Engineering Manager - SR 520 Construction (WMS3)

State of Washington; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work options

Paid leave & holidays

Tuition assistance

Job summary

Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) seeks an Engineering Manager in Seattle, WA to oversee project offices delivering major capital projects. You will lead integrated WSDOT and consultant teams in design, construction, environmental compliance, traffic impacts, and stakeholder coordination.

The role requires strong program management, civil engineering expertise, and excellent communication. Hybrid remote work options and a comprehensive benefits package are offered.

Qualifications

• Proven ability to manage the delivery of complex design and construction projects.
• Experience with budgeting, scheduling, and quality management principles.
• Strong leadership and cross‑functional collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and strategic direction to project office teams.
• Mentor engineers and staff across internal and consultant partners.
• Ensure timely reporting of project status, progress, and finances.
• Develop delivery strategies for complex highway and bridge projects.
• Coordinate with local agencies, stakeholders, and regulatory bodies.

Skills

Project management

Budgeting

Team leadership

Communication

Risk management

Stakeholder coordination

Contracting knowledge

Growth mindset

Education

Professional Engineer license (WA) or eligible

Tools

MS Project

Primavera P6

Job description

About WSDOT

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is a multimodal agency with a global reputation for excellence. Our dedicated workforce plans, designs, builds, and operates an integrated transportation system that safely and efficiently moves people and goods throughout the state. In addition to maintaining over 20,000 lane miles of state highway and 4,100 bridges, WSDOT leads an award-winning Active Transportation Plan, manages the world's longest floating bridge, and operates the largest ferry system in the nation!

The Opportunity

WSDOT is currently seeking an Engineering Manager in Seattle, WA to oversee the Project Offices tasked with managing WSDOT and consultant staff working to deliver the SR 520 Portage Bay Bridge and Roanoke Lid Project. This position leads integrated WSDOT and consultant teams responsible for construction operations, environmental compliance, traffic impacts, third-party coordination, design support, right of way and utilities, testing and materials, and public and agency communications. The candidate selected for this role will manage complex project budgets, schedules, resources, consultant and agreement administration, risk, and workforce planning while providing strategic direction, technical guidance, and mentorship to project teams. Through strong leadership and collaboration with internal and external partners, this position helps ensure successful delivery of one of WSDOT’s significant and complex capital improvement projects.

What to Expect

Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, you will:

• Provide management and leadership oversight, technical guidance, and support and direction to ensure the Project Office Teams meet project goals, objectives, and deliverables.
• Mentor and support the Project Office Team Managers.
• Ensure that Project Office Teams provide timely and accurate reporting of project status, progress, and project finance to Management and Executives.
• Provide leadership and direction to Project Office Teams, including both State (Project Engineers and Assistant Project Engineers) and Consultant staff to execute work plan.
• Assist the Project Office Teams to ensure that the assigned projects are monitoring the scope, schedule, and budget.
• Ensure that Project Office Teams are identifying and managing Project risks.
• Provide any necessary assistance or guidance in working with local agencies and stakeholders to resolve any issues, negotiate permits, negotiate agreements, and changes.
• Engage in meeting with counterparts at the City of Seattle, working on project issues and helping resolve any issues or disputes which may arise on the project, whether between the contractors and the City of Seattle or between WSDOT and the City of Seattle.
• Provide approval of change order requests at the Program/Region level.
• Provide support to the Project Office Teams in developing, planning, and implementing delivery strategies for various project components.

Qualifications

To be considered for this opportunity, the following competencies are required:

• Project and Program Management: Proven ability to manage the delivery of complex design and construction projects. Skilled in project planning, scope and schedule management, budgeting, and application of quality management principles and tools to improve project outcomes. Strong skills to make responsible, timely, and effective decisions in the best interest of the department, based on an array of complex and competing issues.
• Accountability: Expertise including budgeting, scheduling, environmental considerations, and quality assurance.
• Civil Engineering Expertise:Experience applying civil engineering principles in the design, analysis, and construction of transportation infrastructure. Knowledge of highway project development, NEPA, SEPA, and permitting requirements, right-of-way acquisition processes, and access management laws and guidelines. Understanding of contracting methods and procedures.
• Leadership and Supervision: Ability to lead, mentor, and develop engineering and technical staff. Experience managing multi-discipline staff of both internal and consultants to meet performance goals, planning workforce needs, allocating resources effectively, and resolving personnel or performance issues.
• Communication Skills:Effective verbal and written communication and negotiation skills, including the ability to prepare technical reports, present complex information to diverse audiences, and represent the agency in public meetings and interagency settings.
• Collaboration and Problem Solving: Ability to work collaboratively across disciplines to resolve major design and construction challenges, disputes, and claims. Skilled in applying analytical thinking and negotiation techniques to achieve mutually beneficial solutions.
• Stakeholder and Agency Coordination:Demonstrated success in coordinating and negotiating with local jurisdictions, tribal governments, the public, and regulatory agencies to meet project objectives and resolve issues.
• Growth Mindset:Actively demonstrates a commitment to learning and growth.
• Service-Oriented:Takes action to meet the needs of others.

The following qualifications are also required:

• Licensed as a Professional Engineer in the state of Washington OR licensed as a professional engineer in another state with the ability to obtain licensure in Washington state within six (6) months of hire.
• Ability to conduct weekly field reviews and visits to active construction sites, possibly during inclement weather, near traffic, or working on uneven or steep terrain.
• Ability to travel to and from project sites, during emergencies, and occasionally to off-site conferences or statewide meetings.

It is preferred that qualified candidates also demonstrate:

• Complex Project Administration: Experience in administration or execution of large, complicated highway and bridge projects (both Design-Build and Design-Bid-Build delivery approaches) with multiple stakeholders.

Important Notes

This recruitment may also be used to fill additional positions per business needs.

• This position offers flexible/hybrid remote work options.
• The salary listed includes the legislative approved 5% salary premium for positions in King County.
• In addition to base salary, employees may be entitled to other forms of compensation depending on the type, duties, or location of the position. For union-represented positions, more information on other forms of compensation can be found in the applicable Collective Bargaining Agreements. Information on other compensation types for non-represented positions can be found in Chapter 357-28 of the Washington Administrative Code.
• WSDOT does not use the E-Verify system, therefore we are not eligible to extend STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT). For more information, please visit www.uscis.gov.

Why WSDOT

• Work-Life Balance We are committed to ensure that our staff experience the reward of public service, while also sustaining a routine that suits each individuals’ lifestyle. As such, there are a number of flexible schedule options available, including telework options for eligible positions.
• Paid Leave In addition to 12 paid holidays, full-time employees mayearn up to 25 paid vacation days per year!
• Tuition Assistance Permanent employees have several options for assistance with education expenses, including tuition reimbursement programs, government discounts at participating colleges throughout the state, and eligibility for federal student loan forgiveness.
• PlanFor Your Future WSDOT offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes a variety of healthcare options. Employees also have their choice of state retirement programs, and much more. Go to State Benefits for more information.

Check out this video to learn more: Why WSDOT?

WSDOT is an equal opportunity employer. We value the importance of creating an environment in which all employees can feel respected, included, and empowered to bring unique ideas to the agency. Our diversity and inclusion efforts include embracing different cultures, backgrounds and viewpoints while fostering growth and advancement in the workplace. All persons, regardless of race, ethnicity, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, and/ or gender identity, are encouraged to apply. Persons with disabilities needing assistance in the application process, or those needing this job announcement in an alternative format may contact the listed Recruiter.

WSDOT does not use the E-Verify system, therefore we are not eligible to extend STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT). For more information, please visit www.uscis.gov.