We are hiring a Construction Engineering Technician* to provide hands-on construction quality assurance, safety, and technical support for federal facilities design and construction projects at **Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine**.
This position is ideal for an experienced construction professional who understands the demands of NAVFAC or US Army Corps of Engineers projects and can confidently work with contractors, construction managers, government stakeholders, and multidisciplinary technical teams. You’ll play an important role in keeping complex construction projects safe, compliant, on schedule, and aligned with contract requirements.
What You’ll Do
Construction Quality Assurance
- Coordinate construction quality management activities across assigned projects.
- Work with the Construction Manager (CM) to review contractor Quality Control (QC) plans and provide recommendations for approval.
- Attend selected QC, preparatory, and initial meetings and monitor three-phase control checklists for accuracy and completeness.
- Document relevant observations in Government Quality Assurance (QA) reports or the appropriate sections of contractor QC reports, particularly for critical definable features of work.
- Take, organize, file, and distribute construction progress photographs.
- Verify the quantity, condition, and approval status of materials on site before Government invoice payments are issued.
- Coordinate support for testing, commissioning, and certification of critical systems, including:
* Mechanical systems, including HVAC, TABS, DALTS, and DDC
* Pad-mounted transformers
* High-voltage electrical systems
* Switchgear
* Automatic transfer switches
* Frequency converters
* Fire and life-safety/fire protection systems
* Roofing systems
* Underwater structures
* Monitor workmanship for compliance with specifications and industry standards involving concrete, masonry, stucco, building envelope systems, structural steel, bolting, welding, and other building materials and structural systems.
* Attend or witness selected testing activities and review applicable test reports and results.
* Keep Government stakeholders informed of project status while independently planning and carrying out assigned responsibilities.
Safety Management
- Work with the CM to perform cursory reviews of **Activity Hazard Analyses (AHAs)** and verify through the Site Safety and Health Officer (SSHO) that AHAs are discussed with contractors and subcontractors before work begins or when new crews take over an activity, consistent with the three phases of QC.
- Review **Crane Critical Lift Plans**, crane operator qualifications, and certificates of compliance with the CM and provide recommendations toward acceptance.
- Apply working knowledge of crane safety requirements and **NAVFAC P-307, Management of Weight Handling Equipment**, and observe critical lifts.
- Ensure construction contractors conduct required monthly site safety self-evaluations and submit the results with pay vouchers/invoices.
- Perform worksite safety assessments as needed.
- Take timely action to address contractor compliance with safety and health requirements, including leading safety stand-downs when required and recommending removal of key contractor personnel for non-performance or recurring violations.
- Ensure significant contractor incidents and near misses are reported, with emphasis on verifying that corrective actions have been implemented.
- Perform cursory review/QA of **Contractor Significant Incident Reports (CSIRs)** and **OSHA Form 300** logs.
- Provide additional support during mishap investigations when:
* Property damage exceeds **$500,000**
* An injury or occupational injury results in a fatality or permanent partial/total disability
* **Three or more personnel** are hospitalized for inpatient care as the result of a single mishap
Construction & Technical Support
- Maintain regular contact with key construction contractor representatives to encourage cooperation, resolve field issues, and help maintain project schedules.
- Coordinate temporary utility and communications connections, utility outages, and road closures.
- Coordinate lay-down and storage areas as required.
- Coordinate excavation, hot work, burn, and other construction-related permits as needed and subject to local restrictions.
- Support field coordination with the Supported Command.
- Assist with collateral equipment installation and phone, data, and communications connections.
- Help investigate potential latent defects.
- Coordinate cylinder/core installation, keying systems, key turnover, and facility systems training for owners, occupants, and public works personnel.
- Review pre-final contract drawings and specifications, particularly **Division 01 administrative requirements**, as well as applicable technical RFPs.
- Conduct site visits to evaluate constructability and compatibility with actual field conditions.
- During design development and constructability reviews, provide technical insight into local conditions, including construction material availability and skilled labor availability, and recommend potential solutions for identified issues.
- Participate in partnering sessions based on the nature and scope of the construction contract.
- Help establish effective working relationships and processes among contractors, Supported Command personnel, and Government team members.
- Support review of Government-approved technical and administrative submittals, including:
* Schedule of prices
* Contractor baseline critical path schedule
* Accident Prevention Plan
* Activity Hazard Analyses
* Safety and Health Plan
* QC Plan
* Test plans and reports
* Performance verification testing for major systems
* Investigate construction engineering issues such as unforeseen conditions, contractor Requests for Information (**RFIs**), and dimensional conflicts, and recommend solutions to the NAVFAC Construction Manager.
* Support preliminary scheduling meetings and review applicable **3-week look-ahead schedules**.
* Review baseline schedule updates with the CM to determine whether contractors are ahead of, on, or behind schedule.
* Review critical activities to help keep construction focused on completion within the most reasonable timeframe.
* When schedule performance requires additional attention, participate in bi-weekly look-ahead meetings with construction contractors to address scheduling issues and concerns.
* Review and annotate contractor daily reports as required.
* Monitor contractor environmental compliance and coordinate **EPA** jobsite visits when required.
* Review and verify the accuracy of as-built drawings in support of invoice payments.
* When applicable, coordinate with the NAVFAC CM and issue contractor non-compliance notices.
* Arrange and coordinate pre-final and final acceptance inspections and track punch-list completion.
* Support project closeout, including delivery and turnover of:
* As-built drawings
* Warranties
* Operations & Maintenance (O&M) manuals
* Spare parts
Required Qualifications
- U.S. Citizenship — required.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a NACI/CAC — required.
- Ability to successfully complete the **US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Construction Quality Management (CQM) Certification within 60 days of your start date — required.**
- Familiarity with crane safety requirements and NAVFAC P-307 (Management of Weight Handling Equipment) — required.
- At least a **High School diploma — required.
Required Experience
Candidates need to meet one of the following two experience paths
Path 1
A minimum of **5 years of verified experience as a Quality Control Manager working for General Contractors on NAVFAC or US Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) projects
OR
Path 2:
A minimum of **10 years of verified foreman experience** in one or more of the following trades on **commercial, industrial, or military projects**:
* Concrete
* Mechanical
* Electrical
* Masonry
* Carpentry
Residential experience does not qualify.
Physical Requirements
To successfully perform the essential duties of this position, you’ll need the ability to:
- Stand, walk, bend, stoop, crouch, crawl, navigate uneven construction-site terrain, and climb for extended periods, including while traveling to and from job sites.
- Regularly lift, carry, push, and pull materials and equipment weighing **up to 50 pounds**.
- Work in both indoor and outdoor environments with exposure to the elements.
- Work in confined spaces and under varying environmental conditions, including heat, cold, humidity, rain, wind, dust, and noise.
- Wear and properly use required PPE, including hard hats, safety glasses, gloves, hearing protection, steel-toed boots, fall protection safety vests, and high-visibility reflective safety vests.
- Maintain sufficient visual and auditory acuity to safely perform job duties, including reading instruments, identifying hazards, and communicating on active construction sites.
- Drive company or personal vehicles to and from field locations, potentially multiple times per day.
- Work variable shifts when required by project needs.
Work Environment
This position primarily operates in an outdoor construction environment, where weather conditions will vary based on season and location.
You may encounter extreme temperatures, airborne particles, fumes, chemicals, and loud noise. Worksites may also include high-voltage equipment, exposed wiring, and other electrical hazards requiring strict compliance with applicable safety protocols.
Compensation & Benefits
The compensation range for this position is **$105,000–$115,000**.