BRIDGE INSPECTION ASSISTANT (ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN III)

Illinois Comptroller; Paris (IL); Hybrid; USD 46,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Life Insurance

Vision Insurance

Dental Insurance

Pension Plan

Paid Vacation Days

Paid Sick Days

Job summary

The Illinois Department of Transportation in Paris, Illinois is seeking a Bridge Inspection Assistant to join the Office of Highways and Intermodal Project Implementation. This role helps conduct detailed inspections of bridges and structures to ensure safety and compliance with state and national standards.

You will prepare reports, enter data into BIS, and collaborate with engineers. A minimum of two years of college in civil engineering tech or equivalent, plus construction engineering

Qualifications

• Two years of college in civil engineering technology, pre-engineering or a related technical/science curriculum plus 30 months of construction engineering experience; OR six years of construction engineering experience.
• FHWA-approved bridge inspection training course (NHI 130055 or 130056) preferred.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Assists, as a member of the Bridge Inspection team, in ongoing detailed field inspection of bridges and structures to ensure compliance with National Bridge Inspection Standards and IDOT policies.
• Performs underwater inspections, calculates streambed elevations, and collects cross-sections per standards.
• Assists with field inspections of fracture critical structures and underwater inspections.
• Prepares bridge inspection forms, sketches, and reports; enters data into BIS.

Skills

Strong communication skills

Education

Two years of college in civil engineering technology or related curriculum

Six years of construction engineering experience

Job description

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BRIDGE INSPECTION ASSISTANT (ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN III)

We continually strive for a workforce that reflects the growing diversity within the State of Illinois. A variety of employee backgrounds, perspectives, ideas and experiences are crucial to our ability to most effectively serve the public. Bilingual skills welcome

Reasonable Accommodation Statement

The State of Illinois is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to people with disabilities. Further, federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job, interview for a job, or for any other activity related to the hiring process. Examples of reasonable accommodation include, but are not limited to, making a change to the application process (if possible), providing documents in an alternate format, using a sign language interpreter, or using specialized equipment.

To be provided a Reasonable Accommodation during the hiring process, you will need to provide a certification of disability from a physician, psychiatrist, school official or an Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS) Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Counselor. Supporting documentation should be uploaded under My Documents → Additional Documents section for each application.

Any questions on Reasonable Accommodations can be directed to Central Management Services Disability Resource Center at [e-mail] or call [phone] for further information and to request or discuss an accommodation.

Sponsorship for Employment

The State of Illinois does not provide sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g. H-1B visa status), nor is the State able to provide extensions of optional practical training (OPT) under the STEM-designated degree program for F-1 students. To be considered for permanent employment with the State of Illinois, applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.

Disclosure of Salary Information

In compliance with the Illinois Equal Pay Act, 820 ILCS 112/1 et seq., the State does not seek, request, or require a job applicant’s wage or salary history. Employment decisions are not made based on an applicant’s wage or salary history. To that end, please do not include wage or salary information in your resume or other profile or application materials.

Job Requisition ID:58769 IPR# 26-01767
Opening Date: 09/16/2026
Closing Date: 09/30/2026
Agency: Department of Transportation
Position Title: Engineering Technician III
Salary: Anticipated Starting Salary: $ 4,159 Monthly; Full Range: $ 4,159 - $ 7,187 Monthly
Job Type: Salaried
Category:Full Time
Number of Vacancies: 2
Bargaining Unit: NR916 Pro Tech Teamsters
Work Hours: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM Monday - Friday
Anticipated Hybrid Work Schedule Availability: 1 to 5 Days per week in office, depending on operational needs
Work Location: 13473 Il Highway 133, Paris, Illinois, 61944

Work Office: Office of Highways and Intermodal Project Implementation, Region 3/District 5/Bureau of Operations

This position is a union position; therefore, provisions of the relevant collective bargaining agreement/labor contract apply to the filling of this position.

Why Work for Illinois?

Working with the State of Illinois is a testament to the values of compassion, equity, and dedication that define our state. Whether you’re helping to improve schools, protect our natural resources, or support families in need, you’re part of something bigger—something that touches the lives of every person who calls Illinois home. No matter what state career you’re looking for, we offer jobs that fit your life and your schedule—flexible jobs that provide the gold standard of benefits. Our employees can take advantage of various avenues to advance their careers and realize their dreams. Our top-tier benefits and great retirement packages can help you build a rewarding career and lasting future with the State of Illinois.

