Job Description

Engineer Principal (Materials Lab) | Salary Range: $40.82 - $62.17 / hourly; $85,232 - $129,810 / annually

Are you looking for an exciting opportunity to get your foot in the door with State of Minnesota? If so, come join our team at MnDOT in Detroit Lakes, MN !

WHY WORK FOR US? Check us out:

This position may be allowed to telework on a part-time/hybrid basis but will typically be required to work in the office three days per week or based upon business needs. The employee will be required to make a telework arrangement with their supervisor.

Please note: 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.

Our Engineer Principal (Materials Lab) position is in Detroit Lakes, surrounded by 412 lakes within a 25-miles radius with a 1-mile-long public sand beach and is only 40 minutes to Fargo/Moorhead. You'll find year-round recreation including skiing, fishing, bird watching, hiking, biking, skating, mountain biking, snowmobiling, boating and 8 area golf courses.

Housing in the area includes lakeshore, residential city, rural developments, hobby farms, apartments, condominiums, and townhouses. The Detroit Lakes school district includes two elementary schools, a middle and high school. Students can also attend three parochial schools and/or Minnesota State Community and Technical College.

The responsibilities for this position also include:

• Exercise supervisory authority so that applicable labor agreements and plans are equitably administered and employees under my jurisdiction will effectively perform assigned job duties to achieve the annual objectives of the section.
• Provide overall leadership, review and approval of pavement and materials designs and recommendations during project development, final design, and construction so that the completed projects conform to MnDOT standards and polices and provide the optimal system performance and life for the best value.
• Provide overall leadership to the District Materials Laboratory so that materials’ testing is in conformance with applicable standards, methods, and specifications and within established time frames.
• Provide regular District pavement system reviews and utilize the Pavement Management System in developing, planning, and coordinating a district pavement maintenance and construction program so that the district’s pavements and programs meet Department standards.
• Provide plan quality control, from a materials aspect, throughout the plan development process so that the completed plan for letting meets the approved pavement and materials recommendations.
• Provide technical assistance in Request for Proposals (RFP) preparation for consultant contracts, monitoring consultant performance and progress, making recommendations to the District Project Manager for acceptance of products and services, certifying contract payment to ensure consultant contract deliverables are met.

WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU? Learn more about our benefits:

Health & Wellness: Low-cost medical, dental, vision, & prescription drug plans; health, dental, & dependent care spending accounts; Employee Assistance Program (EAP), health & well-being resources

Financial Well-Being: Public pension plans, deferred compensation plan & health care savings plan; life insurance, short & long-term disability insurance, & paid parental leave

Professional Development: Tuition assistance, employee education, leadership development

Work/Life Balance: Paid vacation & sick leave including 12 paid holidays each year

At-Work Benefits: Employee Resource Groups, employee recognition, employee activities, fitness center at our Central Office

Here are the Minimum Qualifications:

• Licensure as a professional Civil Engineer with the Minnesota Board of Architecture, Engineering, Land Surveying, Landscape Architecture, Geoscience, and Interior Design (AELSLAGID). (If obtaining licensure through Comity, a temporary permit from AELSLAGID must be provided to MnDOT HR prior to starting employment.)
• Three (3) years of post-registration engineering experience at the Engineer Senior level (or equivalent) demonstrating knowledge of the following: materials engineering, roadway and pavement design, pavement and grading materials, pavement rehabilitation strategies, life cycle cost analysis, soil properties and characteristics associated with their use of highway engineering construction.

APPLY ONLINE BY 3/31/2025 (only applications received on mn.gov/careers will be considered)

1. Go to & click “ Search Open Positions ”
2. Enter the Job Opening ID “82572” in the Keywords search box & click “>>”
3. Click on the Job Title to view the job posting & click “ Apply for Job ”
4. When prompted for your Referral Source, please list: LI/Ellen

Visit for a listing of all our MnDOT job openings.

Questions? Contact Ellen Behrhorst (MnDOT Recruitment Specialist) Ellen.Behrhorst@state.mn.us | 612.346.8330

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