Civil Engineer - Highway Construction

Swank Construction Company; New Kensington (Westmoreland County); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Swank Construction Company seeks a Chief Engineer to oversee all construction engineering activities for the firm, including the planning, design, review, and approval of temporary works for heavy highway projects. You will lead engineering teams, ensure compliance with DOT regulations, and sign/seal essential documents after transition to full Chief Engineer.

The role requires a BS in Civil Engineering, PE license, and at least 10 years in construction, with experience in major DOT or

Qualifications

• BS in Civil Engineering with emphasis in steel/concrete design and geotechnical engineering (required).
• Professional Engineer (PE) license (required).
• Minimum of 10 years' experience in construction, preferably heavy highway or transportation infrastructure.
• PennDOT or Pennsylvania Turnpike experience preferred.
• Experience leading or overseeing engineering work for major DOT or infrastructure projects.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the senior engineering authority for planning and designing temporary works on heavy highway projects.
• Lead, review, and approve engineering strategies for temporary works such as cofferdams, forms, temporary supports, and shoring.
• Provide practical guidance to field personnel to ensure engineered plans are built safely and correctly.
• Establish and enforce engineering standards, procedures, and quality control across projects.
• Oversee engineering risk, constructability reviews, and safety impacts of methods.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations (PennDOT, PA Turnpike, OSHA).
• Sign and seal drawings, calculations, and documents after succession to Chief Engineer.
• Act as liaison with PennDOT, design engineers, owners, and regulators.
• Mentor staff and build long-term technical capability and succession pipeline.
• Support preconstruction, estimating, and bid reviews with technical input and risk evaluations.
• Collaborate with project managers to resolve complex technical issues.

Education

Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering

Professional Engineer (PE) license

Tools

STAAD

AutoCAD

MathCAD

Job description

Overview: The Chief Engineer oversees all construction engineering activities for the company. This position is responsible for the planning, design, review, and approval of temporary works and engineering solutions for heavy highway projects, including bridges, roadways, and complex structural operations. The Chief Engineer provides technical leadership to project teams, ensures compliance with DOT and other regulatory requirements, and signs and seals engineering plans and calculations for the organization. The role also leads and mentors the engineering staff, builds technical capability across the company, and serves as the primary engineering representative to owners, agencies, and design partners. NOTE: This is a succession hire. After a brief training and transition period, the selected candidate will assume the full responsibility of Chief Engineer.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities

• Serve as the senior engineering authority, responsible for planning and designing temporary works to facilitate heavy highway construction projects, including bridges, roadways, and other structures.
• Lead, review, and approve engineering strategies for temporary works such as cofferdams, concrete forms, temporary supports, shoring, and demolition sequencing.
• Work directly with field personnel, providing practical guidance to ensure engineered plans are built safely and correctly.
• Establish and enforce engineering standards, procedures, and quality control processes across all projects.
• Provide executive-level oversight of engineering risk, constructability reviews, and safety impacts associated with construction means and methods.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, including PennDOT, PA Turnpike Commission, and OSHA requirements.
• Sign and seal engineering drawings, calculations, and technical documents as required by law and company policy (after transition to full Chief Engineer).
• Act as the primary engineering liaison with PennDOT, design engineers of record, owners, third‑party reviewers, consultants, and regulatory agencies.
• Oversee and mentor engineering staff, supporting in-house skills development, helping build technical capability and a long‑term succession pipeline for the company.
• Support preconstruction, estimating, and bid reviews by providing technical input, construction sequencing plans, and engineering risk evaluations.
• Work closely with project managers and field leadership to resolve complex technical issues and support successful project execution.

Additional responsibilities may be assigned by the Division Manager as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering with coursework or emphasis in steel and concrete structure design and geotechnical engineering (required).
• Professional Engineer (PE) license (required).
• Minimum of 10 years' experience in the construction industry, preferably heavy highway or transportation infrastructure.
• PennDOT or Pennsylvania Turnpike experience preferred.
• Experience leading or overseeing engineering work for major DOT or infrastructure projects.
• Demonstrated ability to lead engineering teams or manage engineering programs/departments.
• Strong familiarity with structural and geotechnical analysis tools and CAD platforms, such as STAAD, AutoCAD, MathCAD, or similar.
• Bid/Estimating process participation and experience preferred.
• Mechanical aptitude and practical, hands-on construction experience preferred.
• Private-sector construction experience is helpful but not required.

Additional Notes About The Role

• This position is intentionally designed as a succession role for the current Chief Engineer.
• After a transition and training period, the candidate will assume responsibility for signing/stamping all construction engineering plans and technical documents.
• The role is central to our construction engineering program and will ultimately sit at the top of the engineering pyramid within the company.

Additional Requirements

Ability to pass pre-employment drug screens & background check

Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. without current or future visa sponsorship