Road 1 Design Engineer Associate (TE Associate)

State of Iowa; Ames (IA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

IPERS retirement

Paid time off

Professional growth

Job summary

The Iowa Department of Transportation – Design Bureau in Ames is seeking a full-time Road Design Engineer Associate (TE Associate) to join a highway design team. You will analyze data, develop alternatives, and prepare roadway designs in accordance with AASHTO and Iowa DOT guidance, balancing safety, mobility, and impacts.

The role emphasizes 3D modeling, collaboration with stakeholders, and design decisions across projects of varying complexity, in a public-sector environment with strong growth

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in civil, chemical, construction, environmental, materials, mechanics, structural, or transportation engineering or in engineering management.
• Possession of an Engineer-in-Training (EIT) certificate or licensure as a Professional Engineer within required timeframe.

Responsibilities

• Participate in studies and develop alternatives for transportation improvements.
• Analyze data to determine optimal operating characteristics for highway projects.
• Produce highway designs aligned with AASHTO and Iowa DOT guidance.
• Contribute to team decisions balancing safety, mobility, and cost.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Team collaboration

Communication skills

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering

Tools

3D modeling software

Civil design software

Job description

The Design Bureau within the Transportation Development Division at the Iowa Department of Transportation is looking to hire a full-time Road Design Engineer Associate (TE Associate)who will be part of a team developing projects that enhance the state and national transportation systems in Iowa. You will be an essential member of a highway design team that collaborates with numerous stakeholders to develop innovative transportation improvement plans.

As a Road Design Engineer Associate (TE Associate), your duties will include, but are not limited to:

• Participating in engineering studies of transportation system improvements and developing alternatives for meeting the goals of the identified improvement.
• Analyzing transportation engineering data to determine the optimal operating characteristics for the proposed highway improvement project.
• Producing highway designs that are engineered in harmony with national (American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials) and Iowa DOT design guidance.
• Participating on a team to produce decisions that balance safety, mobility, environmental impacts, property impacts, cost, and long-term maintenance.
• Performing design and engineering analysis for small to large, highly complex highway improvement projects using advanced civil engineering software applications, including 3D modeling and visualizations.
• Preparing roadway construction plans that clearly and accurately convey all aspects of the project.

Preferred Characteristics:

• Analyze challenges, define successful solution alternatives, and proactively solve problems.
• Passion and commitment to excellence in our highway design products.
• Effectively communicate with all levels of management and a wide variety of individuals involved in our development process.
• Embrace and encourage a culture that thrives on innovative ideas and leading changes that result in effective process and project improvements.

Preferred Experience:

• Ability to successfully utilize advanced software applications and work in a 3D design environment that produces cutting-edge 3D machine guidance data for automated construction equipment.

Additional Requirements:

• Possession of an Engineer certificate issued by the Iowa State Board of Engineering Examiners is required within 24 months of hire.
• Licensure as a Professional Engineer is required within 6 years of hire for continued employment as a Transportation Engineer Associate.

The Iowa Department of Transportation is proud to be a partner with the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). Through this partnership, DOT engineers are granted membership at a largely discounted price, as well as discounts for conferences and continuing education through the ASCE. We are excited to offer this benefit and to have you join this partnership with us! If you're interested in learning more about this benefit, please visit https://www.asce.org/membership.

Iowa Department of Transportation’s Mission is Making Lives Better Through Transportation. To accomplish our Mission, the person selected for this position will demonstrate actions and behaviors guided by the Iowa Department of Transportation’s five CORE values: Safety First, People Matter, Customer Focused, Servant Leadership, and Integrity Without Exception.

Shift

Days, Monday through Friday. Flex available.

Location

Design Bureau – Ames, Iowa

As a State of Iowa employee, you will be eligible for the following benefits:

• Competitive pay and benefits package including health, dental, flexible spending, and life insurance
• Insurance benefits start the first month following 30 days of employment, and costs can be reviewed here.
• Opportunities for professional growth and development.
• Paid time off effective immediately - biweekly vacation, separate sick leave, accruals rollover on a yearly basis, and 9 paid holidays per year.
• Iowa Public Employee Retirement System (IPERS) Retirement Package with employer match
• Optional 401A plan with employer contributions.
• Employee Discount Programs from a variety of vendors (vision, cellular, fitness, recreation, season passes, travel, counseling; legal, financial).

We encourage you to learn more about the State of Iowa Employee benefits and costs at the State of Iowa Employee Benefits Website!

You have the freedom to flourish in Iowa – Apply today!

The Iowa Department of Transportation is an equal-opportunity employer. If you require a reasonable accommodation in completing any screening, interviewing, pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the selection process, please direct your request to the affirmative Action & Equal Employment Opportunity (AA/EEO) Officer at [e-mail].

Reasonable accommodation, such as an interpreter, translator, written materials, modified equipment/devices, ADA access, etc. This does not include scheduling needs.

The State of Iowa participates in E-Verify, a federal program that helps employers confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. Within the required timeframe, new hires will be verified through the E-Verify system to ensure authorization to work in the United States. The State of Iowa also complies with the federal Right to Work laws, which protect employees’ rights to work without being required to join a labor organization. For more information, please visit www.e-verify.gov.

Applicants must meet at least one of the following minimum requirements to qualify for positions in this job classification:

1. Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor's degree in chemical, civil, construction, environmental, materials, mechanics, structural, or transportation engineering or in engineering management.
2. Possession of a verification of graduation with major course work in chemical, civil, construction, environmental, materials, mechanics, structural, or transportation engineering or in engineering management.

For additional information, please click on this link to view the job description. Applicants hired with verification of graduation will be required to graduate with a bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university within 10 months of hire.

Within a period of time after hire, as determined by the appointing authority, employees in this class may be required to obtain one or more of the following certificates, licenses, or endorsements:

• Certification as an Engineer in Training (EIT) by the Iowa Engineering & Land Surveying Examining Board
• Licensure as a professional engineer by the Iowa Engineering & Land Surveying Examining Board.