Field Engineer

Job Overview

Tecma Associates, Inc. is a civil engineering consulting firm seeking a licensed Field Engineer to support construction inspection and contract administration on transportation projects for the Illinois Department of Transportation, the Illinois Tollway, and other public agency clients throughout the Chicago metropolitan area. This is a field-based position with responsibility for on-site observation, documentation, and coordination between the contractor, the agency, and our office.

Depending on experience, the selected candidate may serve as Resident Engineer on assigned projects, with full responsibility for the contract and the field staff on that job. Candidates who are not yet prepared for that role will be developed toward it. We staff Resident Engineer positions from within, and advancement is driven by project performance rather than a fixed timeline.

Responsibilities

• Perform daily construction observation and inspection to verify work conforms to approved plans, specifications, and special provisions
• Prepare and maintain daily field reports, quantity records, inspector daily reports, and project documentation in accordance with agency requirements
• Measure and document pay quantities; review and verify contractor pay estimates
• Monitor materials sampling, testing, and documentation for compliance with agency material inspection requirements
• Coordinate daily with contractor personnel, agency representatives, utility companies, and affected stakeholders
• Review shop drawings, submittals, and work plans; track and document requests for information
• Identify and document field conflicts, nonconforming work, and potential change conditions; escalate or resolve as appropriate to the assigned role
• Support preparation of change orders, time extension documentation, and project closeout records
• Monitor traffic control setups, work zone safety, and compliance with permit and environmental conditions
• Maintain project photo logs and as-built documentation

When serving as Resident Engineer:

• Serve as the agency's primary on-site representative and principal point of contact for the contractor
• Administer the construction contract, including progress monitoring, schedule review, and enforcement of specification requirements
• Supervise and direct assigned field inspection staff and review their documentation
• Review, negotiate, and recommend change orders, extra work orders, and time extensions
• Conduct progress meetings and prepare meeting minutes and correspondence of record
• Certify pay estimates and final quantities, and manage project closeout and final records

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering or a closely related engineering discipline
• Licensed Professional Engineer (PE) in the State of Illinois, or PE licensed in another state with the ability to obtain Illinois licensure by comparison
• Experience in construction inspection, field engineering, or construction management on transportation or public infrastructure projects
• Working knowledge of IDOT Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction and construction documentation practices
• Valid driver's license and ability to travel daily to active construction sites
• Ability to work outdoors in varying weather conditions and around active construction and traffic
• Strong written documentation skills and proficiency with standard office and project documentation software

Preferred

• Prior service as Resident Engineer, Assistant Resident Engineer, or lead inspector on an IDOT, Illinois Tollway, or other public agency project
• Experience meeting agency Resident Engineer qualification requirements, or readiness to be submitted for RE approval
• IDOT Documentation of Contract Quantities certification
• Current IDOT or Illinois Tollway material inspection certifications (QC/QA, PCC, HMA, Soils, Aggregate)
• Experience supervising field inspection staff
• Familiarity with agency electronic documentation systems

Pay: $100,000.00 - $150,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Application Question(s):

• Do you hold a current Professional Engineer license? If licensed outside Illinois, list the state.

Work Location: In person