Roadway Team Leader

What You Will Do

GFT is seeking a Roadway Team Leader to join our Transportation Team in Chicago, IL. This role follows a hybrid work model, requiring regular attendance at our Chicago, IL office.

Leading a Transportation team at GFT offers the opportunity to engage in transformative projects that enhance transportation infrastructure and improve community connectivity. Whether working on highways and bridges or traffic engineering, our team excels in resilient, sustainable design and construction, delivering innovative solutions that address the complexities of modern, multimodal roadway systems and ensure safe, efficient, and reliable travel for all.

Our Chicago, IL office seeks a Roadway Team Leader with minimum 8 years of Phase I and Phase II design and management experience to lead one of our Chicago Teams in roadway, bridge, aviation, transit and rail design. This individual will manage personnel and lead challenging projects in highway, railroad/transit, and airport projects. A background in preliminary engineering and development of detailed plans and specifications is required.

The role may include collaboration with other teams on multi‑disciplinary projects.

• Lead an individual highway team of 4‑6 engineers and technicians, including staffing plans, mentorship, and management to ensure task completion.
• Lead the development of civil design concepts, criteria, and technical direction on major tasks.
• Provide technical guidance on unusual or complex problems and supervisory approval on proposed plans.
• Analyze information and data to perform routine design tasks.
• Make decisions independently on engineering problems and methods, and routinely represent the organization in meetings to resolve important questions and plan work.
• Ensure accuracy of engineering design and plans, quality presentation, thoroughness, follow‑through, and efficient conformance to budgets, schedules, and company standards.
• Review design options and document findings from the design team.
• Interface with clients to provide technical solutions and ensure project satisfaction.
• Manage project budgets and schedules, ensuring KPIs are met, tracking task progress across concurrent assignments, and managing changes in schedule, scope or additional services.
• Support development of statements of interest and proposals for various clients, including scope, approach and cost estimates.
• Maintain professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops, reviewing professional publications, establishing personal networks, and participating in professional societies.

• Minimum 8 years of related experience, including work directly or as a consultant for the Illinois Tollway, Illinois DOT, Chicago DOT, Cook County Department of Transportation & Highways, local counties and municipalities, and Federally funded projects.
• Strong technical skills, excellent verbal and written communication, and the ability to work well in a team environment on multi‑disciplinary projects.
• Previous experience as a Project Manager leading projects is preferred.
• Knowledge of Open Roads Designer, Micro Station, Geopak, AutoCAD, Civil3D, MS Office, and other design software is required.
• Illinois PE is preferred.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering and an Illinois Driver’s License are required.

The salary range for this role is $115,000 - $185,000, dependent upon experience and geographic location.

• Hybrid (in‑person and remote) work environment.
• Comprehensive benefits package including wellness programs, parental leave, pet insurance, medical, dental, vision, disability and life insurance.
• Tax‑deferred 401(k) savings plan.
• Competitive paid‑time‑off (PTO) accrual.
• Tuition reimbursement for continued education.
• Commitment to professional development, access to internal and external training programs, and support of active participation in professional organizations.
• Incentive compensation for eligible positions.

At GFT, a privately held AEC firm, we innovate where transportation, water, power, and buildings converge. We call this the Infrastructure of Life. We measure our success by the strength of our relationships – that’s why we’re the employer of choice for over 5,000 engineers, planners, architects, inspectors, designers, and more.

GFT is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veterans' status, or other characteristics protected by law.

GFT requires the successful completion of a criminal background check for all advertised positions.