Engineer I - III (Assistant Pavement Management Engineer)

Location: Pierre, SD | Salary: $32.85 – $45.45 per hour (Pay Grade EI–E3) | Full-time | Closing: 11/10/2026

About the Role

Ready for a rewarding career that provides exciting and meaningful work? Looking for a place that values innovation and teamwork? In need of schedules and benefits that make it possible to both support and enjoy your family? The South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT) has a perfect opportunity for you as an Assistant Pavement Management Engineer!

Responsibilities

• Operating the pavement management database used to store pavement distress and other data and provide the data to other users
• Review and quality assurance checks on the pavement distress data collected
• Training an intern to process and analyze QA data on a week-to-week basis to ensure data integrity
• Working with the Pavement Management Engineer to develop and implement pavement performance curves
• Assisting the Pavement Management Engineer in the maintenance of models and analysis of data
• Monitoring data to ensure Performance Targets are being met
• Participating in field inspections to assess pavement conditions
• Assisting the Pavement Management Engineer in developing prioritization list of pavement improvement projects
• Interpreting and applying regulations pertaining to pavement management targets
• Managing data governance, analytics, and visualization for planning metrics
• Driving continuous improvement through standardized processes, templates, and guidance

Work Environment

Typical office environment with required occasional overnight travel. This position has an option to be remote two days per week after successful completion of probationary period (if new to SDDOT).

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering or related field
• Demonstrated knowledge of federal/state regulations, preferably transportation planning regulations and performance-based planning (e.g., 23 CFR Part 450; 23 U.S.C. programs; FTA/FHWA planning processes)
• Experience managing complex stakeholder processes and delivering policy or technical documents
• Valid driver’s license

Preferred Qualifications

• 3–5 years of progressively responsible experience in pavement management, pavement design, and/or transportation planning
• PE (civil/transportation) certification

Knowledge

• Engineering principles and practices
• Types of pavements
• Pavement distresses (training available)
• Appropriate pavement treatments
• Optimization of projects to ensure proper allocation of financial resources
• Transportation planning principles, benefit-cost analysis, scenario planning, and basic statistics

Skills

• Manage a database and operate pavement management software
• Work with others to achieve common goals
• Manage time and multiple tasks
• Use Microsoft software, especially Excel (training available)
• Use GIS (training available)
• Project/Program Management: scoping, scheduling, budgeting, contract oversight, and risk management
• Technical tools: Microsoft 365 suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.)
• Conducting data analysis using Excel, GIS (ArcGIS)
• Growth mindset, vision and creativity, team-oriented attitude, confident action-oriented personality, attention to detail, passion for organization, commitment to high ethical standards

Abilities

• Pay attention to detail
• Communicate effectively
• Generate innovative ideas and use them to solve problems or make improvements
• Use applied mathematics and logic to implement ideas or improvements
• Exercise sound engineering judgement and make timely, well-informed decisions
• Gain acceptance or support for ideas, projects, and solutions
• Set goals and put forth the effort required to achieve them
• Produce concise, high-quality plans, memos, and presentations for technical and non-technical audiences
• Interpret complex data, visualize trends, and apply insights to planning decisions
• Work effectively across agencies and with stakeholders with diverse interests and organizational priorities to achieve planning objectives

Benefits

• Health insurance (low and high deductible plans including a $0 premium employee-only coverage plan)
• Well-being program
• Employee assistance program