TxDOT's Houston District - the largest district in the agency - is seeking highly motivated engineering graduates eager to gain hands-on experience across a diverse range of transportation projects.

Our comprehensive career development program is designed to help engineering graduates earn their Professional Engineering (PE)license. This program includes exam preparation courses, training, networking opportunities and mentoring.

As part of the program, successful candidates will rotate through multiple transportation disciplines of our operations, such as construction, roadway design, bridge design, traffic engineering, pavement design and materials engineering. This job rotation aspect of the program seeks to provide our future engineers a well-rounded foundation in the transportation field.

We invite you to explore this opportunity to join TxDOT's Houston District, where you'll take on challenging and rewarding assignments that foster your professional growth and prepare you for a rewarding career in the transportation field.

The Texas Department of Transportation reserves the sole right in determining the level of position based on the applicant's work experience, education, skill level and all other appropriate factors, and based on business needs.

At TxDOT, we value work-life balance and are committed to providing our employees with a comprehensive range of benefits and programs, including:

• 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

• Tuition Assistance Program

• Holistic Wellness Program with Leave Incentives

• Career Development and Advancement Opportunities

• Family-Friendly Policies and Programs

In 2024, TxDOT was recognized as a Best Place for Working Parents, and many of our offices statewide are also designated as Texas Mother-Friendly Worksites. These recognitions reflect our dedication to supporting families and promoting a healthy work-life balance.

For a complete list of our total compensation package please visit our website at: Total Compensation Package

To view benefits available to all State of Texas employees visit: Benefits at a Glance | ERS (texas.gov)

Engineering Assistant I and II

Performs engineering work. Work involves 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 at this level perform work independently on assignments; however, all unusual issues are referred to the supervisor.

NOTE: All employees classified as Engineering Assistants are required to participate in the Engineering Assistant Career Development program. Participation in the Engineering Assistant Career Development Program (EACDP) requires that employees sign a Program Agreement, which outlines employee responsibilities and service time commitment.

Essential Duties:

Engineering Assistant I and II

• Actively prepares for professional engineering licensing/registration through appropriate training and 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 Career Development for the Engineering Assistants program which includes job rotation, training, and continuing education.

• Performs construction inspection and material sampling/testing.

• Performs design computations and plan preparations to include preparing plan sheets for construction projects.

• Performs engineering calculations for plan quantities as part of PS&E preparation activities.

• Performs engineering-related duties in the field of transportation engineering.

• Performs engineering-related planning, design, data collection, evaluation and analysis activities.

• Prepares and checks plans, specifications, and estimates (PS&E) and designs.

• Uses automated roadway/structural/hydraulic design programs and computer-assisted design/engineering systems.

• Performs other job responsibilities as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications for all levels:

Engineering Assistant I

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or related science bachelor's or higher degree accepted by TX PELS. Substitutions for Minimum Qualifications

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

Experience:

• No work experience is required.(Experience can be satisfied by full time or prorated part time equivalent).No supervisory experience required.

Licenses and Certifications:

• Valid driver’s license. This position requires driving a state vehicle.

Acceptable Substitutions for all levels:

• Master's degree in engineering or a Master of engineering degree from an institution that offers a Bachelor of Science degree, in the same discipline, which has been accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology (EAC/ABET) may substitute for a bachelor's degree.

• Doctoral degree in engineering or a Doctor of Engineering degree from an institution that offers a Bachelor of Science degree, in the same discipline, which has been accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (EAC/ABET) may substitute for a bachelor's degree.

Engineering Assistant II

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or related science bachelor's or higher degree accepted by TX PELS. Substitutions for Minimum Qualifications

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

Experience:

• 1 year of Engineering related experience (Experience can be satisfied by full time or prorated part time equivalent).No supervisory experience required.

Licenses and Certifications:

• Valid driver’s license. This position requires driving a state vehicle.

• TX Engineer In Training Certificate

Acceptable Substitutions for all levels:

• Master's degree in engineering or a Master of engineering degree from an institution that offers a Bachelor of Science degree, in the same discipline, which has been accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology (EAC/ABET) may substitute for a bachelor's degree.

• Doctoral degree in engineering or a Doctor of Engineering degree from an institution that offers a Bachelor of Science degree, in the same discipline, which has been accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (EAC/ABET) may substitute for a bachelor's degree.

Competencies:

Engineering Assistant I

• Some knowledge of:

  • Applicable governmental laws, rules and regulations specific to area of responsibility for safeguarding information and information technology related systems

  • Transportation engineering terminology and fundamentals

  • Transportation design engineering principles, practices and methods and the application of engineering theory

  • Engineering designs

  • Applicable plans, specifications and estimates preparation, review, processing, and compliance requirements

  • Traffic engineering terminology and fundamentals

  • Materials used in highway/bridge construction and maintenance

  • Highway construction and maintenance

• Proficient skill in:

  • Using engineering workstations and applications of engineering technology

  • Training in a classroom, office, or field environment

  • Applying engineering principles, practices, and methods in job responsibilities

  • Maintaining a safe and effective working relationship with others

• Exercises logic and reasoning to define problems, establish facts and draw valid conclusions; makes decisions that support business objectives and goals

Engineering Assistant II

Includes all competencies listed for Engineering Assistant I as well as:

• Considerable knowledge of:

  • Applicable governmental laws, rules and regulations specific to area of responsibility for safeguarding information
    and information technology related systems

  • Transportation design engineering principles, practices and methods and the application of engineering theory

  • Engineering designs

  • Applicable plans, specifications and estimates preparation, review, processing and compliance requirements

  • Traffic engineering terminology and fundamentals

  • Materials used in highway/bridge construction and maintenance

  • Highway construction and maintenance

• Expert skill in:

  • Applying engineering principles, practices, and methods in job responsibilities

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:

Engineering Assistant I and II

• Subject to outside environmental conditions; no effective weather protection

• Subject to inside and outside environmental conditions.

• Subject to noise

• Light work: Life 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 waist

• Repetitive Motion - substantial movements of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers

Conditions of Employment:

Please read the Standard Conditions of Employment (TxDOT) for all positions

• This job has been identified as physically demanding and will require 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.

  • Please note that the Department of Transportation's Drug and Alcohol Testing Regulation – 49 CFR Part 40, at 40.151(e) – does not authorize medical marijuana under a state law to be a valid medical explanation for a positive drug test result for an employee in this position.

• All employees classified as Engineering Assistants are required to participate in the EA program. Participation in the Engineering Assistant Career Development Program (EACDP) requires that employees sign a Program Agreement, which outlines employee responsibilities and service time commitment. Failure to comply with all terms of the Program Agreement will result in reclassification.

TxDOT is committed to hiring veterans. To assist in determining whether your military experience may pertain to the minimum requirements for this position, Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) codes from each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces have been assigned to each state classification code/title where applicable. The MOS codes are grouped by occupational category.

Click on the appropriate occupational category to view the MOS codes

The Texas Department of Transportation is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

If requested, reasonable accommodations will be made for persons with disabilities for any part of the employment process in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Action of 1990.

Additional Applicant Information for applicants