Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

POSITION DESCRIPTION FOR JOB POSTING

Position Number:  00278672

Description Activated On:  1/9/2026 3:06:43 PM

Position Purpose: Describe the primary purpose of this position and how it contributes to the organization’s objectives. Example: Provides clerical and office support within the Division to ensure its operations are conducted efficiently and effectively. 

 Serves on a design squad and is responsible for preparing and/or reviewing complete sets of plans for highway projects such as roadway reconstruction and/or realignment, drainage, guide rail, traffic control, and erosion and sediment pollution control. Also prepares or reviews portions of the most complex projects involving complicated environmental, economic, and right-of-way constraints. Applies sound engineering principles and PennDOT design standards to prepare and review components of PS&E packages, including Line and Grade, Typical Sections, Drainage Plans, and Right-of-Way Plans, ensuring design elements meet applicable criteria prior to supervisory review and approval.

Description of Duties: Describe in detail the duties and responsibilities assigned to this position. Descriptions should include the major end result of the task. Example: Types correspondence, reports, and other various documents from handwritten drafts for review and signature of the supervisor.

Evaluates existing field and site conditions to determine where design constraints may prevent full compliance with current PennDOT specifications and standards, and provides supporting engineering analysis for senior staff when Technically Infeasible Forms or Design Exception Requests are required.

Applies sound engineering judgment to identify potential safety concerns and recommends appropriate design modifications or countermeasures for consideration and incorporation into project plans by senior engineers or the squad leader.

Develops accurate cost estimates for assigned projects and as requested based on information from prior projects and recent bid results. Produces estimates that are mathematically correct and include all pertinent items of work.

Develops all aspects of plans, including roadway, traffic control, erosion and sedimentation control for the complete development of plans for bidding a project. Determines quantities of work necessary to complete a project.

Prepares complete bid proposals using the Engineering and Construction Management System (ECMS).

Coordinates all required permits with the applicable agencies. Assists the Environmental Unit in securing environmental clearance for assigned projects.

Conducts and participates in field trip investigations to evaluate existing terrain, location, drainage, and any physical problems to ensure they are considered in the preparation of design plans.

Performs technical design reviews of highway plans prepared by others, or portions of complex plans prepared by consultants, for technical standards and adherence to applicable specifications.

Attends meetings, assists in resolving design problems, monitors progress of design efforts, and updates Open Plan schedules as required. Prepares correspondence and reports on assigned projects, and provides coordination with other units as needed.

Computes and checks geometry for alignment changes, computes super elevation and curve data, establishes grade lines and computes gradients, and adjusts grades to meet existing conditions and other controls.

Plots roadway and channel templates on cross sections, computes earthwork and material quantities, checks topography and contour lines to determine drainage requirements, and performs hydrologic and hydraulic computations.

Locates and computes pipe sizes needed, calculates and lays out channel changes, prepares property plot drawings, and performs related calculations to assist in preparing plans for complex projects.

Prepares right-of-way and construction plans and other plans as necessary, including but not limited to, traffic control plans, erosion and sediment pollution control plans, drainage plans, and soil profiles.

Utilizes Computer Aided Drafting and Design (CADD) to complete the design of projects and maximizes its use as a highway design tool.

Assists in preparing submissions to Central Office including federal and state documentation, deed requests, survey requests, and pavement design requests.

Informs local officials and property owners of projects, and solicits and evaluates their input and concerns.

Computes the unit prices for all major bid and lump sum items in the proposal including the latest wage rates for labor, most recent equipment and materials costs, taxes, bonds, insurance, overhead, and profit.

Compares estimated project cost with costs obtained from past projects similar in location, size, and quantity.

Reviews all contract documents, which includes the proposal, construction plans, specifications and utilities, to become familiar with all requirements that may influence the cost of a project.

Reviews the project in the field for the purpose of identifying any existing conditions which may affect the cost of the project.

Analyzes the construction plan to determine the sequence and time in which the phases of construction may be done.

Investigates and documents conditions of existing terrain, location, drainage, and any physical problems to be incorporated into the project and participates in solutions and/or suggestions to resolve any outstanding issues based upon prior project experiences.

Generates Plan, Specification and Estimate (PS&E) packages, plans, and project documents in sufficient time to assure that they are reviewed and let to meet current milestone dates for assigned projects.

Attends public meetings for assigned highway design projects.

Recognizing that everyone is involved in the District’s and County’s actions to demonstrate sound environmental practices, each employee fulfills the maintenance unit business plan objectives related to the Strategic Environmental Management Program (SEMP).

Performs related duties as assigned.

Safety:
1. Assess your environment and be responsible for your safety, the safety of co-workers, and the public.
2. Attend required safety training and adhere to the requirements of all safety manuals, policies, and laws.
3. Immediately report to your supervisor any incident, unsafe practice, or near miss.
4. When in an enclosed environment (office buildings, confined spaces, flagger stations, equipment pinch points, etc.), know your evacuation process and escape route, your communication protocols, and appropriately react in the event of an incident.

Succession Planning:
Take an active role in succession planning by completing a Career Development Plan in collaboration with the supervisor. In conjunction with the supervisor, participate in knowledge management/transfer by identifying key aspects of the job and sharing explicit and tacit program/technical knowledge with other employees.

Fair Labor Standards Act:
Unless directed otherwise by your supervisor or manager, comply with stated work hours for the 7.5/8.0-hour day.

Decision Making: Describe the types of decisions made by the incumbent of this position and the types of decisions referred to others. Identify the problems or issues that can be resolved at the level of this position, versus those that must be referred to the supervisor. Example: In response to a customer inquiry, this work involves researching the status of an activity and preparing a formal response for the supervisor’s signature.

The incumbent performs design work for highway projects. It monitors design efforts and ensures criteria and standards are met. Work is assigned by the project manager and reviewed through informal meetings. Technical decisions are made by the position and the most complex issues are coordinated with the supervisor.

Requirements Profile: Identify any specific experience or requirements, such as a licensure, registration, or certification, which may be necessary to perform the functions of the position. Position-specific requirements should be consistent with a Special Requirement or other criteria identified in the classification specification covering this position. Example: Experience using Java; Professional Engineer License

Experience:



Licenses, registrations, or certifications:

1.   N/A
 
2.   N/A
 
3.   N/A
 
4.   N/A
 
5.   N/A
 
6.   N/A

Essential Functions: Provide a list of essential functions for this position. Example: Transports boxes weighing up to 60 pounds.
 
 1. Communicate effectively by oral, written, and electronic means.
 2. Read, write, speak, and comprehend clearly. Apply engineering knowledge, principles, and standards.
 3. Effectively convey presentations, briefings, and trainings; and speak to individuals/groups.
 4. Prepare and proofread correspondence.
 5. Use standard office equipment and software such as CADD Microstation, Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office software.
 6. Sit, stand, walk, bend, kneel, stoop, reach, crawl, twist, and climb. Perform repetitive motions (typing, filing, answering the telephone).
 7. Travel and attend meetings, trainings, and seminars within the District and throughout the Commonwealth as required. Occasional overnight travel.
 8. Use required personal protective equipment and be responsible for its care, storage, and maintenance.
 9. Tolerate exposure to noise, outdoors, adverse weather conditions, various plants and insects, and chemicals within Safety Data Sheet (SDS) limits.
 10. Prepare or review complete sets of plans for highway projects.