Professional Engineer - Bridge Design

Montana Department of Transportation; Helena (MT); Hybrid; USD 105,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Public service culture

Hybrid remote work

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Paid vacation/sick/holidays

Student loan forgiveness

Job summary

Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) is recruiting two Professional Engineers in Bridge Design. This position is a professional structural design engineer responsible for final design work, design review, and final bridge plan checking on a project level with minimal guidance from the Bridge Area Engineer.

The role may include preliminary design work. The position requires Montana PE licensure or eligibility to obtain Montana registration via comity within six months of hire.

Qualifications

• ABET accredited engineering degree including structural courses.
• Minimum 4 years in structural analysis, steel design, and reinforced concrete.
• PE license in Montana or eligibility via comity within 6 months.
• Graduate degrees with structural concentrations evaluated case by case.

Responsibilities

• Lead final design work, design review, and bridge plan checking on project level.
• Perform preliminary design work as assigned with guidance from Bridge Area Engineer.
• Evaluate calculations, contract documents for clarity and constructability.
• Prepare calculations, reports and design documentation as required.

Skills

Bridge design knowledge

AASHTO standards

Engineering judgment

Calculations/analysis

Communication skills

Education

ABET accredited degree

PE licensure Montana

Comity eligibility

Structural concentration (grad)

Job description

The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) is recruiting two Professional Engineers in Bridge Design. This position is a professional structural design engineer. The Engineer is assigned final design work, design review work, and final bridge plan checking on a project level basis and is responsible for all work with minimal guidance and direction from the Bridge Area Engineer. The Engineer also is assigned preliminary design work. The preliminary design work may be done in conjunction with the Bridge Area Engineer or be assigned in terms of the general results expected. Since bridge design work affects the safety of the public, State law requires that the design work be done with a licensed professional engineer in responsible charge of the work. The Engineer in this position has gained the necessary judgment, skills and abilities through education and experience to be in responsible charge of the engineering work. The Engineer is fully competent in all conventional aspects of bridge design and has developed a minimum working knowledge of seismic analysis and design, and requirements of preliminary design.

For a full job description, please contact Morgan Stibi at [e-mail].

Benefits of working for MDT and the State of Montana include:

• Culture of public service and a commitment to work/life balance
• Potential hybrid remote work arrangement available
• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Access to Montana Health Centers, low-cost clinics for state employees and their families
• State Retirement plan and additional savings opportunities (deferred compensation)
• Employees in this position receive overtime compensation or compensatory time for all time in a pay status over 40 hours in a workweek
• Paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays
• Eligibility for Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness
• Benefits apply on first day of employment

For information on the Montana Department of Transportation’s mission, vision, and values, please visit our website: https://www.mdt.mt.gov/about.aspx#values

The successful candidate for this position is eligible for a $5000 sign-on bonus. For more information, please contact MDT People Operations Bureau.

Required Education And Experience

• The required knowledge and skills are typically acquired through a combination of education and experience equivalent to Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering from an ABET accredited Engineering program that includes civil structural engineering courses in structural analysis, steel design, and reinforced concrete design, or a related field.
• This position requires a minimum of 4 years of experience in structural analysis, steel design, and reinforced concrete design.
• Certifications, licensure, or other credentials include: Registration as a Professional Engineer (PE) in Montana. Individuals with a valid PE registration in another State that is eligible to obtain Montana PE registration through Comity within 6 months of hire will also be considered.
• Alternative qualifications include: Graduate degrees with concentrations in structural analysis and design will be evaluated on a case by case basis.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• This position requires a thorough knowledge of the theory, principles, methods and techniques of Civil Engineering and the associated mathematics and physical sciences, especially the methods and practices of bridge structural design. This position must be familiar with AASHTO Design Specifications and standards, Bridge design standards and policies, industry guidelines and practices, and bridge and road construction methods. The employee must have demonstrated skills at performing engineering analyses; and applying engineering concepts, techniques and procedures to a variety of situations and circumstances. The incumbent must be skilled at evaluating structural calculations and contract documents for clarity, accuracy, completeness and constructability; and identifying construction and design conflicts. This position requires skill at applying engineering judgment when interpreting design guidelines and standards. Skilled at preparing calculations, reports, and other documentation necessary to complete a design project. This position requires skill in the use of office engineering instruments including computers and hand held calculators. Effective written and verbal communication skills are also necessary for preparing plans and sharing information with designers, engineers, non-technical personnel, and the public.

Required Application Materials

• A resume detailing your qualifications and work history.
• A cover letter of no more than two pages addressing your qualifications for the position.

Other Information

• The Montana Department of Transportation is an equal opportunity employer. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, and veterans and disabled veterans are encouraged to apply. People with disabilities needing assistance in the application process, or those needing this job announcement in an alternative format may call the Human Resources and Occupational Safety Division, at 406.444.6054.
• The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) is committed to continuous improvement of our employee safety program and our safety and health processes, and to achieving an injury-free workplace.
• Effective 5/26/2026, MDT is participating in E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility. After accepting a job offer and completing Form I-9, your information will be submitted to the Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration for verification. For more information about E-Verify, please visit the E-Verify website found here, https://www.e-verify.gov.