Transportation Engineer Associate; Geotechnical Engineer
Listed on 2026-02-16
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Engineering
Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineer
Are you seeking to diversify your skills and use your energy and ideas towards making a difference? The Design Bureau is looking to hire a Geotechnical Engineer (TEA) who is a positive professional, committed to excellence, and desires to be a part of a team that develops projects that enhance the state and national transportation system in Iowa.
We also consider pending or recent college graduates with a degree in one of the following areas:
Civil, Construction, Structural, Environmental, Materials, Transportation Engineering, or Engineering Management!
The Soils Design Section of the Design Bureau is involved with geotechnical/geologic features associated with the construction, repair, and rehabilitation of transportation projects. Under the general direction of a professional engineer who specializes in geotechnical engineering, you will be responsible for performing geotechnical engineering work in the preparation of roadway and bridge plans, in addition to assisting with emergency response (ER) projects.
Roles and Responsibilities- Aid in evaluating foundation support for bridges, culverts, and other types of drainage structures.
- Participate in the inspection of soils and foundation‑related problems or unanticipated discoveries encountered during construction to aid in providing satisfactory solutions that minimize construction delays.
- Aid in evaluating and then recommending to others, typically within the Iowa DOT Design Bureau, the most effective methods of accomplishing road design objectives for subgrade treatments, borrow, and other grading activities.
Ames, Iowa – Design Bureau/Soils Design Section. This position will be required to report in-person daily.
Shift RequirementsDays, Monday through Friday. Flexible work hours available.
The Iowa Department of Transportation’s Mission is Making Lives Better Through Transportation. To accomplish our Mission, the person selected for this position will demonstrate actions and behaviors guided by the Iowa Department of Transportation’s five CORE values:
Safety First, People Matter, Customer Focused, Servant Leadership, and Integrity Without Exception.
- Ability to travel to remote locations for meetings and field reviews, and mobility to access sites in rugged terrain.
- Ability to lift and manipulate field equipment and other items weighing up to 50 pounds over uneven terrain.
- Valid Class C driver’s license to drive a state or personal vehicle for traveling to complete job duties.
- Passing the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam is required within 24 months of hire.
- Licensure as a professional engineer in the State of Iowa is required within 6 years of hire for continued employment as a Transportation Engineer Associate (Geotechnical Engineer).
- Competitive pay and benefits package including health, dental, flexible spending, and life insurance
- Insurance benefits start the first month following 30 days of employment, and costs can be reviewed here.
- Opportunities for professional growth and development.
- Paid time off effective immediately – biweekly vacation, separate sick leave, accruals rollover on a yearly basis, and 9 paid holidays per year.
- Iowa Public Employee Retirement System (IPERS) Retirement Package with employer match
- Optional 401A plan with employer contributions.
- Employee Discount Programs from a variety of vendors (vision, cellular, fitness, recreation, season passes, travel, counseling; legal, financial).
We encourage you to learn more about the State of Iowa Employee benefits and costs at the State of Iowa Employee Benefits Website.
The Iowa Department of Transportation is proud to be a partner with the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). Through this partnership, DOT engineers are granted membership at a largely discounted price, as well as discounts for conferences and continuing education through the ASCE. We are excited to offer this benefit and to have you join this partnership with us! If you’re interested in learning more about this benefit, please visit https://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..
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