Engineer I - III (Road Design Engineer)

South Dakota AG; Sioux Falls (SD); Remote; USD 88,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Employee assistance program

Dental and Vision

Health savings account

Free basic life insurance

Retirement benefits with SDRS

Paid leave

11 paid holidays

Job summary

The South Dakota Department of Transportation seeks a Road Design Engineer to design and assemble highway plans using CAD and civil design software. You will develop horizontal and vertical alignments, drainage modeling, and constructible templates in line with state and federal guidelines.

Responsibilities include project scoping, attending public meetings, design inspections, and coordinating with landowners.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering or related field.
• Engineer-in-Training status or Professional Engineer license preferred depending on experience.
• Knowledge of civil, environmental, and structural engineering principles and practices.

Responsibilities

• Design and assemble highway project plans using CAD and civil design software.
• Establish horizontal and vertical alignments, cross-section templates, and drainage modeling.
• Participate in project scoping, public meetings, design inspections and landowner meetings.
• Provide day-to-day direction to CAD Technicians assigned to the project.

Skills

Growth mindset

Vision and creativity

Team-oriented attitude

Confident, action-oriented

Attention to detail

Ethical standards

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering

Tools

CAD software

Microsoft Office

Civil design software

Job description

Agency: Department of Transportation / Division of Planning & Engineering / Office of Road Design

Pay Grade: E1 - E3

Closing Date: 10/26/2026

This is a full-time position with the Department of Transportation. For more information on the Department of Transportation, please visit http://dot.sd.gov.

This position with the SDDOT provides a rewarding career with opportunities for advancement, a flexible work schedule, and great benefits. This position allows you to use analytical skills to solve problems while designing safe and effective highway systems. The successful applicant will be an integral member of the Office of Road Design and will be responsible for the design and assembling of plans for cost-effective, constructible highway projects. This includes utilizing CAD and design software to establish horizontal and vertical alignments, cross-section templates, modeling the roadway and drainage elements to meet many needs while following Federal, State and Department policies and guidelines. Duties include the diversity of participating in scoping of projects, attending public meetings, conducting or assisting as necessary with design inspections and meetings with landowners; as well as providing day-to-day work direction to CAD Technicians assigned to the project.

This position has the option to be remote.

What You Bring To The SDDOT

• Growth mindset
• Vision and creativity
• Team-oriented attitude
• Confident, action-oriented personality
• Attention to detail and passion for organization
• Commitment to fostering high ethical standards

What The SDDOT Offers

• Health insurance (low and high deductible plans which include a $0 premium employee-only coverage plan)
• Employee assistance program
• Dental and Vision
• Health savings account
• Free basic life insurance policy
• Membership in the South Dakota Retirement System with partial state match
• Paid leave (15 vacation days per year)
• Sick leave (14 days per year)
• Paid family leave (12 weeks for birth and adoption of child, equivalent to 40 hours per week)
• Military leave (15 days per year)
• 11 paid holidays
• Longevity pay
• Semimonthly pay periods
• Eligibility for meal per diems

The total compensation of Hourly Wage + State/Federal Benefits for a typical year for an entry-level Road Design Engineer is approximately $91,332.00 annually.

Licenses And Certifications

Depending on experience level, applicants should possess or obtain Engineer-in-Training status or a Professional Engineer license.

The Ideal Candidate Will Have

Only applicants with a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering or related field will be considered.

Knowledge Of

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• civil, environmental, and structural engineering principles, practices and theories;
• technical phases of civil engineering such as surveying, hydraulics, materials and design;
• mathematics, physics and chemistry.

Skills To

• provide excellent communication, customer service and organization;
• use Microsoft Office products, CAD and civil design software.

Ability To

• read, interpret and evaluate engineering plans and specifications for acceptable engineering practices;
• organize, analyze, calculate, and evaluate available information and draw reasonable conclusions;
• communicate information clearly and concisely;
• effectively plan, organize, and prioritize work activities to meet schedules and deadlines;
• work in a team environment;
• develop positive working relationships.

This position is eligible for Veterans’ Preference per ARSD 55:10:02:08.

The State of South Dakota does not sponsor work visas for new or existing employees. All persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete an Employment Eligibility Verification, Form I-9. The State of South Dakota as an employer, will be using E-Verify to complete employment eligibility verification upon hire.

The State of South Dakota offers $0 premium employee health insurance option plus eleven paid holidays, generous vacation and sick leave accrual, dental, vision, and other insurance options, and retirement benefits. You can view our benefits information here . This position is a member of Class A retirement under SDRS.