Trainee-Graduate Engineer

Working Title:
Trainee-Graduate Engineer

Job Class:
Trainee-Graduate Engineer

Agency:
Transportation Dept

• Job : 96190

• Location :
  Various

• Telework Eligible :
  No

• Full/Part Time :
  Full-Time

• Regular/Temporary :
  Trainee

• Who May Apply :
  Open to all qualified job seekers

• Date Posted : 09/03/2026

• Closing Date : 11/18/2026

• Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit :
  Transportation Dept / DOT-Metro-Central Off-MGEC

• Division/Unit :
  Workforce and Agency Services/Human Resources/Career Pathways Programs

• Work Shift/Work Hours :
  Flexible

• Days of Work :
  Monday
  - Friday

• Travel Required :
  Occasional

• Salary Range: $28.59- $42.16 / hourly; $59,696 - $88,030 / annually

• Classified Status :
  Non-Status

• Bargaining Unit/Union : 212 - MN Govt Engineers Council/Engineers

• Last Incumbent :
  Multiple

• Supervisor Name :
  Desiree Doud

• FLSA Status :
  Exempt
  - Professional

• Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities ((Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)./connect
  700/) :
  No

The work you'll do is more than just a job.

At the State of Minnesota, employees play a critical role in developing policies, providing essential services, and working to improve the well-being and quality of life for all Minnesotans. The State of Minnesota is committed to equity and inclusion, and invests in employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation does not sponsor applicants for work visas or Optional Practical Training Extensions for STEM Students. Individuals must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. at the start of employment.

This vacancy will be used to fill multiple Trainee-Graduate Engineer positions. Trainee positions may include the following locations throughout the state of Minnesota:

• Baxter

• Duluth

• Mankato

• Rochester

• Willmar

• St. Cloud

• St. Paul

• The 5-county Metro Area
  - Maplewood (Materials and Road Research), Oakdale (Bridge), Roseville (Design, Traffic, Project Management), Golden Valley (Construction), etc.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation's Graduate Engineer Training Program is a 2-year rotation program. Trainees participate in the program for up to 2 years, gaining professional engineering experience by completing a series of 3 to 6-month-long rotations. Trainees rotate through functional areas such as Construction (6 months is required and you will work overtime during this rotation), Design (6 months is required), Materials, Project Management, Traffic, or Water Resources.

Trainees hired to work in the Bridge office will rotate through functional areas such as Bridge Design, Construction, Foundations, Pre-Design, Scoping, Fracture Critical Inspections, or Hydraulics. All Trainees are supported with structured mentorship, training opportunities, and a large support network of professional engineers engaged in the Trainee’s growth and development as an engineer.

The selected Trainee(s) will begin employment after all educational requirements have been met. Typical cohort start dates are January and May of each year.

To complete the program, a Trainee must:

• Complete 2 years of professional engineering experience

• Achieve a passing score on the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam

• Complete and demonstrate satisfactory performance in all rotations

• Complete all required rotations – Design, Construction and an outstate rotation

• Complete 20 hours of recruitment outreach and/or public engagement service

After all criteria are met, the Trainee will be non-competitively converted to a permanent, probationary Engineer 2 Graduate position in the trainee’s permanent (home base) office. All Trainees must become a registered Professional Engineer within 6 years of being appointed as a Trainee. To receive credit for your education and…