Engineer EIT

State of Iowa; Des Moines (IA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

The State of Iowa in Des Moines seeks an engineer to join the Engineering Design team. Under the mentorship of a Licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.), you will help ensure state infrastructure—from parks to wildlife areas—is safe, compliant, and designed for generations.

Open to pending December 2026 graduates in civil, construction, environmental or agricultural engineering, the role involves design work with AutoDesk Civil 3D, field support on-site, and preparation of contract documents.

Qualifications

• 6 months’ experience or 12 semester hours in Civil, Construction, Environmental or Agricultural Engineering.
• Ability to read blueprints, plans, and specifications.
• Graduation from an accredited four-year college in engineering.

Responsibilities

• Assist in developing designs and drawings using AutoDesk Civil 3D.
• Prepare contract documents including drawings, specifications, construction estimates, and bid documents.
• Provide on-site support including construction observation and surveying.
• Travel across the state as required.

Skills

AutoDesk Civil 3D

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Civil/Construction/Environmental/Agricultural Engineering

Tools

AutoDesk Civil 3D

Job description

The Department of Natural Resources encourages all applicants to upload a current resume and cover letter to their online application.

The Iowa DNR is seeking a motivated engineer to join our Engineering Design team. This position offers a unique opportunity to help preserve and improve Iowa’s public lands and facilities. Working under the direct mentorship of a Licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.), the successful applicant will ensure that state infrastructure—from state parks to wildlife areas is safe, compliant, and built to serve the public for generations. The position is open to pending December 2026 graduates in the civil, construction, environmental or agricultural engineering fields.

Responsibilities include assisting with develop designs and drawings using AutoDesk Civil 3D. Utilizing engineering software to calculate or modify construction quantities and supplementary project information. Utilize and create computer-generated maps, plans, or displays to illustrate project details. Develop tools or workflows to more efficiently design construction projects. Assist with the preparation of Contract Documents including drawings, specifications, construction estimates, and bid documents, and assist with the determination of applicable construction alternatives if contracts require modifications.

This position will work on site at projects to provide assistance to field engineers and surveyor on an as-needed basis. Assistance may include construction observation, operating survey equipment, and inspection of the contracted work to verify that it meets specified requirements.

This position will also provide support and administrative assistance including but not limited to providing permitting assistance in tracking and preparing permit applications, securing necessary permits for construction projects, researching historic construction data, and maintaining up to date reference material.

The Department values continuous learning. The successful candidate will be expected, and encouraged to attend workshops and seminars to advance their skills in AutoDesk Civil 3D, modern construction methods, and engineering design.

Essential Functions

• Apply the principles and practices of facilities engineering and of state building codes, rules and regulations.
• Preparation of complete engineering plans and specifications for a variety of building facilities; estimating and scheduling using computers and specialized software.
• Communicate effectively verbally and in writing with DNR staff, management personnel, and other state and federal agencies.
• Read, interpret, and accurately obtain necessary information from engineering related source documents/data to document proposals, search for precedents, and seek out alternative procedures for engineering problems or projects.
• Provide assistance with inspection and construction observation of capital projects; coordinate contractor relations, change orders and payment requests; ability to adjust to change, work pressures or difficult situations without undue stress.
• Travel across the state as required.

Critical Job Competencies

Accountability, Integrity, High Productivity, Communication Skills, Team Player, Interpersonal Skills, Customer Focus, Self-Management, Computer Skills, Technical Skills (design/drafting).

What You Get From Us

• A competitive pay plan and rewarding work.
• Insurance benefits that start the first of the month following 30 days of employment.
  (Premiums can start as low as $64/month for single and $210/month for family coverage).
• Separate vacation and sick leave accruals that start on the first day and can roll over annually.
• Nine paid holidays/year.
• Iowa Public Employee Retirement System (IPERS) retirement package with employer match.
• Optional deferred compensation (457/401A) plan with employer match.
• Professional training opportunities.
• Family friendly and professional work environment.
• Employee Discount Programs (vision, cellular, fitness, recreation, season passes, travel, counseling)
• The State’s total compensation package features benefits that are worth about 30% of your total compensation. For a list of additional benefits, please visit DAS website for more information.
• Flexible work schedules (as approved by the supervisor).
• Opportunities for hybrid telework (as approved by the supervisor).
• Workout/Gym facilities available onsite at 6200 Park Ave.

Comments

The starting salary for new state (Executive Branch) employees is expected to be at the base of the pay range. Additional salary increases may occur after the first six months, and then annually (if applicable). The State’s total compensation package features an outstanding set of employee benefits that are worth about 30% of your total compensation. Visit DAS website for more benefit information.

Program Webpage Link

https://www.iowadnr.gov/programs-services/engineering

Add Video Link

https://www.iowadnr.gov/about/employment (scroll to bottom of page)

Pending Applicants

College or university students that are pending graduation in December of 2026 with a Bachelor’s Degree in a Civil, Construction, Environmental or Agricultural Engineering are eligible to apply for this position.

Ensure you are kept up-to-date on the status of this position by checking your email regularly for emails from [e-mail]. This is a system generated email from the DAS application system and it may be sent directly to your Junk/Spam folder.

DNR Application Tips

For more information about DNR Employment Opportunities and position specific notices, please visit the DNR Employment website.

The State of Iowa is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

E-Verify and Right to Work

The State of Iowa participates in E-Verify, a federal program that helps employers confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. Within the required timeframe, new hires will be verified through the E-Verify system to ensure authorization to work in the United States. The State of Iowa also complies with the federal Right to Work laws, which protect employees’ rights to work without being required to join a labor organization. For more information, please visit www.e-verify.gov.

Iowa DNR Mission

To conserve and enhance our natural resources in cooperation with individuals and organizations to improve the quality of life in Iowa and ensure a legacy for future generations.

Civil Engineering

6 months’ experience, 12 semester hours, or a combination of both in one or more of the following:

• Survey crew
• Construction inspector
• Professional civil engineer

Must be able to read blueprints, plans, and/or specifications.

Construction Engineering

6 months’ experience, 12 semester hours, or a combination of both in the professional discipline that deals with the designing, planning, construction, and management of infrastructures such as highways, bridges, airports, railroads, buildings, dams, and utilities.

Environmental Engineering

6 months’ experience, 12 semester hours, or a combination of both in the area of engineering that is centered on the technology concerned with the reduction of pollution, contamination, and deterioration of the surroundings in which humans live.

Agricultural Engineering

6 months’ experience, 12 semester hours, or a combination of both including knowledge in one or in a combination of the following areas: machinery and power systems, structural design, mechanical analysis or ventilation, and climate control.

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in engineering.

For additional information, please click on this link to view the job description.