Associate Director, Highway

• Help Us Change the World—One Project at a Time

At PRIME AE, we believe every bridge, building, classroom, park, and roadway we design tells a story—and leaves a legacy. Whether it’s through architecture, engineering, planning, or consulting, our work is deeply rooted in improving the everyday experiences of people and communities. Join us and be part of a collaborative, forward-thinking team that values innovation, technical excellence, and meaningful contribution.

Who We Are:

PRIME AE Group, Inc. (www.primeeng.com [http://www.primeeng.com/]) is a nationally ranked, full-service architecture and engineering firm with 22 offices across 9 states and a team of 500+ professionals. For nearly two decades, we’ve partnered with public and private sector clients to deliver creative, practical, and sustainable solutions across transportation, education, healthcare, municipal, federal, commercial, and recreational sectors.  We’re expanding our capabilities, our geography, and our team—and now is an exciting time to join us.

We are seeking an accomplished and forward-thinking Associate Director, Transportation – Highway to help lead the technical delivery, project execution, and strategic growth of our highway group in our Baltimore office.

What You'll Do:

This role blends high-level project leadership with business development support, team mentorship, and cross-disciplinary coordination. The Associate Director will serve as a senior technical expert and key client-facing leader, driving excellence in project delivery while helping expand PRIME AE’s footprint within the Indiana transportation market.

This is a growth-role designed for a seasoned Highway PM with a strong MDOT background who is ready to step into broader leadership responsibilities.  As Associate Director, you will play a central role in shaping project outcomes, supporting market growth, and elevating the technical capabilities of the group.

Key Responsibilities:

Project Leadership & Delivery

• Lead the planning, engineering, and design of roadway, highway, interchange, and multimodal transportation projects.
• Review and guide design deliverables across all phases—concept, geometric layout, MOT, ADA, final plans, reports, specifications, and cost estimates.
• Perform and/or oversee AASHTO compliance reviews.
• Manage project scopes, schedules, budgets, and quality standards to ensure successful outcomes.

Team Leadership & Mentorship

• Supervise and develop design engineers and technicians, providing daily direction, technical mentorship, and performance input.
• Strengthen technical skills across the team, especially in roadway modeling, geometric design, and DOT standards.
• Foster a collaborative, accountable, and solutions-oriented culture.
• Client Engagement & Relationship Building
• Serve as a trusted partner to transportation clients, demonstrating responsiveness, technical expertise, and professional leadership.
• Support client management efforts by attending meetings, presenting design approaches, and assisting with project strategy.

Business Development & Pursuit Support

• Support market expansion efforts by identifying new opportunities, contributing to contract pursuits, and assisting with teaming arrangements.
• Collaborate on Statements of Interest (SOIs), technical and price proposals, RFP responses, and interview preparation.
• Participate in industry organizations such as ACEC, ASCE, ITE, and AASHTO affiliates to enhance PRIME AE’s visibility.

Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration

• Coordinate with internal teams (traffic, structures, environmental, hydraulics, utilities) to deliver integrated, high-quality solutions.
• Manage and review work from subconsultants to ensure technical alignment and on-time delivery.

What You’ll Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering required; MSCE preferred.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license required.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in highway design and project delivery.
• Strong technical expertise with DOT guidelines, standards, and specifications.
• Hands-on experience with MicroStation, OpenRoads, and/or Civil 3D.
• Proven ability to lead project teams, manage clients, and deliver high-profile transportation projects.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills.
• Ability to balance multiple priorities, manage deadlines, and work both independently and collaboratively.
• Professional presence and strong interpersonal skills to represent PRIME AE with clients, partners, and internal teams.

Why PRIME AE? We don’t just offer jobs—we build careers. At PRIME AE, you’ll find a culture of support, flexibility, and opportunity. You’ll work on impactful projects that improve daily life, alongside colleagues who inspire and challenge you. Whether you’re advancing your technical skills or growing as a leader, we’re committed to helping you succeed.

• Full-Career Support: Flexible career paths across disciplines, from technical specialist to project leadership.
• People-First Culture: We hire top talent, champion diversity, trust, and integrity.
• Meaningful Impact: Work on projects—from community centers and hospitals to federal, transportation, and water systems—that tangibly improve lives.
• Growth-Oriented: Strategically expanding capabilities and geography (e.g., Southeast acquisition, federal growth) with strong backing from investors.
• National Yet Local: Enjoy the resources of a big firm with the agility and client intimacy of local offices.

PRIME AE Group celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

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