Transportation Engineer Trainee

State of CT-Dept. of Transportation; Newington (CT); Hybrid; USD 76,000 - 124,000; Full time

Job summary

The State of Connecticut Department of Transportation invites applications for a Transportation Engineer Trainee in the Project Controls Unit, Cost Estimating section at the Newington headquarters. The role trains in the AASHTOWare Project software and supports cost estimating for projects.

You will contribute to asset tracking, training guides, and reports in AWP and PowerBI, with future advancement to Engineer classifications.

Qualifications

• Possession of a Bachelor’s degree.
• PE or EIT licensure may be substituted for the general experience.

Responsibilities

• Performs a wide variety of increasingly difficult duties as technical skills are acquired during course of training period.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Problem solving

Self-motivation

Presentation skills

Technical writing

Software experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Power BI

Microsoft Office 365

Job description

Transportation Engineer Trainee
Cost Estimating Section

Recruitment #261015-8741FS-001

Location Newington, CT
Date Opened 10/17/2026 12:00:00 AM
Salary $76,307 – $123,809/year *See salary note below
Job Type Open to the Public
Close Date 11/2/2026 11:59:00 PM
Introduction

If you want to be part of a great team of engineers shaping the future of Transportation in Connecticut, read below and apply today!

The State of Connecticut, Department of Transportation (DOT), is now accepting applications for an exciting Transportation Engineer Trainee opportunity within the Project Controls Unit, Cost Estimating section at the DOT Headquarters in Newington, CT!

A horizontal graphic showing a blue circular icon on the left followed by the text “Start with the State of Connecticut, Stay, Grow.” To the right is a series of blue arrow-shaped boxes illustrating a career progression path: “Transportation Engineer Trainee,” “Transportation Engineer 1 (Engineering),” “Transportation Engineer 2 (Engineering),” “Transportation Engineer 3 (Engineering),” “Transportation Supervising Engineer (Engineering),” and “Transportation Principal Engineer (Engineering).”

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

• Visit our new State Employee Benefits Overview page!
• Professional growth and development opportunities
• A healthy work/life balance to all employees
• Join an award winning agency! CTDOT was recently awarded the Employer of the Year award by the Connecticut Society of Civil Engineers (CSCE) and named the Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS) CT Employer of the Year for 2024!
• The convenience of an on-site, low-cost fitness center, on-site cafeteria, and Electric Vehicle (EV) charging at our Newington, CT, Headquarters facility. All CTDOT facilities have ample free parking with easy access from major highways and by public transportation.

POSITION HIGHLIGHTS

• Full Time, 40 hours per week
• Monday through Friday
• First shift
• Location: Positions available at the DOT Headquarters in Newington, CT
• A valid motor vehicle operator’s license is required and must be maintained.
• Hybrid-in office/telework may be available, in accordance with the Telework Policy which can be found here.

THE ROLE

The Transportation Engineer Trainee will receive training to assist with administering and maintaining the AASHTOWare Project (AWP) software suite, including the cost estimating module. You will provide AWP support including assisting in managing user accounts, implementing new modules and user feedback, coordinating enhancements, communicating with stakeholders, developing training guides/videos, and designing reports both in AWP and PowerBI. You will assist with implementation of AWP’s Asset Tracker module at CTDOT. The Asset Tracker implementation will fill a current data gap in providing cost data by asset to aid in lifecycle planning and lifecycle cost analysis.

You will also receive training to prepare engineer’s estimates for smaller projects. You will use AWP to review design estimates and build engineer’s estimates for smaller projects while taking into consideration project scope, recent bid data, commodity pricing, schedule, and complexity.

DISCOVER THE OPPORTUNITY TO

• Receive on-the-job training and work with experienced engineers.
• Contribute to providing a safe and efficient transportation system.
• Make a positive impact on local communities.
• Collaborate with and gain exposure to other CTDOT design units including Highway Design, Bridge Design, Soils and Foundations, Hydraulics and Drainage, Traffic Design and many others.
• Gain experience to qualify for professional licensing.
• Resolve complex transportation challenges and recommend and implement effective solutions in a timely manner.
• Enjoy diverse working conditions with both office environment and field work.
• Utilize computer aided design software (MicroStation) and other applications such as Microsoft Word and Excel.

