Job Title: Regional Engineer (RE)
Location: Office in the designated regional territory (continental US only)
Regional Territory: Western Region – WA, OR, CA, NV, AZ, and HI
Supervisor’s Title: Deputy Director of Engineering
Positions Supervised: No Direct Reports
FLSA Status: Exempt
GENERAL SUMMARY
Under general direction from the Director of Engineering and Deputy Director of Engineering, the Regional Engineers (REs) of the Asphalt Institute (AI) promote the benefits and performance of petroleum asphalt pavement through engineering and education. The RE provides technical support to user and specifying agencies with the overall goal of improving the quality and performance of asphalt pavements, aligning closely with the objectives of owner agencies. AI REs develop and teach seminars and other training courses to the industry as part of the Institute’s overall education programs in efforts to promote best practices and innovative technologies. AI engineers act as a team to achieve these objectives.
Each RE has an assigned region which includes multiple states. There are currently 7 U.S. REs that collectively cover all 50 states. AI regions are loosely delineated by the five Asphalt User Producer Groups (UPGs), with either one or two REs assigned to each UPG region. In the case of two REs in one UPG, they split the states by geography and proximity. There is also a Canadian Engineer that covers Canada.
The RE works with state highway departments, counties, and cities in their region. REs also provide support to AI member companies through communication of technical issues and information sharing, unofficially serving as our member’s “eyes and ears.” AI REs collectively represent AI member company binder supplier interests, and the asphalt industry in general, through involvement on industry committees and groups at the national, regional, and state levels. When needed, the RE will work collectively with member companies in the region to seek a unified position on technical issues, and in collaboration with other AI engineering staff, communicate this position to appropriate agencies.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
- Develops, plans, and presents technical training to promote best practices and technologies in all aspects of design and construction to provide long-life pavements. Audiences are diverse: materials suppliers, contractors, government agencies, consultants, etc. This training may be in-person, live web-based, or recorded web-based.
- Actively participates in or leads industry meetings and committees such as User/Producer Groups, AASHTO, TRB, AAPT, state conferences to represent the interests of the asphalt industry and remain current on most recent asphalt technology and issues.
- Supports asphalt organizations such as State Asphalt Pavement Associations (SAPAs), UPGs, and Regional Pavement Preservation Partnerships, etc. This often includes serving on planning committees, giving presentations, or assisting/promoting AI at trade shows.
- Actively participates in state, regional and national -level projects to support the overall AI mission. Examples include but are not limited to assisting with research projects, developing training, providing presentations and training at state, regional and national events.
- Responds to requests for assistance in troubleshooting field issues or poor performance of in-place pavements. Addresses technical questions from member companies, public agencies and consultants related to issues of design, construction, quality control, maintenance, rehabilitation, sustainability, specifications, and regulations. Prioritizes technical assistance to support AI members, followed by large specifiers of asphalt (public agencies).
- Communicates regularly with AI member companies via Quarterly Reports that are distributed through AI HQs. Discussions include industry issues and/or concerns, specification changes, policy changes, RE priorities, and overall binder or asphalt pavement state and regional trends.
- Coordinates with other REs and AI personnel as needed to accomplish mutual goals such as planning and instruction of seminars and workshops. Builds PowerPoint presentations to be used by oneself or by fellow AI engineers on a wide variety of technical topics related to asphalt.
- Supports AI communications to members by providing updates on technical issues for AI’s monthly E-News, a newsletter to members.
- Writes articles for AI’s ASPHALT magazine on a regular basis.
- Assists/leads efforts to write content for new AI technical publications (manuals, informational series, state of the knowledge documents, etc.), as well as updating existing AI publications.
- Annually updates binder and emulsion specification databases for state DOTs in their region.
The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the major responsibilities of this position. Incumbents may be requested to perform job-related tasks other than those presented here.
EDUCATION, KNOWLEDGE and ABILITIES, EXPERIENCE
A bachelor’s degree or higher in Civil Engineering (or closely related field) is required. Experience or knowledge of asphalt paving material composition, testing and design, construction practices, specifications, maintenance and rehabilitation, thickness design, quality assurance, pavement sustainability and resiliency, pavement behavior and evaluation is necessary. The position requires a minimum of eight years of post-graduate engineering experience, predominantly in knowledge areas listed above. A master’s or doctoral degree serves in lieu of two years of engineering experience. A Professional Engineer (PE) license is required. Proficient computer skills are required, including the Microsoft Office suite of applications. Excellent interpersonal, written, oral, presentation and organizational skills are a must. A valid US driver’s license is required to maintain the position.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND TRAVEL
The position has no unusual physical demands; however, it does require extensive commercial airline and automobile travel principally within the U.S. and occasionally Canada. International travel is generally not required but may be an opportunity. Overnight travel is expected to be 30% or less of total working days on average annually, with travel requirements fluctuating seasonally.
