Highway Drafter

Position Overview

As a Highway Drafter with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), you will help shape safe and reliable roadways and bridges across the Commonwealth by turning design ideas into clear plans that guide construction work. This role provides hands‑on experience with drafting tools and design standards while supporting important public projects.

• Prepare highway, bridge, and right‑of‑way plans using Computer‑Aided Drafting and Design (CADD) and basic drafting tools.
• Support designers by checking grades, drawing profiles, and calculating material quantities.
• Create layouts, cross sections, drainage sheets, and other details from preliminary sketches through final versions.
• Use survey notes, deeds, and three‑dimensional data to produce accurate plan sheets.
• Generate tabulations, estimates, and other project documents using tools such as Auto Tab and the Roadway Management System (RMS).
• Participate in field views, inspections, and meetings, and prepare notes or sketches when needed.

• Full‑time employment.
• Work hours:
  
  7:30 AM – 3:30 PM, Monday–Friday, with a 30‑minute lunch.
• Telework:
  Eligible to work from home part‑time after successful completion of the probationary period, provided you have a secure high‑speed internet connection and an approved Pennsylvania location. This option may change at any time.
• Salary:
  Selected candidates who are new to employment with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will begin at an annual salary of $46,827.00 (before taxes).

• One year as an Engineering Technician (Commonwealth job title or equivalent Federal Government job title, as determined by the Office of Administration); or
• Two years of drafting assignments, including at least one in highway drafting, six months CADD experience or training, and a high school diploma; or
• One year of highway drafting and detailing assignments, six months CADD experience or training, and an Associate’s Degree in civil engineering, drafting, or design technology; or
• Any equivalent combination of experience and/or training.

• You must meet the Pennsylvania residency requirement.
• You must be able to perform the essential job functions.

• A conditional offer of employment will require submission of criminal history reports.

Pennsylvania law (51 Pa. C.S. § 7103) provides employment preference for qualified veterans for many state and local government jobs. For more information, see the applicable veterans’ employment preference policy.

TRS is available for individuals with hearing and speech disabilities. Contact PennDOT to request accommodations prior to your interview.

The Commonwealth is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce. The Commonwealth values inclusion as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most qualified people to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, union membership, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, AIDS or HIV status, disability, or any other categories protected by applicable federal or state law.

All diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.