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Highway Engineer Jobs in Kentucky (NOW HIRING)

Roadway Engineer

Louisville, KY · On-site

$85K - $115K/yr

Roadway Engineer Department: Transportation Employment Type: Full Time Location: Louisville, KY Compensation: $85,000 - $115,000 / year Description We are looking for a Roadway Design Engineer in ...

$90 - $120/hr

What We're Looking For Join HNTB as Roadway Engineer III in North Texas where you can create a career that is meaningful to you while building communities that matter to all of us! Our office has an ...

$135 - $160/hr

Job Category Highway Engineering, Project Management, Management Description GPI seeks a Chief Engineer of Highways to join our growing Western NY operations within our Rochester, NY, office. We work ...

Roadway Engineer

Lexington, KY · On-site

$70 - $95/hr

Roadway Engineer Department: Transportation Employment Type: Full Time Location: Lexington, KY Description We are looking for a Roadway Design Engineer in Lexington, Frankfort, or Louisville KY with ...

Roadway Engineer

Frankfort, KY · On-site

$75 - $95/hr

Roadway Engineer Department: Transportation Employment Type: Full Time Location: Frankfort, KY Description We are looking for a Roadway Design Engineer in Lexington, Frankfort, or Louisville KY with ...

Roadway Engineer I

Louisville, KY · On-site

$63K - $111K/yr

Parsons is looking for a talented Roadway Engineer I to join our team full-time to support one of the many large transformative transportation projects that we have either won, are currently pursuing ...

Roadway Engineer (PE)

Louisville, KY · On-site

$100K - $120K/yr

Roadway Engineer **NOTE: This role has openings for the following US locations: * Dallas, TX * Knoxville, TN * Memphis, TN * Alpharetta, GA * Atlanta, GA * Lexington, KY * Louisville, KY * Birmingham ...

We are looking for a Roadway Design Engineer in Lexington, Frankfort, or Louisville KY with the opportunity to work on signature projects and collaborate with other design staff. HMB is part of a ...

Roadway Engineer II

Louisville, KY · On-site

$74K - $130K/yr

Parsons is looking for a talented Roadway Engineer II to join our team full-time to support one of the many large transformative transportation projects that we have either won, are currently ...

Roadway Engineer

Frankfort, KY · On-site

$85K - $115K/yr

Roadway Engineer Department: Transportation Employment Type: Full Time Location: Frankfort, KY Compensation: $85,000 - $115,000 / year Description We are looking for a Roadway Design Engineer in ...

Roadway Engineer

Lexington, KY · On-site

$85K - $115K/yr

Roadway Engineer Department: Transportation Employment Type: Full Time Location: Lexington, KY Compensation: $85,000 - $115,000 / year Description We are looking for a Roadway Design Engineer in ...

We are looking for a Roadway Design Engineer in Lexington, Frankfort, or Louisville KY with the opportunity to work on signature projects and collaborate with other design staff. HMB is part of a ...

We are looking for a Roadway Design Engineer in Lexington, Frankfort, or Louisville KY with the opportunity to work on signature projects and collaborate with other design staff. HMB is part of a ...

$95 - $130/hr

Lead all daily field operations on heavy highway and roadway construction projects. * Manage crews ... Professional coordination with Project Managers, Engineers, Surveyors, and project inspectors.

Showing results 21-40

Highway Engineer information

See Kentucky salary details

$41.3K

$85.1K

$115.9K

How much do highway engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for highway engineer in Kentucky is $85,132.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $69,900.00 and $98,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a highway engineer?

A highway engineer specializes in designing and maintaining roads, bridges, and tunnels to ensure safe and efficient transportation in a region. As a highway engineer, you must understand how traffic moves through a location for vehicles and pedestrians to determine the best flow of traffic. You must also know what kind of road surface would work best for each project. Highway engineers may work on a project from the design phase all the way through construction, and often are called back to maintain the structures to make sure they are still fully functional.

What does a highway engineer do?

A Highway Engineer is responsible for designing, planning, and overseeing the construction and maintenance of roads, highways, and related infrastructure. Their work includes ensuring that transportation routes are safe, efficient, and environmentally sustainable. They collaborate with other engineers, government agencies, and contractors to address traffic flow, drainage, materials, and safety standards. Highway Engineers also assess existing road conditions and recommend improvements or repairs as needed.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a highway engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Highway Engineer, you need a solid background in civil engineering principles, road design, and construction management, typically supported by a relevant engineering degree and Professional Engineer (PE) licensure. Proficiency with CAD software, transportation modeling tools, and project management systems is essential. Strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective communication are vital soft skills in this role. These competencies ensure safe, efficient, and cost-effective highway infrastructure development and maintenance.

