Assistant Project Engineer; WMS| Union Gap

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 manages the world’s longest floating bridge, leads an award-winning Active Transportation Plan, holds the record for the world’s widest tunneling project, and operates the largest ferry system in the nation!

WSDOT is seeking an Assistant Project Engineer to support the management of a Design project office overseeing multiple engineer and technician squads, along with clerical staff, in the delivery of Capitol Improvement Preservation Program (CIPP) projects. This role will contribute to the planning, scoping, pre‑design, design, and contract preparation of Improvement, Preservation, and emergency projects, and may occasionally include administering highway construction contracts.

A strong candidate will possess project management expertise, technical engineering knowledge, leadership skills, and the ability to coordinate multidisciplinary teams through complex project phases.

This position assists in the supervision of an engineering design office currently staffed with 10–20 professional and technical engineering employees (based on non‑permanent and summer intern employment). The highest position managed is a Transportation Engineer
3. This position also assists in managing consulting engineering firms, specialty engineering, and survey services on an as‑needed basis.

Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Assistant Project Engineer will:

• Manage an office of professional and technical engineers for the delivery of assigned CIPP projects.
• Certify, by use of professional engineer’s stamp, that all WSDOT and federal standards and policies were followed in the development of all design documents, plans, and specifications that were produced for projects.
• Strategically plan the budget, schedule, and workforce necessary to deliver CIPP projects over the design phase of projects (up to several years depending on complexity).
• Coordinate with outside partners, stakeholders, and internal departments in the development and implementation of project management plans; resolve conflicts efficiently and optimize scope, schedule, and budget.
• Manage and review consultant work plans, work orders and designs.
• Provide expert technical direction on construction and design issues.
• Perform supervisory duties for office employees including assigning work, evaluating performance, coaching, training and taking corrective action; mentor and develop employees.
• Facilitate agreements between competing interest groups and regulatory agencies, including real estate interests, considering the long‑term goals of the agency, negotiating and problem‑solving to resolve conflicts.
• Coordinate, attend and present at stakeholder outreach events or other project coordination efforts with internal and external stakeholders.

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

• Team Leadership & Supervision: Experience managing a multidisciplinary office of professional and technical engineers. Skilled in assigning work, evaluating performance, coaching, mentoring, and administering corrective actions in support of a high‑performing team.
• Project Oversight & Accountability: Accountable for project reporting to stakeholders and leadership, ensuring transparency, fiscal responsibility, and strategic alignment of projects with organizational goals.
• Stakeholder & Interagency
  
  Collaboration:
  
  Skilled in building and maintaining strong working relationships with external agencies, consultants, tribal governments, contractors, municipalities, media, and the public to support project planning and execution.
• Construction & Design Expertise: Experience providing expert technical guidance on complex construction and design issues, ensuring projects meet all applicable engineering,…