Trainee Graduate Engineer

Job description

**Working Title: Trainee-Graduate Engineer**
**Job Class: Trainee-Graduate Engineer**
**Agency: Transportation Dept**

+ **Job ID** : 88466
+ **Location** : Duluth
+ **Telework Eligible** : No
+ **Full/Part Time** : Full-Time
+ **Regular/Temporary** : Trainee
+ **Who May Apply** : Open to all qualified job seekers
+ **Date Posted** : 9/5/2025
+ **Closing Date** : 11/3/2025
+ **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:** $26.62 - $39.28 / hourly; $55,582 - $82,016 / 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 a Trainee-Graduate Engineer position in the Bridge Office.

This position provides a unique and rare opportunity for a Trainee to participate on the Blatnik Bridge Replacement Project Team, assisting with design and construction oversight of the replacement of the Blatnik Bridge.

Replacing the Blatnik Bridge is a top priority of MnDOT and WisDOT.

The replacement of the bridge is MnDOT’s largest bridge project to date, with a total project cost estimated to be $1.8 billion.

The project includes bridge-type alternatives of either a Tied Arch or Cable Stayed bridge for the main navigation span, and beam-type structures on the approach spans.

The overall length of the new bridge is over 1.5 miles.

The bridge is located within the Duluth-Superior Harbor, which is recognized as the busiest port on the Great Lakes.

More than 35 million tons of cargo move through the port each year.

Deconstructing the existing bridge and building a new bridge, while minimizing impacts to navigation and maintaining safety, will be a major challenge for this project.

The project is being developed using the Design-Build project delivery method, and design oversight will likely occur during 2026 and the first parts of 2027.

Your role will include participation on MnDOT’s oversight team, working on the review of design and construction submittals.

Tasks may include assisting with the review of elements of the bridge design, including steel beams, prestressed concrete beams, and foundation designs, and select elements of the main span alternatives.

MnDOT staff will be co-located with the Design Build Contractor in a yet-to-be-determined location in the Metro area.

The Trainee will make occasional trips to Duluth, MN, during the first year and be assigned to work in Duluth for the second year of the program, when the Trainee will be transitioned to the construction oversight team overseeing bridge removals, foundation construction, and bridge construction beginning in the summer of 2027.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation's Graduate Engineer Training Program is a 2-year rotation program.

Trainees participate in the program for up to 2 years, gaining professional engineering experience by completing rotations in various functional areas.

All Trainees are supported with structured mentorship, training opportunities, and a large support network of professional engineers engaged in the Trainee’s growth and development as an engineer.

The selected Trainee(s) may begin employment after all educational requirements have been met.

To successfully 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
+ 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 (home base) 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 month and year for each job held.

**Minimum Qualifications**

+ A Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Engineering, Geoengineering or Structural Engineering from an ABET accredited college/university or equivalent as rated by EAC/NCEES by the date of hire.

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 or structural engineering or a closely related field; (3) possession of the Fundamentals of Engineering certification or a Professional Engineers license; (4) engineering related work experience; and (5) previous MnDOT experience.

**All applicants must submit the following information via email** **to Monica Schumacher at** **monica.schumacher@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, Geoengineering or Structural Engineering; 3) A list ranking the 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 and FE proof).

All documentation must be sent to monica.schumacher@state.mn.us by the posting close date.

Applications with incomplete documentation will not be considered.

**Preferred Qualifications**

+ 3.0 GPA or higher
+ A passing score on the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam or Professional Engineer (PE) exam
+ Professional Engineer (PE) licensure
+ A Master’s Degree in Civil/Construction Engineering (structural emphasis) or Structural Engineering
+ Advanced coursework in structures
+ Work experience in geotechnical engineering, foundation design, or retaining wall design

**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.

Required Skill Profession

Other General