Senior Project Manager - Highway Design

Vanasse Hangen Brustlin Inc.; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 140,000 - 185,000; Full time

Job summary

Vanasse Hangen Brustlin Inc. (VHB) is seeking a Senior Project Manager - Highway Design in Charlotte, NC to lead complex transportation projects for federal, state, and local clients.

The role combines project management leadership with technical highway design expertise and staff development. You will oversee client relationships, manage multidisciplinary teams, monitor project performance, and contribute to growth of VHB's Transportation group in North Carolina, while ensuring delivery from

Qualifications

• B.S. in Civil Engineering or related field required; M.S. preferred.
• Minimum 11–15+ years of transportation engineering experience; NC market experience highly desired.
• NC PE license required; experience with highway design and transportation projects.

Responsibilities

• Serve as Senior Project Manager for federal, state, and local transportation clients.
• Develop and manage client relationships and project teams.
• Monitor project financial performance and ensure scope, schedule, and budget alignment.
• Lead meetings with clients, agencies, and stakeholders to discuss transportation design/permitting.

Skills

Project management

Leadership

Client relations

Staff development

Communication

MS Office

Team leadership

Highway design

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Education

B.S. in Civil Engineering

M.S. in Civil Engineering

Tools

MicroStation

AutoCAD

OpenRoads Designer

Job description

Senior Project Manager - Transportation Design

Job ID: 2026-6419

Job Locations: US-NC-Charlotte

Category: Engineering

Type: Regular Full-Time

Career Stage: Experienced

# of Openings: 1

ABOUT THE POSITION

VHB's North Carolina team is looking for a Senior Project Manager - Highway Design to join our growing team. The selected candidate could sit in our Charlotte office.

VHB's Transportation group has earned a reputation as one of the preeminent traffic engineering and transportation planning teams in North Carolina. This position provides an opportunity to lead complex transportation projects for federal, state, and local government clients and play an important role in expanding and shaping the group. We are looking for someone with a blend of project management skills, technical expertise, managerial skills, and innovative thinking.

Responsibilities

• Serve as Senior Project Manager for federal, state, and local clients
• Develop and manage client relationships
• Manage staff, and provide technical and professional development of staff
• Assist with strategy for expansion of transportation services in North Carolina
• Monitor project financial performance
• Attend and lead meetings with clients, regulatory agencies, and stakeholders to establish their needs and discuss traffic analysis and transportation design/permitting issues
• Execute scope associated with project delivery for transportation design projects for all stages from feasibility studies to final PS&E packages at letting
• Participate in professional organizations that promote relationships with clients and teaming partners
• Develop new project opportunities, and prepare and manage proposal submissions

Skills and Attributes

• Self-motivated
• Attention to detail
• Ability to multitask
• Ability to think critically
• Exhibits strong leadership skills
• Strong computer skills (MS Office)
• Strong and collaborative work ethic
• Excels working in a team environment
• Substantial technical and project management experience
• Ability to manage a multidisciplinary team of professionals
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills
• Advanced knowledge of concepts, practices, and procedures in highway design
• Thorough knowledge of NCDOT policies and practices in project delivery is a plus
• Advanced knowledge of local and state regulations governing transportation design
• Software exposure: MicroStation/AutoCAD and Open Roads Designer is a plus

Qualifications

• B.S. in Civil Engineering, transportation planning or similar discipline; M.S. degree in Civil Engineering preferred
• 11-15+ years of professional transportation engineering experience, with at least 10 years of experience working in the NC market
• NC Professional Engineer (PE) license required
• Proven success in the transportation and/or state & local government market sectors

The full-time annual base salary range for this position, located in Charlotte, NC, is $140,000 to $185,000. The base salary offered will be determined based on job-related factors, including geographic location, internal equity, experience, credentials, skills, education, work schedule, and other factors permitted by law. The posted salary range reflects base pay only. Additional compensation and benefits available to eligible employees are outlined in our Total Rewards Program.

Annual base salary is one component of VHB's Total Rewards package. In addition to base pay, eligible employees may receive annual incentive compensation bonuses, spot bonuses, and merit-based salary increases, providing opportunities to increase earnings beyond base pay. VHB also offers a differentiating work experience, including a comprehensive benefits package that includes eligibility to participate in the VHB 401(k) plan, medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance, wellness programs, tuition reimbursement, and recognition programs.

Details on VHB's benefits package can be found here: Benefits Checklist

Building what's next, together.

Our people make the difference. We foster a technology-empowered, peopledriven, futureready culture where agility, innovation, and collaboration shape how we work every day.

When you join VHB, you'll find:

• Meaningful work on complex projects with real community impact
• A collaborative, inclusive culture that values curiosity and shared success
• Support to grow your skills and lead through change
• Learning and development supported by evolving tools and technologies, including AI
• Best-in-class benefits and a flexible, hybrid work environment

We're growing across the East Coast and are consistently recognized as a great place to work. Ready to shape what's next? Learn more about what sets our employee experience apart and connect with us.

VHB is a proud Equal Opportunity Employer. Since our founding, we have intentionally fostered a culture of inclusion and belonging, supported by deep-rooted core values, one of which is diversity. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law.