Transportation Engineer

Chicago – 410 N Michigan Ave, Suite 1600, Chicago, IL 60611, USA

Nelson ygaard Consulting Associates is seeking a motivated, inquisitive, and organized transportation engineer to support the firm’s nationally recognized work in planning and designing more equitable and livable communities. A strong interest in and understanding of transportation engineering, planning, or policy is a must. This position can be based in either Atlanta, GA or Chicago, IL.

We are seeking an individual with experience and strong interest in transit, multimodal, and active transportation. The position will support the firm’s growing practice in transit and multimodal corridor planning and design for livable communities and expand the firm’s transportation infrastructure design capabilities. Proven experience in the conceptual design and preliminary engineering of high-capacity transit corridors (BRT, LRT, Streetcar, and/or enhanced/rapid bus) and geometric design of active transportation facilities, complete streets, and multimodal intersection design is a must.

Multi-disciplinary design management and final design experience is also preferred for a Senior Associate Engineer position.

Nelson ygaard offers a dynamic and self-directed work environment that is fast-paced, congenial, and supportive. This is your opportunity to work with one of the most innovative groups of planners and engineers, including highly talented junior and support staff and industry‑leading principals. Our office culture is built upon diversity, creativity, and passion for the work we do.

For more than 35 years, Nelson ygaard has led the transportation planning field with our values‑driven approach. We’ve always been guided by the principle of putting people first—designing transportation systems for people, not just cars. This principle also extends to how we operate as a firm. We were founded by two women who believed in the benefits of a more egalitarian workplace, where leadership and creativity can blossom at all levels and where diversity is a core strength.

Today, we are 170 talented and dedicated people in 15 offices across U.S. and Canada who continue to live by those values. What unites us at Nelson ygaard is our steadfast commitment to make the world more just, more sustainable, more connected, and more beautiful.

• You’re resourceful, curious, communicative, and enthusiastic.
• You’re passionate about how transportation can make the world a better, more equitable place.
• You bring energy and commitment to your teams and clients to do great work, together.

Our transportation engineers focus on planning, engineering, design, and analysis for municipalities, agencies, universities, and private clients. Depending on your skills and our project needs, responsibilities include conceptual geometric design, preliminary engineering, traffic and multimodal operations analysis, research, data collection and analysis, mapping, visual communications, writing and editing technical and public‑facing reports, developing presentations and outreach materials, and supporting limited business development tasks.

You will work both independently and as part of a team.

The senior transportation engineer will focus on planning and design efforts for transit agencies, municipalities, and universities, and lead project teams to develop and deliver solutions that address our clients’ challenges. The ideal candidate should have a broad range of transportation planning and design experience and have successfully managed dynamic transportation projects and budgets. Depending on your skills and our project needs, responsibilities may include keeping project work on schedule and within budget, interfacing with clients and teaming partners, mentoring junior transportation engineers, writing and editing technical and public‑facing reports, conceptual design and preliminary engineering documentation, development and maintenance of drawing standards, methods and production consistency, quality control of design deliverables, coordination with other engineering disciplines;

design management…