Design & Quality Support Engineer In-Training

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!

WSDOT is currently seeking a Design & Quality Support Engineer (TE2) to join the Olympic Region Plans Office in Lacey, WA. In this role, you will prepare design documentation, plans, specifications, cost estimates, and schedules for highway construction projects while providing project review and quality control support to ensure designs meet WSDOT standards and contract requirements. Your work will help improve the safety, quality, and capacity of Washington’s transportation system while supporting responsible stewardship and long‑term resilience.

Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, you will:

• Prepare contract plans, specifications, and cost estimates (PS&Es) for highway construction projects.
• Review and interpret written policies, engineering design manuals, construction plans, and engineering reports to prepare contract PS&Es.
• Develop horizontal and vertical alignments, structure site data packages, intersection/channelization plans, hydraulics, drainage, right‑of‑way plans, roadway sections, quantity calculations, and geometrics.
• Utilize computer­aided design & drafting (CADD) systems for development of engineering designs, plans, and modeling of highway projects.
• Oversee, instruct, and direct work performed by transportation technicians.
• Conduct project site visits for observation, information gathering, and verifying as‑build conditions.
• Create and assemble documentation of design standards and decisions made during the design process.
• Provide project review and quality control support to region project offices.

This is a Transportation Engineer 2 position. However, the hiring manager reserves the right to fill the position at a lower level in the classification series based on candidate qualifications, providing an opportunity for an individual to gain the required experience on the job as part of a formal “in‑training” plan.

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

Required Competencies – Transportation Engineer 2 (TE2) Level:

• Foundational Engineering Technical Skills & Knowledge: Foundational knowledge of civil, structural, geotechnical, or transportation engineering principles, with the ability to apply engineering concepts to real‑world transportation project scenarios.
  
  Note:
  
  Foundational knowledge may be supported by formal classroom training.
• Technical Interpretation, Analysis, & Problem Solving: Ability to read, analyze, and interpret engineering plans, specifications, contract documents, manuals, and technical data; identify issues or discrepancies; and apply sound engineering judgment to support effective, practical solutions.
• Engineering Documentation & Records Management: Ability to accurately document engineering, inspection, survey, materials, or project support activities through reports, field notes, calculations, quantities, records, and other required documentation in accordance with established standards and procedures.
• Engineering Technology and Software: Ability to use, or learn to use, engineering‑related software and digital tools to support design, analysis, documentation, inspection, data collection, and project delivery…