Civil Engineer (Structural) - DIRECT HIRE

The employee serves as a structural engineer for the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Division office with responsibility for managing and promoting the Federal highway programs applicable to bridges and other structures within the State. The employee coordinates and evaluates the structural programs and assists coworkers within the Division office in addressing technically complex or controversial issues on project specific applications related to structures.

As a Civil Engineer (Structural), you will: Participate in the development and evaluation of new guidelines and directives. Support FHWA's transportation performance management, asset management, and preservation activities as it relates to highway bridges, tunnels, and other structures. The incumbent assists with the development and deployment of state-of-the-art practice and emerging technologies for these activities Provide support for reports and briefings for Office of the Secretary of Transportation (OST), FHWA leadership, and Congressional staff on the inventory and condition of the nation's bridges and tunnels. The reports include, and are not limited to, national and State-focused summary reports pertaining to bridge and tunnel condition and risk areas to the programs. Play a key role in reviewing structural plans for suitability of structural adequacy, economy, safety, aesthetics, hydraulics, foundation, and overall concept. Interpret and apply relevant structural codes for testing, design, construction and maintenance of structures, including seismic design and retrofit. Promote the use of the most current technologies, standards, and practices in the development of projects. Evaluate proposals, makes recommendations, and approves concepts for development of detailed contract plans. Review technical reports, articles, and other documents for conformance and consistency with the Federal provisions and requirements related to highway bridges, tunnels, and other structures. Strong written and oral communication skills to effectively convey technical findings and complex structures related concepts, collaborate in the development of improvement and corrective action plans, and prepare briefings for leadership and other staff on bridge and tunnel related issues and projects. Assist in the development of policies and procedures to effectively manage these funding programs and to analyze the collected data by working with State and local governments along with HQ and other Division offices. Work closely with Division staff and stakeholders to resolve special problem areas and unique matters related to the programs. Knowledge of the governing legislation, regulations, policies, and other guidelines relating to these activities is also required. The ideal candidate for this position is a seasoned mid-career structural engineering professional with project management experience in bridge design, bridge construction inspection, and bridge program management.

Qualifications

To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must (1) meet the Education Requirement for the series, (2) provide a copy of transcripts for verification, AND (3) meet either the education or experience qualifications for the grade at which you are requesting consideration. To qualify for the GS-11 on Experience, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-09 it must include: Assisting in the development and/or evaluation of plans, specifications, and estimates packages for bridges related to transportation projects Inspecting bridges under construction and in-service bridges. To qualify for the GS-11 on Education alone, you must have: 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. You can also qualify based on a combination of higher level graduate education and experience. This must be fully supported by your resume and transcripts, provided with your application. To qualify for the GS-12 on Experience, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-11 it must include: Experience evaluating the quality of plans, specifications and estimate (PS&E) packages for bridges related to transportation projects and inspecting bridges under construction. Experience inspecting in-service bridges using National Bridge Standards (NBLS) and/or National Tunnel Inspection Standards (NTLS). You cannot qualify on education at the GS-12 level; you must have experience. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas: Technical Competence - Uses knowledge that is acquired through formal training or extensive on-the-job experience to perform one's job; works with, understands, and evaluates technical information related to the job; advises others on technical issues. Oral Communication - Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately. Program Management - Knowledge of the principles, methods, and techniques for establishing internal control activities (for example, authorizations, verifications, reconciliations), monitoring their use, and evaluating their performance (for example, identification of material weaknesses or significant deficiencies). Structural Engineering - Knowledge of the concepts, principles, theories, and methods related to the design and analysis of complex structures using a variety of materials. Structures may include aerospace systems or structures, and other determinate or indeterminate systems. For all types of consideration, experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience For additional information about applying to Federal positions, please click on the following link: https://www.opm.gov/frequently-asked-questions/employment-faq/federal-hiring/how-do-i-apply-for-federal-jobs/ Students enrolled in a qualifying degree program can apply if the anticipated graduation date is within six months of closing date of the announcement. Graduation transcript must be received before start date. Other applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.