Transportation Engineer Trainee – Target: Transportation Engineer 1 and 2 (Engineering)

Connecticut DOT; Newington (CT); On-site; USD 76,000 - 124,000; Full time

Job summary

Connecticut Department of Transportation is seeking Transportation Engineer Trainees at the DOT Headquarters in Newington, CT. Trainees receive on-the-job training under experienced engineers and rotate through design units to gain essential professional skills.

You'll work both in office settings and in the field, using CAD software and standard Microsoft tools, with the goal of qualifying for professional licensure and subsequent level promotions as you complete the training program.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; degree areas may be specified for certain positions.
• PE or EIT licensure may substitute for general experience.
• Travel may be required for training, conferences, meetings, field reviews, etc.
• Incumbents may be required to possess and retain a valid Driver's license.

Responsibilities

• Performs training duties while developing basic professional engineering skills.
• Assist in design projects across engineering units.
• Gain exposure to CAD, MS Office, and project documentation.
• Collaborate with teams to improve transportation systems and safety.
• Assist in stakeholder outreach and field reviews as needed.

Skills

Team collaboration

Multitasking

Oral and written communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Civil engineering degree by May 2027

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Project

Microsoft Access

CAD / engineering software

Job description

Recruitment #261104-8741FS-001
Location: Newington, CT
Date Opened: 11/6/2026 12:00:00 AM
Salary: $76,307 – $123,809/year (*See salary note below)
Job Type: Open to the Public
Close Date: 11/19/2026 11:59:00 PM

Are you interested in being part of a team designing improvements on Connecticut’s highway system and having a positive effect on safety, traffic operation, and quality of life in local communities?

If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you!

The State of Connecticut, Department of Transportation (DOT), is now accepting applications for Transportation Engineer Trainee positions at the DOT Headquarters in Newington, CT! Transportation Engineer Trainees work in many different capacities agency wide. Positions are available throughout the Bureau of Engineering and Construction.

Current students who will be graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering by the end of May 2027 are strongly encouraged to apply!

POSITION HIGHLIGHTS

• Schedule: Full-Time (40 Hour), First Shift, Monday – Friday
• Location: Positions available at the DOT Headquarters in Newington, CT
• Applicants must be available to travel for training, conferences, meetings, field reviews, etc.
• A valid motor vehicle operator’s license is required and must be maintained

DISCOVER THE OPPORTUNITY TO

• Receive on-the-job training and work with experienced engineers.
• Contribute to providing a safe and efficient transportation system.
• Implement bicycle, pedestrian, and complete streets improvements.
• Make a positive impact on local communities.
• Engage in stakeholder outreach with municipal leaders, neighborhood groups, businesses, homeowners, and the traveling public.
• 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, in completion of project work.
• 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 in most positions.
• Utilize computer aided design software (MicroStation) and other applications such as Microsoft Word and Excel.

SALARY/PROMOTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

*Maximum of the Target Level for Transportation Engineer 2.

• 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 (Engineering), you will be promoted to Transportation Engineer 2 (Engineering): $95,865-$123,809/annually

APPLICATION DETAILS

Please list your Driver’s license number, expiration date, and issuing State, Engineer in Training license number (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 distinct bureaus. It is the DOT’s mission to improve quality of life through transportation. We have a significant transportation infrastructure system that is essential to maintaining mobility for Connecticut residents and businesses and supporting economic and community development while preserving environmental and cultural resources. The Department of Transportation is committed to cultivating a diverse staff that is representative of the communities we serve. Applications from individuals having diverse backgrounds and life experiences are strongly encouraged.

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.

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

• Possession of an accredited bachelor’s degree in civil engineering by May 2027
• Possession of an accredited engineering degree in a position-relevant area for specialty positions (i.e., electrical engineering for position in Electrical Engineering) by May 2027
• Transportation engineering course work and knowledge of transportation engineering concepts
• Minimum 3.0 grade point average in relevant engineering courses
• Engineer in Training (EIT) licensure
• Experience working as part of a collaborative team
• Related engineering work experience or internship
• Experience with Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Project, and Microsoft Access
• Experience with CAD or similar engineering-related software
• Oral and written communication experience
• Report writing and presentation experience
• Experience with multitasking and managing large workloads

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.

Conclusion

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.