Lead Civil Engineer

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers•New Orleans, LA

About The Position

The Lead Civil Engineer serves as the Technical Lead in the Geotechnical Branch for Mississippi River and Tributaries (MR&T) projects and for permits seeking Letters of No Objection (LNO) and Section 408 permissions. The position is the primary interface between the Geotechnical Branch and other offices. The incumbent coordinates engineering evaluations, risk assessments, and technical documentation for permit applications and permissions; provides geotechnical technical authority for civil works project modifications; and conducts or coordinates technical reviews of submitted analyses. The role leads complex regional engineering projects and independent reviews of complex geotechnical analyses. It includes reviewing technical reports and standard operating procedures, coordinating emergency flood responses, and directing technical assessments and critical decisions for emergency waiver requests during high-river and active flood-fight events. As Technical Lead, the incumbent manages team workflow and develops processes to keep schedules, scope, and budget on track. The position requires a bachelor's degree or higher in engineering, or an approved education-and-experience alternative for the basic engineering requirement; one year of specialized experience; and a current Professional Engineer license or registration in good standing issued by a U.S. state or territory. Education cannot substitute for the specialized experience requirement. Applicants who have held a GS position within the past 52 weeks must meet the time-in-grade requirement of 52 weeks at GS-12 or equivalent. The appointment may be subject to a background investigation and includes a one-year probationary period. Relocation and PCS costs are not authorized.

Requirements

Meet the basic engineering requirement through a bachelor's degree or higher in engineering from an appropriately accredited program, or an eligible combination of education and experience as specified in the posting.
Have at least one year of specialized experience managing geotechnical engineering aspects of major water resource, civil works, or flood control infrastructure projects.
Have experience directing, reviewing, or approving complex technical documentation for regulatory permits, Letters of No Objection, or Section 408 permissions.
Have experience leading engineering teams through critical operational schedules, emergency flood risk assessments, or high-river waiver evaluations.
Have experience managing workload distribution, setting milestones, and monitoring budget and scope for engineering personnel or external contractors.
Possess and maintain a Professional Engineer license or registration in good standing issued by one of the 50 states or its territories, and submit an up-to-date license with the application.
If currently or recently employed in a General Schedule position, meet the time-in-grade requirement of 52 weeks of Federal service at GS-12 or equivalent within the last 52 weeks.
Meet any applicable suitability or fitness determination and provide proof of U.S. citizenship.
Applicants using foreign education must provide the required evaluation or evidence of U.S. college credit.

Responsibilities

Coordinate engineering evaluations, risk assessments, and technical documentation for permit applications, Letters of No Objection (LNO), and Section 408 permissions.
Serve as the geotechnical authority for modifications to civil works projects and perform or coordinate technical reviews of analyses submitted for LNOs, Section 408 permissions, and waivers.
Lead complex regional engineering projects.
Perform and coordinate independent engineering reviews of complex geotechnical analyses.
Review technical reports and standard operating procedures (SOPs) to assess their effectiveness.
Coordinate emergency flood responses when required.
Direct technical assessments and critical decision-making for emergency waiver requests during high-river and active flood-fight events.
Manage team workflow as Technical Lead.
Manage schedules, scope, and budget by developing processes to identify when any are off track.