Transportation Engineer Associate (Geotechnical Engineer)

Are you seeking to diversify your skills and use your energy and ideas towards making a difference? The Design Bureau is looking to hire a positive professional who is committed to excellence and desires to be a part of a team that develops projects that enhance the state and national transportation system in Iowa.

Are you a pending or recent college graduate with a degree in one of the following areas:

Civil, Construction, Structural, Environmental, Materials, Transportation Engineering, or Engineering Management? Look no further!!

The Soils Design Section of the Design Bureau is involved with geotechnical/geologic features associated with the construction, repair, and rehabilitation of transportation projects. Under the general direction of a professional engineer who specializes in geotechnical engineering, you will be responsible for performing geotechnical engineering work in the preparation of roadway and bridge plans, in addition to assisting with emergency response (ER) projects.

As a Transportation Engineer Associate (Geotechnical Engineer), you will:

• Aid in evaluating foundation support for bridges, culverts, and other types of drainage structures.
• Participate in the inspection of soils and foundation-related problems or unanticipated discoveries encountered during construction to aid in providing satisfactory solutions that minimize construction delays.
• Aid in evaluating and then recommending to others, typically within the Iowa DOT Design Bureau, the most effective methods of accomplishing road design objectives for subgrade treatments, borrow, and other grading activities.

The Iowa Department of Transportations 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 Transportations five CORE values: Safety First, People Matter, Customer Focused, Servant Leadership, and Integrity Without Exception .

Location : Ames, Iowa Design Bureau/Soils Design Section

Shift Requirements : Days, Monday through Friday. Flexible work hours available.

Special Requirements:

• Ability to travel to remote locations for meetings and field reviews, and mobility to access sites in rugged terrain.
• Ability to lift and manipulate field equipment and other items weighing up to 50 pounds over uneven terrain.
• Valid Class C drivers license to drive a state or personal vehicle for traveling to complete job duties.
• Passing the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam is required within 24 months of hire.
• Licensure as a professional engineer in the State of Iowa is required within 9 years of hire for continued employment as a Transportation Engineer Associate (Geotechnical Engineer).

What we offer YOU:

• Competitive pay and benefits package including health, dental, flexible spending, and life insurance
• Insurance benefits start first of the month following 30 days of employment. 2025 health and dental insurance premiums can be found here
• Opportunities for professional growth and development
• Paid time off effective immediately - biweekly vacation, separate sick leave, accrual 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)

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

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: ...

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

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.

Applicants hired with verification of graduation will be required to graduate with a bachelors 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.