Salary : $66,830.40 - $103,500.80 Annually
Location : Ames - 50010 - Story County, IA
Job Type: Full-time
Job Number: 27-00820
Agency: 645 Iowa Department of Transportation
Opening Date: 09/18/2026
Closing Date: 10/4/2026 11:59 PM Central
LinkedIn Tag: #LI-POST
Point of Contact:

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.

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
• 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 !

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

Minimum Qualification Requirements

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
Additional Qualification Requirements

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.
01

Do you understand that the answers to all of the following questions must be truthful, honest, and accurate to the best of your ability? Please read all questions and answers thoroughly and make sure you understand them completely. Ensure the answers to your questions match the information filled out on your application and the attachments you have uploaded. If the answers to your questions are inconsistent with your application information or uploaded attachments, you will be given zero points for the question. Knowingly misrepresenting the facts when submitting any information related to an application, examination, certification, appeal, or any other facet of the selection process will result in your disqualification from this application and future employment with the state of Iowa.

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• No

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Have you filed a registration statement pursuant to the federal Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, as amended, 22 U.S.C. §611 et seq?

• No - I have NOT filed a registration statement pursuant to the federal Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, as amended, 22 U.S.C. §611 et seq
• Yes - I HAVE filed a registration statement pursuant to the federal Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, as amended, 22 U.S.C. §611 et seq

03

Have you graduated or do you possess a Verification of Graduation from an accredited four year college or university with major course work in chemical, civil, construction, environmental, materials, mechanics, structural or transportation engineering, or in engineering management?

Note: Hires made with the Verification of Graduation will require graduation from the college or university within 10 months of hire.

• Yes
• No

Required Question