Assistant Project Engineer - Tumwater

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 currently seeking an Assistant Project Engineer to support the delivery of progressive design‑build projects in Olympic Region’s Tumwater Project Engineering Office. This position assists the Project Engineer in leading and managing an engineering field office of WSDOT and consultant staff responsible for the delivery of design and construction projects. The role contributes to successful project outcomes by coordinating and collaborating with staff, consultants, contractors, and project stakeholders to accomplish agency goals and meet project needs.

Additional responsibilities include supporting design, right‑of‑way, environmental documentation, and utility coordination efforts while providing direction and guidance to multidisciplinary teams. Through these activities, the Assistant Project Engineer directly advances WSDOT’s mission and ensures projects meet commitments to safety, quality, schedule, and public benefit.

• Assist the Project Engineer by providing leadership, management, and engineering oversight to an engineering field office.
• Lead and coordinate the work of WSDOT, consultant, and contractor staff to ensure successful project delivery.
• Recommend approval of design changes, contract provisions, added work or changes impacting the time and/or dollar value of contracts, workforce training programs, contract progress schedules, and contract payments.
• Oversee assigned project elements by monitoring scope, schedule, budget, and risk, and implementing corrective actions when needed.
• Administer consultant contracts, including scope, schedule, budget, performance expectations, and progress tracking.
• Collaborate with WSDOT staff, consultants, and contractors to deliver high‑quality, cost‑effective, and timely design and construction in accordance with contract requirements and WSDOT standards.
• Assist the Project Engineer to initiate personnel and staffing actions necessary to carry out program delivery.
• Provide supervision and performance management of direct reports.
• Prepare project status, progress, and financial reports for management and executive audiences.
• Travel to and within active construction sites to meet with contractors and WSDOT staff. Provide on‑site presence for coordination and issue resolution.

• Professional Engineering Certification: Licensed as a Civil Professional Engineer in the State of Washington or currently holding a Civil PE license from another state with the ability to obtain Washington State licensure within six (6) months of hire.
• Civil Engineering Expertise: Extensive experience applying transportation engineering principles including highway design, construction practices, and surveying. Proficient in preparing and reviewing plans, specifications, and estimates (PS&E) for complex highway and transportation infrastructure projects.
• Transportation Design & Delivery: Experience leading transportation projects through planning, environmental review, design, and construction. Familiar with transportation system design, environmental compliance, and state and federal project delivery processes.
• Project Management & Scheduling: Demonstrated ability to plan, organize, and deliver multiple projects on time and within budget. Skilled in developing work plans, coordinating team efforts, and managing schedules.
• Budgeting & Programming: Experience managing budgets across multiple phases of project development, with a working knowledge of programming and funding processes.
• Leadership: Demonstrated ability to supervise, mentor, and coach…