Bridge Design Manager – Transportation Structures (Confidential Client)
Location: Greater Chicago Area, Illinois

Confidential search – please do not repost or distribute without authorization.

A respected engineering consulting organization with a strong presence in transportation infrastructure is seeking a Bridge Design Manager to help lead and expand its structural bridge practice within Illinois.

This leadership role will guide technical delivery, team development, client relationships, and business growth across bridge design, rehabilitation, and inspection programs. The selected individual will work closely with leadership to strengthen the firm’s presence with state transportation agencies and other public-sector clients throughout the region.

Compensation

Estimated Salary Range: $150,000 – $200,000 annually (commensurate with experience)

Key Responsibilities

Practice Leadership & Market Development

• Research transportation infrastructure markets and identify strategic growth opportunities within Illinois

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with public-sector transportation agencies and consulting partners

• Recruit, mentor, and develop bridge engineering staff to support practice growth

• Support proposal efforts and major project pursuits

Technical Oversight

• Provide senior-level direction on bridge design, rehabilitation, and inspection projects

• Serve as Project Principal or Lead Engineer on complex structural assignments

• Guide multidisciplinary engineering teams through structural analysis and design development

• Lead preparation of design drawings, calculations, and specifications for fixed and movable bridge structures

Project Delivery

• Manage project scope, schedule, staffing plans, and budgets

• Perform senior quality assurance reviews of bridge design deliverables

• Oversee multiple concurrent infrastructure projects

• Ensure internal quality control standards are met across assigned work

Team Leadership

• Mentor engineers and project managers

• Build a collaborative, high-performing structural engineering team

• Track performance metrics and maintain project profitability targets

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Civil or Structural Engineering

• Master’s Degree preferred

• Illinois Professional Engineer (PE) license required

• Structural Engineer (SE) license strongly preferred

• 12+ years of bridge engineering experience

• Extensive knowledge of AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications

• Demonstrated experience working with state transportation agencies and public infrastructure programs

• Proven leadership in project delivery and team development

Additional Skills

• Strong client relationship and business development abilities

• Ability to manage project budgets and schedules effectively

• Excellent communication and organizational skills

• Strong interpersonal leadership abilities

Work Authorization:
Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States.

Core Role Tags

Bridge Practice Leader
Bridge Engineering Manager
Bridge Department Manager
Structural Engineering Manager
Transportation Structures Leader
Bridge Program Manager
Bridge Design Manager
Bridge Group Leader
Bridge Technical Director
Bridge Engineering Lead

Technical Discipline Tags

Bridge Design
Structural Engineering
Transportation Infrastructure
Highway Structures
Bridge Rehabilitation
Bridge Inspection
Structural Analysis
Load Rating
Bridge Retrofit
Steel Bridge Design
Concrete Bridge Design
Movable Bridges
Transportation Structures

Standards / Technical Knowledge

AASHTO LRFD
AASHTO Bridge Design
DOT Bridge Design
State DOT Projects
FHWA Bridge Standards
LRFD Design
Bridge Load Rating
Bridge Inspection Standards

Client / Market Tags

DOT Projects
State DOT
Transportation Agencies
Public Infrastructure
Transportation Engineering
Municipal Infrastructure
Federal Infrastructure Programs

Leadership / Practice Growth Tags

Engineering Leadership
Business Development
Practice Development
Technical Oversight
Project Delivery
Team Leadership
Client Development
Engineering Operations

Credentials Tags

PE License
Professional Engineer
Structural Engineer SE
Licensed Structural Engineer
Civil Engineer PE

ATS Boolean Keyword Cluster (optional but powerful)

Recruiters often paste this in keyword fields:

Bridge OR "Bridge Design" OR "Bridge Engineer" OR "Structural Bridge" OR "Transportation Structures" OR "Bridge Practice Leader" OR "Bridge Engineering Manager" OR "Bridge Department Manager" OR AASHTO OR LRFD OR DOT OR "State DOT"