Lead Technical Bridge Engineer

Defense Mechanics Inc; Denton (TX); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Hybrid work schedule

Paid overtime for salaried employees

Company cabins

Job summary

Freese and Nichols is seeking a Lead Technical Bridge Engineer to advance technical excellence, mentor engineers, and lead design for complex transportation projects in Texas.

The role requires a PE, a BS in civil/structural engineering, 6+ years of bridge design experience, and the ability to serve as Engineer of Record on public-sector projects; the firm supports a hybrid work model with regional opportunities in North Texas.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering or Structural Engineering.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license.
• 6+ years of bridge design experience and retaining walls.
• Experience leading bridge design projects from concept to final design.
• Experience serving as Engineer of Record or providing senior oversight on bridge projects.
• Strong knowledge of AASHTO bridge design specifications and agency standards.
• Experience delivering PS&E projects for TxDOT.
• Experience mentoring and developing junior engineers.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and leadership skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning, analysis, and design of bridge projects for public sector clients.
• Serve as Engineer of Record and provide technical oversight throughout development and delivery.
• Review design calculations, plans, specs, reports, and other deliverables.
• Provide practical, innovative engineering solutions reflecting judgment and constructability.
• Support project managers with technical scope decisions and design choices.
• Coordinate with multidisciplinary teams to deliver projects on time and within budget.
• Mentor engineers and promote technical excellence within the team.

Skills

Bridge design leadership

Engineer of Record

TxDOT PS&E experience

AASHTO standards knowledge

Mentoring engineers

Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil or Structural Engineering

Job description

Freese and Nichols is continuing to grow our bridge practice and is seeking a Lead Technical Bridge Engineer to help advance technical excellence, develop our people, and support delivery of complex transportation and public infrastructure projects. While our preference is for this person to be based in our North Texas region, the position is open to candidates in the following Texas locations: Fort Worth, Frisco, Dallas, Denton, Austin, San Antonio, or Houston. This is an opportunity for a strong technical leader who wants to shape bridge design solutions, mentor engineers, and play a key role in project success across a wide range of bridge and structural transportation applications. The ideal candidate brings deep bridge design experience, sound engineering judgment, and the ability to serve as Engineer of Record while collaborating with multidisciplinary teams and public sector clients.

Why This Role Matters

• Technical leadership - Influence bridge design quality, standards, and project execution across complex assignments.
• Project delivery impact - Help deliver practical, innovative bridge solutions that meet client objectives, schedules, and budgets.
• People development - Mentor developing engineers and help strengthen the next generation of bridge technical talent.
• Client service - Support trusted relationships with public infrastructure clients, agencies, and project stakeholders.

Technical Leadership

• Lead the planning, analysis, and design of bridge projects for public sector clients.
• Serve as Engineer of Record for bridge projects and provide technical oversight throughout project development and delivery.
• Direct and review design calculations, plans, specifications, reports, and other engineering deliverables.
• Serve as a technical resource for complex bridge design challenges, multidisciplinary coordination efforts, and engineering decision-making.
• Provide practical, innovative engineering solutions that reflect sound judgment, constructability, and client needs.

Project Leadership & Delivery

• Support project managers with technical scope development, design decisions, and project execution.
• Coordinate with multidisciplinary teams to deliver successful outcomes across multiple concurrent assignments.
• Help ensure bridge projects meet client objectives, schedules, budgets, quality expectations, and applicable agency requirements.
• Perform senior technical and quality reviews of bridge plans, specifications, calculations, and technical reports.
• Support continuous improvement of bridge design practices, standards, workflows, and technical tools.

Team Development & Mentoring

• Mentor and develop engineers while helping set expectations for technical quality, collaboration, and professional growth.
• Support professional growth through project reviews, design guidance, coaching, and knowledge sharing.
• Help less experienced engineers develop sound engineering judgment, technical capabilities, and confidence in bridge design delivery.
• Foster a collaborative environment focused on continuous learning, accountability, and technical excellence.
• Share technical knowledge and best practices across the Bridge Team.

Client & Team Collaboration

• Build strong relationships with clients, agency representatives, project teams, and partners.
• Participate in client meetings, technical workshops, project presentations, and design discussions.
• Support client engagement and pursuits through technical input, qualifications content, proposal support, or presentations as needed.
• Collaborate with bridge professionals across the firm to share expertise, strengthen best practices, and promote responsive service.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering or Structural Engineering.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license.
• 6+ years of experience in designing various types of bridges and retaining walls..
• Experience leading bridge design projects from concept development through final design.
• Experience serving as Engineer of Record or providing senior technical oversight on bridge projects.
• Strong knowledge of AASHTO bridge design specifications and applicable agency standards.
• Experience in delivering PS&E projects for TxDOT.
• Experience mentoring and developing less experienced engineers.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and leadership skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Civil Engineering or Structural Engineering.
• Experience in bridge inspection, rehabilitation, condition assessment, and asset management.
• Experience in delivering PS&E projects in region outside of Texas..
• Project management experience.

About Freese and Nichols

At the heart of our culture is our LEADS values (Learn continuously, Engage as family, Act with integrity, Deliver quality, and Serve always). Each year, our employee engagement survey confirms that our leaders and our employees live our values. We strive to be the firm of choice for clients and employees through innovative approaches, practical results, and outstanding service. For more than 130 years, we have been planning and designing the infrastructure our communities need: developing water supplies, designing roadways and bridges, preparing for natural disasters, and much more. Besides our comprehensive benefits package (see more at Benefits That Work for You), we offer paid overtime for salaried employees, an annual bonus, and access to company cabins in Red River, New Mexico and Banner Elk, North Carolina. We are proud of our flexible work environment which includes a hybrid schedule with up to 40% of remote work, and an alternative work schedule program which provides a day off every other Friday. Join our team of 1,300+ employees as we grow from Virginia to Colorado. Learn more about working here at Working at Freese and Nichols.

Freese and Nichols is firmly committed to Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and prohibits employment discrimination for employees and applicants based upon race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected category under applicable federal, state, and local laws.

Location

Location: Fort Worth, Texas; Houston, Texas; Frisco, Texas; Denton, Texas; Dallas, Texas; San Antonio, Texas; Austin, Texas

Type: Full time