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"