Transportation Design Engineer

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title: Transportation Design Engineer
Job Description

The Transportation Design Engineer plays a pivotal role in reshaping infrastructure and delivering transformative projects that positively impact communities. This position focuses on major freeway modernization and innovative urban transformations, where you will develop high-quality designs, technical documentation, and solutions that directly influence the built environment and the daily lives of those who use it.

Responsibilities

• Create and interpret detailed engineering drawings, calculations, and cost estimates to deliver accurate, high-quality roadway and transportation designs.
• Develop comprehensive technical reports and project work plans that clearly outline design assumptions, methodologies, and implementation strategies.
• Ensure precise execution of design work, maintaining high standards of quality, safety, and compliance with relevant codes and agency requirements.
• Participate actively in design reviews, providing constructive feedback and refining designs based on technical, regulatory, and stakeholder considerations.
• Provide creative, practical solutions to complex engineering problems related to roadway design, drainage, utility coordination, and transportation infrastructure.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, including other civil engineers and specialists, to integrate roadway, drainage, and utility designs into cohesive project solutions.
• Coordinate with relevant agencies and stakeholders to align roadway and transportation designs with project goals and regulatory expectations.
• Contribute to cost estimating activities by using cost estimating software and engineering judgment to support project budgeting and planning.
• Support and, if senior-level, mentor colleagues in the satellite office, sharing technical expertise and best practices to strengthen team capabilities.
• Stay informed about emerging practices and standards in transportation engineering to continuously improve design approaches and project outcomes.

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering.
• Minimum of 5+ years of experience in transportation engineering, specifically in roadway design, drainage design, and utility coordination.
• Strong proficiency in roadway design principles and practices for freeway and urban transportation projects.
• Ability to create, interpret, and review engineering drawings, calculations, and cost estimates.
• Proficiency in MicroStation for design and drafting of transportation projects.
• Experience with cost estimating software related to civil and transportation projects.
• Knowledge of transportation agency standards and practices, including work with departments of transportation (e.g., ODOT).
• Ability to develop detailed technical reports and project work plans.
• Experience participating in design reviews and refining designs based on technical and stakeholder input.
• Engineer-in-Training (EIT) certification or the ability to obtain it in the near future.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills for addressing complex engineering challenges.
• Effective communication skills for collaborating within multidisciplinary teams and documenting technical work clearly.

• Master’s degree in Civil Engineering is preferred.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license is a strong plus.
• Project management experience, including planning, scheduling, and coordinating project tasks.
• Experience working on large-scale, complex transportation projects such as freeway transformations and modernization initiatives.
• Familiarity with drainage design standards and utility coordination processes for transportation infrastructure.
• Ability to mentor and support other engineers in a smaller office setting, particularly at the senior level.
• Demonstrated ability to contribute to a collaborative and supportive engineering environment.
• Interest in working on landmark projects that significantly impact local communities.
• Motivation to grow within the transportation engineering field and expand expertise across civil engineering disciplines.

This role is based in a satellite office located in Detroit, working closely with one other team member in a small, focused setting. The environment offers the opportunity to contribute to high-profile projects such as freeway transformations and modernization efforts while collaborating with broader multidisciplinary teams. senior-level engineers may have the opportunity to provide mentorship and technical guidance within the Detroit office. The culture emphasizes collaboration, professional growth, and exposure to complex and diverse engineering tasks, supported by competitive compensation and performance-based bonuses. Work is primarily office-based, utilizing tools such as MicroStation and cost estimating software, with a professional dress code appropriate for an engineering and consulting environment.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Detroit, MI.

The pay range for this position is $45.00 - $59.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:
• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

This is a fully onsite position in Detroit,MI.

This position is anticipated to close on Jul 20, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email View email address on ziprecruiter.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.