Civil Engineering Jobs in Rhinelander, WI (NOW HIRING)

Introduction
The WI Department of Transportation (WisDOT), Division of Transportation System Development (DTSD) is seeking interested and qualified individuals to fill multiple Civil Engineer Transportation Entry or Senior vacancies in the North Central Region.
December 2026 (or earlier) graduates are encouraged to apply!
These full-time position can be headquartered in Wisconsin Rapids or Rhinelander.
These positions offer a hybridized work schedule. The position will be headquartered at and required to work from one of the DTSD North Central Region office buildings at least 2 days per week. All employees working a hybrid work schedule are generally expected to telework from within the State of Wisconsin. This topic will be discussed more at the time of the interview.
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 $49/month for single plans and $122/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.
**This posting is a reannouncement; if you previously applied to this posting, you do not need to reapply in order to be considered.**
Position Summary
This position functions as a Civil Engineer within the Project Development Section (PDS) of the North Central Region (NCR) performing various civil engineering duties on transportation improvement projects in both the construction and design phases. Under general supervision, this position performs as a member of a team, or individually, and performs engineering duties in the functional areas of design and construction. This position is responsible for the development of highway improvement projects in accordance with the established facilities development process. This position is responsible for engineering decisions that affect the planning, design, construction, maintenance, and operation of transportation facilities.
This position is responsible for both design and construction assignments. Time frames may vary within each area dependent on workload, staffing needs, and employee development needs. While assigned to the construction phase of a project, the primary duties will be construction activities, however a portion of workload may include design activities. Construction duties will be assigned appropriately throughout the region. When assigned to the design phase of a project, the primary duties will be design activities, however a portion of workload may include construction activities.
This position requires the ability to travel independently statewide to assigned projects or trainings with occasional overnight stays at remote locations. This topic will be discussed more at the time of the interview.
To view the full position description, please reach out to Benjamin Harwell at BenjaminK.Harwell@dot.wi.gov
See our website to learn more about a Career as an Engineer with WisDOT .
Salary Information
The Civil Engineer Transportation Entry position is in pay schedule 14-14 with an annual salary of $66,810 to $76,066, plus excellent benefits. A 12-month probationary period is required. Pay for current state employees will be set in accordance with the Wisconsin State Compensation Plan.
Candidates starting at the minimum salary will receive incremental pay increases starting at 6 months and will receive increases every 6 months for the first 2 years. After 2 years of incremental increases, candidates will be at the top of the announced range (currently $76,066). Candidates with 1-3 years of experience will be hired based on their years of relevant professional work experience and may receive incremental pay increases depending on their level of experience upon hire.
Civil Engineer Trans Entry positions have the objective level of Senior. Typically, new hires reclass after being with the department for approximately 4 years and receive at least an 8% of the minimum increase (currently $2.22).
The Civil Engineer Transportation Senior position is in pay schedule 14-13 with an annual salary of $83,304 to $102,398, plus excellent benefits. A 12-month probationary period is required. Pay for current state employees will be set in accordance with the Wisconsin State Compensation Plan.
A $3,000 sign-on bonus applies to those 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 $3,000 will be paid on the first paycheck.
WisDOT employees may be eligible to receive loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program. PSLF forgives the remaining balance on your federal direct loans after you make 120 qualifying monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan while working full-time for a qualifying employer. For additional information click Here .
Job Details
WisDOT does not sponsor work visas. WisDOT is not enrolled in USCIS E-Verify and is not eligible to employ international F-1 students seeking STEM-OPT extension. Any appointment made will be contingent on the applicant being able to prove valid status to work in the United States.
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.
Qualifications
Minimum requirement:
Upon hire, candidate must have graduated, or will be graduating by December 2026, from an Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) ABET accredited college or university with a 4-year bachelor's degree (or Master's or PH.D.) in engineering
OR have graduated from an Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission (ETAC) accredited college university with a 4-year bachelor's degree (or Master's or PH.D.) in engineering technology AND hold an Engineer in Training (EIT) certificate
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)
In addition to the above:
To be eligible at the Senior level, candidates must have:

• At least 4 years of engineering experience after receiving their engineering degree from an accredited college or university.

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.
This application requires you to submit a resume and letter of qualifications. Within your resume and letter of qualifications, you should describe your education, training, and experience as it relates to items listed in the "Qualifications" section of the job announcement. Your application materials are very important parts of your application and are used during our evaluation process to determine your eligibility for the position. For instructions on how to develop and what should be included in these materials, please view the Resume and Letter of Qualifications Tips document. Please view the ensuring a fair and equitable hiring process document to find out more information on the State of WI selection process. The vast majority of applicants are able to outline their background and experience in their resume within 1-3 pages. Any resumes or letters of qualifications submitted with more than 3 pages will not be considered after page 3.
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.
The State of Wisconsin offers a special program for qualified veterans with a 30% or greater service-connected disability. If you are a qualified veteran, please visit the Veterans Employment page for application instructions to be considered for the Veterans Non-Competitive Appointment program.
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. For general wisc.jobs user information and if you are experiencing issues and need technical assistance, please see the wisc.jobs Frequently Asked Questions page. Questions related to obtaining the job description and details about this specific job posting can be directed to Benjamin Harwell at BenjaminK.Harwell@dot.wi.gov or (608)266-8665.
Deadline to Apply
Applications will be reviewed on a biweekly basis starting on Monday, April 20th, 2026, until positions are filled. Applications must be received by 11:59 PM on the day prior to the review date to be considered for that biweekly review period.