What are some common challenges highway engineers face when working on large infrastructure projects?

Highway Engineers often encounter challenges such as coordinating with multiple stakeholders, managing tight project timelines, and ensuring compliance with strict safety and environmental regulations. Working on large-scale projects also requires adapting to unexpected site conditions and balancing budget constraints with quality standards. Effective communication and collaboration with surveyors, contractors, and government agencies are essential to address these challenges and keep projects on track.

What is the difference between Highway Engineer vs Civil Engineer?

AspectHighway EngineerCivil Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Civil Engineering, PE license often preferredBachelor's in Civil Engineering, PE license often required
Work EnvironmentConstruction sites, transportation departments, engineering firmsConstruction sites, infrastructure projects, consulting firms
Industry UsageSpecializes in highway and road projectsBroader scope including bridges, buildings, and infrastructure
Common Search/ComparisonHighway Engineer vs Civil Engineer

Highway Engineers focus specifically on designing, constructing, and maintaining roads and highways, often working within transportation departments or specialized firms. Civil Engineers have a broader role, working on various infrastructure projects including buildings, bridges, and water systems. Both roles require similar credentials and often overlap in work environments, but Highway Engineers specialize in transportation infrastructure.

What job categories do people searching Highway Engineer jobs in Kentucky look for?

The top searched job categories for Highway Engineer jobs in Kentucky are:

Infographic showing various Highway Engineer job openings in Kentucky as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 92% Full Time, 5% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $85,132 per year, or $40.9 per hour.

Highway Project Engineer I

Johnson, Mirmiran & Thompson, Inc.

Lexington, KY • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 6 days ago


Johnson, Mirmiran & Thompson rating

9.8

Company rating: 9.8 out of 10

Based on 8 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

2nd of 453 rated engineering


Job description


Johnson, Mirmiran & Thompson is a dynamic, 100% employee-owned consulting firm with more than 2,800 professionals, providing a full range of multidisciplinary engineering, architecture, information technology, and related services to public agencies and private clients throughout the United States. JMT is currently ranked #45 on Engineering News-Record's list of the Top 500 Design Firms.
Position summary: The successful candidate will report to our Lexington Office and will be responsible for engineering design using knowledge of general engineering principles and practices to interpret, organize, execute and coordinate assignments with limited supervision.
Essential Functions and Responsibilities
  • Analyze project requirements and information from alternative studies to develop an accurate report for submittal.
  • Analyze survey reports, maps, drawings, blueprints, aerial photography and other topographical or geologic data to plan projects/tasks
  • Perform design computations
  • Design projects in accordance with client specifications and guidelines, using design software and drawing tools
  • Develop or review the construction cost estimate.
  • Prepare and compile contract plans, specifications and estimates
  • Attend meetings with clients and assist taking meeting minutes
  • Coordinate with other disciplines and understand how they fit into the project and design.
  • Quality review of project design in accordance with the Project Management Plan.
  • Technical oversight and guidance/support of Design Engineers within department

Nonessential Functions and Responsibilities
  • Perform other related duties as assigned

Required Skills
  • Proficient in roadway design software (GEOPAK and/or OpenRoads)
  • Proficient in Microsoft Office
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills

Required Experience
  • Bachelor's degree in civil engineering or a related field from an ABET accredited engineering program
  • 5-10 years' experience in highway design and engineering
  • KY Professional Engineer License preferred
  • Experience working with KYTC, and local clients at the county and state level preferred
  • Proficient in discipline specific design software
  • Proficient in Microsoft Office
  • Written and oral communication skills

Working Conditions
Work is performed within a general office environment 95% of the time. Work is generally sedentary in nature but may require occasional standing and walking. Lighting and temperature are adequate and there are no hazardous or unpleasant conditions caused by noise, dust, etc. within the office environment.
Field work is required on occasion where work may be conducted outside in heat/cold, wet/humid, and dry/arid conditions. Some lifting (up to 25 lbs) may be required as needed.
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law.
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