Job Description and Duties
Under the supervision of the Branch Chief, a Senior Bridge Engineer, the incumbent is responsible for performing field engineering investigations per 23 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 650 Subpart C National Bridge Inspection Standards for some of the 25,500 in‑service highway bridges on the State and Local highway networks statewide and reporting the results of those investigations in comprehensive written engineering reports. The incumbent will be required to develop inspection plans. The incumbent may be required to work outside normal working days and hours to respond to emergency situations involving bridges, assess the structural condition and direct field crews in the repair and stabilization activities of damaged bridges. Desired qualifications for the incumbent include registration as a Civil Engineer in California.
Eligibility for hire may be determined by your score on the Transportation Engineer (Civil) exam. For those who do not have current eligibility (e.g., transfer, permissive reinstatement, or voluntary demotions) and/or who will be new to state civil services employment, you must be on the state examination list to be eligible for these positions. To apply for the exam, please click here and search by typing in the classification title.
Candidates are required to review the Minimum Qualifications (MQs) for this classification. If you meet MQs under Pattern II and require the TE Civil in‑person written hurdle exam, DO NOT TAKE the TE Civil online exam prior to passing the written hurdle. Candidates who take the TE Civil online exam prior to passing the written hurdle may negatively impact their hiring eligibility. Please contact the exam unit at askexams@dot.ca.gov for additional information prior to taking the online examination.
For clarification on the education requirement of the minimum qualifications, please reach out to the Human Resources Contact prior to taking the online Training and Experience Evaluation. For a list of ABET accredited schools, please refer to this link: Find Programs | ABET.
Please take this 1‑minute Caltrans Recruitment survey to tell us how you found out about this job. https://forms.office.com/g/RyK102ty4G
Video: https://youtu.be/oC9wIp8QalI
Apply today to join our team! We especially encourage applicants to check out our Caltrans Career Compass tool! The Caltrans Career Compass is a tool to assist and help candidates understand and succeed in applying to Caltrans positions.
You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.
Working Conditions
The incumbent will perform office work in an office in Sacramento or at remote locations throughout California and perform field work at bridge locations throughout California. All field work will originate from the Sacramento Headquarters office.
While performing office work, the incumbent will work in a climate‑controlled environment under artificial light using video monitors, computer equipment and software. While performing field work, the incumbent will work outdoors (occasionally at night), on watercraft, around water, at heights, exposed to highway and/or marine traffic, construction activities, loud noises, dust, dirt, chemicals, uneven surfaces, steep slopes, animals (wild and domesticated), unsheltered individuals and encampments, plants/vegetation, and a variety of sometimes extreme weather conditions and climates that occur throughout California.
The incumbent must be able to travel throughout the State to perform office and field work using State vehicles, commercial transportation, or personal vehicles. Required travel is typically overnight away from the employee’s home residence and the Sacramento Headquarter office for one or several contiguous days. Approximately two weeks of travel per month is required and will vary with workload.
The bridge inspection field environment can be harsh and aggressive. The incumbent will be expected to have the necessary skills and aptitude to work in various team roles and environmental conditions.
The Caltrans Transportation Engineer (Civil) Rotation Program is a mandatory 24 month to 33 months rotation assignment for all permanent, full‑time Transportation Engineer (Civil) employees that have completed their probationary period hired by Caltrans Districts after June 22, 2018, or an earlier date as determined by the Districts. The purpose of the Rotation Program is to provide opportunities for employees and Caltrans to benefit by participating in a standardized process that systematically engages newly hired engineers. Participants will develop well‑rounded project delivery knowledge, skills, and abilities by rotating through diverse project delivery functional units. The Rotation Program includes mandatory core assignments in Design and Construction units, as well as a mandatory elective assignment. Each rotation assignment is typically between 6 to 12 months and will be based on workload needs and the employee’s goals. Assignments may involve long term travel and can be located throughout the state.
In addition to the Rotation Program, an incumbent may be required to go on loan to another project delivery function when there are temporary or peak staffing needs in those areas.
This position may be eligible for telework. The amount of telework is at the discretion of the Department and based on Caltrans’s evolving telework policy. Caltrans supports telework, recognizing that in‑person attendance may be required based on operational needs. Employees are expected to be able to report to their worksites with minimum notification if an urgent need arises. The selected candidate will be required to commute to the headquartered location as needed to meet operational needs. Business travel may be required, and reimbursement considers an employee’s designated headquartered location, primary residence, and may be subject to CalHR regulations or applicable bargaining unit contract provisions. All commute expenses to the headquartered location will be the responsibility of the selected candidate.
