Design Assistant Jobs in Portland, OR (NOW HIRING)

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
DOWL is looking for a skilled and motivated Transportation Design Engineer to play a key role in delivering impactful transportation projects-from neighborhood sidewalks and bike paths to major highways and interchanges. In this role, you'll perform moderate to advanced engineering calculations, develop 2D and 3D roadway designs, conduct corridor modeling, and support the full design process including technical documentation, cost estimating, and client coordination. You'll bring a solid foundation in CAD drafting and design software, along with a strong work ethic, organizational skills, and a passion for continuous learning. This position offers opportunities to mentor junior team members, contribute to high-profile projects, and grow your expertise with limited oversight in a supportive, collaborative environment. If you're ready to take the next step in your transportation engineering career and make a lasting impact on the communities we serve, join DOWL and help us design the roads, trails, and systems of tomorrow.
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) - Proficient
• Market Sector Software (AutoCAD C3D) - Developing
• Market Sector Software (Microstation Connect and OpenRoads) - Developing (if applicable)
• 3D design and visualizations (e.g., Revit, Infraworks) - Basic (if applicable)
• Task Specific (e.g., AutoTurn, GuideSign)

Technical Expertise

• Intermediate understanding of technical fundamentals
• Performs moderately complex design tasks independently
• Effectively divides projects into individual tasks
• Leads technical effort on small projects
• Performs quality control technical checking of basic deliverables
• Reviews, interprets, and employs appropriate design guidance from technical memos and reports

Teamwork
Team player who is able to follow on large, complex projects and lead a small team on simple tasks. Anticipates the needs of other technical disciplines and takes responsibility for their results.
Project Delivery
Produces the following independently:

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

Understanding Budget and Schedule
Strong understanding of scopes, schedules, and budgets. Able to predict and deliver individual tasks within a set level of effort. Able to consistently meet budget and schedule expectations on projects.
Industry Standards and Regulations
Proficiently selects from and employs the following design codes:

• AASHTO and FHWA - Advanced
• Local Client - Advanced

Client Interaction
Frequent client communications. Resolves issues on small projects. Attends client meetings and consistently uses situationally appropriate communication tools (e.g., email versus phone versus in-person).
Other
Other duties as assigned.
Level of Work/Accountability
Performs moderate to advanced levels of technical work on larger and more complex projects as assigned by the market sector. Operates with a moderate level of autonomy. May assist with some assistant project management tasks.
Education and/or Experience

• Bachelor's Degree required
• Years of experience required: 4 years
• Years of experience required with advanced degree: 3 years

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

• PE required
• Driving is an essential job function or a valid driver's license is required to support legitimate business purposes

Physical Demands and Work Environment
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.
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.