Senior Highway Designer

GFT; Marlton (NJ); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 155,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work environment

Comprehensive benefits package

Tax-deferred 401(k) savings plan

Competitive PTO accrual

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

GFT is seeking a Senior Highway Designer to join our Transportation group in New Jersey, with a hybrid work model across East Brunswick, Morristown, or Marlton offices. You will lead roadway design on complex projects for NJDOT, NJTA, and other agencies, delivering plans, specs, estimates, and client-ready documents.

Ideal candidates hold a B.S. in Civil Engineering and 4+ years’ highway design experience, with proficiency in MicroStation, OpenRoads, AutoCAD, Civil 3D, and strong mentoring and

Qualifications

• 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.

Responsibilities

• Lead roadway design concepts, criteria, and direction on major tasks.
• Coordinate design activities across disciplines with bridge, transit, environmental, geotechnical, and civil/site teams.
• Prepare and review plans, specs, and estimates including roadway geometry, drainage, MOT, and other elements.
• Review technical deliverables for QA/QC.
• Mentor junior staff and provide technical guidance.
• 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.

Skills

Team leadership

Budget tracking

Client liaison

Communication skills

Project coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering

Tools

AutoCAD

Civil 3D

MicroStation

OpenRoads

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