Engineer in Training I, Design

Colorado Department of Transportation; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 62,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Colorado Department of Transportation is seeking an Engineer-in-Training in Denver. The role provides entry‑level engineering design and construction support under the guidance of a licensed Professional Engineer, with a path toward licensure.

You will learn to apply standards, prepare plans and specifications, and manage projects from scoping through construction, while adhering to safety practices. The position emphasizes learning current design practices, documenting decisions, and tracking

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering; December 2026 graduates accepted.
• Substitution: Engineer-Intern status or licensure as PE in Colorado.

Responsibilities

• Learn to apply engineering principles to develop safe, efficient, and economical designs; use engineering software to develop project plans.
• Assist with tracking project activities and documentation; draft contract changes and memos; maintain organized filing of project records.
• Support design and construction tasks from scoping to advertisement under supervision of a Professional Engineer.
• Ensure construction contract completion in compliance with contract documents including plans and specs.
• Abide by safety regulations and complete required safety training; drive CDOT vehicles as needed.

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Engineer-Intern (E.I.) status in Colorado or anticipated graduation December 2026

Job description

Department Information

New employees to the State will be paid biweekly. There are 26 biweekly pay periods in a year.

This position is only open to Colorado state residents.

About CDOT

CDOT employees make a difference by providing freedom, connection, and experience to the traveling public, while also keeping them safe. The State of Colorado offers competitive medical, dental and vision insurance, life and disability insurance, and flexible spending and health savings accounts. Visit the State of Colorado benefits for details, current premium rates and a summary video about benefits. The state also offers PERA retirement, great optional PERA plans such as 401K, a generous paid time off package of annual, sick, holiday and other leave, strong career growth, tuition reimbursement and professional development. Perks include Colorado Employee Assistance Program (CSEAP) counseling, wellness, credit union membership and employee discount program. Visit CDOT Benefits for details. Some positions may qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

CDOT for All

CDOT’s strength is our people, and our commitment to our people is to shape, support, and sustain the employee experience, and ultimately, create a supportive workplace where everyone, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship status, education, disability, socio-economic status, or any other identity, has the opportunity to thrive.

The eligible list created from this announcement may be used to fill current and future vacancies for a period of up to 6 months.

Description Of Job

About the Work Unit

The Engineer works in the Colorado Department of Transportation's (CDOT's) Engineering Residency in Denver, Colorado. The purpose of this unit is to provide engineering expertise in developing, building, and maintaining a safe and integrated transportation system. The unit manages and oversees projects for upgrading, reconstructing, and maintaining the highway system along with other projects that have federal, state and local funds. This includes: design, design oversight, construction management, NEPA documentation management, consultant management, and overall project management are provided.

About The Position

The Engineer-in-Training position is expected to gain engineering expertise and to apply engineering theories, principles, and standards to the design and preparation of plans and specifications for highway projects while overseen by a licensed Professional Engineer. This position carries out established work processes and operations by learning to apply and follow procedures, techniques, rules, and regulations and is overseen by a licensed Professional Engineer. This position provides entry level engineering design and construction support for the unit. The position performs engineering work tasks to complete project design plans and construction inspection/oversight. This position designs under the guidance of a Professional Engineer and executes work assignments of a progressively more complex nature requiring independent engineering judgment and design analysis in preparation for eventually becoming a licensed Professional Engineer. Additionally, this position ensures construction contract completion in compliance with the contract documents that include project plans and specifications.

Your duties and responsibilities

• Learn to apply current engineering principles, theories, design specifications, applicable design standards and engineering expertise to develop safe, efficient, and economical designs; utilize appropriate engineering software to develop project plans.
• Learns to complete assigned design project tasks using engineering practices and calculation methods that meet current engineering design practices including CDOT and American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Guidelines.
• Learns documentation for design-related decisions; participates in project scoping and consults with the PE to recommend the final design for approval.
• Assist with tracking project activities and document them as design progresses; tracking construction activities and document them as required; assist with drafting Contract Change Orders/Minor Contract Revisions, letters and construction engineering memos; preparing a complete and accurate historical account of project activities and maintaining an organized filing system for easy access to documents.
• Learns to manage a design project from scoping through advertisement
• Learns to draft plans and specifications to CDOT, Local Agency and Developer plans and specifications using established CDOT formats and worksheets.
• Track construction and contract budgets and generate spend down information for each contract. Support the required financial reporting required, including updating the federal financial plan and preparing monthly updates.
• Abide by all safety regulations, policies and procedures and wear all required personal protective equipment; attend and complete all required safety training.
• Required to drive CDOT vehicles to various projects and sites.

Work Environment

• Generally daytime hours, Monday - Friday; night and/or weekend work may be required during the construction season, April - November
• This position is approximately 90% in office and 10% in the field.
• Daytime travel during business hours to meetings, sitevisits and industry events.
• Overnight travel may be required to work out of town during the duration of certain projects.
• Required to drive CDOT vehicles.

Minimum Qualifications

• A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in engineering. We will accept December 2026 graduates. Unless applying under Substitutions, a copy of your transcript(s) or official NACES credential evaluation report must be submitted. OR
• All Engineering and other course work including current coursework, with an anticipated graduation date of December 2026.

Substitutions

• Current enrollment as an Engineer-Intern by the Colorado Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors will substitute for the required degree.
• OR Current, valid licensure as a Professional Engineer from the Colorado State Board of Licensure for Architects, Professional Engineers, and Professional Land Surveyors.

Please Note:

The required experience must be substantiated within the work experience section of your application. “See Resume” statements on the application or resumes in lieu of a complete application may not be accepted. Additional information submitted after the closing date of this announcement will not be considered in the review of your application. In addition, part-time work will be prorated.