Highway Engineer

Dane County; Madison (WI); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Dane County Highway and Transportation in Madison, WI is seeking a Highway Engineer for a full-time, on-site role. The position involves leading design of highway projects, overseeing construction, and coordinating with state and federal agencies.

Responsibilities include preparing plans, specifications, bid quantities, and managing field surveys, inspections, and compliance with WisDOT standards. A PE license and Civil 3D proficiency are required or pursued.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of civil engineering principles and practices applied to highway and bridge design and construction.
• Ability to operate design software and perform field surveying.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of highway construction plans, geometric layouts, and specifications.
• Oversee lifecycle of highway construction projects: planning, bidding, scheduling, and contract administration.
• Conduct annual road ratings and comprehensive bridge inspections in compliance with federal mandates.
• Review plans, permits and zoning applications; coordinate utility permits and land acquisition documents.
• Direct field survey crews and ensure contractor payments and project timelines align with standards.

Skills

Civil engineering knowledge

Education

Associate degree + 6 yrs experience

Bachelor's degree + 4 yrs experience

Tools

Civil 3D

Job description

Dane County Highway and Transportation in Madison, WI has a full-time (1.0 FTE) vacancy for a Highway Engineer.

The Eligibility List created may be used to fill future vacancies over the next six (6) months.

This position is an on-site, fully in-person position (not remote). The hours for this position are 6:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday from April through October and 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday from November through March.

COMMITMENT TO EQUITY AND INCLUSION

As an employer, we strive to provide a work environment where diversity and differing opinions are valued, creativity is encouraged, continuous learning and improvement are fostered, teamwork and open/honest communication are encouraged, and meeting customer needs through quality service is a shared goal. All employees must be able to demonstrate multicultural competence – the awareness, knowledge, and skills needed to work with others who are culturally different from self in meaningful, relevant, and productive ways. Applicants from traditionally underrepresented populations including women, racial and ethnic minorities, and persons with disabilities, are especially encouraged to apply.

DEFINITION

Under direction of the Highway Commissioner or Deputy Highway Commissioner - Engineering, performs professional highway engineering functions in field and office including major design of construction projects; supervision and quality control of all work performed by field construction crews; and other related work as required.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

DESIGN

Lead the development of comprehensive construction plans, geometric layouts, and technical specifications for highway projects. Establish optimized route locations, determine appropriate design standards, set vertical and horizontal alignments (laying grades), and accurately calculate bid quantities. Determine precise ROW requirements and draft formal legal descriptions for property acquisition. Partner with Highway and Transportation personnel to communicate technical engineering requirements to property owners, ensuring all acquisition documents are properly and legally executed. Assign, supervise, and review the work of survey crews, design technicians, and junior engineering staff to ensure project accuracy and alignment with timelines. Calculate detailed engineering estimates for diverse highway assets, incorporating pavement design and structural requirements. Provide technical counsel and cost estimations for local municipal projects. Serve as the primary liaison for Federal-aid projects, collaborating closely with State engineering staff and external consultants to ensure strict adherence to state and federal specifications.

CONSTRUCTION

Oversee the comprehensive lifecycle of highway construction projects, including initial planning, bid preparation, scheduling, and contract administration. Verify contract quantities and approve contractor payments. Manage on-site operations to interpret complex plans, technical specifications, and design standards. Oversee and execute rigorous material testing and quality inspection procedures to ensure structural and regulatory compliance. Coordinate closely with the Highway Maintenance Supervisor to strategically allocate personnel, survey crews, and heavy equipment for department-led construction projects. Direct the activities of field survey crews, actively participating in surveying tasks on construction sites as required to maintain project schedule. Conduct structural condition inspections of highway bridges in strict accordance with Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) guidelines.

ADMINISTRATIVE

Conduct annual road rating inventory and comprehensive bridge inspections in strict compliance with federal mandates. Leverage condition data to strategically forecast, plan, and prioritize multi-year roadway construction projects. Provide data for critical long‑range financial and planning documents, including the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). Review, approve, and issue utility permits for utility work within the highway right‑of‑way, ensuring municipal infrastructure integrity is maintained. Evaluate developer plans, Certified Survey Maps (CSMs), and zoning applications to enforce engineering standards.

Education, Training and Experience

An Associate’s degree in civil engineering or related field, and six (6) years of highway construction and design experience; or a Bachelor's degree in civil engineering or related field and four (4) years of highway construction and design experience. Ability to operate Civil 3D Computer Aided Design (CAD) software or similar engineering design software.

Certifications/Licenses

Wisconsin or other State Professional Engineer Registration required. (May be able to obtain Wisconsin registration through reciprocity within six months.) Must attend and pass a federal Certified Bridge Inspector 40-hour class within one (1) year from the date of hire (Dane County will schedule and pay for training).

Special Requirements

Must have a valid driver’s license and access to reliable personal transportation.

Background Check Statement

Some positions may require a criminal background check which can include fingerprinting due to the nature of the job's responsibilities. Wisconsin's Fair Employment Law, s. 111.31 – 111.395, Wis. Stats., prohibits discrimination because of an arrest or conviction record. However, Dane County may disqualify an applicant if the position's responsibilities are substantially related to the applicant's criminal history (e.g., the nature of the crime and its relationship to the position, whether hiring, transferring or promoting an applicant would pose an unreasonable risk to the business, its employees, customers and vendors, etc.) Management reserves the right to make employment contingent upon successful completion of the background check.

For Bilingual Positions

1. Provide services in both English and the required foreign language (e.g., Spanish, Arabic, Hmong, etc.).
2. Applicants being considered for bilingual positions will be tested during the recruitment process prior to employment. This will primarily consist of passing an oral language proficiency assessment from English to foreign language and foreign language to English, but may require additional language testing, such as written translation, if it is an essential function of the job.

*If applicable, individuals may confirm with the Employee Relations Division whether results of bilingual language certifications/ examinations they currently hold qualify them for the position’s bilingual designation.

Physical and Environmental Work Requirements

Must be able to hear and see within normal ranges with or without corrective devices. Adequate physical mobility in field conditions. Must be able to walk long distances, climb over fences and under bridges and culverts. Able to perform outdoor work and drive in all types of weather conditions. Able to perform indoor office and computer work.

Knowledge of civil engineering principles and practices applied to highway and bridge design and construction. Knowledge of the basic principles and practices of engineering field and office work, including design preparation and field surveying. Ability to design urban and rural roadway projects using Civil 3D Computer Aided Design (CAD) software or equivalent and utilizing WisDOT FDM design standards as well as produce all required reports, plan specifications and estimates for WisDOT let projects. Ability to direct the work of subordinates in drafting and surveying. Ability to make difficult engineering computations, estimates and designs. Ability to make structural condition inspections of bridges in accordance with Federal guidelines. Ability to prepare and interpret plans and specifications and to perform or supervise the engineering inspection of contract construction. Ability to plan, organize, assign and review work performed in compliance to construction standards and project specifications. Ability to work effectively with public officials, contractors and the general public.