Work Zone Design Engineer (TE Specialist)

Work Zone Design Engineer (TE Specialist)

Salary

$81,203.20 - $124,883.20 Annually

Location

Ames - 50010 - Story County, IA

Job Type

Full-time

Job Number

27-00871

Agency

645 Iowa Department of Transportation

Opening Date

09/24/2026

Closing Date

10/6/2026 11:59 PM Central

LinkedIn Tag

#LI-POST

Point of Contact

Kent Nicholson, Kent.Nicholson@iowa.dot.us

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Job Description

Are you interested in ensuring safe, effective traffic control in construction zones? Do you have a passion for leading and setting standards and polices on complex projects? If yes, this could be a great opportunity for you. The Iowa DOT is a national leader in using data collection and analysis to improve driver and worker safety in work zones, and we want you to come be a part of our team!

We are looking for a Work Zone Design Engineer (TE Specialist) to join the Iowa Department of Transportation Design Bureau. You will be a key player in overseeing the design and application of traffic control measures for use during the construction of improvement projects on the primary and interstate systems in Iowa. Your leadership will help us ensure motorist and worker safety, traffic flow, and project success.

You will partner with multiple stakeholders to develop effective construction staging and traffic control strategies, conduct field reviews to evaluate performance in real-world conditions, and contribute your expertise to task forces and committees. This is a chance to take on meaningful responsibility, influence statewide practices, and grow within a highly valued engineering specialty.

Location: Ames, Iowa - Design Bureau

Shift Requirements: Days, Monday through Friday. Flexible work hours available. Some travel will be required.

Our most successful candidate will have a thorough understanding of the highway development process, highway design, construction zone traffic control design, and assessment, as well as the capability to research evolving practices in construction zone traffic control advances to aid the agency in deploying the most current and effective measures.

In this position, you will contribute to the agency by working on a wide variety of construction zone traffic control designs that support complex highway improvement projects that will require you to:

• Advise engineers and designers on solutions to non-standard and highly complex challenges.
• Advance innovation in safety analysis, investment optimization, technologies, and methods related to construction zone traffic control.
• Work closely and effectively as part of our central highway design team, district design teams, and our consulting engineering partner teams to ensure that they are highly trained, adaptive, and efficient in the delivery of excellent transportation services that support our agency goals.

Additional Requirements:

• Must have, or prior to appointment, must obtain an active Iowa professional engineering license through the Iowa Professional Licensing Bureau -Engineering and Land Surveying Examination Board.
• Must possess and maintain a Class C Driver's License.

At this time, were not considering applicants who need any type of immigration sponsorship (additional work authorization or permanent work authorization) now or in the future to work in the United States. This includes, but IS NOT LIMITED TO: F1-OPT, F1-CPT, H-1B, TN, L-1, J-1, etc. For additional information on work authorization needs, please use the following links.

Nonimmigrant Workers and Green Card for Employment-Based Immigrants

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 youre interested in learning more about this benefit, please visit https://www.asce.org/membership.

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

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 here.
• 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).

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

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: aa-eeo@iowadot.us.

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

The State of Iowa participates in E-Verify, a federal program that helps employers confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. Within the required timeframe, new hires will be verified through the E-Verify system to ensure authorization to work in the United States. The State of Iowa also complies with the federal Right to Work laws, which protect employees' rights to work without being required to join a labor organization. For more information, please visit www.e-verify.gov.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

Applicants must meet at least one of the following minimum requirements to qualify for positions in this job classification:

1) Three years of full-time work experience in engineering survey, which included the operation of survey instruments.

2) A total of three years of education and/or full-time experience (as described in number one), where thirty semester hours of accredited college or university course work in civil engineering, construction engineering, or photogrammetry equals one year of full-time experience.

3) Current, continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes one year of full-time work in survey, construction, maintenance, or design as a Highway Technician Associate, Highway Technician, Highway Technician Senior, Construction Technician Assistant, Construction Technician, or Construction Technician Senior.

