Entry Level Highway Engineer

GFT; Schaumburg (IL); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Wellness programs

Parental leave

Pet insurance

401(k) savings plan

Tuition reimbursement

Professional development opportunities

Incentive compensation

Job summary

GFT is seeking an Entry Level Highway Engineer to join our Transportation team in Schaumburg, IL or Chicago, IL. This hybrid role requires a minimum of three days onsite per week and involves support for roadway and intersection projects, drainage, and design development.

The candidate will collaborate with a multidisciplinary team, assist in design drawings, quantity estimates, and proposals, and gain mentorship to advance professionally.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from ABET-accredited program.
• 0–2 years of experience in transportation engineering design.
• Experience with CAD/drafting software is required or strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Participate in concept development, preliminary engineering and final design for municipal roads and highways.
• Prepare engineering design drawings, sketches, and layouts using CAD tools.
• Work in a multidisciplinary team environment.
• Prepare material quantity and cost estimates.
• Provide technical writing input to proposals and reports.
• Attend internal and external team meetings.
• Manage multiple projects and tasks concurrently.
• Demonstrate initiative and contribute independently.

Skills

CAD software

Communication

Team collaboration

Multi-tasking

Education

ABET-accredited Civil Engineering program

EIT Certification

Tools

Bentley MicroStation

OpenRoads Designer

Job description

As GFT continues to grow and expand, we are seeking an Entry Level Highway Engineer to support our Transportation team in our Schaumburg , IL or Chicago, IL office. This role follows a hybrid work model, requiring a minimum 3 days of onsite office attendance.

Working on the roadway team at GFT offers the opportunity to engage in transformative projects that enhance transportation infrastructure and improve community connectivity. Whether working on highways and bridges or traffic engineering, our team excels in resilient, sustainable design and construction, delivering innovative solutions that address the complexities of modern, multimodal roadway systems and ensure safe, efficient, and reliable travel for all. Explore some of our signature roadway projects here.

What you'll be challenged to do:

The Entry Level Highway Engineer will support design opportunities including roadway and intersection improvements, drainage and grading improvements, and highways and interchange projects. You'll engage in meaningful mentorship and professional development as you build a successful career.

December 2026 and Spring 2027 graduates are encouraged to apply!

In this capacity, the successful candidate will be responsible for the following:

• Participate in concept development, preliminary engineering and final design for infrastructure projects including municipal roads and highways.
• Prepare engineering design drawings, sketches, and layouts using an array of software platforms.
• Work in a multidisciplinary team environment.
• Prepare material quantity and cost estimates.
• Provide technical writing input to proposals, feasibility studies, design criteria and other reports/memorandums.
• Attend internal and external meetings with the team.
• Ability to multi-task and manage workload on various projects simultaneously.
• Initiative to undertake tasks efficiently and independently.

What you'll bring to our firm:

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering or related field from an ABET-accredited university.
• 0-2 years of experience in the design of transportation engineering projects.
• Demonstrated interest in highway or related transportation engineering field through applied academic coursework, prior internships, or work experiences.
• Demonstrated experience with CAD or similar drafting software.
• Strong organizational, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work in a team environment, self-starter, demonstrated organization skills, team player, and willingness to learn.

What we prefer you bring:

• An Engineer-in-Training (EIT) certification.
• Prior experience with Bentley MicroStation or OpenRoads Designer.
• Proficiency using Microsoft Office products.
• Experience in preparing detailed design contract drawings and packages.

Compensation:

The range for this position is salary range is $75,000-$85,000. Salary is dependent upon experience and geographic location.

Featured Benefits:

• Hybrid (in-person and remote) work environment.
• Comprehensive benefits package including wellness programs, parental leave, and pet insurance, in addition to medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance.
• Tax-deferred 401(k) savings plan.
• Competitive paid-time-off (PTO) accrual.
• Tuition reimbursement for continued education.
• Commitment to professional development, access to internal and external training programs, and support of active participation in professional organizations
• Incentive compensation for eligible positions.

At GFT, a privately held AEC firm, we innovate where transportation, water, power, and buildings converge. We call this the Infrastructure of Life. We measure our success by the strength of our relationships -- that's why we're the employer of choice for 5,000 of the industry's brightest engineers, planners, architects, inspectors, designers, and more.

Our clients choose us for our expertise and prefer us for our nimble approach, creativity, and personal touch. Backed by over a century's experience, together we're building a lasting legacy for future generations: stronger communities, a healthier planet, and better lives.

GFT: Ingenuity That Shapes Lives is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veterans' status or other characteristics protected by law.

Sponsorship is not being offered for this position.

Location: Schaumburg, IL; Chicago, IL
Core Business Hours: 8:00 AM -- 5:00 PM
Employment Status: Full-Time
Salary Range:$75,000-$85,000

Salary dependent upon experience and geographic location

GFT does require the successful completion of a criminal background check for all advertised positions.

California Applicants
Applicants in the County of Los Angeles - Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.
Applicants in the City of San Francisco - Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
Applicants in the State of California - Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the California Fair Chance Act.