Civil Engineer (Highway)
Job Description
Full Job Description
Duties
As a Civil Engineer (Highway), you will:
- Provide advice and guidance on Federal laws, regulations, and FHWA policies applicable to Federal-aid projects within the State DOT project development process, in meetings, telephone contacts, public hearings, field reviews, and visits with State DOT officials and other Federal, State, and local agencies for assigned program areas and in assisting in the implementation of leadership initiatives.
- Conduct project reviews in accordance with the Division’s Risk-Based Stewardship and Oversight plan. Review required project actions for appropriate application of design standards and criteria, conformance with policy and regulations, eligibility for Federal participation, traffic safety features, reasonableness of cost estimates, fulfillment of requirements from the transportation planning and contract provisions.
- Review and evaluate project studies, and comments on alternatives and/or modifications. Authorize project agreements which may include reviewing the adequacy of proposed rights-of-way clearances, NEPA, construction plans, agreements for utility and railroad work, consultant agreements.
- Participate in and contribute to Division program management activities including development of stewardship and oversight plans, conducting risk assessments, development of strategic operations and business plans, promotion of the implementation of a performance-based planning and programming process to partner agencies, and identification and tracking of performance measures and the associated reporting processes. Provide Program Approvals that fall under the Discipline such as such as consultant written procedures, standard drawings, standard specifications, prequalification procedures, Uniform record keeping, procedures to determine contract time, and Liquidated Damages Rates.
- Participate in oversight activities, such as process reviews, and in-depth documentation reviews of Federal-aid programs; advises on problems and deficiencies, prepares reports and analysis, coordinates corrective actions, reviews and evaluates practices, and shares innovative practices, procedures and technologies. Participate in assessing State programs for effectiveness and compliance.
The ideal candidate is an engineer with experience monitoring Federally funded highway programs or delivering highway projects from initial scoping through construction support and maintenance; and experience conveying ideas and concepts to persuade others in meetings, discussions, and in writing.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- You must be a U.S. citizen & meet specialized experience to qualify
- Submit application and resume online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date
- Required documents must be submitted by the closing date.
- Direct Hire Authority will be used to fill this position
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:
- BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION:Â You may be required to complete a background/security investigation and meet preliminary requirements prior to onboarding.
- PROBATIONARY PERIOD:Â Varies by position and is determined by the hiring agency. If selected, a one-year or two-year probationary period may be required.
- GOVERNMENT TRAVEL CARD:Â This position involves travel. A government contractor-issued travel card will be issued and must be retained for official business only.
- TELEWORK ELIGIBILITY:Â The position is approved for occasional telework and you are required to report to the office on a regular basis. The number of telework days approved is determined by the agency policy, emergency situations, the approval of your immediate supervisor, and if applicable, approval of additional officials.
- PCS/RELOCATION/RECRUITMENT:Â Permanent Change of Station (PCS), Relocation, and Recruitment Incentive authorization varies by position/selection.
Qualifications
To meet the basic qualifications for this position, you must (1) meet the Mandatory Education Requirement for the series, (2) provide a copy of your transcripts or other applicable documentation for verification, AND (3) meet the specialized experience requirements for each grade you are applying to. Please review the following information before proceeding with the application process:
(1)Â All applicants must meet the education requirements under A or B to qualify for applying to an engineering position:
A. Degree: Engineering. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor’s degree in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET); or (2) that included differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced that first year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials; (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials; and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics;
OR
B. Combination of education or training: college level education, training and/or technical experience that has furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering.
The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following:
- Professional registration or licensure – current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), engineer in Training (EIT), or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE).
- Written Test – Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination, or any other written test required for professional registration by an engineering licensure board in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico.
- Specified academic courses – Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences which included the courses as specified in Paragraph A above.
- Related curriculum – Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor’s degree in an appropriate scientific field, e.g., engineering technology, physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a bachelor’s degree in engineering, provided the applicant had at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. There should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering type experience. This must be clearly described in your resume.
For additional information, please refer to the OPM qualifications standard for GS-800: All Professional Engineering Positions qualifications at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/files/all-professional-engineering-positions-0800.pdf.
(2) Upload the appropriate document(s) to your application for verification purposes.
(3) Specialized Experience:Â To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must meet the specialized experience.
To qualify for the Grade 12, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equal or equivalent to the GS-11, and it must include:
- Experience in planning, design, or construction of highway or transportation project features (such as roads and bridges) in accordance with engineering design and construction standards, principles and methods;Â AND
- Experience in consultation with others developing alternatives and helping to resolve engineering issues or conflicts that arise with processes or outcomes
You cannot use education alone to qualify at grades 12 and higher, you must have specialized experience.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs):Â Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas:
- Civil Engineering
- Compliance
- Oral Communication
- Written Communication
- Decisiveness
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.
All applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
Education
See the Qualifications section for the Mandatory Education Requirements.
Additional information
This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if similar vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.
Qualified CTAP/ICTAP candidates receive priority and will be referred to the hiring manager.
- Benefits
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
