Civil Bridge Engineer

Aster Brands•Grand Rapids, MI

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Civil Bridge Engineer Are you ready to engineer the future of infrastructure? At Aster Brands, we’re not just building bridge components, we’re redefining how bridges are designed, manufactured, and deployed. With our globally-licensed systems, we empower manufacturers worldwide to bring high-performance precast solutions to life. Now, we’re expanding beyond walls and retaining structures into the full spectrum of bridge engineering including foundations, abutments, superstructures, coping systems and more. We're looking for a Bridge Engineer who thrives at the intersection of design, analysis, and real-world implementation. Starting with a modular bridge concept we’re creating our new Velpont system, for rapid installation and high levels of reliability. You’ll join us in bringing innovative, cost-effective, and resilient bridge solutions to market. In this role, you’ll help shape the next generation of bridge components by marrying structural rigor with manufacturing practicality, geotechnical insight with hydraulic awareness, and design clarity with client-facing communication. If you’re ready to roll up your sleeves, share your expertise in technical sales presentations, and approach every challenge with a “can-do” mindset, then you might be the engineer who helps our licensed systems change the world in concrete ways. This is an onsite position, located in beautiful Northern Michigan that balances small-town charm with natural adventure, relaxed pace, and a strong sense of community. We would look at relocation to Northern Michigan and/or consider remote opportunities. Aster Brands offers a package of forward-thinking employee benefits, including excellent health, dental, vision, and life insurance, 401k with employer match, profit sharing, paid time off, paid holidays, award-winning adoption and foster care reimbursement, partial paid family leave, product discounts, access to an onsite licensed professional counselor, and a team of innovative, driven and caring coworkers.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Civil or Structural Engineering (Master’s degree preferred).
Minimum 5 years of experience in bridge and structural engineering.
Demonstrated experience in bridge component design, including foundations, abutments, and superstructures.
Proficiency with AutoCAD.
Experience with bridge design and analysis software.
In-depth knowledge of AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications.
Professional Engineer (PE) license.

Nice To Haves

strong understanding of structural analysis and design principles for steel and concrete bridge systems.
Ability to produce feasibility reports, cost estimates, and technical documentation.
Have a can-do attitude with a proactive, solution-oriented mindset committed to finding practical ways to make bridge projects work successfully.

Responsibilities

Design bridge components including foundations, abutment walls, superstructures, beams, coping, caps and corner systems for new bridge applications.
Generate design resources, technician documentation, material specifications and presentations for stakeholders.
Perform structural design calculations for bridge and abutment wall systems following AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications, ASTM, DOT and/or local standards.
Design bridge geometry and alignments to accommodate roadway grades, minimum clearances, and hydraulic conditions.
Evaluate scour depth mechanics and integrate countermeasures into foundation and abutment design.
Prepare preliminary and final bridge design drawings and specifications using AutoCAD.
Conduct feasibility analyses and develop conceptual bridge designs for prospective projects.
Prepare technical reports, quantity takeoffs, and cost estimates to support project planning and licensing proposals.
Assess constructibility and optimize designs for manufacturability and installation efficiency.
Communicate technical design concepts clearly to both engineering and non-engineering audiences, including current and prospective customers, consulting engineers, design teams, DOT’s, municipalities and other partners involved.
Support marketing and business development sales teams with technical input for proposals and presentations.
Work closely with geotechnical engineers to integrate subsurface data and foundation design parameters.
Coordinate with fluvial geomorphology and hydraulic specialists to ensure designs accommodate hydrologic, scour, and geomorphic conditions.
Participate in design and innovation review meetings and provide engineering support during fabrication and phases.
Provide technical support during manufacturing, construction, and installation phases of licensed systems.
10% travel. Requires occasional flying or driving for conferences and occasional outdoor work with current construction projects.