Technical Director, Bridge Engineer

This Opportunity

WSP is seeking a Technical Director, Bridge Engineer to join our transportation team in our Tempe, Arizona office. Be involved in projects with our Transportation Team and be a part of a growing organization that meets our clients’ objectives and solves their challenges.

The candidate will provide subject‑matter technical support and leadership for asset management, program management, rehabilitation, and new design projects for the public sector. Responsible for SME innovation and administration, ensuring corporate compliance with all Local, State, and Federal engineering, construction, and safety regulations, and providing pragmatic direction to address current and future challenges in a rapidly‑changing and complex business climate.

Your Impact

• Function as a design lead and support others in managing projects that have a structure.
• Lead mid‑level professional engineers, engineers‑in‑training (EITs), and CADD technicians through basic design and plan production.
• Apply high‑level structural and civil engineering techniques and processes to identify improvements for various infrastructure project phases involving more complex transportation engineering work, including concept development, preliminary design, final design, and construction.
• Plan, organize, and supervise engineering activities on bridge projects.
• Provide innovative solutions related to the design of bridges, transit structures, and other significant structures required for state highways, county roads, and city streets.
• Coordinate with the district structures management team.
• Perform engineering review of permit applications, engineering design plans and specifications, standby plans and engineering contracts, integrated management plans, and periodic construction inspections, to ensure that they comply with applicable state and/or federal regulations and sound engineering practice and standards.
• Lead larger‑scale more complex structural engineering projects ensuring contributors know what they are required to do and by when, preparing and overseeing relevant project budgets, monitoring external events, tracking hours and expenses, ensuring satisfactory performance, and supervising subcontractors, contract work, and employees.
• Support the overall long‑term strategy, growth, and pipeline development of Structural Engineering work for WSP in assigned area of responsibility, with a focus on infrastructure opportunities in all disciplines (planning, design, strategic consulting, and program/construction management).
• Assist with the preparation of an annual update to business tactical action plans within the specified area.
• Meet with various public or private entities or individuals to discuss issues relating to a variety of engineering/construction challenges and programs.
• Ensure that engineering discipline certifications, accreditations, and value proposition is developed and continuously improved.
• Schedule engineering discipline meetings, providing updates and recommendations to ensure that all reasonable and proper measures are taken to inculcate discipline expertise and innovation into project work.
• Serve as one of the engineering discipline’s lead representatives/liaison to a variety of external entities including Federal, State, and Local Agencies, Clients, Subcontractors, industry‑related groups, and various government and community entities.
• Develop and inform timelines, pricing, and budgetary metrics – and accountable for design of projects in compliance with all applicable City/State/Federal codes and regulations, and in accordance with all acceptable engineering practices.
• Interpret and summarize data, including reports and documents that result in sound engineering and regulatory conclusions.
• Mentor staff to support their growth and professional development.
• Manage and provide performance guidance and leadership to assigned staff.
• Remain current in latest structural engineering techniques and practices.
• Collaborate with professionals from a variety of disciplines to provide “trusted advisor” service and future ready solutions for clients.
• Exercise responsible and ethical decision‑making regarding company funds, resources and conduct, and adhere to WSP’s Code of Conduct and related policies and procedures.
• Perform additional responsibilities as required by business needs.

Who You Are

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Structural or Civil Engineering, or closely related discipline.
• Experience managing engineering activities on structure‑centered transportation projects.
• 12+ years of relevant post education experience in engineering, structural/civil and infrastructure design.
• Engineer license required (multi‑state preferred).
  • Either a Professional Engineering license issued by the State of Arizona or the ability to readily obtain reciprocity.
• Advanced proficiency with structural engineering principles, practices, process, design/build, standard of care, and the application to permitting and project work‑related issues.
• Advanced proficiency with bridge design.
• Strong working knowledge of relevant structural and civil construction laws, codes, regulations, compliance practices, and record‑keeping requirements, and the business impact upon the organization.
• Advanced proficiency with making technical computations and calculations involving the application of engineering principles, understanding plans and specifications and making factual comparisons to the appropriate regulations.
• Works independently and provides guidance and leadership to mid‑level to senior level team or project members, with strict adherence to QA/QC.
• Excellent leadership and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to effectively, persuasively, and tactfully interact with employees at all levels of the organization.
• Tactical lateral thinking and strong analytical skills with attention to detail and prioritization of responsibilities in a pressure work environment.
• Ability to elicit cooperation from a wide variety of sources, including senior management, clients, regulators, and company‑wide staff, including those with whom no formal hierarchical relationship exits.
• Advanced proficiency with office automation, discipline‑specific design software (i.e., MicroStation, AutoCAD, Civil 3D, ArcGIS, InRoads, Geopak, GeoSlope, ANSYS, STADD, HEC‑RAS, HEC‑HMS), technology, math principles, physics, predictive models, spreadsheets, and tools.
• Proven track record of upholding workplace safety and ability to abide by WSP’s health, safety and drug/alcohol and harassment policies.
• Strong ability to quickly adapt to change and demonstrate flexibility to a variety of schedules and hours to meet business needs.
• Occasional travel may be required depending on project‑specific requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in Engineering.
• Strong experience in managing the review and approval of documents and discipline‑specific deliverables, certifications, processes, and plans in a multi‑project environment is highly desirable.

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