Structural Design Engineer

Introduction

Are you interested in contributing to Wisconsin's infrastructure by producing designs and structure plans for new bridges? What about creating design plans for the rehabilitation and repair of existing structures throughout the state of Wisconsin?

The WI Department of Transportation (WisDOT), Division of Transportation System Development (DTSD) is seeking an interested and qualified individual to fill a Structural Design Engineer (Structural Engineer Transportation Entry, Senior, or Advanced) vacancy in the Bureau of Structures!

This full-time position will be headquartered in Madison, WI.

June 2025 (or earlier) graduates are encouraged to apply!

WisDOT is a great place to work! In addition to meaningful and rewarding work, we offer a competitive benefits package featuring:

• Substantial leave time including at least 3.5 weeks of paid leave time to start, 9 paid holidays, and 130 hours of sick time that roll over each year.
• Excellent and affordable health, vision, and dental benefits (health plan options start at just $39/month for single plans and $97/month for family plans after two months of employment)
• A casual office atmosphere, flexible work schedules, and telework options depending on the position's requirements
• An exceptional pension plan with employer match and lifetime retirement payment, plus an optional tax advantaged 457 retirement savings plan
• Well Wisconsin Wellness Program
• A free and confidential employee assistance program that offers employees and their immediate family dependents a variety of tools, resources, and professional consultation services to support their health, goals, and overall well-being
• Use this Total Rewards Calculator to see the total value of our competitive benefits package!

In addition to our generous employee benefits, we strive for inclusivity and celebrate different religious holidays and cultural observances and provide flexibility for utilizing paid time off for such celebrations. For more information on WisDOT you can visit our website by clicking here .

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation is an organization dedicated to creating transportation solutions through innovation and exceptional service. We are committed to fostering an environment rooted in Integrity, Diversity, Excellence, and Accountability. Click here to learn more about how we apply these values in our work.

Every day, WisDOT's Division of Transportation System Development plays the leading role in the upkeep and improvement of nearly 12,000 miles of state highways and bridges used by millions of people. You'll find that behind every barrel is a dedicated team from a wide array of backgrounds including engineering, planning, environmental services, public outreach, real estate, finance and many more. It can be a challenging job, but we think you'll find it's an awfully rewarding one, too.

We're looking for detail-oriented critical thinkers to help deliver a quality program to build, improve and maintain transportation infrastructure throughout the state. We encourage anyone at any point in any career to take a look at WisDOT opportunities and give some thought to how your skills and resume line up. Having a good attitude, a willingness to learn and a passion for creating lasting, impactful work will go a long way here. It's a big system with lots of opportunity and responsibilities.

Are you up for it? At WisDOT, you can Build the Future - NOW.

Position Summary

This position will perform structural engineering duties and is responsible for the design of Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) bridges and related structures. These include, but are not limited to, new bridges with vertical curves and skews and the rehabilitation and repair of existing bridges of different materials, and additional structure types including retaining walls and box culverts.

This position produces design sketches and/or structure plans for new bridges, as well as the rehabilitation and repair of existing structures. This position also answers questions from the plans drafters during plan preparation. Additionally, this position is responsible for assisting in the resolution of bridge construction issues. Some field work may be required intermittently.

The Structural Engineer Transportation position requires a background in structural analysis and design. Extensive training in the BOS Structures Design Section will be provided in this position.

The study of AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications, WisDOT Bridge Manual, and BOS Structures Design Section policy are included at the entry level.

To review the full position descriptions, please email Allie Strullmyer at allison.strullmyer@dot.wi.gov

Salary Information

The Entry level is in schedule-range 14-14 with an annual salary of $64,854 to $73,840, plus excellent benefits.

A $2000 sign-on bonus applies to Entry level candidates who do not have any prior permanent full-time state service in the last five years and agree to remain in the position for one year. The $2000 will be paid on the first paycheck.

The Senior level is in schedule-range 14-13 with an annual salary of $82,846 to $101,421, plus excellent benefits.

The Advanced level is in schedule-range 14-13 with an annual salary of $96,387 to $108,950, plus excellent benefits. Plus, an additional $2,080 per year for a Professional Engineer License.

A twelve month probationary period is required. Pay for current state employees will be set in accordance with the Wisconsin State Compensation Plan.

Job Details

WisDOT does not sponsor work visas. Any appointment made will be contingent on the applicant being able to prove valid status to work in the United States. WisDOT is not an E-verify employer.

Prior to any appointments for position(s) filled from this announcement, candidates may be subject to a comprehensive criminal background check which may include FBI fingerprinting.

Certain positions within this Department may allow remote/work from home flexibility for a portion of their work schedule, depending on the needs of the position and the work unit. This topic and any remote work flexibility that may be available will be discussed in more detail in the interview process. For permanent positions that allow remote work flexibility, it is not anticipated that working outside of Wisconsin (or bordering cities) will be allowed because positions may need to report to office locations in Wisconsin on short notice.

Qualifications

Minimum requirement: Upon application, candidate must have graduated from an Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) ABET accredited college or university with a 4-year bachelor's degree (or master's or PhD) in engineering OR possess a PE license (registration as a Professional Engineer in the State of Wisconsin OR a valid Professional Engineering registration and be able to obtain a Wisconsin PE registration within 3 months if PE registration is from another state).

A minimally qualified candidate will have a background that includes at least four courses that cover structural engineering principles and concepts. All applicants should list at least 4 courses along with a brief description of each course in their application materials (letter of qualifications, resume).

In addition to the above:

To be eligible at the Senior level, candidates must have:

• At least 3.5 years of engineering experience after receiving their engineering degree from an Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) ABET accredited college or university.
  • With at least 1 year of experience in structural engineering.

To be eligible at the Advanced level, candidates must have a valid Professional Engineering (PE) registration and the ability to obtain a Wisconsin PE registration within 3 months if PE registration is from another state.

How To Apply

Apply online! To apply, click "Apply for Job" to start the application process. Then, you will access your existing account or to create a new account if you don't have an account. Once you are logged in, click "Apply for Job." Follow the steps outlined in the application process and submit your application.

Your application materials are very important parts of your application and are used during our evaluation process to determine your qualifications as they relate to the job. For instructions on how to develop and what should be included in these materials, click here . For more information on the basics of the selection process and how the State of WI ensures fair and equitable treatment of all applicants, click here . The vast majority of applicants are able to outline their background and experience in their resume in 1-3 pages. Any resumes submitted with more than 10 pages will not be considered after page 10. If this job posting requires a letter of qualifications, the same limit applies.

Permanent classified state employees who are eligible for consideration (transfer or voluntary demotion) should complete the application process as described above by the stated deadline.

Submitted materials will be evaluated by a panel of job experts and the most qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the next step of the selection process. Questions related to the job and how to apply can be directed to Allie Strullmyer at allison.strullmyer@dot.wi.gov or (608) 267-7946 . For general wisc.jobs user information and technical assistance, please see the wisc.jobs Frequently Asked Questions page.

Deadline to Apply

Applications will be reviewed on a bi-weekly basis until the position is filled. The first application review deadline is on Monday, September 16th at 11:59pm.