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Engineering Design Manager Jobs in Olympia, WA (NOW HIRING)

CAD Manager

Lacey, WA ยท On-site

$90K - $115K/yr

SCJ is hiring a CAD Manager with expertise in AutoCAD and Civil 3D, ideally with experience in ... Our engineering projects are diverse, serving both public and private clients. We approach each ...

CAD Manager

Lacey, WA ยท On-site

SCJ is hiring a CAD Manager with expertise in AutoCAD and Civil 3D, ideally with experience in ... Our engineering projects are diverse, serving both public and private clients. We approach each ...

Purpose Work effectively on design teams and coordinate with team members including other CAD Drafters, designers, engineers, managers, administrative staff and construction staff leading to final ...

New

Purpose Work effectively on design teams and coordinate with team members including other CAD Drafters, designers, engineers, managers, administrative staff and construction staff leading to final ...

New

... manage the engineering department to meet company objectives for ... design, new product development and improvement of existing product line. * Comprehensive ...

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Showing results 1-20

Engineering Design Manager information

See Olympia, WA salary details

$55.8K

$142.9K

$220.6K

How much do engineering design manager jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 31, 2026, the average yearly pay for engineering design manager in Olympia, WA is $142,946.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $115,900.00 and $159,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does an engineering design manager do?

An Engineering Design Manager oversees the design process for engineering projects, coordinating teams of engineers and designers to ensure that project goals are met efficiently and effectively. They are responsible for planning, organizing, and reviewing design work, ensuring compliance with industry standards and client requirements. Additionally, they often liaise with clients, stakeholders, and other departments to align the design vision with project specifications and timelines. Their leadership is crucial in solving technical challenges and delivering innovative solutions within budget.

What does an engineering design manager do?

The job duties of an engineering design manager include overseeing a team of engineers and CAD designers on engineering projects. In addition to providing leadership to staff, in this career, you manage the budget planning for each project, work with concept development, and ensure that plans meet company or client needs and engineering standards. You offer guidance throughout the design process and inspect and sign off on design plans to ensure that they meet quality standards. As a manager, you are also responsible for providing effective staffing strategies and workflow.

What are the main challenges an engineering design manager faces when balancing project deadlines with innovation?

Engineering Design Managers often need to ensure that their teams deliver high-quality designs within tight project timelines while also encouraging creativity and innovation. One of the main challenges is managing stakeholder expectations and resource constraints, as pushing for innovative solutions can sometimes require more time and iterative testing. Effective communication, prioritization, and fostering a collaborative environment help address these challenges, ensuring that projects remain on schedule without stifling new ideas. Managers frequently coordinate between engineering teams, clients, and other departments to align goals and keep projects moving forward.

What is the difference between Engineering Design Manager vs Mechanical Engineer?

AspectEngineering Design ManagerMechanical Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Engineering, often with management certificationsBachelor's or Master's in Mechanical Engineering
Work EnvironmentLeads design teams, oversees projects, collaborates with cross-functional departmentsDesigns, analyzes, and tests mechanical systems, often working in labs or on-site
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in manufacturing, aerospace, automotive, and engineering firms for leadership rolesCommon in product design, manufacturing, and R&D sectors

The Engineering Design Manager focuses on leading design teams and managing projects, requiring leadership skills and project management experience. In contrast, Mechanical Engineers are involved in the technical design and analysis of mechanical systems. Both roles often require similar engineering credentials but differ in scope and responsibilities.

What job categories do people searching Engineering Design Manager jobs in Olympia, WA look for?

The top searched job categories for Engineering Design Manager jobs in Olympia, WA are:

What cities near Olympia, WA are hiring for Engineering Design Manager jobs?

Cities near Olympia, WA with the most Engineering Design Manager job openings:

Infographic showing various Engineering Design Manager job openings in Olympia, WA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 85% Full Time, 14% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 84% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 14% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $142,946 per year, or $68.7 per hour.

