Staff Engineer, Civil Engineering

The Iowa Department of Transportation’s Field Operations Division is seeking a motivated Transportation Engineer Associate to join our District 6 Design Team in Cedar Rapids as a Staff Engineer.

As a Staff Engineer, you will contribute to a wide range of projects, from pavement preservation and resurfacing to bridge replacements, safety enhancements, ADA improvements, and rural/urban infrastructure work. You’ll grow your skills, learn established engineering practices, and play an essential role in protecting and preserving the public’s investment in our transportation system, specifically within a 12-county area in east central Iowa.

In this entry-level engineering role, you’ll work under the guidance of experienced Professional Engineers while supporting the planning, design, and delivery of highway improvement projects that keep people safe and east central Iowa moving. This position is part of a Trainee/Journey Classification and is eligible for reclassification to a Transportation Engineer (current pay range: $72,238.40 - $) within 6 months of hire with licensure as a PE.

Learn more about Trainee/Journey Classifications here.

The Iowa DOT’s mission is Making Lives Better Through Transportation. To help us fulfill this mission, the person selected for this position will demonstrate actions and behaviors guided by our five core values:
Safety First, People Matter, Customer Focused, Servant Leadership, and Integrity Without Exception.

District 6 Office, Cedar Rapids

7:45 am to 4:30 pm Monday – Friday, flex schedule and partial telework options available. Some travel required.

• Provide engineering support for District 6 highway design projects under the guidance of the Senior Transportation Engineer.
• Learn and apply DOT engineering procedures, developing technical skills and increasing independence over time.
• Assess highway conditions, evaluate alternatives, identify project needs, and recommend practical improvements.
• Participate in project reviews, field exams, and public meetings.
• Prepare and maintain reliable project cost estimates for programming and funding decisions.
• Assist with the design and review of transportation projects, including preparing plans, using design software, reviewing constructability, monitoring schedules and costs, and documenting design exceptions.
• Support operational activities of the District including engineering support to maintenance staff, reviewing permits for work interfacing with DOT right-of-way, and responding to public inquiries.

• Applicants hired with verification of graduation must graduate with a bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university within 10 months of hire.
• Possession of an Engineer certificate issued by the Iowa State Board of Engineering Examiners is required within 18 months of hire. Licensure as a professional engineer is required within 6 years of hire for continued employment in this classification.
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license.

• 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 view more about the State of Iowa Employee benefits and costs at 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…