Senior Highway Designer

GFT; East Brunswick Township (NJ); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 155,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Wellness program

Parental leave

Pet insurance

Retirement plan

PTO accrual

Tuition reimbursement

Professional development

Incentive pay

Job summary

GFT is seeking a Senior Highway Designer to support our Transportation group in East Brunswick, Morristown, or Marlton, NJ. This role follows a hybrid work model with regular office attendance and cross-office collaboration.

You will lead roadway design on complex NJDOT/NJTA projects, develop design strategies, mentor junior staff, and coordinate with permitting agencies. Proficiency in MicroStation/OpenRoads/Civil 3D and client communication are essential.

Qualifications

• 4+ years highway and roadway design experience with increasing responsibility.
• Proficient in MicroStation, OpenRoads, and Microsoft Office.
• NJDOT or NJTA design experience.
• Strong highway design skills with the ability to train and mentor junior staff.
• Experience in staff supervision and project coordination.
• Experience preparing submittals and coordinating with permitting agencies.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including client presentation experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead roadway design on complex projects for NJDOT, NJTA and area agencies.
• Develop design strategies and provide technical direction.
• Prepare plans, specifications, and estimates for roadway projects.
• Review deliverables for QA/QC.
• Mentor junior staff and oversee tasks.
• Support proposal development including scope, approaches, and costs.
• Manage task order projects in a client-facing capacity.
• Interface with clients to provide technical solutions and ensure satisfaction.
• Assist with permitting coordination and submissions.
• Participate in local professional societies and industry groups.
• Maintain project budgets and schedules and track progress.

Skills

Highway design

Mentorship

Client communication

Project coordination

MicroStation

OpenRoads

AutoCAD

Civil 3D

Microsoft Office

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering

Tools

MicroStation

OpenRoads

AutoCAD

Civil 3D

Microsoft Office

Job description

What You Will Do

As GFT continues to grow and expand, we are seeking a Senior Highway Designer to support our Transportation group in our East Brunswick, NJ, Morristown, NJ or Marlton, NJ office. This role follows a hybrid work model, requiring regular attendance at our East Brunswick, NJ, Morristown, NJ or Marlton, NJ office. Working on the roadway team at GFT offers the opportunity to engage in transformative projects that enhance transportation infrastructure and improve community connectivity. Whether working on highways and bridges or traffic engineering, our team excels in resilient, sustainable design and construction, delivering innovative solutions that address the complexities of modern, multimodal roadway systems and ensure safe, efficient, and reliable travel for all. Explore some of our signature roadway projects here.

What You’ll Be Challenged To Do

As a Senior Highway Designer, you’ll lead roadway engineering efforts on complex transportation projects for NJDOT, NJTA, and other area agencies, developing design strategies and technical direction that support safe, efficient, and sustainable infrastructure. You’ll take ownership of design tasks, prepare plans and technical documents, support project management activities, and help ensure projects are delivered on time and to quality standards. You’ll lead multidisciplinary teams and provide guidance to junior staff, while continuing to grow your technical expertise and client-facing experience in transportation infrastructure work.

• Lead the development of roadway design concepts, criteria, and technical direction on major tasks
• Manage design activities across multiple disciplines, coordinating with bridge, transit, environmental, geotechnical, and civil/site teams as needed
• Prepare and review engineering plans, specifications, and estimates, including roadway geometry, grading, drainage, maintenance and protection of traffic, and other key elements
• Review technical deliverables for quality and accuracy (QA/QC)
• Mentor junior staff, providing technical guidance and task oversight
• Support proposal development including scope, approach, and cost estimates
• Manage task order projects in a client-facing capacity
• Interface with clients to provide technical solutions and ensure project satisfaction
• Assist with permitting coordination and submissions
• Participate in local professional societies and industry groups
• Maintain project budgets and schedules, and track task progress across concurrent assignments

Education | Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering
• 4+ years of highway and roadway design experience with increasing responsibility
• Proficient in MicroStation, OpenRoads, and Microsoft Office
• NJDOT or NJTA design experience
• Strong highway design skills with the ability to train and mentor junior staff
• Experience in staff supervision and project coordination
• Experience preparing submittals and coordinating with permitting agencies
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including client presentation experience

What We Prefer You Bring

• PE license in New Jersey or ability to obtain through reciprocity within one year
• Experience with AutoCAD and Civil 3D
• New Jersey client relationships

Compensation

The range for this position is salary range is $120,000-$155,000. Salary is dependent upon experience and geographic location.

Featured Benefits

• Hybrid (in-person and remote) work environment.
• Comprehensive benefits package including wellness programs, parental leave, and pet insurance, in addition to medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance.
• Tax-deferred 401(k) savings plan.
• Competitive paid-time-off (PTO) accrual.
• Tuition reimbursement for continued education.
• Commitment to professional development, access to internal and external training programs, and support of active participation in professional organizations
• Incentive compensation for eligible positions

Company Overview

At GFT, a privately held AEC firm, we innovate where transportation, water, power, and buildings converge. We call this the Infrastructure of Life. We measure our success by the strength of our relationships - that's why we're the employer of choice for 5,000+ of the industry’s brightest engineers, planners, architects, inspectors, designers, and more.

Our clients choose us for our expertise and prefer us for our nimble approach, creativity, and personal touch. Backed by over a century's experience, together we're building a lasting legacy for future generations: stronger communities, a healthier planet, and better lives.

GFT: Ingenuity That Shapes Lives

GFT is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veterans’ status or other characteristics protected by law.

Unsolicited resumes from third party agencies will be considered the property GFT.

Location: East Brunswick, NJ, Morristown, NJ or Marlton, NJ

Core Business Hours: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Employment Status: Full-Time