met.
• Supervises and mentors’ team to achieve overall project objectives. Where appropriate, oversees the project's Project Manager(s). Responsible for/oversees project staffing, including, but not limited to; recruitment, hiring, development, retention and succession of project staff; development of plan for project staff reporting; and support for performance and compensation reviews.
• Leads pursuits of super mega projects. Partners with Client Service Leaders to develop long term strategies to identify and pursue additional business opportunities with key clients and with pursuit champions on efforts for mega and super mega projects in accordance with HNTB's Sophisticated Sales Approach (SSA). Works with the pursuit team and marketing resources to prepare appropriate proposal and presentation materials. Leads interview and proposal presentations to the client as well as general presentations within the industry.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

What You’ll Need

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant field and 12 years of relevant experience including 6 years of experience successfully managing and delivering mega and/or super mega projects.

What We Prefer

• Master’s degree
• 25 years relevant experience
• Professional Engineer (PE) certification in multiple states, including California
• Successful experience as a Design Manger role on multiple Design Build highway/ managed lanes projects
• Design Build Institute of America (DBIA) certification
• Project Management Professional (PMP)

Additional Information

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Locations:

Arlington, VA, Austin, TX, Bellevue, WA (Seattle), Boston, MA, Charlotte, NC, Chelmsford, MA (Lexington), Dallas, TX, Denver, CO, Detroit, MI, Kansas City, MO, Lake Mary, FL, Los Angeles, CA (Figueroa Street), Miami, FL, Milwaukee, WI (East Wisconsin Avenue), Newark, NJ, New York, NY, Philadelphia, PA (Pennsylvania), Tampa, FL

The approximate pay range for Los Angeles Metro Area and Orange County, CA is $274,665.25 - $438,750.99. Please note that the pay range provided is a good faith estimate for the position at the time of posting. Actual compensation will be dependent on factors, including but not limited to, the individual's qualifications, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities as well as physical work location within the state.

The approximate pay range for Washington is $286,607.22 - $457,827.12. Please note that the pay range provided is a good faith estimate for the position based on all selected locations within the state at the time of posting. Actual compensation will be dependent on factors, including but not limited to, the individual's qualifications, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities as well as physical work location within the state.

The approximate pay range for Colorado is $262,723.28 - $419,674.86. Please note that the pay range provided is a good faith estimate for the position based on all selected locations within the state at the time of posting. Actual compensation will be dependent on factors, including but not limited to, the individual's qualifications, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities as well as physical work location within the state.

The anticipated last day to apply is 12/17/2026. Please note that the job may be unposted prior to this date if the job is filled or no longer a need.

The approximate pay range for New York is $298,549.19 - $476,903.24. Please note that the pay range provided is a good faith estimate for the position based on all selected locations within the state at the time of posting. Actual compensation will be dependent on factors, including but not limited to, the individual's qualifications, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities as well as physical work location within the state.

The approximate pay range for New Jersey is $286,607.22 - $457,827.12. Please note that the pay range provided is a good faith estimate for the position based on all selected locations within the state at the time of posting. Actual compensation will be dependent on factors, including but not limited to, the individual's qualifications, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities as well as physical work location within the state.

The approximate pay range for Massachusetts is $286,607.22 - $457,827.12. Please note that the pay range provided is a good faith estimate for the position based on all selected locations within the state at the time of posting. Actual compensation will be dependent on factors, including but not limited to, the individual's qualifications, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities as well as physical work location within the state.

The approximate pay range for Virginia is $274,665.25 - $438,750.99. Please note that the pay range provided is a good faith estimate for the position based on all selected locations within the state at the time of posting. Actual compensation will be dependent on factors, including but not limited to, the individual's qualifications, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities as well as physical work location within the state.