Senior Engineering Inspector

Fairfax County boasts a top-notch school system, safe neighborhoods, thousands of acres of parkland, and bustling town centers. County government sits at the heart of this dynamic community of almost 1.2 million residents and seeks employees eager to bring their energy, enthusiasm, and skills to serve Fairfax residents and to shape the county's future.

Land Development Services (LDS) is the steward of the county's land development and building construction codes and regulations. Staff members embrace their essential role as "first preventers" by carefully reviewing, permitting, and inspecting site and building construction to protect the health, safety, welfare, and environment for residents, workers, and visitors. The department also serves as the gateway to much of the county's economic development, reviewing over 30,000 building and site plan submissions, issuing nearly 70,000 building permits, and conducting over 220,000 building and site inspections each year.

About the role

Fairfax County’s Site Development and Inspections Division (SDID) is seeking a detail-oriented Senior Engineering Inspector to support safe, high-quality development across the county. In this role, you will inspect construction sites and public improvements to ensure compliance with county standards, land development regulations, and environmental requirements including erosion and sediment control, stormwater management, and tree preservation.

You will serve as the county’s field representative—monitoring developer work, identifying and documenting code violations, issuing notices of non-compliance, and conducting follow-up inspections. The position also includes preparing reports, coordinating preconstruction meetings, resolving citizen complaints, and verifying all required improvements prior to occupancy and bond release.

This role involves regular communication with homeowners, contractors, developers, engineers, and partner agencies, delivering timely customer service through in-person, phone, and virtual channels.

Responsibilities

• Reviews plans, specifications, and sites for construction projects.
• Inspects underground drains, metal and concrete pipe drains, culverts, sanitary sewer lines, manholes, catch basins, and water lines.
• Inspects pumping stations under construction.
• Inspects street and road construction including subgrading, placing of materials and rock, oiling, and placing of final surfaces.
• Investigates complaints.
• Verifies that necessary lines, grades, and elevations are followed and that structures are of proper dimensions.
• Conducts final inspections and gives approval after corrections are made.
• Completes daily progress and approval reports, and keeps a construction diary.
• May assign and review work of engineering inspectors, conduct field inspections, and advise inspectors on difficult problems.

Requirements

Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following:

• Graduation from high school or GED.
• Three years of construction experience, preferably in the inspection field.

Qualifications

• Valid driver's license.
• DEQ Erosion & Sediment Control Project Inspector certification.
• DEQ Stormwater Management Inspector certification.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge and experience in land development or construction.
• Experience dealing with citizens, stakeholders, and/or developers.
• Strong communication skills and customer service.
• Ability to read and interpret construction and site-related plans.
• Excellent organization skills and ability to multi-task.
• Experience using Microsoft Office computer software.
• Experience in record management and electronic records.
• Experience using automated technologies such as databases and web-based online applications.
• Bilingual in English and another language (e.g., Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European).

Physical Requirements

• Ability to operate a motor vehicle and keyboard-driven equipment.
• Ability to work in extreme temperatures.
• Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds with assistance.
• Must be able to walk/traverse rough, icy, broken terrain; go up and down steep hills and slopes.
• Successful completion of a pre-employment medical exam is required.
• All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

Pay

This position may be filled at the Senior Engineering Inspector level (Grade S20; $60,728.08 - $101,213.47 annually) or underfilled as an Engineering Inspector (Grade S18; $52,893.57 - $92,563.74 annually).