SENIOR MATERIALS ENGINEER – LOS ANGELES, CA

The Senior Engineer will be responsible for managing Alta Vista’s material testing laboratory, assigned material testing personnel and material testing contracts. The position also requires various assigned duties on construction projects for bridges and other transportation structures.  Position requires thorough knowledge of civil/structural design, construction, material testing, and material engineering techniques to plan and perform independent work requiring judgment in the evaluation, selection, application and adaptation of these techniques, procedures and criteria. Included in that role are analyses of design and construction documents, drawings, reports, quality control reviews and providing timely material related recommendations. The individual will also be responsible for the management of the quality of materials incorporated into construction contracts.   

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Identifies staffing needs, hires and manages material testing personnel to fulfill current Caltrans on-call material testing contracts. Responsibilities include approving timesheets and expense reports, managing on-call dispatch, establishing report quality controls, ensuring testers maintain required certifications, and other general supervisory duties
  • Managing project budgets and invoicing, approving project reports, overseeing orders and delivery of equipment, taking care of any changes a client wants to make, resolving problems and ensuring that work is completed on time and within budget
  • Strengthening relationships with active clients and securing new task orders and opportunities
  • Determines selection criteria and works with Engineering and purchasing staff to select engineering consultants; specifies parameters and determines scope of work for consultants; reviews and approves work conducted by consultants; reviews and approves consultants pay requests
  • Oversees material testing laboratory and its associated accreditations. Ensure all equipment is properly functioning and calibrated. Coordinate any facility needs with operations team and landlord
  • Serve as the laboratory’s Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) for nuclear density gauges
  • Supervises junior engineers in the management of materials engineering transportation projects for various local agencies

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

  • B.S. in Civil Engineering required, M.S. in Civil Engineering preferred
  • CA P.E. required
  • Minimum 10 years’ experience working on transportation projects
  • Must be available for intermittent travel to meet with clients
  • Experience with Caltrans practices and procedures
  • Understanding of material testing practices
  • Good interpersonal skills and capable of developing technical writing, and communications skills
  • Effective written, interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to work as part of a team involving staff, clients and outside agencies
  • Proficient using Microsoft Office (Word & Excel) and AutoCAD
  • Strong problem-solving skills, including identifying data quality issues
  • Strong organizational skills, including an ability to prioritize activities and work with limited supervision
  • Results oriented and able to complete tasks on deadline with little supervision
  • Ability to make good decisions using sound, professional judgment