Bridge Planning and Hydraulics Engineer

Minnesota DOT; Oakdale (MN); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

12 paid holidays per year

Vacation days (up to 29 per year)

Sick time (13 days)

Defined pension plan

Life insurance

Some teleworking may be available

Job summary

Minnesota Department of Transportation seeks a statewide leader for Bridge Program Planning and Preliminary Design, Hydraulics, Bridge Cost Estimating, and related areas. This role manages complex programs, coordinates with Districts and Local Agencies, and guides investment policy and accountability for bridge performance targets.

The position anchors a Bridge Management Team, collaborates across committees, and leads initiatives like APP, SMTP, MnSHIP, and TAMP to align planning with future

Qualifications

• Registration as a Professional Engineer with the Minnesota Board of Architecture, Engineering, Land Surveying, Landscape Architecture, Geosciences, and Interior Design (AELSLAGID) and five years of post-registration experience with three years at the Engineer Principal level (or equivalent).
• Leadership and Management: Demonstrated ability to lead and manage the planning and delivery of engineering programs with large dollar volumes that directly affect the public.
• Fiscal and Human Resources Management: Experience managing fiscal and human resources for a multi-disciplined section. This includes experience with large and complex budgets and experience supervising staff including hiring, assigning, and evaluating work, promoting, disciplining, and training staff (provide number of staff and types of positions supervised).
• Technical: Experience in MnDOT’s planning and delivery process for project and program delivery, highlighting specific bridge project experience.
• Communications/Human Relations: Demonstrated ability to collaborate with a wide variety of stakeholders; and experience building and maintaining effective relationships with internal and external partners.

Responsibilities

• Provide statewide leadership and management for Bridge Program Planning and Preliminary Design, Hydraulics, Bridge Cost Estimating, Design-Build, Scoping, and Consultant Contracting.
• Oversee the Bridge Priority Preservation Program and support management of TPIC and related programs, including APP.
• Ensure transportation planning is integrated into investment and program development, aligning decisions with future needs, system performance, multimodal considerations, and established bridge and planning standards.
• Provide leadership to state and Division/District Program Delivery units through participation in Pre-Construction Engineers Group and TPIC, supporting efficient completion of project programs.
• Lead the development and work with Districts for program accountability to meet bridge related performance targets.
• Coordinate office resources and serve as a primary liaison to Districts and Local Agencies, ensuring consistent application of program policies and guidelines.
• Participate in planning committees including SMTP, MnSHIP, MPLT-P, and TAMP.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Budget management

Stakeholder collaboration

Education

Professional Engineer (PE) license (AELSLAGID)

Job description

This position provides statewide leadership and management for Bridge Program Planning and Preliminary Design, Hydraulics, Bridge Cost Estimating, Design-Build, Scoping, and Consultant Contracting. The role also oversees the Bridge Priority Preservation Program and supports management of the Transportation Program and Investment Committee (TPIC) and related programs, including Advanced Preservation Projects (APP). The position ensures transportation planning is integrated into investment and program development, aligning decisions with future needs, system performance, multimodal considerations, and established bridge and planning standards.

The position has managerial authority over human, fiscal, and operational resources to ensure effective delivery of all assigned programs. As part of the Bridge Management Team, this role coordinates office resources and serves as a primary liaison to Districts and Local Agencies, ensuring consistent application of program policies and guidelines.

In addition, the position provides leadership to state and Division/District Program Delivery units through participation in the Pre-Construction Engineers Group and TPIC, supporting efficient completion of project programs. It contributes to investment policy and project development through active participation in planning committees including SMTP, MnSHIP, MPLT-P, and TAMP. The position also leads the development and working with Districts for program accountability to meet bridge related performance targets.

Why MnDOT?

We offer excellent employee benefits, such as low-cost health and dental insurance, and affordable dependent coverage. Other benefits include:

• 12 paid holidays per year
• Earn up to 29 paid vacation days a year
• Earn 13 days paid sick time
• Defined pension plan
• Paid life insurance
• Some teleworking may be available

Minimum Qualifications

Registration as a Professional Engineer with the Minnesota Board of Architecture, Engineering, Land Surveying, Landscape Architecture, Geosciences, and Interior Design (AELSLAGID) AND five years of post-registration experience with three years at the Engineer Principal level (or equivalent).

• Leadership and Management: Demonstrated ability to lead and manage the planning and delivery of engineering programs with large dollar volumes that directly affect the public.
• Fiscal and Human Resources Management: Experience managing fiscal and human resources for a multi-disciplined section. This includes experience with large and complex budgets and experience supervising staff including hiring, assigning, and evaluating work, promoting, disciplining, and training staff (provide number of staff and types of positions supervised).
• Technical: Experience in and knowledge of MnDOT’s planning and delivery process for project and program delivery, highlighting specific bridge project experience.
• Communications/Human Relations: Demonstrated ability to collaborate with a wide variety of stakeholders; and experience building and maintaining effective relationships with internal and external partners.

Contact for Additional Information

Laura Saari, MnDOT Recruitment Specialist

[e-mail]