Core Development Program Career Descriptions
Structure and Bridge
Structure and Bridge offers challenging career opportunities for designers to put sound engineering principles to work in a dynamic environment of evolving specifications and materials.
You will work in the Virginia Department of Transportation's (VDOT) design and inspection programs for bridges and other highway-related structures while using the latest technologies.
As an associate in a Structure and Bridge office, you will cross train in preliminary engineering, operations and construction, as well as other areas in the department that directly impact the structure and bridge program.
As part of your training, you will work with bridge design, detailing, cost estimation and bridge inspection.
Location and Design
Location and design work includes complete right-of-way and construction plans for roadway improvement projects statewide.
These projects include:
- Interstates
- Primary roads
Urban roads
Division staff is involved in:
Surveys of field conditions
- Highway design
- Preparation of plans for rights of way and construction
- Public involvement
- Development of road and bridge design standards
- Coordination of project information from other divisions into the final plan
As a location and design associate, you will cross train in a variety of areas including:
- Hydraulic design
- Engineering coordination
- Engineering services
- Public involvement
- Automated engineering support
- Survey
You will expand your knowledge of highway engineering while building your plan development skills through on-the-job training.
You will work closely with a mentor to develop project management skills.
Materials Engineering
The Materials Division provides engineering services in the areas of materials design, testing and acceptance.
As a materials engineer associate, you will be exposed to all facets of the department.
You will begin by working in Central Office laboratories working with:
- Soils
- Physical
- Chemistry
- Asphalt
You will understand the relationship between laboratory testing and field performance for highway construction materials such as:
- Concrete
- Steel
- Aggregate
- Soils
- Asphalt
You will also receive training in pavement design and evaluation, pre-cast concrete construction and steel fabrication.
You will cross train in a district materials office, where you will learn about geotechnical investigations for roadway and structure design and how districts function.
You will also learn about residency operations. Here you will understand how materials engineering plays a role in the acceptance of products proposed for use on highway projects.
You may also cross train in Central Office divisions such as Structure and Bridge, Environmental and the Research Council.
This experience will help you to understand how areas of the department work together to address the transportation needs of the commonwealth.
Transportation Planning
Transportation planning provides the framework for the development of a safe and efficient transportation system.
Central to this is forecasting the multimodal mobility needs of people and freight and predicting future system deficiencies.
The goal of transportation planning is to:
Increase access to the system
Improve traveler safety
Support economic growth
while maintaining efficient management of the existing infrastructure and minimizing environmental and community impacts.
As a transportation planning associate, you will be involved in regional and local planning, project development and programming, and the long-range plan development process.
In addition, you might be involved in planning for transportation alternatives such as:
- Transit
- HOV
- Bicycle and pedestrian facilities
The transportation planning associate will gain knowledge of federal and state regulations and policies governing transportation planning, land development, funding and environmental issues. These include:
- Air and water quality
- Wetlands
- Environmental justice
Traffic Engineering
The Traffic Engineering Division has three areas of responsibility:
- Traffic management and safety
- Roadway information management
- Traffic operations and design
The division is also the department's focal point for highway safety.
Associates will receive extensive training in the district traffic sections and the Central Office, and may cross train in construction, location and design and residency operations.
It is also desirable for associates to train with the Federal Highway Administration.
Environmental Engineering
The major function of the Environmental Division is to ensure regulatory compliance and to promote environmental conservation, protection and enhancement in transportation programs.
An associate in this division will gain experience in regulatory clearances, environmental conservation, protection and enhancement.
Construction Management
A c
onstruction management associate will learn about this program from the level of construction inspector to the department commissioner.
Since the majority of VDOT's budget is allocated to funding construction projects, effective management is a primary function.
Construction management is a multi-level system involving people, equipment, materials, money and time in a centralized system to plan field work to meet the goals of schedule, cost and quality.
Construction management associates will receive concentrated development in project management.
All of VDOT's work can be divided into projects with specific goals and timelines. Elements can range from coordinating meetings to responding to field engineering concerns and challenges to evaluating the facts and making a good business decision.
VDOT residency management is also a critical focus of the construction management associate. This includes oversight of all construction and maintenance projects in a multi-county area.
Training will emphasize management skills, including customer service, as VDOT's representative in the field.
