Design Manager - Transit Design Build

HNTB; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 260,000 - 450,000; Full time

Job summary

HNTB is seeking a Design Manager (Transit) to lead teams on nationally significant transit projects, with travel to project offices as needed. The role emphasizes delivering quality work on time and within budget, while achieving client satisfaction on mega-scale efforts.

The ideal candidate will have a track record of managing mega/super mega transit projects, strong client engagement skills, and the ability to staff and mentor project teams across multiple offices.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant field with 12 years of experience, including 6 years delivering mega/super mega projects.
• Experience collaborating with contractors and leading design teams on transit infrastructure projects.
• Willingness to travel to project offices.

Responsibilities

• Develops and maintains key client relationships and serves as primary client contact on projects.
• Manages financial performance, cash flow, budget, schedule, and scope to meet goals.
• Staffing and resource planning with directors and managers to align with the project work plan.
• Collaborates with leadership to solve challenges and meet business objectives.
• Leads pursuit of mega projects and presents proposals to clients and industry audiences.
• Oversees project staff development, recruitment, retention, and performance reviews.

Skills

Mega project delivery

Team leadership

Client relationship management

Budget & schedule management

Education

Bachelor's degree in relevant field

Master’s degree

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.

Now is the right time to join HNTB’s growing Design Build (DB) Organization! We are seeking a DB Design Manager (Transit) 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 transit infrastructure projects. This position can be based in any HNTB office 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 transit projects
• Design Build Institute of America (DBIA) certification
• Project Management Professional (PMP)

Additional Information

HNTB Total Rewards

Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

#RN

Locations

Atlanta, GA, Bellevue, WA (Seattle), Boston, MA, Charlotte, NC, Chelmsford, MA (Lexington), Chicago, IL, Dallas, TX, Denver, CO, Fort Lauderdale, FL, Kansas City, MO, Lake Mary, FL, Los Angeles, CA (Figueroa Street), Miami, FL, Newark, NJ, New York, NY, Philadelphia, PA (Pennsylvania), Seattle, WA (Downtown), Tampa, FL

Pay Ranges

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 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 Illinois 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.

Application Deadline

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.

Job Details

Job Type: Regular

Full/Part Time: Full time

Job Category: Engineering Group

ReqID: R-31845