Working Title: Trainee-Graduate Engineer
Job Class: Trainee-Graduate Engineer
Agency: Transportation Dept
Job ID : 95140
Location : Various
Telework Eligible : No
Full/Part Time : Full-Time
Regular/Temporary : Trainee
Who May Apply : Open to all qualified job seekers
Date Posted : 7/2/2026
Closing Date : 7/08/2026
Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit : Transportation Dept / DOT-Metro-Central Off-MGEC
Division/Unit : Workforce and Agency Services/Human Resources/Career Pathways Programs
Work Shift/Work Hours : Flexible
Days of Work : Monday - Friday
Travel Required : Occasional
Salary Range: $28.59 - $42.16 / hourly; $59,696 - $88,030 / annually
Classified Status : Non-Status
Bargaining Unit/Union : 212 - MN Govt Engineers Council/Engineers
Last Incumbent : Multiple
Supervisor Name : Desiree Doud
FLSA Status : Exempt - Professional
Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities (https://mn.gov/mmb/careers/diverse-workforce/people-with-disabilities/connect700/) : No
The work you'll do is more than just a job.
At the State of Minnesota, employees play a critical role in developing policies, providing essential services, and working to improve the well-being and quality of life for all Minnesotans. The State of Minnesota is committed to equity and inclusion, and invests in employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities.
** The Minnesota Department of Transportation does not sponsor applicants for work visas or Optional Practical Training Extensions for STEM Students. Individuals must be legally authorized to work in the US at the start of employment.
This vacancy will be used to fill one Trainee-Graduate Engineer position. This position will be located in one of MnDOT's 8 districts statewide.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation's Graduate Engineer Training Program is a structured, two-year rotational experience designed to provide comprehensive professional engineering development. Trainees complete a series of rotations lasting three to six months, gaining exposure to key functional areas such as Construction (a required six-month rotation involving overtime and occasional night and weekend work), Design (also a required six-month rotation), Materials, Project Management, Traffic, and Water Resources to name a few. Trainees assigned to the Bridge Office rotate through specialized areas including Bridge Design, Construction, Foundations, Pre-Design, Scoping, Fracture-Critical Inspections, and Hydraulics. Throughout the program, participants receive robust support through structured mentorship, targeted training opportunities, and an extensive network of professional engineers committed to fostering each Trainee's growth and development.
The selected Trainee(s) will begin employment on July 29, 2026, or as soon as all the background and reference check information has been processed.
To complete the program, a Trainee must:
Complete 2 years of professional engineering experience
Achieve a passing score on the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam
Complete and demonstrate satisfactory performance in all rotations
Complete all required rotations - Design, Construction and an outstate rotation
Complete 20 hours of recruitment outreach and/or public engagement service
After all criteria are met, the Trainee will be non-competitively converted to a permanent, probationary Engineer 2 Graduate position in the trainee's permanent (homebase) office. All Trainees must become a registered Professional Engineer within 6 years of being appointed as a Trainee. To receive credit for your education and experience, your resume must clearly describe your experience in the areas listed and indicate the beginning and ending months and years for each job held.
Minimum Qualifications
A Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from an ABET accredited college/university or equivalent as rated by EAC or NCEES by the date of interview selection. If the selected candidate does not possess a bachelor's degree, all offers of employment will be contingent upon successful completion of this requirement.
GPA higher than 2.5
A valid class D driver's license.
Applicants will be evaluated for an interview based on the following: (1) applicant's GPA; (2) an advanced degree in civil engineering; (3) possession of the Fundamentals of Engineering certification; (4) engineering related work experience; and (5) previous MnDOT experience.
All applicants must submit the following information via email to Edgar Gonzales Reyes at edgar.gonzalesreyes@state.mn.us : 1) Your transcripts and identifying credentials, i.e., Proof of FE certification, Proof of PE licensure; 2) If you have a degree from an international university and have not passed the FE in the state of Minnesota, you must provide proof that you are eligible to become licensed in the state of Minnesota once you meet the professional engineering experience requirement and any paperwork you have submitted that proves your degree is equivalent to a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Geo-Engineering or Structural Engineering; 3) A list ranking the MnDOT job locations you are interested in being permanently placed in at the end of the two years; and 4) In the subject line of the email include your first and last name and the email content (First Name, Last Name - Transcripts, FE proof and Job ID 9).
Your application is considered incomplete until all requested documents are received. Failure to submit the above requested information by the close of this posting will result in an incomplete application and your application will no longer be considered. No reminders will be sent.
Preferred Qualifications
3.0 GPA or higher
A passing score on the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam
MnDOT Design, Hydraulic or Water Resources experience
Experience using Open Road Designer for drafting construction plans
MnDOT Road Construction experience
Experience with MnDOT construction specifications
Additional Requirements
Successful candidates must pass past-employer reference checks and criminal history checks
It is our policy that all candidates submit to a background investigation prior to employment. The background check may consist of the following components: SEMA4 Records Check, Criminal History Check, Employment Reference Check, Driver's License Check, Education/License Verification and Pre-Employment Physical.
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities is an Equal Opportunity employer/educator committed to the principles of diversity. We prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their race, sex, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or membership in a local commission as defined by law. As an affirmative action employer, we actively seek and encourage applications from women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and individuals with protected veteran status.
Reasonable accommodations will be made to all qualified applicants with disabilities. If you are an individual with a disability who needs assistance or cannot access the online job application system, please contact the job information line at 651-259-3637 or email careers@state.mn.us . Please indicate what assistance is needed.
