Highway Standards Coordinator (Highway Designer)

son; Lincoln (NE); On-site; USD 39,000 - 57,000; Full time

Job summary

Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) in Lincoln, NE, seeks a Highway Standards Coordinator (Highway Designer) to lead technical coordination on roadway design policies, standards, and documents. The role supports design process from initiation to handoff and requires strong engineering judgment and cross-disciplinary collaboration.

Experience with NDOT standards and manuals is preferred; the position may be filled at Highway Designer II or III with pay scaled accordingly.

Qualifications

• Three years of experience in highway civil engineering design, including CADD applications.
• Coursework or training in the design field may substitute for up to two years.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate review and management of Roadway Design documents such as the Roadway Design Manual and Design Process Outline.
• Stay up to date on national practices related to transportation design policies and standards.
• Support quality assurance and reporting efforts, including Value Engineering and related studies.
• Review permit submittals for completeness and conformance with requirements; perform independent technical reviews.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Highway design

CADD

Engineering principles

Education

Civil engineering degree

Tools

OnBase

Job description

Job Posting

JR2026-00029819 Highway Standards Coordinator (Highway Designer) (Open)

Hiring Agency

Transportation - Agency 27

Location

Lincoln, NE

Hiring Rate

$27.961

Job Description

Join the Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) Roadway Design team and help shape the future of the State of Nebraska's transportation infrastructure! The Highway Standards Coordinator serves as a key technical and coordination role within the Department, supporting the development and management of various NDOT policies, design standards, and design documents. The successful candidate will work on a wide range of specialty projects and ongoing efforts, from design manual updating and development to program quality control and quality assurance, while collaborating with engineering staff, subject matter experts, and external stakeholders, supporting the design process from initiation to turn in.

The successful candidate will apply sound technical judgement in evaluating and updating supporting manuals, guidance, and documentation, coordinate interdisciplinary input, and facilitate the resolution of technical issues through an iterative review process, playing an important role in promoting consistency in the application of research, design standards, and policies across the state.

If unable to fill at the Highway Designer III level, will consider applicants at the Highway Designer II level.

Pay range for the Highway Designer III level is $27.961 - $41.218 per hour. The pay rate may be commensurate with education and/or experience within fiscal constraints if approved.

Pay rate for the Highway Designer Ievel is $24.193 per hour.

This opportunity is open internally only, agency specific, to Nebraska Department of Transportation employees.

Job Duties

• Serve as the central point of coordination with the Department for the review and management of various Roadway Design documents such as the Roadway Design Manual and Design Process Outline.
• Stay up to date on national practices and guidance as it relates to the transportation industry, policies, statutes, and regulations, and overall aspects of design for implementation or inclusions into Department documentation.
• Support the Policy and Standards Unit in the review and management of quality assurance and reporting efforts. These include participation in Value Engineering Studies, Interstate Access Justification Reports, Pedestrian and Bicycle Infrastructure, and other research as needed.
• As assigned, review initial permit submittals for completeness and conformance with application requirements, ensuring sufficient information is provided to support technical evaluation prior to initiating formal review. Perform independent technical review of supporting plans, calculations, and documentation associated with permit requests.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements / Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Highway Designer III: Three years of experience in highway civil engineering design, including CADD applications and practices OR post high school coursework or training in the design field mentioned above may substitute for two of the three years of experience required on a year-for-year basis.
• Highway Designer II: Coursework, training, or experience in design, drafting, engineering, highway construction, or other construction field using CADD applications and practices.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in the design and/or construction of roadways, streets, culverts, or storm sewer systems.
• Familiarity with the NDOT Roadway Design Manual, NDOT Standard Specifications for Highway Construction, and AASHTO publications.
• Experience reviewing plans, calculations, or technical documentation associated with transportation projects.
• Experience coordinating with multiple stakeholders, including engineering staff, subject matter experts and external applicants.
• Experience with OnBase or similar workflow systems used for document management.

Other

• Valid driver's license or the ability to provide authorized independent transportation.
• Minimal overnight travel is required.
• Regular and reliable attendance is also required.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of basic engineering principles related to the design and construction of highway projects.
• Strong organizational and public relations skills.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work independently, under the direct supervision of an engineer.
• Ability to work as part of a small design team.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Software (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint) is required.
• Familiarity with NDOT's Roadway Design Manual and Standard Specification for Highway Construction.