SALARY/PROMOTIONAL OPPORTUNITY

*Maximum of the Target Level for Transportation Engineer 2.

Promotional Opportunity

Salary

Transportation Engineer Trainee

$76,307/annually

After successful completion of a one (1) year training program, you will be promoted to Transportation Engineer 1 (Engineering).

$85,151-$104,720/annually

After successful completion of two (2) years as a Transportation Engineer 1, you will be promoted to Transportation Engineer 2

$95,865-$123,809/annually

APPLICATION DETAILS

Applicants must be available to travel for training, conferences, meetings, field reviews, etc. both within and outside of normal working hours, when necessary. A valid motor vehicle operator’s license is required and must be maintained. Please list your Driver’s license number, expiration date, and issuing State, Engineer-in-Training license number (if applicable), Professional Engineer license (if applicable) and any other job-relevant licenses or certifications you hold, in the Licenses and Professional Certifications section of your application.

ABOUT US

As one of Connecticut’s largest State agencies, DOT employs approximately 3,300 individuals statewide in five bureaus. CTDOT is guided by its mission to improve lives through transportation. Our infrastructure and transit systems are essential to the safety and mobility of Connecticut residents, and our work strengthens both economic and community development. CTDOT is committed to fostering a workforce that reflects the communities it serves, and individuals with broad-ranging backgrounds and life experiences are encouraged to apply.

Learn more about our mission, vision, and values!

HEAR FROM OUR TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERS!

Watch the videos below to learn what Transportation Engineers do at the Connecticut DOT!

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In the Department of Transportation and the Connecticut Airport Authority this class is accountable for receiving training in introductory professional engineering work for the development of technical and professional transportation engineering and transportation construction engineering skills and knowledge in order to qualify for advancement in the field of transportation engineering.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

Performs a wide variety of increasingly difficult duties as technical skills are acquired during course of training period.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

• Knowledge of basic transportation engineering theories, principles and methods;
• Skill in use of drafting and calculating instruments and other computer applications;
• Considerable ability in performing mathematical computations, making neat and accurate drawings and preparing minor design and structural details.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS – GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Possession of a Bachelor’s degree.

NOTE: If the target job classification has a Minimum Qualification that requires specific licensure and/or the Bachelor’s degree to be in a specific area(s), then these specific licensures and degree areas are required for appointment to the Transportation Engineer Trainee classification. Candidates cannot be appointed until all degree requirements are complete.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS – SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

Possession of Professional Engineer (PE) licensure from the Department of Consumer Protection State Board of Examiners for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors consistent with C.G.S. §20-302 may be substituted for the General Experience requirement.

Possession of Engineer-In-Training (EIT) licensure from the Department of Consumer Protection State Board of Examiners for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors consistent with C.G.S. §20-302 may be substituted for the General Experience requirement.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience working with software and adapting the software to specific needs.
• Experience in data management, relational databases, and data analytics methods.
• Practiced interpersonal skills, both written and oral.
• Experience analyzing problems and recommending effective solutions for engineering related issues.
• Experience working independently, being self-motivated and taking ownership of assignments.
• Experience presenting complex information to diverse populations including officials, peers, stakeholders, and both small and large groups.
• Experience writing and preparing technical reports, especially in PowerBI.
• Experience with Microsoft Office 365, Power BI, and related software.
• Engineer-In-Training (EIT) license.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Incumbents in this class may be required to possess and retain a valid Motor Vehicle Operator’s license.

Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Incumbents in this class may be exposed to some risk of injury or physical harm from highway, construction site, or on-site environments and a moderate degree of discomfort from year-round weather conditions.

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes. As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.