Position Overview

This position assists in conducting detailed inspections of bridges and structures throughout the district to fulfill the requirements of the National Bridge Inspection Standards and those of district and state inspection policies; preparation of necessary reports and forms and input of required data into the Bridge Inspection System (BIS) and Illinois Structure Information System; providing maintenance recommendations, and most importantly to ensure public safety.

Essential Functions

• Assists, as a member of the Bridge Inspection team, in the continuing detailed field inspection of bridges and structures throughout the district to ensure compliance with the National Bridge Inspection Standards, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Manual for Bridge Element Inspection, and the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) Structural Services Manual.
• Performs underwater inspections around river piers, calculates streambed elevations and cover depths, and obtains streambed cross-sections to meet the requirements of the National Bridge Inspection Standards and the IDOT Structural Services Manual.
• Assists with field inspections involving fracture critical structures, pin and link assemblies, underwater bridge inspection and scour analysis to meet the requirements of the National Bridge Inspection Standards.
• Prepares bridge inspection forms, sketches, and reports under the direction of the Bridge Inspection Engineer. Enter inspection data and maintenance work candidates in the Bridge Information System.
• Conducts inspections of sign structures in accordance with the Sign Structure Inspection Manual.
• Performs duties in compliance with departmental safety rules. Performs all duties in a manner conducive to the fair and equitable treatment of all employees.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Completion of two years of college in civil engineering technology, pre-engineering or a job relatedtechnical/science curriculum PLUS thirty months of construction engineering experience; OR Six yearsof construction engineering experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Successful completion of a FHWA-approved comprehensive bridge inspection training course - NHI 130055 “Safety Inspection of In-Service Bridges” or NHI 130056 “Safety Inspection of In-Service Bridges for Professional Engineers”.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.

Conditions of Employment

• Valid driver’s license.
• District-wide travel with occasional overnight stays.
• Overtime.
• Ability to work at heights, within confined spaces, near traffic and utilize a respirator.
• Ability to perform underwater inspections.
• Successful completion of a background screening.
• Certain provisions of the revolving door restrictions contained in 5 ILCS 430/5-45 apply to this position. As a result, the employee should be aware that if offered non-State employment during State employment or within one year immediately after ending State employment, the employee shall, prior to accepting any such non-State employment offer, notify the Office of the Executive Inspector General for the Agencies of the Illinois Governor (“OEIG”) or may be subject to a fine.
• The conditions of employment listed here are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job description.

About the Agency

The Illinois Department of Transportation is seeking to hire Bridge Inspection Assistants.

The IDOT team works diligently to provide safe, cost-effective transportation for Illinois in ways that enhance quality of life, promote economic prosperity and protect our environment. We are problem solvers and leaders, constantly searching for innovations and improvements in support of our commitment to providing the best multimodal transportation system for Illinois.Our team fosters a culture of inclusivity. We value diversity and hold ourselves to the highest ethical standards as we work together for a common purpose. Team members frequently collaborate with colleagues and others outside the department to best meet customer needs.

The department offers extensive training and career advancement opportunities.Employees also receive a robust benefit package including:

• Flexible work schedules in several program areas (flexible time, hybrid scheduling)
• Health, Life, Vision, and Dental Insurance
• Pension Plan
• (12) Weeks paid Maternity/Paternity Leave
• Deferred Compensation Program and other pre-tax benefit programs (Medical/Daycare)
• Employees earn (12) paid Sick Days annually
• New Employees earn (10) paid Vacation Days their first year of service and can earn up to (25) paid Vacation Days annually
• Employees earn (3) paid Personal Days annually
• (13-14) paid holidays annually (based on start date)
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Employee Assistance Program and/or mental health resources

We invite qualified applicants to apply to become part of our team. We are confident that you will take pride in serving Illinois and its residents and visitors.

Certain provisions of the revolving door restrictions contained in 5 ILCS 430/5-45 apply to this position. As a result, the employee should be aware that if offered non-State employment during State employment or within one year immediately after ending State employment, the employee shall, prior to accepting any such non-State employment offer, notify the Office of the Executive Inspector General for the Agencies of the Illinois Governor (“OEIG”) or may be subject to a fine.