Pavement Research Engineer; TE

About WSDOT

Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is a multimodal organization with a global reputation for excellence! Our dedicated workforce is responsible to plan, design, build, and operate an integrated transportation system that safely and efficiently moves people and goods throughout the state. In addition to maintaining over 18,000 lane miles of state highway and 4,100 bridges, WSDOT manages the world's longest floating bridge, executes an award‑winning Active Transportation Plan, holds a record for the world's widest tunneling project, and operates the largest ferry system in the nation!

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is seeking a Professional Engineer to serve as the Pavement Research Engineer (TE4) in Tumwater, Washington. This position provides technical expertise in pavement design and pavement construction in support of WSDOT’s statewide construction program. In this role, the Pavement Research Engineer serves as a subject matter expert supporting the development, evaluation, and implementation of pavement design and construction practices.

The position also supports pavement research activities and the implementation of new pavement technologies to improve pavement performance, safety, and long‑term asset management across the state transportation system.

This position offers an opportunity to contribute professional engineering expertise to the advancement of pavement design and construction practices that support WSDOT’s mission to provide safe, reliable, and sustainable transportation systems for Washington State.

Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Pavement Research Engineer will:

• Coordinate State Pavement Office research program.
• Plan, develop, provide insight and direction, analyze, and write reports of statewide experimental pavement procedures to determine benefits, cause and effectiveness, performance, and life‑cycle costs.
• Direct, coordinate, and perform nonstandard data collection and testing for pavement related research conducted in partnership with FHWA, Universities, Consultants, and the State Pavement Office.
• Maintain information and databases for in‑house research projects, Experimental Features Projects, Specialty Item Projects, in addition to bituminous and concrete paving projects statewide.
• Oversee the Pavement Type Selection process.
• Provide expert technical assistance to internal and external customers regarding pavement design.

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

• Professional Engineer: Licensed as a Professional Engineer in the state of Washington or licensed as a PE in another state with the ability to obtain licensure in Washington State within six (6) months of hire.
• Civil Engineering Expertise: Extensive experience applying pavement engineering principles, including pavement design, preservation, rehabilitation, and construction practices. Proficient in preparing pavement design reports, performing life‑cycle cost analysis, and reviewing plans, specifications, and estimated (PS&E) for complex highway and transportation infrastructure projects. Ability to observe and interpret pavement condition in the field and from images on a computer.
• Technical Oversight & Data Governance: Proven competence in coordinating, performing, and overseeing nonstandard pavement testing and data collection activities, ensuring methodological consistency, accuracy, and relevance to research objectives. Ability to maintain, organize, and quality‑control research databases, to support evidence‑based decision making. Skill in collecting, interpreting, and synthesizing technical data from diverse sources and producing clear, actionable written reports that inform statewide pavement policy and practice.
  
  Ability to independently operate WSDOT’s test equipment on construction sites as needed.
• 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.
• Effective Communication &
  
  Collaboration:
  
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