Director Bridge Design Jobs in Georgia (NOW HIRING)

ABOUT THE POSITION

Pond is recruiting for a self-motivated individual to lead the firm’s Georgia Bridge practice. Our Transportation team currently provides multidisciplined design and design related services to State and Municipal clients. This is a leadership position within our firm that will manage both Operations and Business Development for our bridge practice in Georgia. This position will also work as an integral part of our entire Transportation team to achieve overall goals. The appropriately qualified candidate will be able to demonstrate previous success in the pursuit and delivery of bridge projects, proven leadership skills and a strong work ethic.  They will also have deep knowledge of GDOT standards, design criteria, and project delivery mechanisms including Design-Bid-Build, Design-Build, and Public-Private Partnerships. This is an excellent opportunity to be a part of our growing Transportation practice and to have a direct impact on our growth goals in the transportation industry.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Technical Leadership & Quality

• Function as Sr. Design Manager and/or Sr. Project Manager as needed to win opportunities, achieve technical results and desired client outcomes
• Assist the Transportation practice in branding Pond as an industry recognized technical expert

• Serve as Engineer of Record (EOR) or Senior Technical Advisor on GDOT bridge projects including water crossings, interchanges, and signature structures.
• Direct the preparation and QC/QA review of bridge plans, calculations, and specifications through all PDP phases (Concept, Preliminary Design, Final Design).
• Apply and interpret GDOT Bridge and Structures Design Policy Manual, AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications, and FHWA guidance on load rating, seismic design, and hydraulics.
• Lead complex structural analyses including bridge load ratings (NBI), scour evaluations, seismic assessments, and structure type selection studies.
• Oversee right-of-way impact studies, constructability reviews, special provisions development, and PS&E package assembly to GDOT submittal standards.

Client Engagement & Project Delivery

• Actively lead bridge pursuits in concert with the Transportation team, Pond Leadership and our Marketing team
• Have Go/No-Go authority on bridge pursuits for Operations in conjunction with our Marketing team
• Assess strategic hires for better positioning in pursuit phase
• Actively engage DOT and other clients to assess, develop, and align service offering to be a leader for bridge services
• Serve as primary point of contact with the GDOT Office of Bridge Design, maintaining strong working relationships with GDOT Bridge Design Engineers, District Bridge Engineers, and State Bridge Engineer.
• Lead project teams through GDOT review milestones including Concept Report, Preliminary Field Plan Review (PFPR), Field Plan Review (FPR), and PS&E submission.
• Coordinate with GDOT Office of Environmental Services, Office of Utilities, and Office of Right of Way to support project delivery schedules.
• Navigate GDOT-specific submission portals, electronic plan requirements, MicroStation-based production standards, and GDOT specification formats.
• Manage subconsultant coordination, scope/fee negotiations, and DBE compliance on GDOT prime and sub contracts.

Operational, People Leadership & Mentorship

• Responsible for day-to-day operations and overall resource management and financial metrics for the GA Bridge Practice
• Responsible to work with Project Managers and Design Team for day-to-day decisions on resource allocation, staffing, and project budgets
• Responsible for assessment of resources and effectiveness to meet current and future needs
• Recruit, develop, and retain a high-performing team of bridge engineers (P.E. and E.I.T. levels) and CAD/BIM production staff aligned with workload and practice growth targets.
  
• Conduct performance reviews, support professional licensure goals, and mentor staff pursuing P.E. registration and prequalification.
  
• Champion a culture of technical excellence, safety-conscious design, and client service consistent with firm values.
• Collaborate with the firm's roadway, drainage/hydraulics, geotechnical, and construction inspection practice leaders to deliver integrated project solutions.

Practice Development & Business Growth

• Develop and execute a strategic growth plan for the firm's bridge practice, including pursuit strategy, teaming decisions, and geographic expansion.
• Lead proposal development, technical approach writing, and interview preparation for bridge and structures on-call and project-specific contracts.
• Identify and develop relationships with Local Maintained Bridge owners, counties, and municipalities pursuing Local Administered Projects (LAP) and SPLOST-funded bridge replacements.
• Monitor GDOT Bridge Inspection, STIP, and Construction programs to identify pipeline opportunities aligned with the firm's capabilities.
• Represent the firm at ACEC Georgia, Georgia Engineering Alliance, GDOT Industry Day events, and AASHTO committee participation.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from an ABET-accredited program; Master's degree preferred.
• Professional Engineer (P.E.) licensed in the State of Georgia; multi-state licensure a plus.
• Minimum 15 years of progressive bridge/structures engineering experience with at least 5 years in a task management or technical leadership role.
• Demonstrated experience as Engineer of Record on GDOT bridge projects, including familiarity with GDOT's Plan Development Process (PDP), standard drawings, and specification format.
• Deep working knowledge of AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications (current edition) and GDOT Bridge and Structures Design Policy Manual.
• Proven track record of leading PS&E packages through GDOT Bridge Design Office review and approval.
• Strong understanding of GDOT prequalification requirements for bridge design work classes.
• Proficiency in structural analysis software (LEAP Bridge, MDX, CSiBridge, SAP2000, or equivalent); working knowledge of GDOT MicroStation/OpenRoads production environment.
• Established professional relationships within GDOT's Office of Bridge Design

PREFFERED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience with Design-Build and P3 delivery on GDOT mega-projects (e.g., I-285 Top End, SR 400 managed lanes, Managed Lane network expansions).
• Familiarity with GDOT bridge inspection programs, NBI reporting, and Pontis/AASHTOWare Bridge Management.
• Experience with Local Administered Projects (LAP), including GDOT LAP Manual requirements and FHWA oversight protocols.
• Knowledge of GDOT hydraulics and drainage criteria as applied to bridge design (freeboard, scour, FEMA coordination).
• Experience with precast concrete bridge elements and Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC) techniques.
• Involvement in ACEC Georgia, Georgia Engineering Alliance, or AASHTO bridge committee activities.
• Seismic design experience consistent with GDOT and AASHTO guide specifications for seismic design of highway bridges.
• Experience with Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) bridge design standards, including familiarity with FDOT Structures Design Guidelines, FDOT Standard Plans for Road and Bridge Construction, and FDOT's LRFD design criteria; particularly valuable for projects involving I-95, I-75, or coastal corridor continuations crossing the Georgia-Florida state line.