Bridge Design Lead - Columbia, SC

Job Description

  The Michael Baker Columbia office is growing, alongside the firm's national bridge practice. To support this, the Columbia, SC office seeks a Bridge Design Lead to handle technical work, mentor staff, and help grow the Bridge Department. The ideal candidate will lead teams, collaborate nationally, and contribute to business strategy, project delivery, and client development.Key responsibilities include technical oversight, staff development, contract and proposal management, project performance, and client relations. The Bridge Design Lead will manage projects, support proposal preparation, and participate in industry events.This role requires strong engineering expertise to oversee plans, specifications, estimates, and schedules, while guiding junior engineers in report and analysis development.WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Technical Leadership & Project Delivery
  • Lead bridge design and structural engineering for transportation projects
  • Oversee development of plans, specifications, cost estimates, and schedules
  • Perform and review bridge analysis, design calculations, and engineering reports
  • Provide construction phase support and technical guidance
• Project Management & Client Engagement
  • Manage project scope, schedule, and performance
  • Coordinate with internal teams and external stakeholders
  • Support and contribute to proposal development and technical deliverables
  • Interface with clients to review progress, resolve issues, and align on requirements
• Team Leadership & Mentorship
  • Mentor and supervise engineers and technical staff
  • Provide guidance on reports, design development, and engineering standards
  • Support team growth and knowledge sharing across the bridge practice
• Business Development & Industry Engagement
  • Contribute to marketing and proposal activities
  • Participate in professional organizations and industry events
  • Support client relationship development and strategic growth initiatives

WHO YOU ARE

• Required Experience
  • Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, or related field
  • 10+ years of progressive bridge/structures design experience
  • 5+ years of project management experience
  • Professional Engineer (PE license – South Carolina required)
• Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience with SCDOT bridge replacement and transportation projects
  • Multi-state licensure (NC, VA, MD preferred)
  • Strong knowledge of bridge design standards, load rating, and inspection practices
• Key Skills
  • Bridge design (steel, concrete, complex structures)
  • Structural analysis and transportation engineering
  • Project management and proposal development
  • Client relationship management
  • Leadership, mentoring, and team collaboration

COMPENSATIONThe approximate compensation range for this position is $120,000 - $170,000. This compensation range is a good-faith estimate for the position at the time of posting.  Actual compensation is dependent upon factors such as education, qualifications, experience, skillset, and physical work location.BENEFITSWe offer a comprehensive benefits package including:   

• Medical, dental, vision insurance   
• 401 (k) Retirement Plan   
• Health Savings Account (HSA)   
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)   
• Life, AD&D, short-term, and long-term disability   
• Professional and personal development   
• Generous paid time off
• Commuter and wellness benefits 

#LI-KR2 #LI-ONSITE

About Us

Michael Baker International, a leading provider of engineering and consulting services, including design, planning, architectural, environmental, construction and program management, has been solving some of the world’s most complex infrastructure challenges for more than 85 years with a legacy of expertise, experience, innovation and integrity.

Based in Pittsburgh and with over 100 offices nationwide, we partner with clients on everything from roads, bridges, tunnels, mass transit, and airports, to water treatment plants, arctic oil pipelines, environmental restoration and specialized overseas construction. We serve as a trusted adviser to the communities we serve, making them safer, more accessible, more sustainable and more prosperous.

We provide visionary leadership in facilitating transformational change for our clients. Our work delivers differentiating innovations and dedicated experts who challenge the status quo and share a world of diverse experience and an impassioned entrepreneurial spirit. We deliver quality of life.

We Make a Difference.
Michael Baker International is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Michael Baker International provides equal employment opportunity for all persons, in all facets of employment. Michael Baker International maintains a drug-free workplace and performs pre-employment substance abuse testing and background checks. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply for any open position for which they feel they are qualified and all will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship status, marital status, familial status, pregnancy or childbirth, genetic information, disability, protected veteran status, status with regard to public assistance, or membership or activity in a local human rights commission, or any other legally protected status.

EEO is the Law. Applicants to and employees of Michael Baker International are protected under Federal law from discrimination.
*It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.*There is no current application deadline. Michael Baker will continue to accept applications on an ongoing basis until the position is filled or no longer needed.

About the Team

BRIDGE PRACTICE   Michael Baker International has addressed bridge design, construction and preservation challenges with innovative and sustainable solutions.  Exemplifying its depth and versatility in the bridge space, Michael Baker International, ranked Number Five by Engineering News-Record in its annual ranking of Bridge Design Firms in the United States, has partnered with clients on a full spectrum of bridge types-from conventional grade separations to major, complex river crossings, including trusses, arches, box girders and cable-stayed bridges.