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State Materials Engineer (WMS4)
State of Washington
Dept. of Transportation
Location
Washington, 98504
Salary
$10,009 - $12,835
per month
Type
Full-Time
More Engineering jobs →Closes
March 25, 2026
Job Description
Summary
This job involves leading a team that tests and approves materials used in building and maintaining Washington's highways, bridges, and other transportation infrastructure to ensure everything is safe and durable.
You'll oversee labs, develop policies, and work with government officials and experts on new technologies.
It's a great fit for an experienced engineer who enjoys managing large teams, solving technical problems, and influencing statewide projects.
Key Requirements
- Professional engineering expertise in materials science and testing
- Strong leadership and supervisory skills for managing up to 65 staff
- Experience in developing and improving quality assurance programs and policies
- Knowledge of federal and state regulations for transportation construction
- Ability to provide expert advice on materials for legal, legislative, and research matters
- Proficiency in overseeing laboratory operations and accreditations like AASHTO
- Skills in evaluating and adopting emerging materials technologies
Full Job Description
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 manages the world's longest floating bridge, leads an award-winning Active Transportation Plan, holds the record for the world’s widest tunneling project, and operates the largest ferry system in the nation!
The Opportunity
WSDOT is seeking a strategic and collaborative leader to serve as the State Materials Engineer within the State Materials Office.
This position will provide executive-level engineering leadership and oversight of the statewide materials approval, acceptance, and quality assurance programs that support the Washington State Highway Construction Program.
In this role, you will direct operations across the State Materials Laboratory and associated functional areas, including Materials Quality Assurance, Quality Systems, Materials Quality Oversight, Fabrication Inspection, and the Bituminous, Structural, and Specialty Services laboratories.
This position ensures materials policies, testing programs, and quality assurance processes support safe, reliable, and durable transportation infrastructure while aligning with federal regulations and statewide construction standards.
The position also coordinates with the Technology Services Division to enhance statewide materials testing and approval systems and evaluates emerging materials technologies and testing methods for potential adoption.
Successful candidates will demonstrate expertise in materials engineering, strategic program leadership, policy development, quality assurance systems, and collaboration across technical and regulatory environments.
What to Expect
The State Materials Office develops and implements materials approval, acceptance, and quality assurance program policies, as well as provides materials testing, fabrication inspection and materials quality assurance expertise in support of the statewide construction program.
The State Materials Office also leads and conducts research, develops, and implements new materials technology used in the statewide construction program.
The State Materials Engineer supervises up to 65 positions with the highest positions supervised being two WMS Band 3.
Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the State Materials Engineer will:
- Direct the development, operation, planning and continuing improvement of procedures, budget and policies for the teams that make up the State Materials Office.
- Be responsible for providing professional engineering expertise on materials issues related to department executive policy, and legislative issues at the State and Federal level to the Director of Construction Division.
- Serve as a professional engineering expert on materials for WSDOT legal testimony, communication with legislature and state, federal and national research projects, and expert task groups.
- Be responsible for directing the development, continued improvement, and approval of the WSDOT Quality Assurance Program in the Construction and Materials Manuals to assure compliance with the requirements.
- Be responsible for ensuring the Materials Testing Laboratories located at the State Materials Laboratory maintain their American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) re:source accreditation.
Qualifications
To be considered for this opportunity, the following competencies are required:
- Leadership of Technical Organizations: Demonstrated ability to lead and manage a large, multidisciplinary technical organization through subordinate managers with full responsibility for performance, accountability, and workforce outcomes.
- Engineering Judgment in Materials and Construction Issues: Ability to apply professional engineering judgment to complex materials acceptance, testing, performance and contract administration issues.
- Strategic Program and Resource Alignment: Demonstrated ability to align organizational structure, staffing, budget, and workload with long-range statewide program delivery needs.
- Inclusive and High-Performance Workplace Leadership: Skilled in creating an inclusive, high-performance work environment that promotes collaboration, ethical conduct, professional growth, and operational excellence.
- Materials Policy, Specifications, and Standards Development: Ability to establish and implement materials specifications, test standards, and acceptance criteria for a statewide construction program.
- Risk-Based Decision Making in Materials Acceptance: Skill in making risk-based decisions regarding failing materials, reduced testing, non-specification materials, and new product approvals.
- Collaborative Policy and Industry Engagement: Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with industry, partner agencies, and internal stakeholders on policy and specification changes.
- Organizational Coordination and Stakeholder Integration: Ability to understand and apply a thorough knowledge of agency organizational relationships to ensure effective coordination with a wide variety of internal and external customer work groups across the state.
- Growth Mindset: Actively demonstrates a commitment to learning and growth.
- Service-Oriented: Takes action to meet the needs of others.
The following qualification is 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.
It is preferred that qualified candidates also demonstrate:
- Materials and Construction Contract Administration Expertise: Significant experience with a combination of materials and construction contract administration of heavy highway construction contracts.
*To review the full Position Description, please follow the directions in the Contact Us section of this posting.
Important Notes
- This recruitment may also be used to fill additional positions per business needs.
- This position requires a Professional Engineers License issued by the State of Washington. License holders from other states will be expected to obtain a WA State PE license within six (6) months of hire.
- This position offers flexible/hybrid remote work options.
- 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, please visit www.uscis.gov
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.
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-0W111e in the subject line.
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