CAD Manager

Lacey, WA โ€ข On-site

SCJ Alliance
Civil Engineering Constructionย โ€ขย 51 - 200 employees

$90K - $115K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 4 days ago


Job description

SCJ is hiring a CAD Manager with expertise in AutoCAD and Civil 3D, ideally with experience in transportation and civil site development. This role involves advanced AutoCAD and Civil 3D use for design and plan production, training CAD users, enhancing company CAD standards, and automating workflows.
Our engineering projects are diverse, serving both public and private clients. We approach each project with curiosity and creativity, customizing solutions to fit the unique needs of our clients and communities.
If you're looking for a dynamic and collaborative environment, we encourage you to apply!
Who we are
Our mission is to serve our clients, communities, and each other with creativity, knowledge, insight, and perspective. At SCJ, a 100% employee-owned company, we value curiosity, compassion, stewardship, integrity, and empowerment. Our team is collaborative and adaptable, stepping outside job descriptions to get things done. We offer a fast-paced, flexible, and fun work environment where meaningful, community-focused work is the norm.
SCJ specializes in civil engineering, transportation planning and design, environmental and urban planning, landscape architecture, and public outreach. With exciting projects and a spirited team, we've been recognized multiple times as one of the nation's fastest-growing and best places to work.
What you'll be doing
  • Collaborate across teams. Work closely with engineers, project managers, IT, and CAD users to produce accurate, high-quality civil engineering plans.
  • Understand current workflows. Engage with engineers and CAD users to learn existing processes and identify areas for improvement.
  • Enhance CAD standards. Propose and plan updates to improve consistency, accuracy, and efficiency in CAD standards.
  • Implement automation and customization, Identify and recommend tools or scripts to automate tasks, maintain healthy drawing files, and streamline workflows.
  • Develop workflow protocols. Create and document processes that support smoother, more efficient drafting and design practices.
  • Lead training and implementation. Train CAD technicians to effectively adopt and apply the revised standards and tools.
  • Provide team leadership. Works well with the team and is able to provide supervision, support professional development, and conduct performance evaluations.
  • Stay up-to-date with CAD technology. Monitor and explore emerging CAD tools and trends to keep practices current.
  • Troubleshoot complex design issues. Resolve challenging technical problems to ensure design accuracy and efficiency.
  • Optimize productivity. Improve AutoCAD performance through process enhancements and workflow improvements.

What you bring
  • A passion for serving others, communication, creativity, and a commitment to high-quality work.
  • Proficiency in AutoCAD, Civil 3D, creating LISP Routines and customization techniques.
  • Expertise in developing and training CAD standards, workflows, and best practices.
  • Advanced problem-solving and troubleshooting skills related to the use of AutoCAD and Civil 3D for producing civil engineering design and construction plan sets.
  • Strong leadership and proven experience managing and mentoring a CAD team, including task assignment, prioritization, quality control, and cross-disciplinary collaboration.
  • Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
  • Generally, 5+ years of progressively responsible drafting and civil engineering design experience.

What we bring
  • An unbeatable culture: In recent employee satisfaction surveys, "the people at work" and "culture" are consistently identified as the top two things people love about working at SCJ. We are proud of our autonomous and collaborative work environment, exceptional operational support, creative and supportive co-workers, and compassionate leadership team. Plus, we do lots of other fun stuff, including mugshots, an annual gala, fitness challenges, summer campouts...and a variety of other creative ways we have found to come together and hang out.
  • Quality projects: We pursue work that improves communities, challenges us, and makes a difference.
  • Community involvement opportunities and a charitable matching program.
  • Paid time off: vacation/sick time, holidays, personal floating holiday
  • Retirement benefits: 401(k) plan & employee stock ownership plan (ESOP).
  • Health, disability, and other insurance plan options to fit your needs. Including HSA & FSA.

This is not a remote position.