Bridge Inspection Civil Engineer Co-Op

Burgess & Niple
Portland, OR
On-siteCareer-pivot friendly

Who this role is best for

Undergraduate civil or structural engineering students with an interest in bridge inspection and a willingness to travel will find this hands-on co-op role with a focus on fieldwork and technical development.

Best fit for

  • Undergraduate civil engineering students eager to gain field experience in bridge inspection and learn NBIS standards.
    — “learn the bridge inspection process according to NBIS (National Bridge Inspection Standards)”
  • Candidates with prior co-op experience or interest in working with state DOTs and local agencies on infrastructure projects.
    — “projects that make a difference, grow alongside experienced teams and contribute to work that has lasting impact”
  • Individuals who are comfortable with travel, working at heights, and physical exertion during field assignments.
    — “work side-by-side with rope climbing experts traveling to project sites and including some overnight trips”

Things to consider

  • This role demands physical readiness for tasks involving lifting up to 50 lbs and working at heights.
    — “work at heights, and endure high levels of physical exertion walking, climbing, bending, carrying and lifting up to 50 lbs. of equipment”
  • Candidates must be available for full-time work during the Summer 2027 semester.
    — “availability to work full-time Summer 2027 Semester”

How to stand out

  • Highlight coursework in structural engineering and any prior co-op or fieldwork experience.
    — “previous co-ops are a plus”
  • Emphasize experience with Microsoft Office tools, especially Excel and Word.
    — “Experience with Microsoft Office, specifically Outlook, Excel, and Word”
  • Showcase willingness to learn and adapt to new software like BlueBeam Revu or AutoCAD.
    — “Ability to learn MicroStation or AutoCAD/Civil3D drawing software packages”
  • Demonstrate communication and collaboration skills with examples from academic or professional settings.
    — “Excellent communication skills and a willingness to collaborate, learn, and grow”
Pace · SteadyCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · Individual

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • document and report bridge conditions
  • learn and understand training and safety techniques
Typical background
current undergraduate student in Civil or Structural Engineering

Skills & requirements

Required

Bridge InspectionNBIS StandardsMicrosoft Office

Preferred

Microstation Or Autocad/civil3dPDF Markup/review Tools

Stack & domain

Bridge InspectionNational Bridge Inspection Standards (nbis)Microsoft OfficePDF Markup/review ToolsMicrostation Or Autocad/civil3dCommunicationCollaborationProblem-solvingAdaptabilityCivil EngineeringStructural EngineeringInfrastructure

About the role

Original posting from Burgess & Niple via Greenhouse

For more than a century, Burgess & Niple has helped communities strengthen the infrastructure that supports everyday life. Our teams combine technical expertise with a commitment to improving quality of life, safety and sustainability. At B&N, that legacy shapes meaningful careers. You will collaborate on projects that make a difference, grow alongside experienced teams and contribute to work that has lasting impact.

Gain practical experience in bridge inspection with our team as a Civil Engineer Co-op, Bridge Inspection. In this role, you'll work alongside Professional Engineers, Engineers-In-Training, and Technicians to inspect bridges of all sizes, combining field work with technical analysis and design calculations. You'll collaborate with diverse teams to support inspection schedules, ensure regulatory compliance, and perform structural evaluations, all while growing your skills that will create a foundation for your career.

What You’ll Do

Under the direction of Professional Engineers, Engineers-In-Training, and Technicians, you will learn the bridge inspection process according to the NBIS (National Bridge Inspection Standards) and SNBI (Specifications for the National Bridge Inventory) for a variety of projects for state DOTs and/or local agencies.

Perform field work for assessing and documenting existing conditions of bridges and/or ancillary structures, compile field data to summarize structure condition, and carry out simple structural analysis calculations as required

Learn and understand safe work practices and access techniques for bridge inspection

Work side-by-side with technical rope access experts to inspect bridges and structures of all sizes. Field work often involves traveling to various project sites across the region, which typically includes overnight trips

Travel extensively (up to 40%) throughout the U.S. to support diverse bridge and structure inspection projects

Skills & Qualifications

Current undergraduate student in good academic standing pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil or Structural Engineering or related field from an ABET-accredited program and completion of one year coursework required

A strong interest in bridge and structural inspection engineering; previous co-ops or internships are a plus

Experience with Microsoft Office, specifically Outlook, Excel, and Word

Ability to learn PDF markup/review tools, such as BlueBeam Revu or Adobe Acrobat

Ability to learn MicroStation or AutoCAD/Civil3D drawing software packages; previous experience is a plus

Excellent communication skills and a willingness to collaborate, learn, and grow as a part of a high-functioning team

Availability to work full-time Summer 2027 Semester and possibly through 2028 Fall Semester

Physical capability to lift and carry 60 lbs. of gear and withstand high levels of physical exertion

Comfortable working at heights using proper safety equipment

Valid driver’s license and good driving record

Typical work schedule is Monday – Friday, 40 hours per week with occasional overtime. Housing and transportation to/from work is the responsibility of the co-op, parking is provided. Travel and equipment expenses are paid for by Burgess & Niple.

Learn More

To learn more about B&N, our culture and what we offer, visit: www.burgessniple.com/careers/perks-culture 

Burgess & Niple is an Equal Opportunity Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, age, national origin, disability status, marital status, sexual orientation, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law. Click here to view our Equal Employment Opportunity & Affirmative Action Policy Statement.

Notice to Recruiting Agencies

Burgess & Niple partners with external recruiting firms on a limited, as-needed basis. These relationships are coordinated through our Human Resources (HR) team. Recruiting firms may submit candidates only through an active, approved agreement with Burgess & Niple HR. Resumes submitted without such an agreement, including those sent directly to hiring managers or employees, will be considered unsolicited and ineligible for placement fees. Click here

Source: Burgess & Niple careers (Greenhouse)

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