Transportation Designer 1 (early career professional)

Why DOWL?

DOWL is a top-ranked, multi-disciplined consulting firm with over 60 years of experience in civil engineering and related services. Our in-house expertise spans Civil and Land Development, Construction-Related Services, Transportation and Structures, and Water and Environmental Services. At DOWL, you’re valued. We support your growth, offer great benefits, and foster a culture of integrity, professionalism, and teamwork.

Transportation Planning and Design

Join our dynamic team of transportation planners and designers dedicated to creating innovative, practical solutions that improve safety, connectivity, and accessibility. Collaborating closely with our traffic engineers, you'll help develop and implement roadway improvements that solve immediate traffic challenges while supporting long-term community goals. If you're passionate about shaping smarter, safer transportation systems, we’d love you to be a part of our team!

Summary

The Transportation Designer 1 is responsible for performing entry-level engineering calculations, design and drafting for a variety of transportation projects including sidewalks and bike paths, local roadways and intersections, highways and freeways, and other transportation facilities as assigned. Duties may include assisting with site visits, CAD drafting, geometric roadway layout and design, 3D modeling, writing project specifications and technical reports, calculating construction quantities, and estimating construction costs, and project correspondence. The person in this position is expected to exercise a strong work ethic, desire to learn new design concepts, and have good organizational and communication skills. A successful Transportation Designer 1 should demonstrate basic proficiency with basic drafting fundamentals in at least one software platform and be able to quickly learn and apply new 2D and 3D design concepts. This person is expected to work well with others, absorb and apply constructive criticism, and seek guidance from more experienced members of the team as necessary. This position will work under the guidance of a licensed professional engineer.

Job Responsibilities and Duties

To be successful in this position, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Software

• Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel) - Basic
• Market Sector Software (AutoCAD C3D) - Basic
• Market Sector Software (Microstation Connect and OpenRoads) - Basic (if applicable)

Technical Expertise

• Basic understanding of technical fundamentals
• Performs basic technical tasks assigned by market sector with oversight from others
• Motivated to learn new technical skills through self-study and mentoring
• Basic understanding of technical writing skills and clear internal communications (emails, meeting minutes, etc.)

Teamwork

Team player who mostly functions in a supporting role in a project team setting. Collaborates, listens, takes direction well, and retains information provided. Is motivated to grow skills and help the team.

Project Delivery

Produces the following under close direction/oversight from others:

• Technical reports and memos
• Specifications
• Construction quantity calculations and cost estimates
• Design documents and construction plans
• Exhibits

Understanding Budget and Schedule

Basic understanding of scopes, schedules, and budgets. Collaborates with supervisor and/or resource manager to plan work time on assignments. Conducts basic monitoring of budget and schedule for simple project tasks assigned.

Industry Standards and Regulations

Demonstrates basic familiarity with the following design codes:

• AASHTO and FHWA - Basic
• Local Client - Basic

Client Interaction

Infrequent direct client interaction. Reads emails, occasionally attends client meetings, listens, and prepares meeting minutes.

Other

Other duties as assigned.

Level of Work/Accountability

Performs basic levels of technical work on projects in support of more experienced staff within the market sector. Operates with minimal autonomy – work is closely supervised by more senior staff.

Supervisory Duties

No

Education and/or Experience

• Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering or similar field required
• Years of experience required: none
• Years of experience required with advanced degree: none

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

• EIT/EI required (within 6 months of hire)
• Driving is an essential job function or a valid driver’s license is required to support legitimate business purposes

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to sit. The employee is required to talk and hear. The employee is regularly required to stand, walk, and use hands. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.