Principal Consultant, Planning Engineer / Transportation

erm; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 128,000 - 163,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Medical benefits

401(k) plan

Parental leave

Job summary

ERM in Washington, DC is seeking a Principal Consultant, Planning Engineer / Transportation to lead strategic transportation planning for major capital projects supporting the energy transition and sustainable infrastructure worldwide. You will mentor staff, shape methodologies, and drive proposals across projects with a global impact.

This hybrid role offers visibility to shape how projects are planned and delivered while ensuring compliance with US standards and international frameworks.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Transportation Engineering, Urban/Transportation Planning, or related field or equivalent experience.
• 6+ years (10+ years preferred) of progressive experience in transportation planning/engineering for major capital projects.
• Strong expertise in U.S. transportation standards and frameworks (NEPA, FHWA/FTA guidance, HCM, MUTCD) and state/local requirements.
• Authorization to work in the U.S.

Responsibilities

• Lead multimodal transportation impact assessments (road, rail, vessel, air) for both construction and operational phases of major projects.
• Develop and apply methodologies aligned with NEPA, FHWA/FTA guidance, state/local regulations, and international standards.
• Contribute to proposal development by defining scope, methodology, and level of effort for transportation components.
• Build and strengthen client relationships while leading pursuits for new transportation planning opportunities.
• Mentor junior team members and foster an inclusive, collaborative, and high-performing team culture.
• Occasional travel for client meetings and field reviews across project locations.

Skills

Transportation planning

NEPA/FHWA guidance

Communication

Authorization to work in US

Transportation standards

Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil/Transportation Engineering

Master's degree in Transportation Engineering/Planning

Tools

Synchro/SimTraffic

HCS

VISSIM/SIDRA

GIS

Travel demand modeling

Job description

Lead the Future of Sustainable Infrastructure

Step into a leadership role where transportation strategy meets global impact.

At ERM , as a Principal Consultant, Planning Engineer / Transportation, based in Washington, DC (hybrid), you'll help shape the trajectory of major capital projects that enable the energy transition and sustainable infrastructure worldwide. This is a strategic, high-visibility opportunity to influence how complex projects are planned, approved, and delivered-while mentoring others and growing a best-in-class transportation practice.

Why This Role Matters

Transportation planning sits at the core of every successful infrastructure project. In this role, you'll provide strategic direction and technical leadership across a diverse portfolio-from electric transmission and renewable energy (wind, solar, hydropower, battery storage) to large-scale extractive projects.

Your expertise will ensure projects are compliant, efficient, and aligned with both U.S. regulatory standards and global sustainability benchmarks-directly advancing ERM's mission to deliver innovative, responsible solutions.

What Your Impact Is

• Lead transportation analyses for U.S.-based projects, ensuring alignment with state DOT requirements and global best practices.
• Deliver IFC-compliant Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIA) for international initiatives.
• Shape project outcomes by defining methodologies, contributing to proposals, and guiding technical strategy.
• Expand ERM's transportation planning capabilities through business development, client engagement, and thought leadership.
• Mentor and develop emerging talent, strengthening team capability and impact.

What You'll Bring

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Transportation Engineering, Urban/Transportation Planning, or related field or equivalent experience.
• 6+ years (10+ years preferred) of progressive experience in transportation planning/engineering for major capital projects.
• Strong expertise in U.S. transportation standards and frameworks (NEPA, FHWA/FTA guidance, HCM, MUTCD) and state/local requirements.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear insights for clients and stakeholders.
• Authorization to work in the U.S.

Preferred

• Master's degree in Transportation Engineering/Planning or related field
• Professional licensure or certification (PE, PTOE, AICP, RSP, or equivalent).
• Proficiency in transportation and traffic modeling tools (Synchro/SimTraffic, HCS, VISSIM/SIDRA, GIS, travel demand modeling).
• Experience supporting international projects and working within IFI-funded frameworks.
• Demonstrated success in business development and industry thought leadership.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead multimodal transportation impact assessments (road, rail, vessel, air) for both construction and operational phases of major projects.
• Develop and apply methodologies aligned with NEPA, FHWA/FTA guidance, state/local regulations, and international standards.
• Contribute to proposal development by defining scope, methodology, and level of effort for transportation components.
• Build and strengthen client relationships while leading pursuits for new transportation planning opportunities.
• Mentor junior team members and foster an inclusive, collaborative, and high-performing team culture.
• Occasional travel for client meetings and field reviews across project locations

If you're motivated to lead complex, meaningful projects and leave a lasting mark on sustainable infrastructure, this role offers the platform to do just that-on a global scale.

For the Principal Consultant, Planning Engineer / Transportation position, the anticipated annual base pay is $ 127,600 -$163,100 ( USD) . Actual pay will depend on factors such as education, experience, skills, location, performance, and business needs. In some cases, pay may fall outside this range. This role may be eligible for bonus pay subject to the sole discretion of ERM and its policies and procedures (casual and fixed term/flex force employees are not bonus eligible).

We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including paid time off ( vacation, sick, and floating holidays ), parental leave, medical, dental, vision, life, disability, AD&D insurance, 401(k), and other applicable benefits to eligible employees.

Who We Are

As the largest global pure play sustainability consultancy, we partner with the world's leading organizations, creating innovative solutions to sustainability challenges and unlocking commercial opportunities that meet the needs of today while preserving opportunity for future generations.

At ERM we know that creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive work environment is an essential part of making our company a great place to build a career. We also see our diversity as a strength that helps us create better solutions for our clients. Our diverse team of world-class experts supports clients across the breadth of their organizatio