What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Professional Engineer, Transportation - Highway Design (Technical Lead) position at TKDA?
As a Senior Professional Engineer (Technical Design Lead), you will serve as a key technical leader within our Highway Design Group, guiding the design and delivery of complex, high-impact highway projects. This role is ideal for an experienced professional who enjoys leading technical excellence, mentoring teams, and shaping high-quality infrastructure solutions that improve how communities move and connect.
You will play a critical role in advancing roadway design—from concept through construction—while collaborating across disciplines and partnering with clients to deliver innovative, efficient, and sustainable transportation solutions.
Our 100% employee-owned firm fosters a culture of collaboration, accountability, and shared success. Join a team where your technical expertise and leadership directly contribute to both project outcomes and the future of the company.
Flexible work arrangement (3 days in office / 2 days WFH)
What You’ll Do
- Lead technical design delivery: Guide geometric design, corridor modeling, and plan development for complex highway and transportation projects from preliminary engineering through final design
- Serve as a technical expert: Establish and uphold design standards, ensuring consistency, quality, and innovation across projects
- Direct and support project teams: Collaborate with project managers and lead engineers to coordinate engineers, designers, and technicians across multi-disciplined teams
- Produce and review deliverables: Prepare and oversee complex design calculations, plans, specifications, and quality control reviews
- Mentor and develop talent: Provide technical guidance and coaching to less experienced engineers, supporting growth and knowledge sharing across the team
- Collaborate across disciplines: Partner with traffic, structural (bridge), water resources, and municipal teams to develop integrated solutions
- Engage with clients and agencies: Participate in meetings, reviews, and coordination with project stakeholders and governing agencies
- Support business development efforts: Contribute technical expertise to proposals, project pursuits, and client relationship development as part of a Seller-Doer culture
What We’re Looking For
- Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering (transportation/highway emphasis preferred)
- Registered Professional Engineer (PE) in Minnesota (or ability to obtain)
- Minimum 10 years of progressive highway design experience, including technical leadership on complex projects
- Strong experience in geometric design, corridor modeling, and plan development
- Demonstrated ability to lead technical delivery and ensure design quality across multiple projects
- Experience mentoring or providing technical oversight to engineering staff
- Strong communication skills with the ability to clearly convey technical concepts to internal and external stakeholders
- Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, Teams, and Outlook)
- Working knowledge of MicroStation and/or OpenRoads Designer
- Valid Driver’s License with a clean driving record
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience collaborating with a multi-disciplined team of highway design, traffic, bridge (structural), and water resources engineering professionals
- Desire or demonstrated ability to leverage your technical knowledge to coach, mentor, and develop less experienced engineering professionals
- Working knowledge of MNDOT design and plan standards
The listed salary range reflects base pay for candidates with 12-20 years of related experience. Compensation may vary based on experience, qualifications, and responsibilities.
In addition to Bloomington, MN you can find the salary ranges for the following offices:
Duluth, MN - $108,000 - $151,000
Join Our 100% Employee-Owned Firm
At our company, every employee is an owner. From the front desk to the corner office, every one of our 430 professionals thrive on collaboration and holistic development. Our success is collective, and so are the rewards.
Comprehensive Benefits
Health Benefits: Enjoy medical, dental, vision, and life insurance from day one
Annual Incentive Plan: Eligible for discretionary bonuses
HSA Contributions: Receive monthly employer contributions if you choose an HSA-eligible plan
401(k) Match: Get employer matching on your 401(k) deferrals
ESOP: Benefit from our Employee Stock Ownership Plan, funded entirely by company profits
Paid Time Off: Accrue PTO based on your professional experience and enjoy eight paid holidays per year
Upon receiving a formal offer, you will get a personalized Total Compensation Overview (TCO) to see how everything adds up and what it looks like to be part of our community.
*Pre-Employment Screening*
Upon acceptance of a conditional offer of employment, the selected candidate will be required to complete a standard pre-employment background screening, which consists of Social Security verification, educational verification, review of criminal convictions, and driving history.
*Notice to Recruiters and Placement Agencies*
TKDA will not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or placement agencies unless a service agreement is in place. In the event TKDA receives an unsolicited resume without a service agreement in place, TKDA will not be obligated to pay a service fee of any amount nor will TKDA be held liable to terms or conditions under any agreement of any kind that has not been authorized in writing by a TKDA officer.
Salary : $113,000 - $159,000