Engineering Graduate Position

About the role

Performs engineering work involving job rotation, training, and continuing education in design, construction, construction inspection, maintenance, surveying, environmental, and/or transportation operations-related activities with the intent to actively pursue engineering licensing/registration through appropriate training and exams. Design activity is supervised by a licensed professional engineer who has authority for final approval of all projects.

Work requires contact with local governmental representatives, engineering contractors, and private entities. Employees perform work independently on assignments; however, all unusual issues are referred to the supervisor.

All employees classified as Engineering Assistants are required to participate in the Engineering Assistant Career Development Program (EACDP), which includes signing a Program Agreement outlining employee responsibilities and service time commitment.

Responsibilities

• Actively prepares for professional engineering licensing/registration through training, exams, and completion/maintenance of required documentation.
• Applies engineering principles, methods, and techniques to a wide variety of transportation-related activities.
• Collects engineering data at project sites.
• Participates in the Engineering Assistant Career Development program, including job rotation, training, and continuing education.
• Performs construction inspection and material sampling/testing.
• Performs design computations and plan preparations, including preparing plan sheets for construction projects.
• Performs engineering calculations for plan quantities as part of PS&E (Plans, Specifications, and Estimates) preparation activities.
• Performs engineering-related duties in the field of transportation engineering, including planning, design, data collection, evaluation, and analysis.
• Prepares and checks plans, specifications, and estimates (PS&E) and designs.
• Uses automated roadway, structural, and hydraulic design programs, as well as computer-assisted design/engineering systems.
• Performs other job responsibilities as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or a related science bachelor's or higher degree accepted by TX PELS (Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors).
• Valid driver’s license (position requires driving a state vehicle).
• For Engineering Assistant II: 1 year of engineering-related experience and a TX Engineer In Training Certificate.

Acceptable substitutions for education:

• Master's degree in engineering or a Master of Engineering degree from an institution offering a Bachelor of Science degree in the same discipline, accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET (EAC/ABET) may substitute for a bachelor's degree.
• Doctoral degree in engineering or a Doctor of Engineering degree from an institution offering a Bachelor of Science degree in the same discipline accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET (EAC/ABET) may substitute for a bachelor's degree.

Note: If you graduate by December 31, 2026, with a qualifying bachelor’s degree, you may apply for this position. However, if offered the job, you must provide proof of your degree no later than your start date.

Skills

Engineering Assistant I:

• Some knowledge of applicable governmental laws, rules, and regulations related to engineering responsibilities.
• Knowledge of transportation engineering terminology, fundamentals, and design principles.
• Knowledge of engineering designs, plans, specifications, and estimates preparation, review, and compliance requirements.
• Knowledge of traffic engineering terminology, materials used in highway/bridge construction, and highway construction/maintenance.
• Proficient skill in using engineering workstations and applications of engineering technology.
• Skill in training in classroom, office, or field environments and applying engineering principles in job responsibilities.
• Ability to maintain safe and effective working relationships with others.
• Ability to exercise logic and reasoning to define problems, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions; makes decisions supporting business objectives.

Engineering Assistant II:

• Includes all competencies listed for Engineering Assistant I.
• Considerable knowledge of transportation design engineering principles, practices, and methods, and the application of engineering theory.
• Expert skill in applying engineering principles, practices, and methods in job responsibilities.

Working Conditions

• Subject to outside environmental conditions with no effective weather protection.
• Subject to inside and outside environmental conditions, including noise.
• Light work: Lift up to 20 lbs. at a time and frequently lift or carry objects up to 10 lbs.
• Stooping: Bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist.
• Repetitive motion: Substantial movements of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers.

This position is identified as physically demanding and requires a pre-employment physical. Must pass a drug test prior to employment for safety impact positions. This is a Safety Impact position and will be subject to random drug testing.

About the Team

TxDOT's Houston District—the largest in the agency—seeks highly motivated engineering graduates eager to gain hands-on experience across a diverse range of transportation projects. The comprehensive career development program is designed to help engineering graduates earn their Professional Engineering (PE) license, including exam preparation courses, training, networking opportunities, and mentoring.

Successful candidates will rotate through multiple transportation disciplines, such as construction, roadway design, bridge design, traffic engineering, pavement design, and materials engineering, providing a well-rounded foundation in the transportation field.

Benefits

• Retirement plans.
• Alternative and/or flexible work schedules.
• Paid leave and holidays (health premiums paid at 100% for full-time employees).
• On-the-job training and tuition assistance program.
• Holistic wellness program with leave incentives.
• Career development and advancement opportunities.
• Family-friendly policies and programs (TxDOT was recognized as a Best Place for Working Parents in 2024, and many offices are designated as Texas Mother-Friendly Worksites).

For a complete list of the total compensation package, visit the TxDOT website: Total Compensation Package. To view benefits available to all State of Texas employees, visit: Benefits at a Glance.

Schedule

Full-time, regular (non-management) position.