Senior Building Inspector Jobs in Washington, DC

Salary : $60,894.29 - $106,565.06 Annually
Location : HERRITY BUILDING (B-2), 12055 GOVERNMENT CENTER PKWY, FAIRFAX (EJ26), VA
Job Type: FT Hourly W BN
Job Number: 26-01112
Department: Land Development Svcs
Opening Date: 07/25/2026
Closing Date: 8/21/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
Pay Grade: S21
Posting Type: Open to General Public
Job Announcement
Fairfax County boasts a top-notch school system, safe neighborhoods, thousands of acres of parkland, and bustling town centers. County government sits at the heart of this dynamic community of almost 1.2 million residents and seeks employees eager to bring their energy, enthusiasm and skills to serve Fairfax residents and to shape the county's future. Land Development Services (LDS) is the steward of the county's land development and building construction codes and regulations, and its staff members embrace their essential role as "first preventers." Every day, through careful review, permitting and inspection of site and building construction, our staff protect the health, safety, welfare, and environment for those who live in, work in, and visit Fairfax County. Our department also serves as the gateway to much of the county's economic development, reviewing over 30,000 building and site plan submissions, issuing nearly 70,000 building permits, and conducting over 220,000 building and site inspections each year. If you would like to join a creative, collaborative, innovative team doing meaningful work, then LDS is the place for you. Fairfax County's Site Development and Inspections Division (SDID) is seeking a detail-oriented Senior Engineering Inspector to support safe, high-quality development across the county. In this role, you will inspect construction sites and public improvements to ensure compliance with county standards, land development regulations, and environmental requirements including erosion and sediment control, stormwater management, and tree preservation.
You will serve as the county's field representative-monitoring developer work, identifying and documenting code violations, issuing notices of non-compliance, and conducting follow-up inspections. The position also includes preparing reports, coordinating preconstruction meetings, resolving citizen complaints, and verifying all required improvements prior to occupancy and bond release.
This role involves regular communication with homeowners, contractors, developers, engineers, and partner agencies, delivering timely customer service through in-person, phone, and virtual channels. If you are committed to public safety, environmental stewardship, and ensuring construction quality, we invite you to apply and make a meaningful impact in the community
Note: This position description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employees may be assigned additional duties and responsibilities to support the ongoing operational needs of the organization.
Position may be underfilled as an Engineering Inspector; the underfill requirements are stated below in the Employment Standards section.
Illustrative Duties
(The illustrative duties listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all inclusive list. A complete list of position duties and unique physical requirements can be found in the position description.)

• Reviews plans, specifications and sites for construction projects;
• Inspects underground drains, metal and concrete pipe drains, culverts, sanitary sewer lines, manholes, catch basins, and water lines;
• Inspects pumping stations under construction;
• Inspects street and road construction including subgrading, placing of materials and rock, oiling and placing of final surfaces;
• Investigates complaints;
• Makes check by measurement to see that necessary lines, grades and elevations are followed and that structures are of proper dimensions;
• Conducts final inspections and gives approval after corrections are made;
• Completes daily progress and approval reports, and keeps a construction diary;
• May assign and review work of engineering inspectors, conduct field inspections, and advise inspectors on difficult problems.

Employment Standards
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
(Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for "Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to")
Graduation from high school or GED; and three years of construction experience, preferably in the inspection field.
UNDERFILL REQUIREMENTS:
This position may be underfilled as an (Grade S18; $52,893.57- $92,563.74 Annually). The employment standards for the Engineering Inspector are: any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following: High school graduation or possession of a G.E.D. issued by a state department of education; plus two years of experience as a construction inspector, or as a foreman supervising public improvements.
CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:

• Valid driver's license
• DEQ Erosion & Sediment Control Project Inspector certification
• DEQ Stormwater Management Inspector certification

