Highways Design Lead

Mott MacDonald; Orange (CA); Hybrid; USD 225,000 - 275,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401k

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Short/long disability

Paid holidays

PTO

Parental leave

Life insurance

Job summary

Mott MacDonald in Orange, CA seeks an experienced Highways & Transportation Design Lead with a California PE license and 25+ years in highway design to lead multi-project delivery. This hybrid role centers on delivering PSR, PA&ED, and PS&E while mentoring teams and pursuing new opportunities.

The role emphasizes client collaboration, adherence to Caltrans standards, and driving design excellence within a flexible, office-oriented schedule.

Qualifications

• California PE license required.
• 25+ years of highway and transportation design experience.
• Proven track record in PSR, PA&ED, and PS&E pursuits.
• Strong leadership and client management skills.
• Familiarity with Caltrans design standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage highway and transportation design projects from concept through delivery.
• Build and develop high-performing design teams to execute projects efficiently.
• Oversee preparation of PSR, PA&ED, and PS&E documents.
• Ensure compliance with Caltrans design standards and regulations.
• Collaborate with clients and internal teams to deliver innovative solutions.
• Support alternate project delivery methods (Design-Build, CM/GC) as needed.
• Drive business development and pursuit strategy.
• Promote the Mott MacDonald brand for design services.

Job description

At Mott MacDonald, we trust our brilliant people to do brilliant things in engineering, management, and development services, supporting multisector project work in over 150 countries. As one of the largest employee-owned companies in the world, we pride ourselves on our ability to deliver exceptional outcomes through our network of 20,000+ talented consultants. With sustainability and innovation at the heart of all our sectors in North America, including, Buildings, Energy, Transportation, and Water.

We believe in empowering our people to excel, learn, and grow, offering diverse opportunities to contribute to career-defining work. Join us and be part of a collaborative environment where your ambitions are united with ours, and you can truly shape your story.

We are seeking an experienced Highways & Transportation Design Lead to join our team in Orange, CA. The ideal candidate will hold a California Professional Engineer (PE) license and bring 25+ years of expertise in highway and transportation design. This individual will lead complex design projects, mentor teams, and drive successful pursuits for PSR, PA&ED, and PS&E phases.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage highway and transportation design projects from concept through delivery
• Build and develop high-performing design teams to execute projects efficiently
• Oversee preparation of Project Study Reports (PSR), Project Approval & Environmental Documents (PA&ED), and Plans, Specifications & Estimates (PS&E)
• Ensure compliance with Caltrans design standards and other applicable regulations
• Collaborate with clients, stakeholders, and internal teams to deliver innovative solutions
• Support and lead alternate project delivery methods (Design-Build, CM/GC) as needed
• Drive business development efforts, including proposal preparation and pursuit strategy
• Promote the Mott MacDonald Brand for Design services, identifying industry events to sponsor and attend

Qualifications

• California PE license required
• 25+ years of experience in highway and transportation design
• Proven track record of winning and delivering PSR, PA&ED, and PS&E pursuits
• Strong background in Caltrans design standards and processes
• Demonstrated ability to build and lead design teams
• Experience with alternate project delivery methods preferred
• Excellent communication, leadership, and client management skills

Preferred Skills

• Familiarity with Caltrans procedures and specifications
• Alternative Project Delivery experience
• Strategic thinking and ability to manage complex projects
• Proficiency in relevant design software and tools

Benefits & Reward

At Mott MacDonald, our employees have a stake and a voice in our business, providing them with a direct connection to our success through our personal and group performance bonuses. We provide a comprehensive benefit package that includes 401k, medical, dental and vision insurance, short-term/long-term disability, paid holidays, PTO, parental leave, and company paid life insurance.

Individual pay is determined based on several factors such as work location, education, experience, and unique skills.

The expected salary for this position is $225,000 - $275,000.

Collaboration at Our Core

At Mott MacDonald, we believe great ideas happen when we're together. Our hybrid approach centers on an in-office culture, with most of your time spent collaborating face-to-face and a minimum of three days per week in the office. We balance flexibility with connection, so you and your manager can choose how to meet client, team, and personal commitments.

Equal opportunity is the law.

We seek to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they have the opportunity to contribute.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, protected veteran status, creed, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship status or disability status.