Sr. Project Engineer / Technical Director - Highways and Roads

GHD; Eureka (CA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Relocation assistance

Job summary

GHD is seeking a Senior Project Engineer / Technical Director – Transportation (Highways and Roads) in Eureka, CA, hybrid work model. You will lead complex highway projects, mentor teams, and support client relationships while expanding GHD's transportation practice in Northern California and the US West.

You will oversee planning, design, PS&E, and construction support, ensuring compliance with Caltrans, FHWA, and local agency requirements.

Qualifications

• California PE license required.
• 12–20+ years of transportation engineering experience.
• Experience as technical lead or Engineer of Record on transportation projects.
• Experience delivering Caltrans/local agency projects with state/federal funding.
• Strong knowledge of Caltrans design manuals, MUTCD, ADA requirements, and PS&E processes.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership and delivery of highway, roadway, and multimodal projects.
• Support client relationships and grow the transportation practice in Northern California and the US West.
• Mentor engineers, designers, and project managers; foster quality and safety.
• Lead business development and pursuit strategy with Caltrans and local agencies.

Skills

Project leadership

Technical leadership

Client service

Mentorship

Staff development

Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering

Job description

Job Description

Shape the Future of Transportation with Us. Join a dynamic team of transportation professionals dedicated to delivering innovative, sustainable, and community-focused infrastructure solutions.

As a Senior Project Engineer / Technical Director – Transportation (Highways and Roads), you will drive the success of complex highway, roadway, and active transportation projects, while providing technical leadership, mentoring staff, supporting client relationships, and helping grow GHD's transportation practice in Northern California and the US West.

Location: Eureka, CA. Certain projects may require significant time working from client offices, project offices, or field locations as part of integrated project teams supporting the delivery of complex transportation infrastructure projects. Relocation assistance may be considered for qualified candidates.

Hybrid Work Model: In-office collaboration and flexibility. Join us in the office three days a week to contribute, connect and excel in our vibrant environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Technical Leadership & Project Delivery
  • Serve as a senior technical lead, Engineer of Record, Responsible Engineer, or Engineer in Responsible Charge on transportation projects.
  • Serve in responsible charge for the development and delivery of transportation infrastructure projects and provide technical oversight throughout planning, design, and construction.
  • Lead multidisciplinary teams in the planning, design, and delivery of roadway, highway, intersection, interchange, complete streets, active transportation, roadway rehabilitation, corridor improvement, and multimodal transportation projects.
  • Provide technical oversight and guidance for roadway geometrics, drainage coordination, traffic handling, complete streets design, ADA improvements, and PS&E development.
  • Oversee preparation and review of plans, specifications, estimates, technical reports, and engineering studies.
  • Ensure compliance with Caltrans, FHWA, AASHTO, MUTCD, and local agency requirements.
  • Champion technical excellence, quality management, and risk‑based decision‑making throughout project delivery.
• Project Management & Client Service
  • Support successful delivery of projects for Caltrans, cities, counties, RTPAs/MPOs, tribal governments, and other transportation agency clients throughout Northern California and the US West.
  • Manage project scope, schedule, budget, quality, and risk.
  • Serve as a trusted advisor to clients and stakeholders throughout project delivery.
  • Support construction phase services including RFIs, submittal reviews, design support, and change order evaluations.
• Staff Development & Mentorship
  • Mentor engineers, designers, and project managers.
  • Support technical development and succession planning within the transportation practice.
  • Foster a culture of quality, collaboration, safety, and continuous improvement.
• Business Development
  • Support pursuit strategy, proposal development, interviews, and client relationship management.
  • Identify and pursue opportunities with Caltrans, local agencies, and transportation funding programs.
  • Contribute to growth of the transportation practice throughout Northern California and the broader US West region.

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering required.

Required Qualifications

• Current California Professional Civil Engineer (PE) license required.
• 12‑20+ years of transportation engineering experience.
• Demonstrated experience serving as a technical lead, project engineer, design manager, engineer of record, or responsible engineer on transportation infrastructure projects.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams through planning, environmental clearance, design, PS&E development, and construction support phases.
• Extensive experience delivering transportation projects for Caltrans and/or local agencies utilizing state and federal funding.
• Strong working knowledge of Caltrans Highway Design Manual, Project Development Procedures Manual (PDPM), Standard Plans and Standard Specifications, CA MUTCD, ADA accessibility requirements, and Federal‑aid transportation project delivery requirements.
• Experience developing PS&E packages and supporting projects through construction.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience serving as Engineer of Record or Responsible Engineer on transportation projects.
• Experience serving as Engineer in Responsible Charge for Caltrans and/or federally funded local agency transportation projects.
• Experience serving as Project Engineer, Design Manager, or Technical Lead on complex transportation infrastructure projects.
• Experience delivering federally funded local agency projects.
• Experience with major corridor improvements, complete streets, interchange, intersection, roadway rehabilitation projects, and non‑motorized trails.
• Experience with alternative delivery methods including CMGC or Design‑Build is desirable.
• Existing relationships with Northern California transportation agencies are highly desirable.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams across multiple offices.

EEO Statement

As a multicultural organization, we encourage individual achievement and recognize the strength of a diverse workforce. GHD is an equal opportunity employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, genetic information, national origin, sex (including same sex), sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, age, disability or handicap, citizenship status, service member status, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law.

Salary Range

-$120,000-$200,000 based on experience