Civil Engineer (Highway Design) (Open to both U.S. Citizens and Federal Employees)

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Department of Transportation

Job Summary

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has Civil Engineer (Design) positions available in the Western Federal Lands Highway Division (WFLHD) in Vancouver, Washington. Projects occur primarily on Federal Lands managed by other Federal agencies (e.g., National Park Service & U.S. Forest Service) & include multi-state areas. This establishes an open continuous NTE 6 months, vacancy announcement for Civil Engineer (Highway Design), we will review applications on as needed basis.

Major Duties

As a Civil Engineer (Highway Design) at the mid-level, you will:

  • Develops the design and monitor the budget and schedule for assigned projects and has responsibility for the project from initial scoping through construction support. Manages workload by setting and adjusting short-term priorities, as required, to meet changing project needs and information.
  • Generates and evaluates geometric design alternatives and develops sound design concepts. Assesses the impact of standard exceptions/compromises to established engineering principles and practices and conceptualizes acceptable design exceptions and mitigation strategies, as necessary, to meet customer needs.
  • Develops plans, specifications, and estimates (PS&E) packages that clearly define the work, are biddable, and emphasize context sensitivity, safety, and constructability. Identifies appropriate bid items, performs quantity computations for all facets of highway design, and develops summary tables for project plans and price estimates for all work items for assigned projects. Prepares appropriate design documentation, provides quality control reviews on PS&Es prepared by other designers.
  • Interprets, applies, and communicates the laws, regulations, policies and guidance related to highway design. Assists in the development of plans for accomplishing business objectives and implementing quality initiatives, including assisting in the formulation and establishment of policies, standards, guidelines, and priorities for team operations.
  • Identifies, recommends, and/or uses appropriate technologies for gathering data during PS&E development. Improves the quality of highway design work through the use of new technologies and process improvements. Collaborates with internal staff and outside agencies.
  • Ensures financial accountability and management of funds for assigned projects. Reviews and updates project work steps, resources, and budget as required.

Projects involve critical engineering constraints, strong public interest, environmental or other constraints, and many specialty design items and/or critical time frames. The employee applies technical expertise in highway design to address context-sensitivity, sustainability, and livability issues, including safety, economics, environmental issues, and impacts to local landowners. At the senior level, mentors, trains, and assists in the distribution of project work tasks to other designers on the team and assists in quality control on design work products. As assigned, may be a Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) responsible for managing Architect-Engineer (A/E) Consultant task orders or reimbursable agreements.

The ideal candidate is a design engineer with experience working both independently and with multidisciplinary teams in developing, monitoring, and adhering to the design, budget, and schedule for assigned roadway construction projects, providing technical assistance from initial scoping through construction support, and addressing design engineering issues with a wide range of external contacts.

    • RECRUITMENT INCENTIVE MAY BE OFFERED TO SELECTEE(S) OF THIS POSITION.

Qualifications

To qualify for the GS-07 on Experience, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-05, it must include: Experience assisting design engineers performing simple projects or portions of projects, such as developing Plans Specifications, and Estimates (PS&E) packages or performing quantity computations. Experience applying mathematical, physical science, and engineering practices. To qualify for the GS-07 on Education, you must have: One full academic year of graduate level education; OR bachelor’s degree with * Superior Academic Achievement http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/#url=General-Policiesas defined in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook; OR five academic years of pre-professional study.*Superior Academic Achievement.- In the upper one-third of graduating class; OR a GPA of 3.0 or higher out of 4.0, as recorded on official transcript, or based on courses completed during final 2 years of curriculum; OR a GPA of 3.5 or higher out of 4.0, based on average of required courses completed in major or required courses in major completed during the final 2 years of curriculum; OR Honor Society Membership. You can also qualify based on a combination of education and experience.

To qualify for the GS-09 on Experience, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-07, it must include: Experience as a design engineer performing a variety of highway design activities such as,developing portions of Plans, Specifications, and Estimates (PS&E) packages, identifyingappropriate bid items, performing quantity computations, developing summary tables forproject plans and price estimates, selecting and assembling special contract requirements(SCRs), or developing critical path diagrams for determination of construction contracttime. FOR THE GS-09, to qualify on Education alone, you must have: Twofull years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree OR

Master's or equivalent graduate degree OR

LL.B. or J.D., if related 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/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/#url=e4Studentsenrolled 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.

Pay Range

$47,264.00 - $71,180.00

More information...

End Date: 

Friday, May 8, 2020