Assistant State Materials Engineer - Materials Quality (WMS3)
Quality Assurance
Tumwater, WA, USA
Description
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About WSDOT
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is a multimodal agency with a global reputation for excellence. Our dedicated workforce plans, designs, builds, and operates an integrated transportation system that safely and efficiently moves people and goods throughout the state. In addition to maintaining over 20,000 lane miles of state highway and 4,100 bridges, WSDOT leads an award-winning Active Transportation Plan, manages the world's longest floating bridge, and operates the largest ferry system in the nation!
The Opportunity
WSDOT is seeking an experienced and strategic leader to serve as the Assistant State Materials Engineer – Materials Quality. This position will provide statewide leadership, oversight, and professional engineering expertise for materials quality assurance, fabrication inspection, quality systems, and materials quality oversight programs that support the State Highway Construction Program. Reporting to the State Materials Engineer, this role establishes and implements statewide policies, procedures, specifications, and quality assurance requirements governing materials acceptance, testing, documentation, and compliance. The Assistant State Materials Engineer leads continuous improvement efforts, oversees critical materials quality systems and programs, and makes engineering decisions regarding the acceptability of construction materials and fabrication processes that directly impact the safety, quality, and performance of Washington’s transportation infrastructure.
What to Expect
The Assistant State Materials Engineer will be responsible for resolving materials quality issues with design standards, and contract specifications on construction projects, which may require travel/driving to WSDOT offices and project sites providing leadership and supervision for up to 35 employees.
Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Assistant State Materials Engineer will:
- Direct the development, operation, strategic planning and continued improvement of procedures and policies for the Materials Quality Assurance Section, Fabrication Inspection Section, Materials Quality Oversight position and the Quality Systems Section.
- Provide professional engineering expertise, guidance and direction on fabricated materials, such as structural welding and bolting, paint coating systems, steel bridges, prestressed concrete girders, precast concrete items, metal castings, luminaire and signal standards and treated timber.
- Monitor and evaluate changes to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Quality Assurance Procedures for Construction in 23 CFR 637, Western Alliance for Quality Construction Testers (WAQTC), American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), and the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM).
- Direct the Materials Quality Assurance Audits performed on construction contracts administered by Region project engineer offices.
- Direct the qualified products program that lists over 2,500 preapproved materials, the aggregate source approval program that has over 350 preapproved aggregate sources that are used on all WSDOT construction projects for materials acceptance.
- Be responsible for developing, modifying, updating and implementing changes to the Construction Manual for guidance used to approve, accept and tests materials.
- Manage the development, revisions and updates to materials management computer programs that include the Materials Testing System (MATS), Qualified Products List (QPL), Aggregate Source Approval program (ASA), Record of Materials program (ROM), and the Qualified Tester Database.
- Provide professional engineering expertise to assist Region Project Engineer Offices with materials approval and acceptance issues on WSDOT contracts.
- Represent WSDOT at meetings with Washington State professional organizations and national organizations.
Qualifications
To be considered for this opportunity, the following competencies are required:
- Transportation Construction & Contract Administration Expertise: Demonstrated professional engineering experience in transportation construction, contract administration, change order management, contract dispute resolution, and application of materials quality assurance requirements across design-bid-build, design-build, and other alternative delivery methods.
- Leadership, Management & Strategic Planning: Demonstrated ability to apply principles of leadership and management, including long-range strategic planning, budgeting practices, personnel rules, supervision principles, negotiation strategies, and safety and health policies in a complex organizational environment.
- Communication & Engagement: Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively and collaborate across internal agency divisions, external agencies, technical committees, industry organizations, and contractors to achieve program and project objectives.
- Program Planning & Decision-Making: Demonstrated ability to schedule and coordinate office operations, develop and deliver presentations, and make and implement decisions that support organizational goals and operational effectiveness.
- Policy Development & Implementation: Demonstrated ability to conduct research, develop, interpret, and implement statewide policies and procedures related to quality assurance programs for transportation construction projects.
- Engineering Document Interpretation: Demonstrated ability to read, interpret, and apply contract plans, specifications, standard plans, special provisions, and other technical engineering documents in construction and materials quality contexts.
- Staff Supervision & Development: Demonstrated ability to supervise, coach, mentor, train, and evaluate staff performance while fostering professional development and accountability within technical teams.
- Strategic Thinking & Policy Impact Awareness: Demonstrated ability to evaluate and understand the short- and long-term implications of policy development and implementation within transportation construction and materials quality programs.
- Intergovernmental & Industry Systems Understanding
Demonstrated understanding of the roles and interests of public and private organizations involved in Washington’s transportation system, including materials testing and quality assurance stakeholders. - Professional Industry Expertise: Experience in highway construction project administration, supervision of highway materials testing laboratories, or other closely related transportation construction or materials quality assurance functions.
- Growth Mindset: Actively demonstrates a commitment to learning and growth.
- Service-Oriented: Takes action to meet the needs of others.
The following qualifications are also required:
- A Washington State Professional Civil Engineering License or licensed as a PE in another state with the ability to obtain licensure in Washington State within six (6) months of hire.
- A valid driver’s license and the ability to operate state-owned vehicles.
- Ability to travel in and out-of-state.
- Ability to conduct field work at project sites, fabrication facilities, and uneven terrain or industrial environments.
Important Notes
- This recruitment may also be used to fill additional positions per business needs.
- In addition to the salary range listed, a general wage increase of 2% will be applied for all state employees on July 1, 2026.
- This position offers flexible/hybrid remote work options.
- 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 Collective Bargaining Agreements. Information on other compensation types for non-represented positions can be found in Chapter 357-28 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 www.uscis.gov
Why WSDOT
- Work-Life Balance – We are committed to ensure that our staff experience the reward of public service, while also sustaining a routine that suits each individuals’ lifestyle. As such, there are a number of flexible schedule options available, including telework options for eligible positions.
- Paid Leave – In addition to 12 paid holidays, full-time employees earn up to 25 paid vacation days per year!
- Tuition Assistance – Permanent employees have several options for assistance with education expenses, including tuition reimbursement programs, government discounts at participating colleges throughout the state, and eligibility for federal student loan forgiveness.
- Plan For Your Future – WSDOT offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes a variety of healthcare options. Employees also have their choice of state retirement programs, and much more. Go to State Benefits for more information.
Check out this video to learn more: Why WSDOT?
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 of three (3) individuals who can attest to your work performance, technical skills, and job-related competencies. NOTE: This information may 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.
WSDOT is an equal opportunity employer. We value the importance of creating an environment in which all employees can feel respected, included, and empowered to bring unique ideas to the agency. Our diversity and inclusion efforts include embracing different cultures, backgrounds and viewpoints while fostering growth and advancement in the workplace. All persons, regardless of race, ethnicity, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, and/ or gender identity, are encouraged to apply. Persons with disabilities needing assistance in the application process, or those needing this job announcement in an alternative format may contact the listed Recruiter.
Contact Us
For inquiries about this posting, you may contact the assigned Recruiter at Robyn.Lovely@wsdot.wa.gov. Please be sure to reference 26DOT-HQ-0W204 in the subject line.
