Principal Engineer, Construction Safety

Description

The NYC Department of Buildings makes sure buildings and properties are used safely and lawfully by enforcing the NYC Construction Codes, the Energy Code and the Zoning Resolution. The department aims to become a leading municipal building agency, improve its performance, and make its procedures simpler, clearer and more open.

The Construction Safety Engineering unit handles engineering enforcement for site safety, demolition, excavation, interior demolition and scaffold safety. Its work covers incident response, investigations into construction failures, plan examination for high-risk projects, and engineering support for construction safety inspection units and District Attorneys' offices.

This is a highly difficult, technically complex civil engineering role focused on construction safety. You will work under the Deputy Director and independently within the unit, under the direction of its team leadership.

Responsibilities

• Review drawings and documents, and conduct field reviews, for complex high-risk construction projects in all five boroughs.
• Audit complex submissions covering support of excavation, foundations, interior demolition and scaffolding.
• Meet project consultants and owners' representatives to check project status and compliance with the NYC Administrative Code, Building Code and other applicable construction codes.
• Issue summonses to Registered Design Professionals and Special Inspectors where Construction Code compliance requires it.
• Review filed drawings for a wide range of complex buildings and temporary construction equipment, in paper and electronic form.
• Respond to construction incidents alongside the inspection units involved.
• Investigate construction incidents forensically, including writing reports and documentation, and lead the most complex and high-profile cases.
• Advise Assistant Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners and Borough Commissioners on technical matters.
• Testify as the Department's expert witness on technical and policy questions in legal proceedings.
• Take part in industry outreach meetings and presentations to raise awareness and gather feedback on Engineering Services and Construction Safety Operations.
• Contribute to code development and recommend improvements to NYC regulatory oversight and the Construction Codes.
• Help build unit resources and standards, and give recommendations to the Director and Deputy Director.
• Work with federal, state and local regulatory agencies.
• Help advance the agency's work on better operations and technology-based solutions.

Requirements

• Four years of full-time, satisfactory civil engineering experience.
• A valid New York State Professional Engineer's License, kept current throughout your employment.
• A master's degree in civil engineering from an accredited institution may replace one year of the required civil engineering experience. Accreditation must come from a body recognised by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
• For Assignment Levels II and III, you need at least one year within the last three years as a major contributor or project leader on a complex project that required specific expertise in the disciplines needed to design or build it.

Conditions

Remote work of up to 2 days per week may be available under the Remote Work Pilot Program.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and bases decisions on protected status and characteristics, and provides a workplace free from discrimination and harassment.