Professional Engineer III – State Specifications Engineer

State of Nebraska•Lincoln, NE

12d•$46 - $68

About The Position

We are seeking a strategic and forward-thinking engineer to serve as State Specifications Engineer for the Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT). This key leadership role provides oversight and technical direction for the development, review, and implementation of plans, specifications, and special provisions, as well as the policies and standards that govern their use across the Department. Working across design, construction, and policy disciplines, you will collaborate with teams throughout the agency and with external partners to ensure contract documents are clear, consistent, constructible, and aligned with state and federal requirements. As a trusted technical leader, you will also help advance the Department’s transition to digital project delivery, including the evolving role of models as part of the legal contract framework. In this role, you will influence how standards are applied across projects, drive continuous improvement, and help position the agency for the future while supporting safe, reliable, and cost-effective infrastructure for Nebraska. Pay range is $46.334 -$68.302 per hour. The pay rate may be commensurate with education and/or experience within fiscal constraints if approved. NDOT teammates enjoy a friendly and supportive work environment, healthy work/life balance, job security and stability throughout their careers, generous paid time off, comprehensive health benefits, tuition reimbursement, and a state-matched retirement contribution of 156%.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline and two years of experience performing professional level engineering assignments.
Must possess a Professional Engineer (P.E.) license at the time of application and be licensed by the Nebraska Board of Engineers and Architects at time of employment or be able to obtain such license within 90 days of employment.
A valid driver’s license or ability to provide authorized independent transportation is required.
Out-of-town and occasional overnight travel may be required.
Regular and reliable attendance is required.
Knowledge of: civil engineering theories, principles, and practices of civil engineering and design; modern methods and techniques of highway construction, maintenance, and materials; legal responsibilities and ramifications associated with the work performed; federal and agency design standards, specifications, and procedures; federal and State laws and regulations applicable to the function performed.
Ability to: interpret, understand and implement State and federal laws and regulations, and agency standards, policies, and procedures; read interpret and evaluate engineering plans and specifications; review and approve/stamp engineering plans; understand all levels of project design; organize, analyze, and evaluate available information and draw reasonable conclusions; communicate information clearly and concisely; prepare, interpret, use, and explain civil engineering plans, maps, specifications and standards and reports, communicate with the public, contractors, consultants, agency staff at all levels, and local government officials; interact with assigned worker, other agency employees, local government representatives, contractors, consultants, and the public.

Nice To Haves

Five plus years of experience reading, writing and formatting specifications pertaining to highway and/or bridge construction.
Five plus years of experience with design of highway/bridge projects, or construction of the same.
Working knowledge of NDOT Roadway Design policies and procedures.
Experience effectively communicating with a diverse group of professionals from multiple disciplines.

Responsibilities

Serve as the Department’s State Specifications Engineer, providing strategic leadership and technical expertise for construction specifications and standards.
Lead and manage the Plans and Specifications team within the Construction Division, ensuring high-quality deliverables and alignment with agency goals.
Establish, implement, and maintain agency-wide policies, guidelines, and standards governing the format, content, and application of specifications for highway and bridge construction projects.
Oversee and perform comprehensive reviews of preliminary and final construction plans, special provisions, and quantity calculations to ensure constructability, completeness, accuracy, and compliance with applicable standards; review consultant-prepared plans for federally funded and state-supported projects.
Direct the development, standardization, and consistent application of pay item definitions across all projects.
Provide expert guidance and recommendations on design and construction issues to internal staff, consultants, and local agency partners; collaborate to implement effective solutions and continuous improvements.
Manage and maintain the content of the Construction Manual and Standard Specifications for Highway Construction, ensuring documents are current, accurate, and reflective of evolving industry practices; lead coordination with Subject Matter Experts to update and publish revisions in a timely manner.
Chair the Specifications Review Committee, facilitating collaboration with internal stakeholders and external partners to ensure constructability, compliance, and industry alignment.
Coordinate with external partners, including federal and industry organizations, to obtain input, approvals, and ensure adherence to regulatory requirements.
Lead the development and assembly of contract packages, including specifications for Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) and maintenance contracts; collaborate across divisions to ensure successful delivery.
Represent the Construction Division in meetings with internal leadership, consultants, federal partners, and other agencies, serving as a key technical authority and ambassador for the program.
Perform other duties as assigned.