Transportation Engineer Associate; Geotechnical Engineer

Job Description

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.

• 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.

Days, Monday through Friday. Flexible work hours available.

• 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).

• Graduation from an accredited four‑year college or university with a bachelor's degree in chemical, civil, construction, environmental, materials, mechanics, structural, or transportation engineering or in engineering management.
• Possession of a verification of graduation with major coursework in chemical, civil, construction, environmental, materials, mechanics, structural, or transportation engineering or in engineering management.

At this time, we're not considering applicants who need any type of immigration sponsorship (additional work authorization or permanent work authorization) now or in the future to work in the United States. This includes, but is not limited to: F1‑OPT, F1‑CPT, H‑1B, TN, L‑1, J‑1, etc. For additional information on work authorization needs, please use the following links.

Applicants hired with verification of graduation will be required to graduate with a bachelor’s degree from an accredited four‑year college or university within 10 months of hire.

• Certification as an Engineer in Training (EIT) by the Iowa Engineering & Land Surveying Examining Board.
• Licensure as a professional engineer by the Iowa Engineering & Land Surveying Examining Board.

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…