For additional information, please click on this link to view the job description.

Additional Qualification Requirements

• All positions are required to have and maintain a minimum of a valid Class C Non-Commercial Operators License.
• Prior to starting employment, all persons are required to have a post offer pre-employment physical verifying the physical ability to perform the duties described.
• Employees must be able to travel and may be required to stay away from home overnight during assignments

Why Choose the State of Iowa?

At the heart of our commitment to excellence is a dedication to our most valuable asset - our employees. Discover the outstanding benefits that set us apart as an employer of choice.

Our Robust Benefits Package Includes:

Competitive Compensation:

Enjoy a competitive salary that reflects directly on your skills and expertise.

Keep in mind, your wage is just one part of your total compensation. Unlock the complete value of your employment with the State of Iowa by using our user-friendly Total Compensation Calculator. Gain insights into your comprehensive annual compensation, including salary and State-provided benefits.

Health and Wellness:

Prioritize your well-being with our comprehensive health plans, including medical, dental, and vision coverage. Enjoy the peace of mind knowing that the State of Iowa covers 90% of the premiums, providing you and your loved ones with excellent coverage at a remarkably low cost.

Retirement Planning:

We are proud to offer the Iowa Public Employees Retirement System (IPERS). A defined benefit plan, IPERS benefits are guaranteed for life, meaning once you retire, you will receive the same monthly benefit for the remainder of your life (once vested). We invest in your long-term financial well-being, so you can retire with peace of mind. Click here to learn more about IPERS.

Paid Time Off:

Life is unpredictable, and at the State of Iowa, we understand the importance of work-life balance. Our leave policies, including paid holidays, vacation, and sick leave with unlimited accrual, ensure you have the flexibility you need for personal and family matters.

Professional Development:

Elevate your career with continuous learning opportunities. We support your growth through training programs, workshops, and tuition reimbursement.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP):

We care about your well-being beyond the workplace. Access confidential counseling, resources, and support through our Employee Assistance Program.

Diversity and Inclusion:

Be part of a diverse and inclusive workplace that embraces all backgrounds and perspectives. We believe diversity is a strength that drives innovation.

Join Us - Elevate Your Career:

Ready to elevate your career with the State of Iowa? Click here to explore more about our unparalleled benefits and discover what makes us unique. Your success is our priority!

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.

• Yes - I understand and agree.
• No

02

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY

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

How many years do you have of full-time engineering survey experience which included the operation of survey instruments?

• No engineering survey experience which included the operation of survey instruments
• Less than one year of engineering survey experience which included the operation of survey instruments
• One year to less than three years of engineering survey experience which included the operation of survey instruments
• Three or more years of engineering survey experience which included the operation of survey instruments

04

How many years do you have of a combination of post high school education in civil engineering, construction engineering, or photogrammetry and/or full-time experience in engineering survey, which included the operation of survey instruments?

• I do not have post high school education AND /OR experience in the identified areas
• Less than one year of the combined education and experience in the identified areas
• One year to less than three years of the combined education and experience in the identified areas
• Three or more years of the combined education and experience in the identified areas

05

Are you a current State of Iowa employee (executive branch)? IF YES - How many months of full-time survey experience do you have in in survey, construction, maintenance, or design as a Highway Technician Associate, Highway Technician, Highway Technician Senior, Construction Technician Assistant, Construction Technician, or Construction Technician Senior for the State of Iowa?

• I am not a State of Iowa employee
• No experience in the classification of Construction Technician Assistant
• Less than 12 months of full-time work in survey, construction, maintenance, or design in on of the classifications list above
• 12 or more months of full-time work in survey, construction, maintenance, or design in on of the classifications list above

Required Question

Employer State of Iowa

Agency 645 Iowa Department of Transportation Address 800 Lincoln Way

Ames, Iowa, 50010

Website https://iowadot.gov/careers/