Principal Engineer 2026-02462

State of Wyoming; Buffalo (WY); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Signing bonus

Health insurance

Dental and vision coverage

Paid vacation and holidays

Retirement plans (Pension and 457b)

Flexible schedules

Job summary

The Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) in Buffalo, Wyoming seeks a Principal Engineer for the Construction Program. This role leads highway construction and contract administration from design through finalization, guiding a team of technicians and engineers and coordinating with federal, state, county, and city partners to deliver quality projects on time and within budget.

Essential functions include planning, budgeting, and supervising field activities, ensuring compliance with

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering is required.
• Experience as a Project Engineer or similar role is expected.
• Strong communication and leadership skills are needed.

Responsibilities

• Document project quantities and payment.
• Negotiate and secure landowner, agency, and consultant agreements.
• Coordinate with city, county, federal, and department representatives on design and construction.
• Generate plans, summaries, and estimates for maintenance projects.
• Affix the PE stamp to the completed work.

Skills

Highway engineering

Project management

Communication

Supervision

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering

Job description

Open Until Filled

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) seeks a Principal Engineer for our Construction Program located in Buffalo, Wyoming. This position is responsible for all aspects of highway construction and contract administration from design through construction and project record finalization, including reconstruction and maintenance projects for bridges, interstate highways, state highways, county roads, and city streets, and public buildings; managing and training a crew of technicians and engineers assisting with the project design and contract administration; working closely with Federal, State, County, and City personnel as well as various utility companies, landowners and the public through all phases of the projects; and applying professional engineering practices to end up with a quality project that is completed timely and within budget without claims or accidents.

This position offers:

**$2,000 Hiring Bonus** See notes for eligibility

Working for the State of Wyoming offers more than a paycheck. Our total compensation package includes:

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid vacation, sick leave, FMLA, and holidays
• Retirement - Pension and 457B plans that help you build a secure future
• Flexible schedules and work-life balance options
• Meaningful work that makes a difference for Wyoming communities

and MUCH MORE!

Want to see the full value of your compensation beyond salary?

Explore our Total Compensation Calculator: compensationcalculator.wyo.gov

Buffalo is tucked away between the rolling plains of the Old West and the towering peaks of the Bighorn Mountains and is a small town living at its finest. Nearby outdoor activities are endless: hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, snowmobiling, ATV trails, rodeos, and a four-star golf course in the heart of town. Billings, Montana and its amenities are just over a two-hour drive from Buffalo. And Wyoming is one of only nine states with no income tax!

Human Resources Contact: Keri Griffith / 307-674-2318 / [e-mail]

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Responsible for documentation of project quantities and payment.
• Responsible for negotiating and securing agreements with landowners, government agencies, and consultants.
• Responsible for meeting the requirements ofDEQ, BLM, USFS, and other agencies on projects.
• Coordinate and develop consensus among representatives of the city, county, federal, and the department, and the general public and special interest groups to address project impacts and effects at the design and construction level.
• Research, locate, and negotiate materials, survey, water, and plant site agreements with private landowners, businesses, and government agencies.
• Generate special provisions for all projects to address issues unique to each project.
• Initiate and monitor consultant agreements and progress to provide various surveying and engineering services.
• Generate plans, summaries, and estimates for maintenance projects.
• Resolve and recommend a resolution of contractor disputes and claims.
• Review, generate, and negotiate change orders.
• Provide fundamental and supplemental training to subordinates.
• Responsible for determining equipment, workforce needs, and budget requirements.
• Manages, coordinates, and organizes field inspections, surveys, laboratory testing, material analysis, and quality control to ensure the project is constructed in accordance with plans and specifications.
• Prepares technical engineering studies and/or summaries for a variety of projects.
• Responsible for the development of plans and documents.
• Responsible for determining equipment & workforce needs & budget requirements.
• Assures projects are completed in accordance with plans, specifications, and design criteria.
• Responsible for engineering recommendations and summaries for a variety of projects.
• Reviews and approves or rejects submittals.
• Ensures the work activities of the engineering staff meet project technical and policy requirements, state statutes, and federal regulations.
• Performs feasibility analysis to ensure cost-effective solutions.
• Coordinates with other programs, agencies, or outside entities; participates in value engineering studies and public meetings.
• Provides responses as a result of claims, lawsuits, or other public record requests.
• Prepares and coordinates budget recommendations.
• Conducts performance appraisals, makes hiring and firing recommendations, and conducts disciplinary actions.
• Trains, develops, and mentors staff.
• Advises senior leaders regarding design and project budgets, design and schedules, and contracts.
• Develops and implements standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the engineering section.
• Participates in selection panels of architects, engineers, and contractors.
• Confers with the staff of agencies in other states or other government levels regarding joint actions taken or to be taken, or in exchange for vital or useful information; develops, reviews, and makes adjustments in a long-range plan for agency (or major program) goals.
• Reviews blueprints, design plans, and specifications for technical merit and owner intent on all projects and quality control, functionality, readability, sustainability, and construction flow.
• Develop cost estimates for future projects to include design and construction costs; advise senior leaders on the acquisition of engineering-specific software, hardware, equipment, and materials.
• Affix the PE stamp to the work completed.

KNOWLEDGE

• Knowledge of engineering fundamentals relating to highway geometrics, hydraulic design, soil engineering, and construction practices.
• Knowledge of legal aspects of supervision, hiring, and firing.
• Skilled in preparing and delivering technical training and presentations.
• Able to communicate effectively through verbal and written means to relate specific concepts and ideas to outside agencies, public partners, and direction to engineers and technicians.
• Able to effectively plan, organize, oversee, and monitor work schedules and projects.
• Able to give attention and work under pressure.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Bachelor's Degree (in Engineering)

Experience: 2-4 years of progressive work experience (in Engineering) with acquired knowledge at the level of a Project Engineer

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations: Professional Engineer's (PE) License Required at time of hire - (Wyoming PE required within six months of hire date.)

NOTES

• FLSA: Exempt
• The Wyoming Department of Transportation is a Drug-Free Workplace.
• E-Verify: WYDOT uses E-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.
• The successful candidate may be eligible for moving expense reimbursement.
• Qualifying eligibility and criteria for the hiring bonus
  • Temporary employees accepting a full-time position.
  • Current employees accepting a promotional opportunity - recruitment must have been opened to the public.
  • One year of service to WYDOT must be completed, failure to complete this requirement will forfeit the hiring incentive, and funds will be recouped from final pay.
  • Internal candidates would be required to remain in the position for a minimum of one (1) year from their promotion date.
  • Employees would only be eligible for one (1) hiring bonus in a 12-month period.
  • If the employee elects to downgrade through an active recruitment and/or appointment during the twelve (12) month period, they would be required to pay the bonus back.

The State of Wyoming is an Equal Opportunity Employer and actively supports the ADA and reasonably accommodates qualified applicants with disabilities.

Class Specifications are subject to change, please refer to the A & I HRD Website to ensure that you have the most recent version.

Human Resources Contact: Keri Griffith / 307-674-2318 / [e-mail]