Demo

Transportation Principal Engineer

Pape-Dawson
San Antonio, TX Full Time
POSTED ON 10/25/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 12/10/2026
Overview

Job Description:

The Transportation Principal Engineer is a senior technical leader who provides advanced engineering judgment, technical direction, and project leadership for complex work within our transportation service area. This role translates client and project objectives into effective design solutions, guides project teams through challenging technical issues, and serves as a trusted resource to Project Engineers, Senior Project Engineers, project managers, and technical staff. The Principal Engineer operates with substantial independence and helps strengthen technical quality, client confidence, and the development of the firm’s engineering practice.

Responsibilities

  • Provide technical leadership for complex engineering projects from concept development through final design, permitting, construction, or implementation support, as applicable.
  • Establish technical approaches, design criteria, and work plans; evaluate alternatives and recommend solutions that balance quality, risk, constructability, cost, and schedule.
  • Review and approve engineering calculations, plans, specifications, reports, estimates, and other technical deliverables for accuracy, consistency, and compliance with applicable standards.
  • Resolve complex technical issues and provide authoritative guidance to project teams, clients, agencies, subconsultants, and contractors.
  • Mentor and develop engineers, EITs, designers, and other technical staff; promote sound engineering judgment, accountability, and quality-focused work practices.
  • Coordinate with Project Managers and Senior Project Managers on scope, staffing, schedules, budgets, risk, quality control, and client expectations.
  • Support proposals, scopes, fee development, client presentations, interviews, and other business-development activities within the assigned service area.
  • Contribute to the development and continuous improvement of design standards, technical tools, workflows, and QA/QC practices.
  • Represent the firm professionally with clients, agencies, professional organizations, and community stakeholders.
  • Provide technical direction for complex roadway programs, including schematics, PS&E, geometric design, standards, constructability, and delivery.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering or a related field from an ABET-accredited program.
  • Licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.) in the state(s) required to support project work.
  • Minimum of 8 years of progressive engineering experience, including substantial experience leading complex projects and technical teams.
  • Demonstrated expertise in engineering design, analysis, applicable codes and standards, and project delivery within the assigned service area.
  • Proven ability to mentor technical staff, influence project outcomes, and communicate effectively with clients, agencies, and multidisciplinary teams.

If you need an accommodation or assistance with completing your application due to a disability or special need, please contact our team at Recruiting@pape-dawson.com or call (210) 375-9000.

EEO Statement

All qualified applicants for Pape-Dawson Engineers will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

Salary.com Estimation for Transportation Principal Engineer in San Antonio, TX
$102,055 to $125,152
If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution. Compensation Planning
Enhance your organization's compensation strategy with salary data sets that HR and team managers can use to pay your staff right. Surveys & Data Sets

What is the career path for a Transportation Principal Engineer?

Sign up to receive alerts about other jobs on the Transportation Principal Engineer career path by checking the boxes next to the positions that interest you.
Income Estimation: 
$78,429 - $98,330
Income Estimation: 
$103,075 - $132,729
Income Estimation: 
$99,722 - $129,659
Income Estimation: 
$95,339 - $136,177
Income Estimation: 
$132,052 - $169,598
Income Estimation: 
$142,511 - $185,810
Employees: Get a Salary Increase
View Core, Job Family, and Industry Job Skills and Competency Data for more than 15,000 Job Titles Skills Library

Job openings at Pape-Dawson

  • Pape-Dawson Murfreesboro, TN
  • Overview Job Description: The Project Manager leads the planning, coordination, and successful delivery of engineering projects while balancing technical q... more
  • 16 Days Ago

  • Pape-Dawson Alpharetta, GA
  • Overview Job Description: The Senior Project Manager provides strategic leadership and oversight of large-scale and complex water and wastewater infrastruc... more
  • 1 Day Ago

  • Pape-Dawson Murfreesboro, TN
  • Job Description Build your career with Pape-Dawson’s established Franklin, TN team, where decades of local expertise, trusted client partnerships, and cont... more
  • 1 Day Ago

  • Pape-Dawson Franklin, TN
  • Job Description Build your career with Pape-Dawson’s Nashville team in the heart of Music City, one of the country’s most vibrant, fast-growing, and exciti... more
  • 1 Day Ago


Not the job you're looking for? Here are some other Transportation Principal Engineer jobs in the San Antonio, TX area that may be a better fit.

  • District Wide - Assistant Principal New, TX
  • Please Note: This posting is for potential openings and may or may not be filled based upon District need. Primary Purpose: Assist the school principal in ... more
  • 1 Month Ago

  • District Wide - Assistant Principal New, TX
  • Please Note: This posting is for potential openings and may or may not be filled based upon District need. Primary Purpose: Assist the school principal in ... more
  • 1 Month Ago

AI Assistant is available now!

Feel free to start your new journey!