Bridge Practice Leader

Bridge Practice Leadership Opportunity – Midwest / Northeast Infrastructure Markets
(Confidential Client – Do Not Post or Distribute Without Permission)

Possible Work Regions (Flexible Based on Candidate):

• Greater Chicago Area, Illinois

• Southeastern Wisconsin Region

• Upper Midwest (Twin Cities Metro Area)

A well-established national engineering and infrastructure consulting organization is expanding its structural transportation group and is seeking a senior Bridge Practice Leader to guide the continued growth of its bridge and transportation structures practice.

This leadership role will oversee practice development, client strategy, technical direction, and delivery of complex bridge programs across multiple markets. The position may be based within the Midwest region or the Northeast U.S. depending on the candidate’s network and leadership experience.

Compensation

Estimated Range: $160,000 – $220,000 annually (commensurate with experience)

Key Responsibilities

Practice Growth & Strategy

• Analyze regional bridge infrastructure markets and identify strategic growth opportunities

• Develop relationships with public-sector transportation agencies and major infrastructure clients

• Lead recruiting and development of bridge engineering staff to support practice expansion

• Support national transportation initiatives and cross-office collaboration

Technical Leadership

• Provide senior-level oversight for bridge design, rehabilitation, and inspection programs

• Serve as Project Principal or Lead Engineer on complex structural projects

• Guide multidisciplinary teams in structural analysis, design development, and documentation

• Direct preparation of engineering drawings, calculations, reports, and specifications

Project Delivery & Operations

• Manage project scope, staffing plans, schedules, and budgets

• Lead proposal development and support major transportation pursuits

• Perform senior quality assurance reviews of structural deliverables

• Oversee multiple concurrent bridge engineering programs

Team Development

• Mentor structural engineers and project managers

• Establish performance goals for the bridge practice and track operational metrics

• Build and maintain a high-performing technical team capable of delivering large infrastructure programs

Required Background

• Bachelor’s Degree in Civil or Structural Engineering

• Advanced degree preferred

• Professional Engineer (PE) license required

• Structural Engineer (SE) credential strongly preferred

• Minimum 12+ years of bridge engineering experience

• Extensive knowledge of AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications

• Demonstrated experience working with state Departments of Transportation and public infrastructure clients

• Proven leadership in business development, project delivery, and team building

Additional Qualifications

• Strong client network within transportation infrastructure markets

• Ability to manage financial performance for projects or practice groups

• Experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

• Strong organizational and leadership capabilities

Work Authorization:
Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States.

Confidential Search Notice:
This opportunity is being presented as a confidential search. Please do not repost, publish, or distribute this description without explicit authorization.

Core Role Tags

Bridge Practice Leader
Bridge Engineering Manager
Bridge Department Manager
Structural Engineering Manager
Transportation Structures Leader
Bridge Program Manager
Bridge Design Manager
Bridge Group Leader
Bridge Technical Director
Bridge Engineering Lead

Technical Discipline Tags

Bridge Design
Structural Engineering
Transportation Infrastructure
Highway Structures
Bridge Rehabilitation
Bridge Inspection
Structural Analysis
Load Rating
Bridge Retrofit
Steel Bridge Design
Concrete Bridge Design
Movable Bridges
Transportation Structures

Standards / Technical Knowledge

AASHTO LRFD
AASHTO Bridge Design
DOT Bridge Design
State DOT Projects
FHWA Bridge Standards
LRFD Design
Bridge Load Rating
Bridge Inspection Standards

Client / Market Tags

DOT Projects
State DOT
Transportation Agencies
Public Infrastructure
Transportation Engineering
Municipal Infrastructure
Federal Infrastructure Programs

Leadership / Practice Growth Tags

Engineering Leadership
Business Development
Practice Development
Technical Oversight
Project Delivery
Team Leadership
Client Development
Engineering Operations

Credentials Tags

PE License
Professional Engineer
Structural Engineer SE
Licensed Structural Engineer
Civil Engineer PE

ATS Boolean Keyword Cluster (optional but powerful)

Recruiters often paste this in keyword fields:

Bridge OR “Bridge Design” OR “Bridge Engineer” OR “Structural Bridge” OR “Transportation Structures” OR “Bridge Practice Leader” OR “Bridge Engineering Manager” OR “Bridge Department Manager” OR AASHTO OR LRFD OR DOT OR “State DOT”