Construction Inspector II, III, or IV: Structural Materials Houston Field Office (MTD)

Texas Department of Transportation; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 50,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

The Texas Department of Transportation is seeking Construction Inspectors at varying levels (II, III, IV) to supervise and enforce quality assurance in the construction of bridges and other structures. Ideal candidates should have experience in construction inspections and hold a high school diploma or equivalent. The role entails significant travel and inspections at various sites while ensuring compliance with plans and specifications.

Qualifications

• 1-3 years of experience in construction inspection, engineering support, or related tasks.
• Valid driver's license required for driving a state vehicle.

Responsibilities

• Inspect fabrication methods and workmanship for compliance.
• Conduct audits of fabrication plants and perform unannounced inspections.
• Resolve discrepancies in plans and offer recommendations.

Skills

Analytical skills

Attention to detail

Quality Assurance

Communication

Education

High School Grad or Equivalent

Job description

Construction Inspector II

Inspects fabrication methods and workmanship to ensure fabricators build bridges, drainage structures, and other non-bridge structures in accordance with plans and specifications; acts as consultant regarding work progress and problem resolution; may serve as the only QA inspector in a structural steel fabrication shop or precast concrete fabrication plant. Responsible to a licensed professional engineer who has full authority for approval of all work. Work requires contact with fabricators. May perform material tests and manufacturing process inspections at multiple fabrication sites. Employees at this level follow standard practices that do not require frequent supervision of details.

Construction Inspector III

Inspects fabrication methods and workmanship to ensure fabricators build bridges, drainage structures, and other non-bridge structures in accordance with plans and specifications; acts as consultant regarding work progress and problem resolution; may serve as the only QA inspector in a structural steel shop or precast concrete fabrication plant and trains others. Responsible to a licensed professional engineer who has full authority for approval of all work. Work requires contact with fabricators. May perform material tests and manufacturing process inspections at multiple fabrication sites. Employees at this level establish their own work plan and priorities to meet set objectives. Issues are rarely referred to the supervisor but are handled at the occurrence.

Construction Inspector IV

Oversees inspection of fabrication methods and workmanship to ensure fabricators build bridges, drainage structures, and other non-bridge structures in accordance with plans and specifications; acts as a consultant regarding work progress and problem resolution; may oversee QA inspection activities in multiple prefabricated structural steel shops and/or precast concrete fabrication plants; acts as a consultant regarding work progress and problem resolution and/or provides statewide technical assistance and training in support of implementation, oversight and review of structural product fabrication, testing and inspection activities. Trains and may lead the work of others. Work may require contact with other governmental agencies. Employees at this level are virtually self-supervising and assume direct accountability for the work product.

Essential Duties:

Construction Inspector II:

• Analyzes complex welding or prestressing procedures to identify deficiencies and recommends improvements to management.
• Drives and travels by other modes to geographically separated structural product fabrication plants to monitor Quality Control / Quality Assurance (QC/QA) and Quality Monitoring (QM) program status; perform unannounced inspection of operations and meet with supervisors and managers to resolve problems.
• Ensures fabricators build and repair structural steel bridge girders, prestressed concrete bridge girders, and non-bridge steel and concrete highway structures in accordance with plans and specifications.
• Observes and inspects ongoing fabrication processes of structural steel bridge girders, prestressed concrete bridge girders, and other structural components.
• Interprets plans and specifications and negotiates with producers and suppliers to resolve differences.
• Prepares and reviews correspondence.
• Performs other job responsibilities as assigned.

Construction Inspector III – all the above and:

• Assist division engineering staff in conducting formal audits of structural steel fabrication plants, major and minor structural prestressed concrete product fabrication plants, precast concrete drainage structure product fabrication plants and other miscellaneous non-stressed precast concrete product fabrication plants.
• Informs plant personnel of material or production problems, rejects substandard material, and assists in determining cause for material problems.
  Mentors and develops technical employees in test and inspection procedures and material specifications.
• Schedules, coordinates, and performs in-plant structural product inspections and intermediate audits.
• Resolves differences in interpretation of plans and specifications.
• Independently schedules, coordinates, and performs in-plant structural product inspections and intermediate audits at local and/or geographically separated locations.

Construction Inspector IV – all the above and

• Assist division engineering staff in development of audit programs, performing audit training, and conducting formal audits of precast/prestressed concrete fabrication plants and structural steel fabrication plants.
• Advises supervisor of inspection activities and problems at plants and assists in coordinating inspections.
• Analyzes procedures to identify deficiencies and recommends improvements to management.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education: High School Grad or Equivalent in general high school studies.

