State Bridge Preservation Engineer

Initial Posting Date:

Application Deadline:

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Job Description:

Engineering Manager 3 – State Bridge Preservation Engineer
Oregon Department of Transportation
Delivery and Operations Division – Engineering and Technical Services Branch
Bridge Engineering Section / Bridge Preservation Unit
Salem

The role: 

We’re looking for an engineering manager to become our state bridge preservation engineer! In this role, you will lead a crew of engineers in our Bridge Preservation Unit responsible for the preservation needs of our agency’s bridge inventory. With less bridge replacements, it’s vital that we continue to focus on keeping the highway system as functional as possible. If you like challenges, appreciate diverse engineering disciplines, have good management skills and want to help your community, apply today!

Our first application screening is scheduled for 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 14, 2026. We encourage interested applicants not to delay in applying. 

We provide a safe and reliable multimodal transportation system that connects people and helps Oregon's communities and economy thrive. We encourage people from all backgrounds and abilities to apply for our positions.

Before applying, visit our applicant information website to learn more about our process. If you are a current State of Oregon employee, you must apply through your employee Workday profile.

A day in the life:

• Ensure bridge preservation programs meet key performance measures.

• Set policies, direction and strategic plans of each program area to meet customer and agency needs.

• Work with staff to implement policies and standard operating procedures.

• Provide expertise in multiple engineering discipline areas.

• Develop long-range and short-range staffing and work scheduling plans.

• Develop and implement strategies to ensure sustainability of the bridge technical discipline statewide through recruitment, retention, succession planning, and staff development through technical training, mentoring and coaching, and statewide bridge project resourcing assignments.

• Coordinate work with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), U.S. Coast Guard, cities and counties.

• Identify the need for bridge preservation consultant services and provide procurement oversight.

• Supervise, mentor and coach the unit and plan, assign, direct and evaluate work.

• Prepare, monitor, approve and control the unit budget.

• Develop the vision, direction and strategic plan and maintain standards, policies and best practices.

• Work in an office environment with hybrid work options available.

• Requires overnight travel, lifting up to 50 pounds, working in the field and climbing in hazardous locations.

• To request a copy of the position description, which includes all duties and working conditions, please email ODOTRecruitment@odot.oregon.gov.

What’s in it for you:

• Work/life balance, 11 paid holidays a year, flexible work schedules, paid leave and so much more. Learn more about working at the Oregon Department of Transportation and the benefits we offer.

• Comprehensive and equitable base salary offer within the listed range. Through an equal pay assessment, we will determine the salary offer using the information you provide in your submitted application materials. Please ensure your application materials are detailed, accurate and reflect your skills, experience (paid and unpaid) and education as they relate to the position when applying. 

• The salary range listed is the non-PERS monthly salary range. If you are already a participating PERS member or once you become PERS eligible, the salary range will increase by 6.95%.

• Public Service Loan Forgiveness opportunity!

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Minimum qualifications:

Seven years of supervision, management, or progressively related experience in engineering.

OR

Four years of related experience in engineering and a bachelor’s degree in a related field.

Special qualifications:

Possession of a Civil Engineering (CE) license in the State of Oregon OR the ability to obtain license within six months of hire.

OR

Possession of a Structural Engineering (SE) license in the State of Oregon, OR the ability to obtain license within six months of hire.

OR

Possession of an Electrical Engineering (EE) license in the State of Oregon OR the ability to obtain license within six months of hire.

OR

Possession of a Mechanical Engineering (ME) license OR the ability to obtain license in the State of Oregon within six months of hire.

Note: If registered in another state, successful applicants will be required to obtain a temporary permit to practice engineering, pursuant to ORS 672.109, within six months from date of hire.

Driving is an essential function of this position. You must have a valid US driver license and an acceptable driving record. We will conduct pre-employment driving records checks on our final candidate(s). Your license does not have to be issued in Oregon to be considered. 

What we’d like to see:

If you have these attributes, let us know in your application materials! It's how we will choose whom to move forward! You do not need to have all these qualities to be eligible for this position. We may also use transferable skills, experience and education to help us decide who will move forward.

• A current, valid professional engineer’s license in structural, civil, mechanical or electrical engineering.

• Experience making decisions and leading staff during significant organizational initiatives and change.

• Experience working with many differing points of view and guiding groups toward established goals.

• Experience coming up with innovative solutions, exploring new technology and finding new ways of accomplishing work with limited resources.

• Excellent communicator and collaborator with experience managing the conflicting priorities of different partners.

• Experience working with different disciplines or units to find solutions and build collaboration through cross functional cooperation.

How to apply:

• Complete the following required steps:

  • Fill out the application or attach a resume. Please contact the recruiter under the ‘Need help?’ section if you have any questions about how to fill out the experience fields or to attach a document. Your submitted experience fields or attached resume must include dates (MM/YYYY) for each employer.

  • Attach a cover letter. Your cover letter should clearly demonstrate how your experience and training relates to the qualities that you have under the “what we’d like to see” section above.

    • Your cover letter must be limited to no more than two (2) pages.

    • Please address your cover letter to Ray Bottenberg, State Bridge Engineer.

    • Generic cover letters that do not address the qualities that you have under the “what we’d like to see” section may receive lower scores than those that addressed the desired qualities.

    • You must upload your cover letter in the ‘Resume/Cover Letter’ section of the application.

  • Complete questionnaire. Answer the checkbox-style questions before submitting your application.

• After you submit your application, please respond to the public records request authorization and gender identity questionnaire. This screen will come after you submit and will complete the process. If you are a current State of Oregon employee, the tasks will come to your Workday inbox.

• If you are a veteran or Oregon National Guard servicemember, you may receive preference. The task to upload your documents will be available after you submit your application. For privacy reasons, please do not attach your military service document(s) to your application or combine it with any other required document attachments.

Need help?

• For questions, call 503-910-6372 or email ODOTRecruitmentCC@odot.oregon.gov.

Additional information:

• This recruitment will remain open until filled. Our first application screening is scheduled for 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, 05/14/2026, but we may close the announcement at any time after this date when we have received an adequate number of applications. We cannot guarantee that we will consider applications received after this screening date. We encourage interested applicants not to delay in applying. 

• We do not offer visa sponsorship. If you are hired, you will be required to fill out the US Department of Homeland Security’s I-9 form confirming you are able to work in the US. We are not an E-Verify participating employer, and we are unable to proceed if E-Verify participation is required [e.g., STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT) Extension].

• The State of Oregon does not request or require your age, date of birth, attendance or graduation dates from an education institution during the application process.

• We may use this recruitment to fill multiple or future vacancies.

• We will conduct name-based criminal background checks on final candidates, including current ODOT employees. All applicants may be subject to additional pre-employment check(s) such as driver license, LEDS (Law Enforcement Data System), and/or education verification as required for the position.

• You will become part of the state's management team.

ODOT is an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation or any other class protected by state or federal laws in admission or access to our programs, services, activities, hiring, and employment practices. Applicants with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation during the application process. For questions, concerns, or complaints regarding EEO/AA/ADA, contact 1-877-336-6368 (1-877-EEO-ODOT). This information can be made available in an alternative format by contacting ODOT Recruitment at 503-986-3700. Oregon Relay Service can be reached by calling 7-1-1.

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Bridge Manager, Bridge Painting Program, Cathodic Protection Program, Historic & Covered Bridge Program, Movable Bridge Program, Bridge Deck Preservation Program, Fatigue, Fracture, & Welding Program, Structural Health Monitoring Program