Bridge Inspection Team Leader

GFT; Fort Worth (TX); Hybrid; USD 125,000 - 145,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package including wellness programs

Tuition reimbursement

Incentive compensation for eligible positions

Job summary

GFT is seeking a Bridge Inspection Team Lead for its Texas practice, covering roles in Austin, Houston, and Fort Worth. This hybrid position involves leading bridge inspections and preparing vital technical reports.

Ideal candidates will hold a Bachelor's in civil or structural engineering with a minimum of 7 years in bridge design and inspection. The role offers a competitive salary between $125,000 and $145,000, alongside a comprehensive benefits package.

Qualifications

• Minimum 7 years of experience in civil/structural design and bridge inspections.
• Must have completed NHI Course 130055 Safety Inspection of In‑Service Bridges.
• Texas Professional Engineer license or ability to become licensed in Texas.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Bridge Inspection team and manage project phases.
• Prepare and review technical reports and specifications.
• Coordinate project activities and ensure compliance with engineering principles.

Skills

Civil/Structural Design

Bridge Inspections

Construction Management

Team Management

Technical Report Preparation

Education

Bachelor’s degree in civil or structural engineering

Professional Engineer (Texas)

Tools

STAAD

Microsoft Suite

AASHTOWare BrR

Job description

What You Will Do

GFT is seeking a Bridge Inspection Team Lead to join our Bridge Group in Austin, TX. This role follows a hybrid work model, requiring regular attendance at either our Austin, Houston, or Fort Worth, TX offices.

GFT brings unparalleled expertise to tackle the most challenging geotechnical assignments. We deliver innovative solutions for foundations, earth structures, groundwater resources, dams, underground construction, and building sites. We excel in designing building and transportation infrastructure and addressing landslides, sinkholes, mine subsidence, slope stability, and seepage issues.

What You’ll Be Challenged To Do

GFT has an opportunity for a Bridge Inspection Team Leader in our growing Texas practice. Projects include non-redundant steel tension member (NSTM) bridge inspections, routine bridge inspections, special bridge inspections, bridge load ratings, new structure design, and the inspection and rehabilitation or repair of existing structures for both roadways and railroads.

In this capacity, the successful candidate will be responsible for the following:

• Prepares or preferably directs;
• Preparation and modification of technical reports, specifications, plans, construction schedules, and designs for structures.
• Construction management tasks.
• Plans and develops engineering projects concerned with unique or controversial problems. This involves exploration of subject area, definition of scope and selection of problems for investigation, and development of novel concepts and approaches.
• Organizes and develops project team to execute specific phases or aspects of the project such as technical studies, project design, preparation of specifications and technical plans, and project inspection. Must be able to delegate.
• Reviews project design for general compliance with engineering principles, company standards, and customer contract requirements, and related specifications.
• Coordinates activities concerning technical developments, scheduling, and manpower, resolving engineering design problems.
• Evaluates and approves design changes, specifications, and drawing releases.
• Shows understanding of team management, develops project scope of work, estimates manpower needs, prepares schedules, and tracks project progress.
• Assures that the project is completed within the allocated period of time and within the budget that has been assigned.
• Maintains liaison with individuals and units within or outside the organization with responsibility for acting independently on technical matters pertaining to the field.
• Assists Client Managers on proposals to clients.
• Plans and executes project meetings. May negotiate a difficult project issue with the client, such as scope changes or schedule acceleration.
• Assures the project meets quality control and quality assurance guidelines.
• Interprets changes in the contract and advises management on needed changes.
• Maintains professional, technical, and supervisory skills by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; establishing personal networks; participating in professional societies.

Education | Experience

What You Will Bring To Our Firm

• Bachelor’s degree in civil or structural engineering.
• Minimum 7 years of experience in civil/structural design, bridge inspections, rehabilitation and evaluation of bridges, including preparation of load ratings, construction documents, and specifications and estimates.
• Professional Engineer (civil) or Structural Engineer license in the state of Texas (or other state with ability to become licensed in Texas within 6 months).
• Successful completion of NHI Course 130055 Safety Inspection of In‑Service Bridges, and current NHI Course 130053A Bridge Inspection Refresher Training (if applicable).
• Successful completion of NHI Course 130078 Fracture Critical Inspection Techniques for Steel Bridges or Bridge Inspection Techniques for Nonredundant Steel Tension Members (NSTM).
• Familiarity with structural programs such as STAAD, AASHTOWare BrR, MDX, Bentley, and LEAP, as well as Microsoft Suite.
• Familiarity with Bridge Database software including Bentley AssetWise, AASHTOWare BrM, or similar.
• Familiarity with bridge design/layout programs used by TxDOT including BridgeLink, Cap18, Culv5, and BGS.
• Experience with Texas Department of Transportation standards and requirements for structures.

Work Environment

• The work environment characteristics and physical demands described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions, depending on field assignments. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to moving mechanical parts and outside weather conditions; the noise level in the work environment is usually moderate, but construction and field assignments can be severe (e.g., airport noise, inside factories, construction equipment, jack hammers).
• The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, talk or hear, and drive a car. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include the ability to adjust focus.

Compensation

The salary range for this role is $125,000 – $145,000. Salary is dependent upon experience and geographic location.

Featured Benefits

• Hybrid (in‑person and remote) work environment.
• Comprehensive benefits package including wellness programs, parental leave, pet insurance, and medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance.
• Tax‑deferred 401(k) savings plan.
• Competitive paid‑time‑off (PTO) accrual.
• Tuition reimbursement for continued education.
• Commitment to professional development, access to internal and external training programs, and support of active participation in professional organizations.
• Incentive compensation for eligible positions.

Company Overview

At GFT, a privately held AEC firm, we innovate where transportation, water, power, and buildings converge. We call this the Infrastructure of Life. We measure our success by the strength of our relationships – that’s why we’re the employer of choice for 5,000+ of the industry’s brightest engineers, planners, architects, inspectors, designers, and more.

GFT: Ingenuity That Shapes Lives is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veterans’ status, or other characteristics protected by law.

GFT does require the successful completion of a criminal background check for all advertised positions.

Location & Hours

Location: Austin, TX; Houston, TX; Fort Worth, TX

Core Business Hours: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Employment Status: Full‑Time