Construction Inspector II:

Experience: 1 year of experience in construction inspection, engineering support, maintenance and repairs, materials or process inspection; or transportation engineering support related experience. (Experience can be satisfied by full time or prorated part time equivalent).Related college education or relevant technical training may be substituted for experience on a year per year basis. Substitutions for Minimum Qualifications

Construction Inspector III:

Experience: 2 years of experience in construction inspection, engineering support, maintenance and repairs, materials or process inspection; or transportation engineering support related experience. (Experience can be satisfied by full time or prorated part time equivalent). Related college education or relevant technical training may be substituted for experience on a year per year basis. Substitutions for Minimum Qualifications

Construction Inspector IV:

Experience: 3 years of experience in construction inspection, engineering support, maintenance and repairs, materials or process inspection; or transportation engineering support related experience. (Experience can be satisfied by full time or prorated part time equivalent). Related college education or relevant technical training may be substituted for experience on a year per year basis. Substitutions for Minimum Qualifications

Licenses and Certifications: Valid driver’s license. This position requires driving a state vehicle.

Preferred Qualifications:

• American Welding Society (AWS) Certified Welding Inspector (CWI)
• Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI) Quality Control Technician/Inspector Level I/II
• National Precast Concrete Association (NPCA) Production Quality School (PQS) Level I/II – QA/QC
• American Concrete Pipe Association (ACPA) Quality School
• American Concrete Institute (ACI) Field Testing Technician – Grade 1

Competencies:

Construction Inspector II

• Applicable inspection methods, procedures, and techniques
• Applicable testing methods, processes, and procedures
• Applicable industry safety standards, guidelines, and specification codes
• Reading and interpreting applicable plans, schematics, blueprints, and maps.
• Shows initiative and action beyond what is required to improve products or services; is self-starting and completes assignments independently without constant supervision

Construction Inspector III
All the above and:

• Preparing and maintaining records, files, and reports.
• Public relations for maintaining effective working relationships with individuals and groups.
• Leading, assigning, reviewing, and monitoring the work of others

Construction Inspector IV
All the above and:

• Exercises logic and reasoning to define problems, establish facts and draw valid conclusions; makes decisions that support business objectives and goals
• Applying engineering principles, practices, and methods in job responsibilities

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:

• Subject to environmental conditions; protection from weather but not temperature changes
• Subject to outside environmental conditions; no effective weather protection
• Subject to inside and outside environmental conditions
• Subject to extreme cold and heat; below 32 and/or above 100 degrees for more than one hour
• Subject to noise
• Subject to vibration
• Subject to hazards-moving vehicles/mechanical parts, high places/heat, or chemicals
• Subject to atmospheric conditions-fumes, odors, dusts, mists, gases, poor ventilation
• Subject to air and/or skin exposure to oils and other cutting fluids
• Required to wear protective gear-respirator, hard hat, or other device
• Works frequently in small/crawl spaces; manholes; areas that can cause claustrophobia
• Works in narrow aisles or passageways
• Sedentary work: Lift up to 10 lbs at a time and occasionally carry files/small tools
• Light work: Lift up to 20 lbs at a time and frequently lift or carry objects up to 10 lbs
• Medium work: Lift up to 50 lbs at a time and frequently lift or carry objects up to 25 lbs
• Climbing - ascending/descending ladders, stairs, scaffoldings, ramps, etc
• Balancing-walking, standing, crouching on various surfaces without falling
• Stooping-bending body downward and forward by bending spine at waist
• Kneeling-bending legs at knee to come to a rest on knee(s)
• Crouching-bending body downward and forward by bending leg(s) and spine
• Crawling-moving about on hands and knees or hands and feet
  Reaching-extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction
  Standing-prolonged periods of time
  Walking-moving on foot to accomplish tasks: long distance/from one work site to another
  Pushing-using upper extremities to press against object with force to move in a direction
  Pulling-using upper extremities to exert force moving objects in a sustained motion
  Lifting-raising objects from lower to higher position/horizontally to a different position
  Fingering-picking, pinching, typing; working primarily with fingers rather than whole hand
  Grasping-applying pressure to an object with fingers and palm
  Feeling-determining size, shape, temperature or texture of objects
  Talking-expressing or exchanging ideas by spoken words
  Hearing-perceive sound at normal speaking levels;receive information by oral communication
  Repetitive Motion-substantial movements of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers
  Close Visual Acuity-work includes data/figures; view a computer screen; extensive reading
  Close Visual Acuity-work includes visual inspection of small defects/parts
  Close Visual Acuity-using measurement devices; and/or assembly or fabrication parts
  Visual Acuity-operate machines, such as drill presses, power saws, and mills
  Visual Acuity-operate motor vehicles and/or heavy equipment
  Visual Acuity-determine work quality/make general observations of facilities/structures

Conditions of Employment:

Please click this link to read the standard conditions of employment for all positions: Standard Conditions of Employment (TxDOT)

• This job has been identified as physically demanding and will require a pre-employment physical.
• Must pass a drug test prior to employment for safety impact positions. This is a Safety Impact position and will be subject to random drug testing.
  • Please note that the Department of Transportation's Drug and Alcohol Testing Regulation – 49 CFR Part 40, at 40.151(e) – does not authorize “medical marijuana” under a state law to be a valid medical explanation for a positive drug test result for an employee in this position.