CIVIL ENGINEER III-BRIDGE INSPECTION ENGINEER - IPR#45378

Job Responsibilities

This position is accountable for the National Bridge Inspection Standards (NBIS), In-depth, Element Level, Fracture Critical, Underwater and Special bridge inspections, as well as for providing information necessary to complete bridge condition reports and other bridge related inspections for all the bridges in the assigned geographic area. 

Number of Bridges:                           750 Bridges & 500 Small Culverts
Annual Inspections Conducted:        1,000 
Dollar Value of Investment:               $5B – $7B   

This position reports to the Area Bridge Inspection Engineer. No staff reports to this position. 

This position functions in an area where the accessibility to the structures requiring inspection is often difficult and dangerous and requires the use of specialty equipment and the latest technology to make certain that the information obtained leads to decisions about bridge condition that ensures the continued safe and economical movement of traffic.  The fact that these highways carry three to four billion vehicle miles of traffic annually complicates the problem of developing and implementing an effective program of bridge inspection. 

Typical problems encountered by the incumbent include:  the physical inspection of all the bridges in the geographic area to ensure that prescribed time frames are met for NBIS, In-depth, Element Level, Fracture Critical, Special Inspection and mandated inspections.  The greatest challenge to this position is providing quality inspection information that contributes to preserving the structural integrity and operating effectiveness of all the bridges in the assigned geographic area and that critical information detected during inspections is quickly made available to the appropriate decision makers. 

(Job Responsibilities continued)

The incumbent personally performs activities necessary to complete all required bridge inspections for the bridges in the assigned geographic area in conformance with prescribed deadlines and frequency.  These inspections are complicated by several factors including:  the extreme diversity of these bridges (from rural bridges to the world's busiest, from simple span to complex mechanical bridges); high traffic volumes, and severe resource and equipment constraints that require that bridge inspections be carefully scheduled, expedited, and undertaken with extreme technical ingenuity; with a continuous emphasis on safety, accuracy and timeliness.  This position performs inspections in a safe manner, follows inspection schedules with quality results and that critical information concerning bridge deficiencies, need for maintenance or other factors are quickly analyzed and provided to those persons, agencies or department units which need to know the critical information in order to make timely decisions and/or repairs.  The incumbent must ensure the proper use of personnel, equipment, and other resources to complete the required inspection schedule.  The incumbent prepares bridge inspection reports for bridges in the assigned geographic area, ensuring accuracy and timeliness. 

The incumbent works within the established engineering guidelines for bridge inspection, however, considerable independent judgment is required when reviewing or performing bridge inspections and inspection reports.  The incumbent performs duties within the constraints imposed by budget, department policies, union agreements, NBIS standards and seasonal weather conditions. 

Frequent contact is maintained with consultants, the public, federal, and other state and local agencies.  Internally the incumbent maintains frequent contact with the district bureaus of Traffic, Programming, Design, and Construction. 

The effectiveness of this position can be measured by the incumbent's ability to provide quality bridge inspections while meeting deadlines. 

Principal Accountabilities

1.    Performs annual bridge inspection programs including NBIS, In-depth, Element Level, Fracture Critical, Underwater and Special for the assigned geographic area.
2.    Ensures inspection schedules are met.
3.    Maintains technical expertise necessary to perform bridge inspections.
4.    Provides critical information to the proper authorities in a timely manner.
5.    Performs duties in compliance with departmental safety rules.  Performs all duties in a manner conducive to the fair and equitable treatment of all employees.
6.    Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Position Requirements 

• Education/Experience
  • Completion of a or bachelor's degree in engineering from an ABET accredited college OR master’s degree in engineering OR a current Engineer Intern License in the state of Illinois
  • Forty-Three (43) months of civil engineering experience
• Ability to work in confined spaces, at times during off-peak hours, utilizing mechanical equipment and in varying weather conditions
• Ability to climb/use ladders or operate mechanical equipment to access parts of bridges at considerable heights
• Ability to work over and in waterways, including utilizing various types of boats and accessing waterways with waders or hip boots
• Valid driver's license

Position Desirables 

• Working knowledge of maintenance and/or construction with an emphasis in structures
• Ability to utilize computers and various software programs to perform work
• Good written and oral communication skills