Civil Engineer Scholar

Title: Civil Engineer Scholar (Statewide Opportunities)

State Role Title: Engineering Technician II

Hiring Range: $23.00 - $32.00

Pay Band: 3

Agency: VA Dept of Transportation

Location: Dept of Transportation

Agency Website: www.virginiadot.org/jobs

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

What drives you? Whether it's knowing the work you do makes a difference, having a great work/life balance, working on exciting and challenging projects, leading innovation, and championing change or simply working with a great group of people who are committed to professionalism. At the Virginia Department of Transportation, we have something for you.

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is currently searching for the best and brightest Civil Engineering undergraduate students (rising juniors and rising seniors) to develop as VDOT engineering professionals through its Civil Engineering Scholarship Program (CESP). CESP provides a meaningful on-the-job learning experience, targeted training, coaching, and mentoring. A Civil Engineering Scholar learns through a structured approach to develop mission-critical technical skills and Teammate competencies. A semester stipend is included with employment.

SUMMER WORK EXPERIENCE
Scholars will participate in a paid developmental work assignment during the summer.

VDOT is seeking students majoring in Civil Engineering, Civil Engineering Technology, Materials Engineering or related engineering discipline with a focus or concentration in transportation to work in areas such as Traffic Engineering, Construction, Materials, Structure and Bridge, Environmental, Residency Operations, Location and Design, and Maintenance. We are seeking candidates with strong analytical skills, interpersonal and presentation skills, customer service, time management and organizational skills.

SEMESTER STIPEND
A $3,500 stipend is awarded to Scholars at the beginning of each Fall and Spring semester. These funds are not gift-aid and will not conflict with gift-aid scholarships or other financial aid. No more than four stipend payments will be awarded to any one Scholar. For stipend eligibility:

• Scholars must maintain satisfactory program performance standards and expectations as outlined in the Scholar Agreement.

AFTER GRADUATION EMPLOYMENT
Upon graduation, the Scholar is placed in VDOT’s Engineering Development and Growth Experience (EDGE) Program as an Engineer Associate, a full-time classified civil engineering position with benefits. The mission of the EDGE Program is to develop VDOT professionals and future leaders. Through this structured 12 to 24-month practical training program you will have the opportunity to rotate across a wide variety of civil engineering, maintenance, operations, business, and support functions during year one. This provides a meaningful on-the-job learning experiences, targeted training and engaged coaches and mentors to foster the development of mission-critical technical skills and leadership.
Scholars are required to commit to six months of employment at VDOT for every $3,500 stipend awarded during undergraduate study.

This job announcement is a continuous recruitment with multiple job locations through the Commonwealth of Virginia based on business need. Visit http://www.virginiadot.org/about/districts.asp for more information about the locations available.

Special Requirements

• A resume and an unofficial transcript must be submitted via this online application process.  
• All selected Scholars will have a contractual agreement with VDOT that must be signed on or before the first day of employment and agree to begin a Civil Engineering career with the Virginia Department of Transportation.
• Some Scholar positions may require unrestricted mobility in irregular terrain, work in an outdoor environment, and the ability to lift, bend and stand for long periods of time.
• Assignments may include requirements to wear personal protective equipment (hard hat, safety vest, safety boots, etc.) and the ability to work from heights (may include requirements to wear fall protection equipment).
• This position requires a fingerprint based criminal history background check and a Motor Vehicle Driving record check.
• U.S. work authorization required.

VDOT employees serve the citizens of the Commonwealth and traveling public daily through our mission to plan, deliver, operate and maintain a transportation system that is safe, moves people and goods, enhances the economy, and improves quality of life. VDOT is the third largest state maintained highway system in the country, maintaining over 58,000 miles of roads, bridges, and tunnels, and employing over 7700 people through a diverse workforce. Our culture includes teamwork, transparency, nimble learning, creativity and collaboration that values differences.

We have Shared Values and a Code of Ethics. Your success in our organization depends upon modelling these values, therefore visit http://www.virginiadot.org/about/missionandvalues.asp to review them and, if in agreement, we welcome you to apply.

Minimum Qualifications

• Have a basic knowledge of engineering principles.
  
• Must be at least 18 years of age by the start of employment.
  
• Complete a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester while a stipend recipient within the program.
  
• Maintain residency in Virginia or attend an accredited civil engineering program in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
  
• Be a rising junior or rising senior undergraduate student participating in an Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) civil engineering, civil engineering technology or related engineering program as of June 2025.
  

Additional Considerations

Successful candidates will have demonstrated academic excellence in their major program and be motivated, customer focused and action-oriented individuals with a drive for learning on the job and achieving results. You will have demonstrated ability to make quality and timely decisions, take initiative, communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, prioritize and organize multiple demands in a continuously changing environment, use a computer and software applications, and can meet established deadlines. Ability to anticipate problems, provide solutions, follow instructions, learn quickly, and collaborate with teammates. In addition, top performing candidates will have:

• Experience in roadway transportation.
  
• Experience in design technology, interpreting technical plans and specifications.
  
• Experience in roadway design and geometric design applications.
  
• A combination of training, experience, or education in Civil Engineering, Civil Engineering Technology, or related field desired
  

Special Instructions

• You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.
• Students who are transferring from a community college to a college or university for their junior year (3rd year) should provide their final community college transcript and their letter of acceptance to their new institution reflecting they will be enrolled in an ABET accredited program as an attachment to their application.
  
• Selected candidates will start their scholar employment in the May/June of 2025 and will work until August 2025. Official start date will be determined at the time of offer.
  
• Upon successful completion of the undergraduate studies, selected candidates must enter the EDGE Program. (Note that the candidate cannot defer VDOT employment to pursue a graduate degree.)
  
• Based on interest, business need, and available funding, students may have the opportunity to continue working during the academic year.
  
• This is a part-time hourly position – No state benefits will be offered.
  
• This position is not eligible for telework.
  
• Housing and relocation are not provided.
  
• This position requires a fingerprint based Criminal History Background Check, DMV Record Check and Work History Verification with references.
  
• VDOT is an emergency operation agency. Positions physically working within Central Office locations may be designated upon request and coordination among the respective District Engineer or Administrator and Chief. Assignments are updated annually. Not all designated employees are provided an emergency operations assignment.
  
• VDOT utilizes a market-based pay program, which has been approved by DHRM. Therefore, advertised rates of pay may or may not align with the Commonwealth pay bands.
  
• Additional positions may be filled from this recruitment within 90 days.
  
• The position you are applying for is an Hourly/Wage position. Hourly (wage) employees may not work more than an average of 29 hours a week and cannot exceed 1500 hours the wage employment year (5/1 - 4/30). This position does not include health insurance, retirement or paid leave benefits.
  
  

Contact Information

Name: Logan Sanchez

Phone: (804) 807-3482

Email: logan.sanchez@vdot.virginia.gov

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.