Salary : $122,400.00 - $149,724.00 Annually
Location : Thurston County - Tumwater, WA
Job Type: Full Time - Permanent
Remote Employment: Remote Optional
Job Number: 26DOT-HQ-0W151e
Department: Dept. of Transportation
Division: Headquarters
Opening Date: 07/01/2026
Closing Date: 7/31/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Description
The Opportunity

WSDOT is seeking a senior construction leader to provide statewide leadership and technical oversight for the administration of WSDOT construction projects. In this role, you will direct and support multiple regions and Construction Project Engineers on complex construction, contract, and policy matters, including developing and updating department construction policies to reflect current technologies, practices, and procedures.

As the Assistant State Construction Engineer, you will serve as a liaison between the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), regional offices, and the construction industry. You will represent the Department on agency-industry teams, facilitate coordination with internal and external partners, and provide training and mentorship to regional staff in construction administration, project management, and engineering practices.

Our top candidate will bring advanced leadership, collaboration, and communication skills, along with sound engineering judgment and extensive knowledge of construction administration.
What to Expect

The Construction Division is comprised of two units, the State Construction Office and the State Materials Laboratory. The State Construction Office is responsible for maintaining and evolving policies and procedures regarding construction contracts including the Standard Specifications, Construction Manual, and providing technical expertise for the construction and administration of the contracts to the Regions. The State Construction Office monitors and advises on legislative proposals that could impact the administration of WSDOT's contracts, and this office has proposed and passed legislation. This office also represents the department regarding contract administration to other state agencies, Local Agencies, industry and FHWA.

Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Assistant State Construction Engineer will:

• Maintain communication with industry to assess specification effectiveness and implement new products, materials, and research.
• Develop new and revised specifications, policies, and procedures; and assist in the dissemination of these to all statewide offices.
• Provide direct monitoring and oversight of activities in assigned field offices and assigned regions.
• Approve/disapprove change orders for construction contracts that are beyond the authority of the regions.
• Provide troubleshooting services to region managers and project engineers.
• Ensure compliance with WSDOT/FHWA stewardship agreement.
• Assist in training and insuring compliance with Minority, Small, Veteran, and Women's Business Enterprise (MSVWBE)and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) programs.

Qualifications

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

Construction Engineering & Contract Administration

• Principles and practices of construction engineering, contract administration, and project delivery.
• AASHTO and ASTM standards, construction materials, and quality assurance practices.
• State and federal public contracting laws, including RCW, WAC, and federal regulations.
• Claims processes, and documentation standards.
• Construction practices, methods, andconstructability analysis.
• Alternate dispute resolution processes, claim prevention, and resolution methods.

Risk, Policy & Compliance

• Risk assessment and risk-based decision-making principles.
• Policy development, specification writing, and implementation of statewide technical guidance.
• DBE, MSVWBE, EEO, and civil rights program compliance requirements.

Industry & Interagency Collaboration

• Knowledge of roles and functions of construction industry associations (AGC, WACA, WAPA, etc.).
• Knowledge of interagency coordination processes with FHWA, Attorney General's Office, OEO, and Local Programs.

Policy, Specification & Procedure Development

• Experience developing and revising statewide specifications, policies, and procedures based on industry needs, research, and observing program performance.

Dispute Resolution & Negotiation

• Demonstrated skills to facilitate dispute resolution between regions and contractors.
• Demonstrated skills to lead negotiations on high-stakes construction issues and contract changes.

Communication & Facilitation

• Experience and skill in writing clear, technically accurate specifications, policy documents, and formal correspondence.
• Experience delivering presentations and training to diverse audiences.
• Experience facilitating multi-party meetings involving internal stakeholders, FHWA, contractors, and industry groups.

Leadership & Mentoring

• Skilled in providing coaching, mentoring, and technical guidance to regional construction personnel and peer managers.
• Skilled in leading collaborative teams and participating in agency/industry committees.

Compliance & Oversight

• Demonstrated skills in determining compliance with state and federal contracting requirements and documentation standards.
• Demonstrated skills in conducting oversight reviews, final inspections, and federal-aid audits

Growth Mindset

• Actively demonstrates a commitment to learning and growth.

