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Highways Design Lead
Career Insights for Transportation Project Manager
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Scorecard
Based on California data
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What they do
A Transportation Project Manager is responsible for the planning, design, budget, and contract management of transportation infrastructure construction and rehabilitation projects. This may include state highway work, interchanges, roadway design, drainage systems, storm water management, and utility relocations.
$154,671 / year median in California
Job Description
Highways Design Lead Mott MacDonald $225000.00-$275000.00 life insurance, vision insurance, parental leave, paid holidays, 401(k) United States, California, Orange Sep 10, 2026 At Mott MacDonald, we trust our brilliant people to do brilliant things in engineering, management, and development services, supporting multisector project work in over 150 countries. As one of the largest employee-owned companies in the world, we pride ourselves on our ability to deliver exceptional outcomes through our network of 20,000+ talented consultants. With sustainability and innovation at the heart of all our sectors in North America, including, Buildings, Energy, Transportation, and Water. We believe in empowering our people to excel, learn, and grow, offering diverse opportunities to contribute to career-defining work. Join us and be part of a collaborative environment where your ambitions are united with ours, and you can truly shape your story. We are seeking an experienced Highways & Transportation Design Lead to join our team in Orange, CA. The ideal candidate will hold a California Professional Engineer (PE) license and bring 20+ years of expertise in highway and transportation design. This individual will lead complex design projects, mentor teams, and drive successful pursuits for PSR, PA&ED, and PS&E phases.
Key Responsibilities:
Lead and manage highway and transportation design projects from concept through delivery
Build and develop high-performing design teams to execute projects efficiently
Oversee preparation of Project Study Reports (PSR), Project Approval & Environmental Documents (PA&ED), and Plans, Specifications & Estimates (PS&E)
Ensure compliance with Caltrans design standards and other applicable regulations
Collaborate with clients, stakeholders, and internal teams to deliver innovative solutions
Support and lead alternate project delivery methods (Design-Build, CM/GC) as needed
Drive business development efforts, including proposal preparation and pursuit strategy
Promote the Mott MacDonald Brand for Design services, identifying industry events to sponsor and attend
Qualifications:
California PE license required
20+ years of experience in highway and transportation design
Proven track record of winning and delivering PSR, PA&ED, and PS&E pursuits
Strong background in Caltrans design standards and processes
Demonstrated ability to build and lead design teams
Experience with alternate project delivery methods preferred
Excellent communication, leadership, and client management skills
Preferred Skills:
Familiarity with Caltrans procedures and specifications
Alternative Project Delivery experience
Strategic thinking and ability to manage complex projects
Proficiency in relevant design software and tools Benefits & Reward At Mott MacDonald, our employees have a stake and a voice in our business, providing them with a direct connection to our success through our personal and group performance bonuses. We provide a comprehensive benefit package that includes 401k, medical, dental and vision insurance, short-term/long-term disability, paid holidays, PTO, parental leave, and company paid life insurance. Individual pay is determined based on several factors such as work location, education, experience, and unique skills. The expected salary for this position is $225,000 - $275,000. Collaboration at Our Core
At Mott MacDonald, we believe great ideas happen when we're together. Our hybrid approach centers on an in-office culture, with most of your time spent collaborating face-to-face and a minimum of three days per week in the office. We balance flexibility with connection, so you and your manager can choose how to meet client, team, and personal commitments. Equal opportunity is the law. We seek to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they have the opportunity to contribute. Englishversion Spanishversion Chineseversion All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, protected veteran status, creed, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship status or disability status.
Benefits
- Paid Time Off (PTO)
- 401(k) Plans
- Bonuses/Stipends
- Health Insurance