Associate Transportation Engineer

Location: Kirkland or Spokane

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We’re looking for an experienced transportation leader who is ready to shape what comes next—both for their own career and for our work in Washington.

This isn’t a “fill a role” position. It’s an opportunity to help define it.

At Kittelson, associate and principal-level staff don’t fit into narrow boxes. Many of our senior staff have experience in areas like multimodal planning, operations, traffic engineering, or roadway design along with familiarity with common industry tools and design standards. They also help build teams, grow relationships, and pursue work in ways that align with their strengths and interests. If you’re looking for more ownership, more flexibility, and fewer layers of approval, you’ll find something different here.

What Makes This Role Different

• You help write the script We’re not prescribing a single technical niche or project type. Whether your strengths are in design, operations, planning—or a mix—you’ll help shape how you contribute.
• You own your path We trust experienced leaders to build client relationships, pursue the work they believe in, and grow teams around them.
• Less red tape, more progress Decisions happen close to the work. You won’t spend your time navigating layers of approvals to move ideas forward.
• A people-first culture that expects leaders to lead Mentorship, collaboration, and developing others are core to the role—not side responsibilities.

What You’ll Do

• Lead and deliver complex transportation projects in a way that reflects your strengths
• Build and strengthen relationships with agencies and partners across Washington
• Identify opportunities and help bring meaningful work into the firm
• Mentor staff and contribute to a strong, supportive team environment
• Play a key role in shaping the future of our Seattle and Spokane offices

What We’re Looking For

We’re less focused on a specific technical specialty and more interested in how you show up as a leader.

That Said, Strong Candidates Typically Bring

• Experience leading projects and teams in a consulting environment
• Familiarity working with public agencies (state, regional, or local)
• The ability to develop scopes, budgets, and project strategies
• A desire to mentor others and help them grow
• A clear interest in contributing to the direction of an office or region

Compensation And Benefits

Our approach is built around a few core ideas:

• We take the long view – total compensation includes salary, retirement contributions, bonuses, and growth opportunities
• We offer flexibility – recognizing that each person’s needs are different
• We stay grounded in the market – regularly reviewing compensation across our regions

The expected range for this role is $130,000–$185,000, which is a combination of your base salary plus an employer-funded 401K retirement contribution. Position in this range is determined by candidate’s experience and office location.

Why Kittelson

We’re a firm that values curiosity, ownership, and long-term impact. Many of our senior staff joined because they were ready for something different—more influence over their work, more trust in how they operate, and more opportunity to shape what they’re building.

If that resonates, we’d like to talk.

Kittelson is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants 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.