Applies professional engineering knowledge and skills to a broad scope of engineering issues.   Provides designs with specifications for new and existing infrastructure including foundations, railroad bridges, buildings, and marine facilities. Uses independent judgment, initiative, and creativity to make technical decisions of considerable difficulty and directing projects of significant complexity.


Examples of Duties

Oversees and performs complex, multi-faceted professional engineering functions in the civil and structural disciplines.  Seeks to maximize safety, durability, cost effectiveness, and simplicity in all functions and projects.  Projects include design, construction, maintenance, evaluation, inspection, and repair of ARRC infrastructure such as tracks, bridges, buildings, operations support facilities, roads, marine facilities, and utility systems.

Serves as Project Engineer on assigned projects.  Provides experienced professional engineering design, oversight, review, direction, coordination, and approval of work performed by ARRC forces, consultants, and contractors.  Oversees the technical aspects of a project, such as the plans and specifications, engineer's cost estimates, submittal approval, technical changes to the project, work quality conformance, and as-constructed record drawings.

Develops technical information for permits and coordinates approvals by third regulatory agencies, interfacing directly with federal, state, and local agency personnel, interested community groups, and the general public, to present projects and resolve any conflicts or issues as required. 

Computes and approves railway line clearances and overloads.  Checks dimensional loads against existing clearances.

Provides engineering support for incident management.  Evaluates existing conditions, develops restoration solutions, and produces appropriate documentation, drawings, and reports as required by the ARRC Emergency Response Plan and/or the Incident Command staff.


Technical and Operational Knowledge
 
Demonstrates experience and judgement necessary to identify and define the nature and scope of technical problems, and to identify project assumptions and derive design criteria from inconclusive or variable data.  Works on advanced planning and design problems, and coordinates and monitors planning and design work. Exhibits a thorough knowledge of project management. Designs and develops plans and specifications for internal and/or external use, in a CADD environment, is required.
 
Analytical Skills and Impact
 
Uses strong analytical skills to identify project needs, develop designs, provide specifications, estimate and control costs.  Performs value engineering, project programming, risk determination and mitigation, work force needs assessment, work force utilization, safety audits, process analyses, project scheduling and control, public relations management (employee, departmental, community, government, and political), and overall personal situational awareness.  Studies the approaches applied in previous situations, assesses the results obtained in similar situations, and applies that knowledge to new designs.  Balances, and maximizes all aspects of design including safety, infrastructure performance and value, operational efficiencies, resource allocation, risk management, and public relations.
 
Supervision and Control
 
This position has no direct supervisory responsibility.  However, the incumbent manages all resources needed to successfully complete assigned projects to include workforce requirements (consultants, contractors, and ARRC employees), contract services, and materials/equipment.  Manages work performed on assigned projects including oversight, direction, and coordination of consultants, contractors, and ARRC employees working on assigned projects.  Monitors safety, project schedule, project costs, and overall results.  Works independently with limited oversight, but also possesses strong team oriented work practices.
 
Decides which supplies, materials, or merchandise to purchase.  Approves purchases and payments.  Formulates recommendations and participates in the formation and revision of policies or standards.  Provides consultation or expert advice to senior leadership.
 
Communication
 
Communicates effectively with ARRC employees at all levels of the organization, customers, lessees, permittees, consultants, contractors, regulatory agencies, community groups and the general public.  Knows how to communicate effectively, what must be communicated, who the recipient should be, and when the information should be communicated.  Exhibits clear communication through plans and specifications. 
 
Working Conditions
 
Work is performed in an office environment and in the field, including shops, yards, mainline track, and other ARRC properties.  Work may require travel to, and multi-day stays at or near, a project site for completion of work.  May be exposed to environmental extremes and occasional hazardous conditions and may be required to bend, stoop, kneel, or crouch during the course of activities.  Work will occasionally require lifting and moving of equipment up to 50 pounds, stooping, kneeling, crouching and reaching.