Design Build Design Manager - Transportation

Market Transportation

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.

Your impact

If you are ready to bridge the gap between our world and our people, join Jacobs. Let’s build a brighter future together. Jacobs is much more than just a traditional engineering company. We consistently receive high rankings from Engineering News-Record (ENR) in many classifications, including the categories of Top Transportation Design Firms, Top Highway Design Firms, Top Bridge Design Firms, and our overall #1 ranking in Top 100 Pure Designer.

Jacobs is seeking an experienced and forward-thinking Design/Build Design Manager to lead transportation infrastructure projects throughout Chicago and surrounding mid-west states. This role is central to delivering innovative design-build and other alternative delivery solutions that drive excellence for our clients and strengthen the communities we serve. Supported by local and national resources, including Jacobs’ extensive network of technical experts, you will work with our geographical leadership to strengthen our competitive presence in Chicago and beyond and deliver quality work.

When you join us, you’ll be responsible for the following:

•Build upon your existing and new client relationships to organize and develop teams to pursue planning, consulting, design, and alternative delivery work. Assist our Sales Teams in identifying opportunities, developing qualifications packages, and attending interviews.

•Work closely with our clients and act as the company’s main point of contact on assigned projects and/or clients to ensure expectations are identified and met.

•Overseeing the delivery of large-scale Design-Build and other alternative delivery transportation projects (such as CM/GC and PDB).

•Use your technical expertise to lead project teams in the development of design and project documentation by providing overall direction to the team, coordinating with external project stakeholders, internal team members, and subcontractors.

•Provide effective, skilled project management to help reduce the costs of delivering projects, adding value to the business by applying proven project management techniques. Deliver large complex and/or multiple projects on time, within budget, and per contracted scope. Draft, coordinate, and manage proposals, staffing plans, project delivery budgets / fee documents, progress schedules, and project delivery schedules to meet deliverable milestones and commitments.

•Provide office environment-based construction phase services, where scope-applicable, including coordinating Jacobs’ responses to RFIs, submittal and shop drawing reviews, construction modification documents, and site visits.

•Be responsible for the overall quality of the project deliverables in adherence with Jacobs’ rigorous Quality Program. You will manage and enhance project quality by providing ideas and suggestions to the team aimed at improving the effectiveness of their roles, and of project activities in general.

•Cultivating an inclusive, collaborative team culture and mentor emerging professionals.

•Ability to recruit additional design team resources as needed

By joining our team, you’ll have the opportunity to utilize your transportation design and/or construction management expertise to serve as a lead on an exciting and engaging large-scale infrastructure projects.

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Here's what you'll need

•Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering

•Registration as a Professional Engineer in Illinois and the ability to obtain reciprocity in other states.

•Substantial years' experience on transportation projects with IDOT and established local relationships

•Demonstrated project leadership experience in transportation projects

•Substantial complex transportation project management experience leading roadway, highway, and/or bridge projects and/or programs in various stages of completeness.

•Understanding of and practical experience applying the AASHTO design guidelines to transportation projects.

•Demonstrated communication and writing skills including technical report writing

•Willingness to support multi-state pursuits and delivery across alternative project delivery models.

•Currently Located within Chicago or willing to relocate

Ideally, you’ll also have:

•DBIA Certification

•Previous experience with rail and transit projects in the Chicago metropolitan area, including coordination with agencies such as CTA

Posted Salary Range: Minimum 190,000.00 Posted Salary Range: Upper 250,000.00

Our health and welfare benefits are designed to invest in you, and in the things you care about. Your health. Your well-being. Your security. Your future. Employees have access to medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance, a 401(k) plan, and the ability to purchase company stock at a discount. Eligible employees may also enroll in a deferred compensation plan or the Executive Deferral Plan. Jacobs has an unlimited U.S. Personalized Paid Time Off (PPTO) policy for full-time salaried/exempt employees, seven paid holidays, and caregiver leave. And certain roles may be eligible for additional rewards, including merit increases, performance discretionary bonus, and stock.

The base salary range for this position is $190,000.00 to $250,000.00. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. Job posted on November 13, 2025. This position will be open for at least 3 days.

We value collaboration and believe that in-person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work.

Your application experience is important to us, and we’re keen to adapt to make every interaction even better. If you require further support or reasonable adjustments with regards to the recruitment process (for example, you require the application form in a different format), please contact the team via .