Job Description
Valiant Group, LLC (VG) is a leading general contractor and construction management company serving commercial, healthcare, utility, and government clients throughout the eastern United States. We are Veteran-Owned Company based in Lancaster, PA with offices in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. We hold ourselves to a higher standard to deliver unparalleled results through better communication, unmatched integrity and intelligent efficiency. Project Office Engineer Overview Project(s)
Location:
Asheville, NC Region with projects occurring throughout the Blue Ridge Parkway. Position Summary The Project Office Engineer (POE) serves as the senior technical and administrative leader of the project office under the direction of the Project Engineer / Resident Engineer (PE/RE). The POE provides day-to-day leadership and supervision over a team of Construction Inspectors and office-engineering personnel, owns the integrity of the project's documentation and reporting systems, and serves as a primary point of accountability for compliance with FHWA, state DOT, and contract requirements. This is a leadership and management role — not a daily field-inspection assignment. The POE plans and assigns inspector coverage, oversees the contract administration, change-management and pay-estimate workflows, and is the senior liaison between the field inspection team, the contractor, the PE/RE, and the owner / FHWA representatives. The Construction Inspector Level III serves as a senior technical assistant to the PE. This role includes conducting detailed inspections, monitoring quality control, and drafting documentation. The CI-III operates independently but under the direction of the PE. Leadership & Supervisory Responsibilities Provide direct supervision, technical mentoring, and performance management for the project's Construction Inspectors (CI-I, CI-II, CI-III) and office-engineering staff. Plan, schedule, and assign daily and weekly inspector coverage based on planned contractor operations, ensuring qualified inspection of every controlling work activity. Review and approve Inspector's Daily Reports (IDRs), Daily Work Reports (DWRs), Material Registers, and as-built drawing markups prepared by the inspection team prior to incorporation into the official project record. Conduct regular field walk-downs with inspectors to verify the quality and consistency of inspection coverage, identify training needs, and reinforce documentation standards. Train and onboard new inspection staff on project-specific documentation systems, FHWA / state DOT specifications, and Valiant Group quality standards. Set and enforce expectations for safety, professionalism, and contractor engagement across the project office team. Conduct periodic performance reviews and escalate retention, performance, or staffing issues to the PE/RE and Valiant Group leadership. Project Office & Documentation Management Own the integrity and audit-readiness of all project documentation systems, including daily diaries, IDRs, Material Registers, certified-payroll files, submittals, RFIs, change orders, and as-built drawings. Establish and maintain document-control standards and electronic filing structures that satisfy FHWA, state DOT, and project-specific record-keeping requirements. Lead preparation, review, and submission of the monthly progress payment estimate; reconcile pay-item quantities, supporting documentation, and contractor invoices prior to PE/RE approval. Manage the project's RFI, submittal, and shop-drawing logs; coordinate engineer-of-record review timelines; ensure timely contractor response and closure. Lead preparation and processing of change orders, supplemental agreements, and force-account documentation; assist the PE/RE in cost analyses and negotiation support. Track and report contract time — controlling operations, time charges, and weather days — and maintain the schedule of values and contract balances. Coordinate with the contractor's project office on certified payroll, EEO / DBE / WBE utilization reporting, and labor compliance documentation as required by FHWA. Quality, Compliance & Stakeholder Interface Serve as the senior on-site liaison between the field inspection team, the contractor's project management, the PE/RE, and the owner / FHWA / state DOT representatives. Oversee and audit the contractor's Quality Control (QC) program and the project's Quality Assurance (QA) processes to ensure contract conformance; escalate systemic non-conformances to the PE/RE with recommended corrective actions. Lead and document weekly construction progress meetings, partnering meetings, and pre-activity meetings; circulate meeting minutes and track action items to closure. Review materials acceptance documentation (mix designs, mill certifications, test reports) and reconcile to contract specifications and approved Material Registers. Monitor work-zone traffic control, environmental compliance (SWPPP / NPDES), and safety-program execution by the contractor; coordinate with the safety officer on incident response and reporting. Support FHWA, state DOT, and internal audits — assemble responses, retrieve historical documentation, and represent the project office in audit conferences. Minimum Qualifications Certification / Registration (one of the following) Professional Engineer (PE) license in the project state or NCEES record (preferred); OR NICET
Level IV in Highway Construction or Highway Materials (preferred); OR NICET
Level III in Highway Construction with documented progression toward Level IV; OR Engineer-in-Training (EIT) certificate combined with the experience minimums below. Experience Minimum eight (8) years of progressively responsible construction engineering and inspection experience on state or federally-funded highway, bridge, or transportation infrastructure projects. Minimum two (2) years of direct supervisory or lead-inspector experience over a team of two or more inspection or office-engineering personnel. Demonstrated experience preparing and processing monthly pay estimates, change orders, and force-account documentation on FHWA-funded or state DOT projects. Working knowledge of FHWA documentation, FAR / federal labor compliance, certified payroll, and EEO / DBE / WBE
reporting requirements. Education Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Engineering, or Construction Management (preferred); OR Associate's degree in Engineering Technology or Construction Technology combined with the certification and experience minimums above. Knowledge, Skills & Abilities In-depth knowledge of highway and bridge construction methods, materials, equipment, trades, traffic control, environmental compliance, and surveying practices. Strong working knowledge of state DOT specifications, standard plans, and FHWA documentation requirements applicable to the assigned project. Ability to read and interpret complex plans, specifications, contracts, schedules, submittals, and cost estimates and translate them into inspection and documentation direction for the team. Demonstrated ability to draft contract documents, technical correspondence, independent engineer's estimates, and audit-ready project records. Proven ability to coordinate, schedule, and develop the work of others; resolve field and office conflicts; and build constructive working relationships with contractors and agency staff. Strong oral and written communication skills; comfortable presenting in agency meetings and writing for an FHWA audit audience. Proficiency in Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, SharePoint, and Bluebeam. Proficiency in Primavera P6 or equivalent scheduling software, and in an electronic project documentation platform (e.g., Appia, SiteManager, AASHTOWare Project Construction & Materials, ProjectWise, or equivalent state DOT system). Familiarity with materials testing standards (ACI, AASHTO, ASTM) and acceptance processes is required. Valid driver's license; OSHA 30-Hour Construction certification preferred. Work Environment & Physical Requirements In-person assignment based in the project office, with regular field walk-downs of active construction operations. Exposure to typical construction-site conditions, including weather, dust, noise, vehicular traffic, and uneven terrain. Occasional travel between project office, materials test sites, and stakeholder locations. Must be able to traverse active work zones, climb to elevated areas, and lift up to 25 lbs as required. Job Type:
Full-time Pay:
$65.00 - $85.00 per hour Benefits:
401(k) Paid time off Experience:
Management of other Inspectors:
5 years (Required) License/Certification:
EIT Certificate (Preferred) NICET Level III or higher (Required) Associates in Civil Engineering Technology or Higher (Required) Work Location:
In person