Service-Oriented

• Takes action to meet the needs of others.

In addition to the competencies above, the following are required:

• 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.
• Ability to mentor and train staff in construction administration, project management, and engineering requirements.
• Ability to lead statewide initiatives and ensure uniform application of policy and standards.
• Ability to make independent decisions on complex engineering issues, specification interpretation, entitlement determinations, time extensions, and contract changes.
• Ability to conduct risk assessments and make financially and legally defensible recommendations.

It is preferred that qualified candidates also demonstrate:

Advanced Skills with:

• Federal funding participation rules and eligibility criteria.
• New and emerging construction technologies, materials, or methods.
• Legislative processes or rulemaking related to construction programs.
• Advanced skill in technical writing, including specifications and complex policy documents.

Advanced Enterprise Construction Program Management and Federal Coordination

• Experience administering or overseeing Design-Build, GCCM, or other alternative delivery contracts.
• Experience leading statewide or agency-level policy development initiatives.
• Experience serving as a liaison with FHWA, Attorney General's Office, or federal oversight bodies.
• Experience conducting construction audits, project reviews, or federal compliance reviews.
• Prior leadership of industry committees, technical working groups, or multi-agency teams.
• Experience negotiating complex contract changes, value engineering proposals, or high-cost construction
• disputes.
• Experience managing or influencing large-scale construction programs exceeding $500M annually.

Specialized training or certification in the following:

• Construction claims management
• Dispute resolution/mediation
• Risk management
• Specification writing

*To review the full Position Description, please follow the directions in the Contact Us section of this posting.
Important Notes

• The salary range listed includes the 2% general wage increase, effective on July 1, 2026.
• This position offers remote work options. The official duty station for this position may be determined based on candidate preference and overall business needs.
• In addition to base salary, employees may be entitled to other forms of compensation depending on the type, duties, or location of the position. For union-represented positions, more information on other forms of compensation can be found in the applicable Information on other compensation types for non-represented positions can be found in of the Washington Administrative Code.
• WSDOT does not use the E-Verify system, therefore we are not eligible to extend STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT). For more information, please visit

How to Apply

Applications for this recruitment will be accepted electronically. Your relevant experience may be evaluated to determine salary. Therefore, it is very important that the "Work Experience" portion of the application be completed in as much detail as possible.

In order to be considered for this opportunity, please include the following with your online application:

• An attached Resume outlining (in reverse chronological order) your experience to date.
• An attached Cover Letter that further explains your qualifications and indicates why you believe you are a viable candidate for this role.
• Contact details for a minimum three (3) individuals who can attest to your work performance, technical skills, and job-related competencies. This information can be entered in the "References" section of the online application; does not require an additional attachment.

Please click the "APPLY" button to proceed. Note that you will be prompted to either sign in or create an account. This step is required in order to submit an application to this opportunity.
Contact Us

For inquiries about this posting, you may contact the assigned Recruiter at Please be sure to reference 26DOT-HQ-0W150 in the subject line.
More than Just a Paycheck!
Employee benefits are not just about the kind of services you get, they are also about how much you may have to pay out of pocket. Washington State offers one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation.

We understand that your life revolves around more than just your career. Like everyone, your first priority is ensuring that you and your family will maintain health and financial security. That's why choice is a key component of our benefits package. We have a selection of health and retirement plans, paid leave, staff training and other compensation benefits that you can mix and match to meet your current and future needs.

Read about our benefits:
The following information describes typical benefits available for full-time employees who are expected to work more than six months. Actual benefits may vary by appointment type or be prorated for other than full-time work (e.g. part-time); view the job posting for benefits details for job types other than full-time.

Note: If the position offers benefits which differ from the following, the job posting should include the specific benefits.

Insurance Benefits
Employees and their families are covered by medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance. There are multiple medical plans with affordable monthly premiums that offer coverage throughout the state.

Staff are eligible to enroll each year in a medical flexible spending account which enables them to use tax-deferred dollars toward their health care expenses. Employees are also covered by basic life and long-term disability i