Engineer (Winter 2026/Spring 2027 Graduates)

Guy F. Atkinson Construction; Lynchburg (VA); On-site; USD 78,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health/dental/vision benefits

Paid time off

Retirement/401k

Life insurance

Commuter benefit

Short & long term disability

Tuition reimbursement

Back-up daycare

EAP/Work-Life assistance

Job summary

Guy F. Atkinson Construction in Lynchburg, VA is seeking an Engineer to build a comprehensive understanding of our business from day one.

You’ll receive formal training and mentorship while developing technical skills, leadership instincts, and business acumen across our construction network. The role covers scheduling, cost engineering, subcontract coordination, and project administration, with opportunities to work on site with project managers and superintendents.

Qualifications

• Pursuing an undergraduate degree (or equivalent) or a master's degree, with an expected graduation in Winter 2025 or Spring 2026
• Interest and passion for the construction industry

Responsibilities

• Project Management: Understand day-to-day and long-term business and financial management of construction projects.
• Financial Management - Review gross billings, track change orders, and subcontractor requisitions
• Document Control - Manage submittals, RFI, and material tracking
• Support Crews and Trades - Ensure crews are efficient in their work
• Field Management: Learn site logistics, ensure quality and safety on job sites
• Quality Control and Safety - Monitor work with emphasis on quality and safety
• Project Schedule - Assist with schedule management and site logistics
• Critical Thinking - Resolve unforeseen challenges within installation, schedule, and coordination
• Budgeting - Review contract documents, solicit, and evaluate subcontractor bids
• Estimating - Perform quantity takeoffs, prepare bids, and price labor/materials

Education

Pursuing an undergraduate degree (or equivalent) or a master's degree, with an expected graduation in Winter 2025 or Spring 2026

Job description

The Role

The Engineer role is your opportunity to build a comprehensive understanding of our business from day one.

From formal training to mentorship, you’ll develop the technical skills, leadership instincts, and business acumen of seasoned experts. Atkinson’s network of companies spans every stage of construction, giving you room to explore, specialize, and grow.

The Engineer provides administrative and technical services in the fields of scheduling, cost engineering, subcontract coordination, and general project administration. Along with job site project managers and superintendents, engineers have responsibilities in overall project oversight and may be assigned to a particular section, subcontractor, or other facet(s) of the project.

Responsibilities

Your first few years with Atkinson will be defined by dynamic Career Building Experiences, where you will be exposed to:

Project Management: Working in project management gives you an understanding of the day-to-day and long-term business and financial management associated with construction projects.

• Financial Management - Review gross billings, track change orders, and subcontractor requisitions
• Document Control - Manage the submittals, RFI, and material tracking process
• Support Crews and Trades - Stay ahead of the crew's needs, making sure they are efficient in their work

Field Management: Learn the intricacies of the building process, assist in site logistics, and ensure quality and safety on our job sites.

• Quality Control and Safety - Monitor work with emphasis on quality and safety
• Project Schedule - Assist with schedule management and site logistics
• Critical Thinking - Resolve unforeseen challenges within installation, schedule, and coordination

Project Development: Understand how we acquire new work, develop winning strategies, and build strong client relationships through budgeting, estimating, and purchasing.

• Budgeting - Review initial contract documents, solicit, and provide preliminary evaluations of subcontractor bids
• Estimating - Perform quantity takeoffs, prepare the overall bid proposal, and quantify labor and material prices required for projects

Basic Qualifications

• Pursuing an undergraduate degree (or equivalent) or a master's degree, with an expected graduation in Winter 2025 or Spring 2026
• Interest and passion for the construction industry

What a Successful Candidate Looks Like

• Enthusiasm & Drive: Be punctual and dedicated, staying until work is done. Arrive early for meetings and events. Be a proactive team player – ask how you can help and be present. Take initiative, represent the company professionally (dress, demeanor), and build trust with your team, clients, and stakeholders. Proactively seek ways to contribute to team success and always maintain a positive attitude.
• Delivery & Performance: Reliably meet the expectations of your role and commitments. Understand and follow Atkinson's standard procedures. Take on new responsibilities, dig into the details, and bring solutions to problems. Take ownership, be accountable, and demonstrate responsiveness with a sense of urgency.
• Learning & Growth: Immerse yourself in Atkinson's culture, your team, and your community. Fulfill Atkinson Civil College learning requirements. Be engaged, accountable, and self-directed in your learning – be curious! Continuously build your technical expertise and grow your business acumen.

The work environment and requirements described below are representative of those necessary for an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this role.

The Physical Side of the Role:

This is an active, hands-on role. You can expect to be on your feet frequently, navigating active job sites with uneven terrain, stairs, ladders, and hoists. The work is physically demanding and requires a full range of motion, including bending, kneeling, and reaching. You’ll need to be comfortable frequently lifting and carrying materials up to 25 pounds, and occasionally up to 50 pounds. This role requires the ability to communicate effectively, as well as visual acuity for reading plans and inspecting work. The role does include desk time in the office that may require prolonged periods of sitting for tasks like computer work, document review, and meetings.

Your Work Environment:

You’ll spend a significant amount of your time on active construction sites, which means being adaptable to all kinds of weather and moderate to loud noise levels, and comfortable in elevated or confined work areas with moving mechanical equipment and with the fast-paced nature of a project in progress. You will also spend time in a typical office setting with moderate noise levels. Your safety is our top priority, and you'll be expected to follow Atkinson Construction's safety policies and procedures and all applicable laws at all locations.

Our High-Performing Culture:

This is a demanding, high-performance environment. We are looking for candidates who are energized by challenge, thrive under pressure, and are prepared to do what it takes to achieve exceptional results. Success in this role requires significant commitment, including flexibility to work extended hours, especially during critical project phases or client deadlines. Beyond regular working hours, there will be occasions where business needs require your attention, particularly for time-sensitive matters or emergencies. You are expected to monitor and respond to communications (phone calls, emails, text messages) as required to address these situations effectively. Your ability to manage these expectations and be responsive when critical issues arise is key to your success in this role and our collective success as a team.

A Drug-Free Workplace:

Atkinson promotes a drug-free workplace. A pre-employment drug “fitness for duty” screening is required, and the company conducts random quarterly drug “fitness for duty” tests.

Atkinson offers a total compensation package that includes base salary, bonus potential, and a comprehensive benefits package. Additional benefits include:

• health/dental/vision benefits
• paid time off
• retirement/401k
• Company Contribution plan
• life insurance
• commuter benefit
• short & long term disability
• fitness reimbursement
• FSA
• tuition reimbursement
• back-up daycare
• tutoring & family support benefits
• EAP/Work-Life assistance
• holiday contribution program

For this role, the base salary range is $77,500 - $95,000.

Compensation may vary outside of this range depending on a number of factors, including a candidate’s education, experience, skills, and geographic location.

Base pay is one part of the Total Compensation Package that is provided to compensate and recognize employees for their work.