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check, driving record check, and pre-employment medical evaluation to the satisfaction of the employer.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Knowledge and experience in land development or construction.
• Experience dealing with citizen, stakeholders, and/or developers.
• Strong communication skills and customer service.
• Ability to read and interpret construction and site-related plans.
• Must have excellent organization skills.
• Strong ability to multi-task.
• Experience using Microsoft Office computer software.
• Experience in record management and electronic records.
• Experience using automated technologies such as databases and web-based online applications.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Ability to operate a motor vehicle. Ability to operate keyboard driven equipment. Ability to work in extreme temperatures. Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds with assistance; walk/traverse rough, icy, broken terrain; go up and down steep hills and slopes. Successful completion of a pre-employment medical exam is required. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.
SELECTION PROCEDURE:
Panel interview and may include exercise.
Fairfax County is home to a highly diverse population, with a significant number of residents speaking languages other than English at home (including ) We encourage candidates who are bilingual in English and another language to apply for this opportunity.
Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. TTY 703-222-7314. EEO/AA/TTY.
#LI-JT1
Merit Positions
Fairfax County is proud to offer employees an attractive and comprehensive benefits program, including the following:

• Medical/Vision/Dental Insurance Coverage
• Group Term Life Insurance
• Long Term Disability
• LiveWell Program
• Flexible Spending Programs
• Paid Leave (annual, sick, parental, volunteer activity, and more!)
• Paid Holidays
• Deferred Compensation
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employees' Child Care Center
• Continuous Learning Opportunities

Please click for a summary of our benefits.
NOTE: Fairfax County Government is a qualifying employer under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. For more information about the PSLF program:
For additional details please visit the
Non-Merit Positions

1. Non-Merit Benefit Eligible: scheduled to work a minimum 1,040 hours and no more than a maximum of 1,560 hours in a calendar year.
   • Medical/Vision/Dental Insurance Coverage
   • Flexible Spending Program
   • Deferred Compensation
2. Temporary: scheduled to work a maximum of 900 hours in a calendar year.
   • No benefits

01
What is the highest level of education that you have completed?

• Less than 12th grade
• High school diploma or GED
• Some college
• Associate's degree
• Bachelor's degree
• Master's degree
• Doctorate degree

02
If you answered "Some college" for the highest level of education completed, please indicate the number of quarter or semester hours you have completed towards a degree.

• Less than 45 quarter hours
• 45 to less than 90 quarter hours
• 90 to less than 135 quarter hours
• 135 to less than 180 quarter hours
• 180 or more quarter hours
• Less than 30 semester hours
• 30 to less than 60 semester hours
• 60 to less than 90 semester hours
• 90 to less than 120 semester hours
• 120 or more semester hours
• Not applicable

03
Please indicate all major(s) or minor(s) for your completed degree(s). Check all that apply.

• Civil engineering
• Construction management
• Architecture
• Other (related field)
• Other (non-related field)
• Not applicable

04
If you answered "Other (related field)" or "Other (non-related field)" for the previous question, please list all of your majors and minors. If this question does not pertain to you, or you do not have a degree, enter "Not applicable".
05
How many years of full-time equivalent experience do you have in construction, preferably in the inspection field?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five or more years

06
How many years of full-time equivalent experience do you have working as a construction inspector or as a foreman supervising public improvements?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five or more years

07
Do you currently possess a valid driver's license?

• Yes
• No

08
Do you currently possess a valid Virginia Department of Environmental Quality Erosion and Sediment Control Project Inspector Certification?

• Yes
• No

09
Do you currently possess a valid Virginia Department of Environmental Quality Stormwater Management Inspector Certification?

• Yes
• No

10
How many years of full-time equivalent experience do you have in land development construction and/or site inspections?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five or more years

11
How many years of full-time equivalent experience do you have providing customer service or working directly with the public?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five or more years

12
How many years of full-time equivalent experience do you have reading and interpreting site-related plans?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five or more years

13
How many years of full-time equivalent experience do you have using automated technologies such as databases and web-based online applications?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five or more years

14
Are you proficient in any of the following Microsoft Office Suite applications? Check all that apply.

• Outlook (Composing email messages; sending and receiving email messages; organizing email messages into folders; managing contacts; scheduling appointments & meetings, managing tasks)
• Word (Knowledge of common functions such as creating a title; using, modifying, and creating styles; indenting paragraphs; using tabs and tables; inserting a hard page break; using page numbering; creating headers and footers; inserting graphics; adding comments and tracking changes)
• PowerPoint (Creating a template and working with a design template; working with graphics, animation and multimedia; building interactive presentations using hyperlinks)
• Excel (Basic knowledge of creating a worksheet; performing calculations in a worksheet; modifying and formatting a worksheet; printing workbook contents; creating and modifying pivot tables; using formulas and links to other cells/worksheets)
• None of the above

15
How many years of full-time equivalent experience do you have with records management/electronic records?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years