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

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

Job summary

The State of Connecticut Department of Transportation is recruiting Transportation Engineer Trainees to join the Newington, CT team. This role provides on-the-job training across engineering disciplines, with opportunities to support bicycle, pedestrian, and complete streets improvements and to engage with municipal leaders and stakeholders.

Ideal candidates will hold a civil engineering degree by May 2027, demonstrate strong communication skills, and be willing to travel for training and site

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering by May 2027.
• EIT licensure or PE licensure may substitute for general experience.
• Experience with Excel, Word, Project, and Access.
• Experience with CAD or similar engineering software.
• Strong communication and teamwork abilities.
• Willingness to travel and operate in field environments.

Responsibilities

• Perform a wide variety of increasingly difficult duties as technical skills are developed during training.
• Support design and construction engineering activities.
• Gain exposure to highway design, bridge design, hydraulics, and traffic design units.
• Collaborate with staff and stakeholders to advance transportation projects.

Skills

Oral communication

Written communication

Team collaboration

Multitasking

Report writing

Education

Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering by May 2027

Tools

CAD software

MicroStation

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Project

Microsoft Access

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.