Senior Highway Design Engineer

Senior Highway Design Engineer

Date Posted: Sep 24, 2026

Requisition ID: 482935

Location:

Crawfordsville, IN, US, 47933

Begin a fulfilling career with the State of Indiana by joining one of the largest employers in the state, offering a range of opportunities across 60+ agencies. At the state, you'll find competitive compensation, a robust benefits package and a commitment to work-life balance. Most importantly, you'll have the chance to make a real and measurable impact on the lives of Hoosiers across Indiana.

About the Indiana Department of Transportation:

The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) provides a dynamic workplace that serves Indiana citizens, improves our state’s quality of life, and enhances its economic opportunity. INDOT has a number of innovative programs and projects, including Public-Private Partnerships, Green Initiatives, and cutting-edge uses of materials and assets. As part of the State of Indiana, INDOT offers a competitive total compensation package, as well as outstanding work/life balance. Whether you are an established professional in the transportation field or just starting your career, INDOT has exciting and challenging opportunities for you.

Role Overview:

The Senior Highway Design Engineer will be expected to develop and review detailed bridge, road, traffic, and maintenance design plans ensuring that all projects reflect the appropriate scope of services and adhere to INDOT Standards, federal and state requirements and standards, and sound engineering practices. This position will generate detailed drawings and cost estimates using Computer Aided Design and Drafting (CADD) and Cost Estimation software. The detailed drawings generated will consist of improvements and repairs to INDOT’s bridge, drainage, roadway, pavement, traffic, and intersection assets while also incorporating best practices and standards for maintenance of traffic plans and details. In addition, this position is expected to collaborate and coordinate with many different staff and teams at the district which include Project Managers, Environmental Managers, Utility and Railroad Coordinators, Survey Team Members, District Construction, District Maintenance, District Traffic, and Asset Management. Also, required in this role will be the managing, tracking, and reporting of In-House Projects, training and mentoring of other Design Engineers, participating in Scope of Services and Review meetings, keeping up to date with current design practices and standards, operating a state car to travel to field checks and reviews, assisting the Design Manager on special projects as requested, and performing other duties as assigned.

Location:

This position is with INDOT’s Central Office in Indianapolis.

Salary:

This position traditionally starts at an annual salary of $85,020.00 but may be commensurate with education and job experience. Use our Compensation Calculator ( to view the total compensation package.

A Day in the Life:

The essential functions of this role are as follows:

• Establishes procedures for overseeing the construction of highway road and bridge projects.

• Initiates procedures for reviewing and interpreting plans, specifications and construction methods with contractors.

• Prepares unique, unusual or highly complex design plans or reviews similar plans designed by consultants for bridges, roads and related traffic projects.

• Establishes methods for initiation, developing and administering major field traffic operations, such as complex interchanges or intersection layouts, addition of auxiliary lanes and collector roadways, signage, lighting and traffic signals.

• Establishes procedures for reviewing and inspecting bridges, to provide normal maintenance, cost-effective repair work or major rehabilitation.

• Develops and establishes practices and procedures for directing job control tests, documentation to aid in reviewing revised or newly adopted specifications and policies to keep field testing functions current.

• Provides recommendations and advanced level engineering expertise to field maintenance functions to resolve complex maintenance problems and provide effective and timely maintenance services.

• Conducts advanced level and technical engineering work in the engineering services and support fields, research, geotechnical engineering, land surveying and special studies.

This position is exempt from overtime compensation for additional work hours which may be required to complete essential functions or other assigned work. Exempt employees may work more than 75 hours in a pay period without additional compensation and must report a minimum of 75 hours per pay period of work hours and/or paid leave taken to receive their base biweekly salary.

What You'll Need for Success:

Individuals in this role should minimally be able to articulate or demonstrate the following:

• A registered Professional Engineers license in Indiana is required.

• Be willing to travel with an appropriate accommodation.

• Broad knowledge of and ability to apply civil engineering theories, principles, methods, and procedures to the engineering specialty.

• Broad knowledge of planning, design, or construction of highway or transportation project features (such as roads, bridges, pavement, or traffic structures) in accordance with engineering design and construction standards, principles, and methods.

• Broad knowledge of and ability to apply federal and state laws, rules, regulations, and procedures governing incumbents filed of specialization.

• Broad knowledge of and ability to apply computer aided design and drafting functions to field of specialization.

• Ability to use initiative and creativity when making technical recommendations and decisions.

• Ability to prepare and review complex design plans and reports relating to the functional area of specialization.

• Working knowledge of Indiana Design Manual (IDM), Indiana Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (IMUTCD), INDOT standard specifications and standard drawings.

• Knowledge of department systems not limited to Scheduling Project Management System (SPMS), Deighton Transportation Information Management System (dTIMS), ArcGIS, and Work Management System (WMS).

A degree is not required. However, at least eight (8) years of experience in engineering, civil engineering, transportation research, or a closely related field, applying the outlined knowledge, skills, and abilities in a similar role may be considered.

Individuals should have the ability to perform essential functions with or without reasonable accommodation.

You must satisfy the following requirements to be considered for an assigned specialty:

• Bridge: Ability to use bridge design software such as CONSPAN, RC-Pier, GEOMATH, and Merlin Dash. Required to complete every 10 years National Highway Institute course "Safety Inspection of In-Service Bridges", “Fracture Critical Inspection Techniques for Steel Bridges”, “Bridge Inspection Refresher Training “. Attend INDOT Bridge Inspection training classes, Annual Local Transportation Assistance Program (LTAP) County Bridge Conference at Purdue and Annual State Border bridge inspections - if in their District every year.

Supervisory Responsibilities/Direct Reports:

This role may provide direct supervision for one or more staff members.

Benefits of Employment with the State of Indiana:

The State of Indiana offers a comprehensive benefit package for full-time employees which includes:

• Three (3) medical plan options (including RX coverage) as well as vision and dental plans

• Wellness Rewards Program: Complete wellness activities to earn gift card rewards

• Health savings account, which includes bi-weekly state contribution

• Deferred compensation 457(b) account (similar to 401(k) plan) with employer match

• Two (2) fully-funded pension plan options

• A robust, comprehensive program of leave policies covering a variety of employee needs, including but not limited to:

• 150 hours of paid New Parent Leave and up to eight weeks of paid Childbirth Recovery Leave for eligible mothers

• Up to 15 hours of paid community service leave

• Combined 180 hours of paid vacation, personal, and sick leave time off

• 12 paid holidays, 14 on election years

• Education Reimbursement Program

• Group life insurance

• Referral Bonus program

• Employee assistance program that allows for covered behavioral health visits

• Qualified employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program

• Free Parking for most positions

• Free LinkedIn Learning access

Equal Employment Opportunity:

The State of Indiana is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to recruiting, selecting, developing, and promoting employees based on individual ability and job performance. Reasonable accommodations may be available to enable individuals with disabilities to complete the application and interview process as well as perform the essential functions of a role. If you require reasonable accommodations to complete this application, you can request assistance by contacting the Indiana State Personnel Department at View email address on click.appcast.io.

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