Supervisory Civil Engineer (Highway) (COE) - DIRECT HIRE

This position is located in the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) Federal Lands Highway (FLH) Division and supports the Division as an expert in construction operations and survey matters. Supervises a staff of engineers and technicians in administering contracts related to highway and bridge construction projects. The projects occur on Federal Lands managed by other Federal agencies (e.g., National Park Service, US Forest Service) and include a multi-state area.

Duties

• As a Civil Engineer (Construction Operations Engineer), you will: Participate in the development of business objectives and the implementation of quality initiatives to improve systems, processes, products, and services that increase customer focus. Share and promote partnering concepts. Supervise a staff of professional engineers and technicians engaged in construction project administration and oversight activities. Review preliminary plans, specifications, and estimates (PS&E) for constructability and adequacy and to detect details that may cause trouble during construction and suggest changes that will improve the product or provide better value. Participate with staff in pre-construction conferences with Contractor representatives, cooperating agencies, and other interested parties. Maintain frequent liaison with representatives of partner agencies, which generally are other State and/or Federal government agencies. Review and approve change orders, directives, and suspension and resumption work orders. Initiate major or complex supplemental agreements and contract change orders. The ideal candidate for this position is a seasoned mid-career engineer with experience independently and effectively managing highway construction projects by providing construction operations input from preliminary design stages through construction of the project, providing guidance and technical direction to lower-level project staff, and representing the agency in project meetings.

Qualifications

To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must (1) meet the Education Requirement for the series, (2) provide a copy of transcripts for verification, AND (3) meet the specialized experience qualifications for the grade at which you are requesting consideration. To qualify for the GS-13, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-12, it must include: Experience as a project engineer in charge, or in an equivalent role, serving as the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) administering highway and/or bridge construction contracts; AND Experience supervising or leading the work of staff performing highway construction project/inspection activities; AND Experience coordinating with project partners and/or other stakeholders to resolve issues affecting highway or bridge construction projects. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas: Civil Engineering - Knowledge of the concepts, principles, theories, and methods required to plan, design, construct, operate, and maintain facilities such as buildings, transportation systems, water and sanitary systems, and other public works systems. Building and Construction - Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools to construct objects, structures, and buildings. Oral Communication - Expresses information (for example, ideas, or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, considering the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately. Written Communication - Writes in a clear, concise, organized, and convincing manner for the intended audience. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. For additional information about applying to Federal positions, please click on the following link: https://www.opm.gov/frequently-asked-questions/employment-faq/federal-hiring/how-do-i-apply-for-federal-jobs/ All applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Announcement details

• Agency: Federal Highway Administration (Department of Transportation)
• Announcement number: FHWA.EFL-2027-0001
• Series: 0810 Civil Engineering
• Pay plan and grade: GS 13
• Pay: $106,437 – $158,322 Per Year
• Open to: Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL); Open to the public
• Open period: October 21, 2026 to November 2, 2026 (US Eastern)

Apply on the official USAJOBS announcement. Application instructions on USAJOBS take precedence over this summary.