State Work Zone Engineer (TTE)

State of Washington; Tumwater (WA); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) seeks a statewide State Work Zone Engineer to provide subject matter expertise in work zone traffic control, multimodal design, and traffic analysis while supporting planning, design, and operational initiatives across regions. You will apply state-of-the-practice analytical methods and contribute to policy development.

This role collaborates with regional staff, HQ specialists, consultants, and local agencies to provide technical leadership,

Qualifications

• Work Zone Traffic Control & Transportation Engineering: demonstrate ability to plan, design, review, evaluate, and inspect work zone traffic control and transportation management plans and to apply advanced transportation engineering principles across planning, design, operations, safety, work zones, construction staging, and multimodal transportation systems.
• Independent Engineering Judgment, Analysis & Recommendations: demonstrate ability to exercise independent engineering judgment; evaluate complex analyses and alternatives; conduct technical research; interpret standards and policies; and develop clear, technically sound engineering guidance and recommendations.
• Technical Consultation & Coordination: demonstrate ability to provide advanced technical consultation, coordinate interdisciplinary efforts, and provide technical leadership, mentoring, and guidance to professional and technical staff in collaborative, non-supervisory environments.
• Engineering Policies, Standards, & Technical Guidance: demonstrate ability to develop, evaluate, interpret, and implement engineering policies, standards, procedures, and technical guidance related to traffic control practices, materials, and specifications, including supporting statewide implementation and procurement.
• Technical Training & Professional Development: demonstrate ability to develop, update, and deliver technical training and certification materials related to temporary traffic control practices and agency requirements and support statewide training oversight and professional development.
• Technical Communication & Documentation: demonstrate ability to communicate complex technical information and engineering concepts effectively through technical documentation, reports, presentations, stakeholder coordination, technical reviews, and communication with internal and external partners.
• Emerging Practices & Innovation: demonstrate ability to research emerging practices, evaluate technical innovations, and support implementation of engineering improvements aligned with agency priorities.
• Technical & Productivity Tools: demonstrate ability to use productivity and technical software tools to support engineering analysis, drafting, documentation, plan review, and program delivery.
• Growth Mindset & Service-Oriented: actively demonstrates a commitment to learning and growth. takes action to meet the needs of others.

Responsibilities

• Independently review and interpret complex analyses for alignment with departmental policies, engineering principles, and program goals.
• Communicate findings, recommendations, and required revisions to internal and external partners, including regional staff, consultants, and local agencies, to build consensus and support informed decision-making.
• Provide both high-level guidance and project-specific technical assistance to regions, ensuring that analysis, documentation, and design decisions meet agency expectations.
• Develop, maintain, update and deliver training materials on assigned temporary traffic control, including emerging practices and agency requirements.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of evolving tools and methodologies, and effectively communicate technical concepts to audiences with varying levels of experience, both virtually and in-person
• Provide advanced engineering guidance, interpretation, independent reviews, and policy development for traffic control materials and practices.
• Develop, update, and interpret statewide policies, standards, and procedures.
• Review design and construction documentation, offer technical recommendations, and participate in partner coordination.
• Conduct technical evaluations of traffic control materials.

Skills

Work Zone Traffic Control

Transportation Engineering

Independent Engineering Judgment

Technical Consultation

Engineering Policies & Standards

Technical Training & Development

Technical Communication

Emerging Practices

Productivity Tools

Education

Professional Engineer (Civil) – Washington

Advanced Engineering Practice

Tools

Traffic analysis tools

Drafting tools

Job description

About WSDOT

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is a multimodal agency with a global reputation for excellence. Our dedicated workforce plans, designs, builds, and operates an integrated transportation system that safely and efficiently moves people and goods throughout the state. In addition to maintaining over 20,000 lane miles of state highway and 4,100 bridges, WSDOT leads an award-winning Active Transportation Plan, manages the world's longest floating bridge, and operates the largest ferry system in the nation!

The Opportunity

WSDOT is seeking a transportation engineer to provide statewide subject matter expertise in work zone traffic control, multimodal transportation design, and traffic analysis while supporting a broad range of planning, design, and operational initiatives. As the State Work Zone Engineer, you will work collaboratively with regional staff, headquarters specialists, consultants, and local agencies to provide technical leadership and independent engineering judgment, ensuring project decisions reflect sound engineering practices, multimodal principles, and consistent application of departmental policies and procedures. In this role, you will apply state-of-the-practice analytical methods and design techniques; interpret and apply national and state standards and guidance; and support traffic design, traffic analysis, and work zone traffic control activities across regions and projects. The State Work Zone Engineer will also serve as a statewide technical resource and exercise final review authority within assigned areas of responsibility.

What to Expect

This position performs work that requires work a Combination of office and field work, which has limited exposure to work zone traffic control and traffic hazards.

Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the State Work Zone Engineer will:

• Independently review and interpret complex analyses for alignment with departmental policies, engineering principles, and program goals.
• Communicate findings, recommendations, and required revisions to internal and external partners, including regional staff, consultants, and local agencies, to build consensus and support informed decision-making.
• Provide both high-level guidance and project-specific technical assistance to regions, ensuring that analysis, documentation, and design decisions meet agency expectations.
• Develop, maintain, update and deliver training materials on assigned temporary traffic control, including emerging practices and agency requirements.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of evolving tools and methodologies, and effectively communicate technical concepts to audiences with varying levels of experience, both virtually and in-person
• Provide advanced engineering guidance, interpretation, independent reviews, and policy development for traffic control materials and practices.
• Develop, update, and interpret statewide policies, standards, and procedures.
• Review design and construction documentation, offer technical recommendations, and participate in partner coordination.
• Conduct technical evaluations of traffic control materials.

Qualifications

To be considered for this opportunity, the following competencies are required:

• Work Zone Traffic Control & Transportation Engineering:Demonstrated expertise and ability to plan, design, review, evaluate, and inspect work zone traffic control and transportation management plans and to apply advanced transportation engineering principles across planning, design, operations, safety, work zones, construction staging, and multimodal transportation systems.
• Independent Engineering Judgment, Analysis & Recommendations:Demonstrated ability to exercise independent engineering judgment; evaluate complex analyses and alternatives; conduct technical research; interpret standards and policies; and develop clear, technically sound engineering guidance and recommendations.
• Technical Consultation & Coordination:Demonstrated ability to provide advanced technical consultation, coordinate interdisciplinary efforts, and provide technical leadership, mentoring, and guidance to professional and technical staff in collaborative, non-supervisory environments.
• Engineering Policies, Standards, & Technical Guidance:Demonstrated ability to develop, evaluate, interpret, and implement engineering policies, standards, procedures, and technical guidance related to traffic control practices, materials, and specifications, including supporting statewide implementation and procurement.
• Technical Training & Professional Development:Demonstrated ability to develop, update, and deliver technical training and certification materials related to temporary traffic control practices and agency requirements and support statewide training oversight and professional development.
• Technical Communication & Documentation:Demonstrated ability to communicate complex technical information and engineering concepts effectively through technical documentation, reports, presentations, stakeholder coordination, technical reviews, and communication with internal and external partners.
• Emerging Practices & Innovation:Demonstrated ability to research emerging practices, evaluate technical innovations, and support implementation of engineering improvements aligned with agency priorities.
• Technical & Productivity Tools:Demonstrated ability to use productivity and technical software tools to support engineering analysis, drafting, documentation, plan review, and program delivery.
• Growth Mindset &Service-Oriented: Actively demonstrates a commitment to learning and growth. Takes action to meet the needs of others.

The following qualifications are also required:

• Ability to travel statewide to conduct technical reviews, coordination meetings, training delivery, and field-based activities.
• A valid driver’s license and the ability to operate state-owned vehicles and the ability to obtain a Washington State license within six (6) months of hire.

It is preferred that qualified candidates also demonstrate/have:

• Advanced Engineering Practice:Demonstrated ability to perform advanced engineering work consistent with independent engineering practice. Licensed as a Professional Engineer (Civil) in the state of Washington.
• Traffic Operations & Safety Analysis:Demonstrated ability to apply specialized traffic operations, transportation management, and safety analysis techniques.
• Transportation Project Development & Delivery:Demonstrated ability to apply knowledge of transportation project development and delivery processes.
• Roadway & Multimodal Design:Demonstrated ability to apply roadway and multimodal design principles across a range of transportation facilities.
• Transportation Analysis & Drafting Tools:Demonstrated ability to use transportation analysis and drafting tools to support engineering evaluation and plan review.
• Engineering Manuals & Guidance:Demonstrated ability to interpret and apply agency engineering manuals, policies, and nationally recognized transportation engineering guidance.

*To review the full Position Description, please follow the directions in the Contact Us section of this posting.*

Important Notes

• This recruitment may also be used to fill additional positions per business needs.
• This position offers flexible/hybrid remote work options.
• This position requires regular travel that is typically local or regional, to conduct field assessments, attend meetings, or attend or provide training. Primarily in-state travel with periodic overnight travel.
• In addition to base salary, employees may be entitled to other forms of compensation depending on the type, duties, or location of the position. For union-represented positions, more information on other forms of compensation can be found in the applicable Collective Bargaining Agreements.
• Information on other compensation types for non-represented positions can be found in Chapter 357-28 of the Washington Administrative Code.
• WSDOT does not use the E-Verify system, therefore we are not eligible to extend STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT). For more information, please visit www.uscis.gov.

Why WSDOT

• Work-Life Balance – We are committed to ensure that our staff experience the reward of public service, while also sustaining a routine that suits each individuals’ lifestyle. As such, there are a number of flexible schedule options available, including telework options for eligible positions.
• Paid Leave – In addition to 12 paid holidays, full-time employees earn up to 25 paid vacation days per year!
• Tuition Assistance – Permanent employees have several options for assistance with education expenses, including tuition reimbursement programs, government discounts at participating colleges throughout the state, and eligibility for federal student loan forgiveness.
• PlanFor Your Future – WSDOT offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes a variety of healthcare options. Employees also have their choice of state retirement programs, and much more. Go to State Benefits for more information.

Check out this video to learn more: Why WSDOT?

Contact Us

For inquiries about this posting, you may contact the assigned Recruiter at [e-mail]. Please be sure to reference 26DOT-HQ-03523 in the subject line.