Building with Purpose

Jordan Leiminger’s interest in engineering began long before her first job. Growing up around family members who worked for a state department of transportation, she saw the pride and responsibility that came with building infrastructure people rely on every day. 

That early exposure stayed with her as she realized engineering offered a way to directly improve safety, access and quality of life. Her dedication to the public is just one of the reasons why she was chosen for the Top 25 Under 40.

“Transportation and construction have been a huge part of my life,” Leiminger told Roads & Bridges. “I knew from a young age that I wanted to have an impact on communities, and transportation engineering came naturally because it shapes how we all experience the world.”

Leiminger joined HDR in 2015 as an intern after an introduction through the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT). After graduating, she returned full time in a hybrid role that split her focus between highway design and construction management, a combination that still defines her approach today.

“I started my career on mountainous interstate projects on the construction side, where I could immediately see how infrastructure improves safety for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians,” she said. “Seeing that real time impact was powerful.”

She later moved into design, working on the first diverging diamond interchange along Interstate-17 in Arizona and eventually leading the design on a major bridge project along Hana Highway on the island of Maui. 

Watching projects grow from early concepts into built solutions drew her toward project management across all phases of delivery.

Today, Leiminger manages multiple projects as a design and construction project manager. Over nine years at HDR, she has led multidisciplinary teams in more than 10 states and delivered projects for more than 30 owners and agencies. Her work includes redesigning roundabouts in Colorado to improve safety and delivering transportation improvements on federal lands to expand accessibility.

That growing responsibility is matched by her professional credentials. Leiminger earned her first professional engineer license in 2021 and expects to hold licenses in five states by this year. She has also completed advanced training in project management, leadership and schedule forensics, becoming a go-to resource within HDR’s Colorado practice for design and construction scheduling.

Her leadership has earned strong praise from clients. Karen Berdoulay, CDOT East Program Engineer, worked with Leiminger on multiple projects in 2024.

“Jordan was organized, accountable and proactive,” Berdoulay said. “She kept teams focused on project goals and guided projects through complex change orders while maintaining schedule and budget.”

That leadership extends beyond project delivery. Leiminger is deeply committed to mentoring young engineers. After becoming a mid-level manager five years into her career, she helped overhaul HDR’s Colorado summer internship program so interns work alongside early-career professionals and contribute directly to project deliverables, with an emphasis on understanding why decisions are made.

“Engineering is rooted in problem solving and ethical judgment,” she said. “The decisions we make affect public safety, so it’s important for young engineers to understand the why behind them.”

She also co-leads an engineer-in-training rotation program that exposes young professionals to roadway design, hydraulics, structures, planning, construction management and utilities, helping them build sound judgment early in their careers.

Leiminger remains active across the industry. She has been involved with WTS International since college and has spent nearly a decade participating in her local Denver chapter, often bringing interns and young professionals with her. She is also active with the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Colorado Contractors Association, working to strengthen collaboration between engineers and contractors.

One of her most demanding roles is serving as project manager on a $50 million effort along Hana Highway in Maui, a critical and scenic corridor. The project involves replacing six historic bridges built in 1905. After an environmental assessment delayed progress, Leiminger recognized the need to advance the work quickly to preserve funding.

“Transportation is vital to our daily lives and our economy,” she said. “Knowing my work helps families travel more safely keeps me motivated.”

Looking ahead, she plans to continue growing alongside her teams, embracing digital delivery and BIM while maintaining strong engineering judgment.

“Balancing innovation with purpose is how I hope to keep building infrastructure that truly serves communities,” she said.