Associate Urban Designer

Position Description

Join us in shaping Seattle’s streets!

At the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), we don’t just move people—we connect communities, build safer streets, and create a more sustainable city.

With a bold vision for the future, we’re tackling big challenges: making travel safer, cutting carbon emissions, and ensuring reliable, affordable transportation for everyone—no matter who they are or where they live.

Seattle is growing fast, and we’re growing with it. Thanks to a historic voter-approved $1.55 billion investment in transportation in 2024, we’re building sidewalks, fixing bridges, and improving transit connections to keep our city moving.

We’re a team of problem solvers, planners, engineers, communicators, and field crews—bringing purpose-driven work to life. Now, we need passionate, innovative talent like you. Let’s build a Seattle that works for everyone—together!

Position Overview

SDOT is excited to announce a new Associate Urban Designer position with our Policy and Planning division. This position directly supports SDOT’s mission to provide safe, affordable, and reliable transportation by integrating urban design, public art, and transportation planning to make streets work better for everyone, whether walking, rolling, biking, taking transit, or driving. The position serves as the 1% for the Arts Coordinator for SDOT, closely partnering with the City’s Office of Arts and Culture. It plays a key role in delivering Complete Streets projects that prioritize safety for all users, especially in underserved neighborhoods, and uses data like crash history and equity indicators to guide decisions. The role also supports public space improvements like shared streets, plazas, sidewalks, street furniture, wayfinding, and lighting, and ensures diverse community voices are heard through public outreach and engagement. By centering safety and equity in project planning and design, this position helps build a more inclusive and accessible transportation system and public spaces for Seattle residents.

The ideal candidate will have urban design and transportation planning skills, and see the importance of physical, social, environmental, and economic well-being in the public realm when implemented equitably, and wants to bring about positive change.

Under the supervision of an SDOT Urban Design Strategic Advisor, the Associate Urban Designer will conduct a variety of data analyses, design, coordination, and community engagement activities to support SDOT’s mission and goals in the Urban Design Section within the Policy & Planning Division.

The selected candidate will dedicate 50% of their time to program planning and project design and development, another 30% to project review, and the remaining 20% will be committed to community engagement activities.

Job Responsibilities

• Coordinate with the Office of Arts and Culture on 1% of Art Ordinance implementation to integrate public art into Capital Improvement Projects.
• Support Seamless Seattle Pedestrian Wayfinding Program expansion and maintenance, including day-to-day project implementation, and coordination of maintaining and updating existing wayfinding signs.
• Ideate, plan, design, develop (0%-30%), and deliver public realm / people-oriented transportation improvement projects, including pedestrian infrastructure, such as street trees, lighting, wayfinding, and seating, to make streets safer and more welcoming. This may involve defining project scope, estimating costs, setting timelines, and managing budgets.
• Staff the SDOT Complete Streets Steering Committee as part of the City’s adopted Complete Streets ordinance implementation.
• Collaborate with capital project design teams to address the requirements outlined in the SDOT Complete Streets policy, aligning with the adopted city ordinance.
• Support development of design standards and guidance for Streets Illustrated (SDOT’s Right-of-Way Improvements Manual) based on research, public feedback, and city goals.
• Review and give feedback on project and permit plans to make sure they align with Streets Illustrated design standards and guidance and work well for all users.
• Work closely with other city departments and regional partners to move public realm/transportation improvement projects forward and solve design challenges.
• Represent SDOT in meetings and committees, offering input on street design, public art, and how projects can better serve the community.
• Conduct transportation planning and urban design research and use data—like public life data, traffic/pedestrian counts, safety stats, and equity information—to help shape transportation policy, plans, projects, priorities, and street design decisions.
• Organize small area transportation and public realm planning efforts, prepare graphics, and compile reports summarizing transportation improvement recommendations.
• Create street concept plans, conduct related research, analyze data, engage in outreach, and document findings.
• Work with internal stakeholders to identify opportunities and resolve conflicts related to transportation planning and urban design initiatives.
• Support departmental goals in promoting diversity and social justice.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

Education: A Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Urban Planning, Transportation Planning, or a related field.

Experience: Requires a minimum of two years of transportation planning or development experience.

OR: A combination of education and/or training and/or experience which provides an equivalent background required to perform the work of the class.

Though not requirements, strong candidates will have some of the following experience or can describe comparable experience:

• A Graduate degree in Transportation Planning, Urban Planning and Design, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Civil Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience in public art - planning, development, or delivery for either private or public sector roles/projects.
• Advanced understanding of pedestrian wayfinding systems and experience in implementing and maintaining pedestrian wayfinding signs.
• Proven knowledge of urban planning and design principles, techniques, and methods, and graphic skills to support the development of urban planning and design concepts.
• Demonstrated skills in Adobe Creative Suite (including Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign), Bluebeam, SketchUp, ARCGIS, or comparable applications.
• Excellent analytical, writing, graphic, and oral communication skills and the ability to handle sensitive issues with diplomacy and poise.
• Experience with community outreach and engagement, and facilitating meetings with various constituencies.
• Proven ability to develop and deliver effective public presentations, including creating high-quality materials for diverse audiences, community groups, elected officials, and professional colleagues.
• Demonstrated capability to work under pressure, successfully manage multiple assignments, and monitor and maintain the progress of schedules to meet milestones.
• Ability to effectively work in a multi-cultural workplace with a diverse set of customers and agencies.

Other Requirements:

• Work is typically performed in a hybrid work environment in which a minimum of 3 days of the work is completed in a City office, and 2 days of the work is completed remotely in a regular 40-hour work week.
• This job may involve both work in an office setting and in the field during construction.
• Field assignments entail exposure to all types of weather, traffic, hazardous/toxic substances, and work in or near construction sites.
• May be required to lift over 50 pounds.
• May be required to stand, walk, or bend for extended periods.

Licenses: Current Washington State driver's license or evidence of equivalent mobility.

Additional Information

Your application will not be reviewed if these items are missing or incomplete.

Hiring Process:

Applications are reviewed after the posting closes. Qualified candidates must submit the following to be considered:

• Completed NEOGOV online application.
• Supplemental questionnaire responses.
• Cover letter describing how your skills and experience align with the stated job responsibilities and qualifications.
• Current résumé indicating relevant experience and education.

A Job offer is contingent upon verification of credentials and other information required by the employment process and may include a criminal history background check, a pre-placement medical examination, a review of driving history, and reference information.

Please note this job advertisement is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

The full salary range for this position is $52.13 - $60.71 per hour.

The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents. More information about employee benefits is available on the City's website at: https://www.seattle.gov/human-resources/benefits/employees-and-covered-family-members/most-employees-plans.

http://www.seattle.gov/jobs

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APPLICATIONS MAY BE FILED ONLINE AT:

Job #2025-011225

If you are unable to apply on-line, you may submit a paper application by the closing date to our office.

OUR OFFICE IS LOCATED AT:

Seattle Municipal Tower

700 5th Avenue, Suite 5500

Seattle, WA 98104

Careers@seattle.gov

Who May Apply: This position is open to all candidates who meet the minimum qualifications. The City of Seattle values diverse perspectives and life experiences. Applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, disability, religious or political affiliation, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity. The Department encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+ people, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with diverse life experiences.

Accommodations for people with disabilities are provided upon request.

The City is a Drug Free Workplace.

The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents.