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FH
Federal Highway Administration
Lead Civil Engineer (Highway) (Direct Hire)
Career Insights for Civil Engineer
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What they do
A Civil Engineer designs and supervises large construction projects such as public buildings, roads, and waterways. Designs projects that meet the needs of users and the public and are structurally sound. Addresses environmental and land use issues in project design. May specialize in a particular aspect of design and construction, or a particular type of construction, such as transportation systems.
$104,904 / year median in Alabama
+7% projected growth
Job Description
Lead Civil Engineer (Highway) (Direct Hire) Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration Summary The employee serves as a team leader for the FHWA office with responsibility for administering the Federal-aid Highway Program within the State. The program includes participation in activities related to planning, environment, design, construction, and financing of projects. The employee provides leadership to assigned staff, serves as a member of a cross-functional team supporting program and project delivery, and represents FHWA in contact with the State DOT, other agencies, and the public. This job is open to The public U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S. Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL) Federal employees whose job, agency or department was eliminated and are eligible for priority over other applicants. Clarification from the agency Applications will be accepted from any U.S. Citizen. Due to the potential of a high volume of applicants, not all applicants may receive consideration. Direct Hire Authority will be used to fill this position. The 'Rule of Many', Veterans Preference and traditional rating and ranking of applicants does not apply to this vacancy. Duties As a Lead Civil Engineer (Highway), you will : Serve as a member of the division office leadership team and lead division participation in program and project delivery activities. Oversee the program management functions of a team of engineers and/or specialists, which may include design, environment, construction, contract administration, pavement, safety, ITS, bridge, and other project delivery-related activities. The incumbent facilitates communication and coordination among division office teams to enhance overall Federal-aid highway program and project delivery. This involves the performance of a variety of high-level duties in the areas of project delivery, finance, planning, resource utilization, program delivery, contract administration and other transportation related areas. As Team Leader, facilitates an environment of consensus building, partnering, and performing assigned functions. Participates in meetings with the State DOT and FHWA personnel to explain Federal-aid laws, regulations, and policies and their application to specific, complex cases, and follows up to assure appropriate actions are taken and effective methods are adopted to prevent or minimize conflicts between State, local, and Federal laws, regulations, and policies. Keep informed of emerging issues and maintains regular contacts with State DOT representatives to effectively provide guidance in delivery of the Federal-aid highway program. Participates in and contribute to the division program management activities including risk assessment, development of strategic operation and business plans, identification and tracking of performance measures and the associated reporting processes. Participate on special projects, committees, or ad hoc groups (e.g. value engineering studies, corridor studies, special technical committees) as requested by Division leadership. As Team Leader, advances Risk-based Stewardship and Oversight (RBSO) principles and use the results of program assessments to inform decisions on the strategic direction of the Federal-aid Highway Program within the state. Provides expert advice to the State DOT and division office for Federal-aid program related to the development and implementation of highway projects statewide in support of FHWA strategic goals, laws, regulations, policies, and Executive Orders. Provides input in the formulation of division office policies. The ideal candidate is a mid-career engineer with experience monitoring statewide Federally funded highway programs or managing the delivery of a program of highway projects from initial scoping through construction support and maintenance; and experience conveying ideas and concepts in meetings and discussions, and in writing. The ideal candidate will oversee the program management functions of a team of engineers and/or transportation specialists, which may include design, environment, construction, contract administration, pavement and materials, safety, ITS/operations, bridge, and other project delivery-related activities. 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/SME will be used to fill this position.
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance the organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.SELECTIVE SERVICE
Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for the Selective Service.GOVERNMENT TRAVEL CARD
This position involves travel. A government contractor-issued travel card will be issued and must be retained for official business only.BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION
A background security investigation is required for all selected individuals. Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of the security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to meet these requirements will be grounds for termination.PCS/RELOCATION/RECRUITMENT
Permanent Change of Station (PCS), Relocation, and Recruitment Incentive authorization varies by position/selection and a service agreement may be required.PROBATIONARY PERIOD
Applicants may be required to successfully complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed). 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-13 , you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-12, 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; AND Experience in consultation with others, developing alternatives and helping to resolve engineering issues or conflicts that arise with processes or outcomes; AND Experience representing the organization with partners and stakeholders to provide advice, consultation, or project oversight. You cannot qualify for the GS-13 on education alone; you must also 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: Transportation Engineering- Knowledge of the concepts, principles, theories, and methods applicable to planning, designing, and constructing of transportation systems including traffic analysis, signal analysis, highway capacity, pavement design, bridge construction, planning of transportation projects, environmental analysis of transportation facilities, and transportation network analysis. Compliance
- Knowledge of procedures for assessing, evaluating, and monitoring programs or projects for compliance with Federal laws, regulations, and guidance. Leadership
- Influences, motivates, and challenges others; adapts leadership styles to a variety of situations. Technical Credibility
- Understands and appropriately applies principles, procedures, requirements, regulations, and policies related to specialized expertise. Oral Communication
- Maintains regular contacts with State DOT representatives to provide day-to-day advice and policy guidance in delivering the Federal-aid highway program.
- Ensure that the organization's strategic plan, mission, vision and values are communicated to the team and integrated into the team's strategies, goals, objectives, work plans and work products and services.
MANDATORY EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
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 ABET; or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); 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 AND EXPERIENCE
- College-level education, training, and/or technical experience that 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.
- Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT)1 , or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico.
- 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 and that included the courses specified in the basic requirements under paragraph A. The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of an engineering program as described in paragraph A. Related curriculum
- Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in an appropriate scientific field, e.
Required Documents RESUME:
In accordance with the OPM memorandum titled Merit Hiring Plan, dated May 29, 2025, resumes with a maximum of two (2) pages in length will be accepted as part of your application. These should be legible and in a readable font size. A determination of your eligibility and/or qualifications will be based only on those two (2) pages. Your resume MUST contain specific information that can be used to make a qualification determination , including employment beginning and ending dates for each position, whether employment is Full-time or Part-time, or average number of hours worked per week, and position titles. If the position is/was in the Federal government, you will need to provide the position series and grade level. The resume should show relevant experience and education, as well as support the required specialized experience. For assistance with the resume builder, please visit : https://help.usajobs.gov/how-toTRANSCRIPTS
areREQUIRED
as there is a stated education requirement for the series . The transcripts need not be official, but must show that you meet the stated education requirements, including specific major or class requirements.ENGINEERS
If you are applying to an engineering position and are qualifying based on possessing a current Professional Engineer (PE) license, or passing the Engineer in Training (EIT) exam, please provide a copy of PE license or written documented proof of passing theEIT. DISPLACED EMPLOYEES
If requesting consideration under the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or Interagency CTAP program (ICTAP), you must meet the standards for this vacancy and provide all of the following documents: your most recent performance appraisal, the proof of eligibility letter from the Agency, and your most current SF-50, displaying current series and grade. QualifiedCTAP/ICTAP
candidates receive priority and will be referred to the hiring manager. For more information, please review the OPM Employee's Guide to Career Transition. Failure to submit any of the required documents by the closing date of the vacancy will result in your removal from consideration for this position. Please review your application prior to final submission and ensure you have submitted all appropriate documents. Uploading documents to USA Jobs does NOT ensure inclusion with your application to our system. You must verify that the documents are in the system with your application prior to final submission. If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements: Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education . Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating. How to Apply You must submit a complete application package (including resume, vacancy questions and supporting documents) no later than 11:59 pm (EST) on the closing date of the announcement. To begin, click the "Apply Online" button on the job announcement posting. Follow the directions to register, submit all required documents and complete the assessment questionnaire. You may review your saved application(s) at https://help.usajobs.gov/ If you are having difficulty applying online, please contact the DOT Automated Staffing Office via email at: Transjobs@dot.gov Agency contact information Automated Staffing Office Phone 000-000-0000 Fax 000-000-0000 EmailTRANSJOBS
@dot.gov AddressDOT, FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION
Submit Application and Documents Online 1200 New Jersey AveSE / HAHR
- 50 Washington, District of Columbia 20590 United States Next steps You may check your application status by logging into USAJobs.
TRANSJOBS
@dot.gov AddressDOT, FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION
Submit Application and Documents Online 1200 New Jersey AveSE / HAHR
- 50 Washington, District of Columbia 20590 United States