Engineer Senior Structure and Bridge

This onsite Senior Structure and Bridge Engineer role with the Virginia Department of Transportation in Mechanicsville, VA offers the opportunity to influence the design, evaluation and detailing of bridges and structures while leading projects, shaping policy, and guiding technical work. You will collaborate with internal teams, local governments, consultants and FHWA to drive effective transportation solutions and ensure safe, durable infrastructure.

Responsibilities

• Deliver engineering expertise across assigned program areas.
• Recommend solutions to project challenges and issues.
• Communicate with internal VDOT staff, local governments, consultants, the public and FHWA on transportation projects and programs.
• Assist in creating and enforcing policies, procedures, guidance and practices for engineering projects and programs.
• Serve as the responsible-charge engineer for evaluation, design and detailing of diverse structures and bridges across new construction, maintenance and rehabilitation projects.
• Evaluate concrete and steel structures for statically determinate and indeterminate systems, ensuring alignment, dimensions, strength and cost objectives using AASHTO specifications to prepare plans.
• Compute dimensions and material quantities.
• Provide construction support and direction for the construction and maintenance of structures and bridges.
• Manage projects to ensure timely and accurate completion.
• Review plans prepared by others for accuracy and compliance.
• Communicate effectively with customers and stakeholders inside and outside VDOT, including local governments, elected officials, citizen groups and FHWA.
• Participate in or oversee engineering studies.
• Collect, analyze and synthesize data and information.
• Develop technically accurate reports, recommendations and solutions that comply with standards.
• Prepare business and technical correspondence with corrective recommendations stemming from studies.
• Prepare or deliver formal presentations for VDOT staff or external audiences.
• Design, analyze and check structural elements; prepare preliminary and final bridge and structure designs for new construction, maintenance and rehabilitation projects.
• Prepare bridge plans, sketches and structural drawings; review structural plans prepared by others.
• Ensure shop plans meet AASHTO and VDOT specifications, are geometrically correct and aligned with project design plans.
• Evaluate the condition of existing structures and assist in defining the scope of proposed bridge rehabilitations.
• Assess load carrying capacity and perform structural calculations to ensure safety and compliance.
• Schedule, lead and participate in pre-construction conferences, contract showings and related meetings.
• Conduct thorough reviews of structural plans to minimize field problems and delays by ensuring conformance with guidelines and specifications.
• Assist in developing policies, procedures and practices that support proactive program management.
• Develop and implement process and policy improvements as needed.
• Monitor compliance with policies, procedures and state and federal laws and regulations.
• Organize work and monitor tasks to complete projects and documentation on schedule per VDOT standards.
• Serve as project manager for new bridge design and rehabilitation projects.
• Coordinate design activities with other sections, divisions and consultants to ensure effective project development.
• Develop scopes of work, manage project schedules, review proposals and manhours, assist with negotiations and coordinate bid advertisement activities.
• Oversee project activities to meet requirements and maintain records and correspondence.
• Attend project meetings to report progress and gather updates.
• Participate in or lead project teams as assigned and ensure timely communications among team members and stakeholders.
• Ensure technical accuracy and effective dissemination of information; resolve challenges to enhance team performance.
• Fulfill duties as the responsible charge engineer in accordance with policies, procedures and the Code of Virginia.
• Provide technical guidance and support related to bridge construction activities and issues; develop practical, economical recommendations for construction problems and bridge inquiries.
• Participate in meetings to present bridge-related issues.

Requirements

• Ability to apply advanced engineering principles to complex transportation projects.
• Ability to build networks with employees across divisions, field personnel, contractors, manufacturers and FHWA.
• Strong oral and written communication skills across diverse audiences; capable of leading meetings and presentations.
• Ability to establish effective working relationships at all organizational levels, internally and externally.
• Capacity to draw logical conclusions from analysis, make independent decisions and manage multiple assignments.
• Ability to estimate material quantities and costs.
• Ability to interpret and apply local, state and federal transportation laws, regulations and guidelines.
• Ability to manage projects and review and administer consultant design contracts.
• Ability to plan, coordinate and manage multiple concurrent assignments.
• Ability to produce structural design plans and notes; read and interpret plans, contracts, specifications and regulations.
• Experience with civil and structural engineering principles including strength of materials, statics and structural analysis.
• Experience in structural steel design, reinforced and prestressed concrete design and soil mechanics.
• Knowledge of federal, state and local laws, codes and policies related to transportation engineering.
• Knowledge of budgeting and cost estimation; project management processes.
• Knowledge of design specifications and regulations for structural design (AASHTO LRFD).
• Knowledge of transportation engineering standards, practices and specifications.
• Strong interpersonal skills for positive interaction with employees, citizens and government officials.
• Commitment to exemplary customer service and professional conduct with the public and colleagues.
• Negotiation skills and computer proficiency with engineering software.
• Ability to communicate effectively with internal and external customers in writing and speech.
• Ability to interpret construction plans and design specifications.
• MS Office proficiency and experience with bridge design and MicroStation software.
• Valid Professional Engineer license (PE).
• Experience in bridge design engineering, repair and rehabilitation; experience designing and analyzing bridges and structures.
• Experience managing projects and consultant contracts; experience using AASHTO LRFD design specifications.

Minimum Qualifications

• Degree in Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering or related field.
• Experience applying civil engineering principles to structural engineering, including strength of materials, statics and structural analysis.
• Experience in structural steel design, reinforced and prestressed concrete design and soil mechanics.
• Knowledge of AASHTO LRFD design standards; ability to read and interpret plans, contracts and specifications.
• Experience managing projects and reviewing consultant design contracts; ability to produce structural design plans and notes.
• Valid Professional Engineer license (PE).
• Proficiency with MS Office, bridge design software and MicroStation.

Additional Considerations

• Experience in bridge design engineering, repair and rehabilitation.
• Experience in the design and analysis of bridges and structures.
• Experience managing projects and consultant contracts; familiarity with AASHTO LRFD.
• Experience using MS Office, bridge design and MicroStation software.

Technologies

• MS Office
• MicroStation

What Will Make You Successful

• Ability to apply advanced engineering principles to complex transportation projects.
• Skill in building networks across divisions, field personnel, contractors, manufacturers and FHWA.
• Strong oral and written communication with diverse audiences; capable of conducting meetings and presentations.
• A track record of developing working relationships at all organizational levels, internally and externally.
• Independent decision making and the ability to manage multiple assignments with data-driven analysis.
• Experience estimating quantities and costs, and interpreting plans and regulations.
• Competence in project management, including managing consultant contracts and coordinating concurrent tasks.
• Ability to produce structural design plans and notes and to read complex plans, contracts and specifications.
• Proficiency with engineering software and a strong foundation in structural engineering principles.
• Strong customer service orientation and professional interaction with the public and stakeholders.

Physical Requirements

VDOT employees must abide by VDOT's Code of Ethics and the Commonwealth of Virginia's Standards of Conduct.