Transportation Engineering Director

GAI Consultants, Inc.; Indianapolis (IN); Hybrid; USD 210,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Life insurance

Disability coverage

401(k) match

Hybrid schedule

Paid time off

Relocation assistance

Tuition reimbursement

Licensing support

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

GAI Consultants, Inc. seeks a licensed Professional Engineer to lead our Indiana transportation practice. You will own strategy, client relationships, and delivery across Indiana, with a hybrid Fishers/Indianapolis presence and a roadmap for growth and staffing.

You will supervise engineers and project staff, manage budgets and quality, and actively pursue public-sector transportation opportunities while collaborating with national resources.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering required.
• Professional Engineer license in Indiana or reciprocity to obtain.
• 10+ years of progressive transportation/infrastructure engineering experience.
• 7+ years of leadership experience in engineering teams/ops.
• Proven success with public-sector transportation client relationships.
• Strong knowledge of Indiana transportation market (INDOT/local agencies).
• Willingness to travel ~25%.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute Indiana transportation growth strategy.
• Develop and strengthen INDOT, municipal, and agency relationships.
• Lead business development, proposals, client presentations, and negotiations.
• Provide leadership for the Indiana office, including operations and staffing.
• Mentor and grow project managers, engineers, and staff across disciplines.
• Provide executive oversight for scope, schedule, budget, quality, and risk.
• Represent GAI at industry events and client meetings.

Skills

Leadership

Business Development

Client Relationships

Team Mentoring

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering

Master’s degree (preferred)

Job description

Transportation Engineering Director, P.E. – Indiana Market Leader

Transportation & Infrastructure | Fishers / Indianapolis, IN | Hybrid | Full-Time

Salary Range: $210,000–$230,000, plus annual bonus

This is a rare opportunity to build, lead, and grow GAI’s Indiana transportation practice.

GAI is seeking a licensed Professional Engineer and proven transportation leader to serve as our Indiana Market Leader. In this role, you will own the strategy, client relationships, team growth, financial performance, and delivery of transportation and infrastructure work across Indiana.

Why This Role Stands Out

• Own the Indiana market. Lead strategy, growth, operations, staffing, and client development for a priority transportation market.
• Stay close to clients and projects. This is a seller-doer leadership role with meaningful influence over pursuits, delivery, and client relationships.
• Build a team and a legacy. Recruit, mentor, and grow a multidisciplinary transportation practice with visible executive support.
• Bring full-service resources to the market. Partner with highway, bridge, traffic, drainage, CEI, municipal infrastructure, and alternative delivery professionals.
• Lead with autonomy and support. Shape the office’s future while backed by a stable, multidisciplinary firm with national resources and local relationships.

What You Will Lead

• Define and execute GAI’s Indiana transportation growth strategy.
• Develop and strengthen relationships with INDOT, municipalities, counties, MPOs, transit agencies, and local public agencies.
• Lead business development, proposal strategy, interviews, client presentations, and contract negotiations.
• Provide leadership for the Indiana office, including operations, staffing, utilization, profitability, and resource planning.
• Mentor and grow project managers, engineers, and technical staff across transportation and infrastructure disciplines.
• Provide executive oversight for project scope, schedule, budget, quality, risk, and client satisfaction.
• Represent GAI in industry organizations, professional associations, client meetings, and public-facing forums.

What We Are Looking For

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering.
• Professional Engineer license in Indiana, or ability to obtain Indiana licensure through reciprocity.
• 10+ years of progressive transportation and infrastructure engineering experience.
• 7+ years of leadership experience managing engineering teams, business operations, offices, or practice groups.
• Demonstrated success winning, managing, and growing public-sector transportation client relationships.
• Strong knowledge of the Indiana transportation market, including INDOT and local agency work.
• Experience managing revenue goals, staffing plans, project budgets, contracts, and financial performance.
• Ability to travel for client meetings, project needs, office visits, and business development activities.

Preferred Experience

• Established relationships with INDOT and local government agencies throughout Indiana.
• Prior experience as an Office Manager, Practice Leader, Regional Leader, Transportation Director, or similar senior leadership role.
• Design-build or alternative delivery experience.
• Active involvement in ACEC, ASCE, ITE, APWA, or related professional organizations.
• Master’s degree in Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field.

Location, Travel, and Work Arrangement

This position is based in GAI’s Fishers, Indiana office on a hybrid work schedule. Travel is estimated at approximately 25% and may include client meetings, project-specific meetings, industry events, business development activities, and visits to other GAI offices. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.

Compensation And Benefits

GAI offers a salary range of $210,000 to $230,000 per year, plus an annual bonus. Actual compensation will depend on education, licensure, qualifications, relevant experience, and current skills.

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Company-paid life insurance and short- and long-term disability.
• 401(k) with company match.
• Hybrid work schedule and generous paid time off.
• Seven paid holidays plus one floating holiday.
• Paid parental and adoption leave.
• Relocation assistance.
• Tuition reimbursement and licensing/certification support.
• Employee Assistance Program.

Who Will Thrive in This Role

• A transportation leader who wants more influence than a traditional project executive role.
• A seller-doer who enjoys building relationships, winning work, and staying connected to delivery.
• A people leader who can attract, develop, and retain strong technical talent.
• A market builder who sees opportunity in Indiana and wants the authority to shape it.
• A Professional Engineer who can balance strategy, operations, client service, and project outcomes.

Relevant Search Terms

Transportation Engineering, Civil Engineering, INDOT, Roadway Design, Highway Engineering, Bridge Engineering, Traffic Engineering, Municipal Infrastructure, Local Public Agency, Seller-Doer, Business Development, Transportation Practice Leader, Office Leader, Practice Leader, P.E., Professional Engineer, Indianapolis, Fishers, Indiana.