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Dod Engineering Jobs in Portland, OR (NOW HIRING)

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Dod Engineering information

See Portland, OR salary details

$49.3K

$155.8K

$184.5K

How much do dod engineering jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 29, 2026, the average yearly pay for dod engineering in Portland, OR is $155,754.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $123,500.00 and $183,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Dod Engineering position, and why are they important?

To thrive in DoD Engineering, you need a solid background in engineering disciplines (such as mechanical, electrical, or systems engineering) and clearance eligibility, often supported by a relevant engineering degree and industry experience. Familiarity with Department of Defense standards, modeling and simulation tools, and systems like CAD or MATLAB, as well as certifications like Security+ or PMP, is highly valuable. Strong problem-solving skills, teamwork, and effective communication are essential soft skills. These abilities are crucial to ensure technical excellence, compliance with federal requirements, and the success of mission-critical defense projects.

How much do DOD engineers make?

DOD engineers typically earn between $70,000 and $130,000 annually, depending on experience, education, and security clearance level. Salaries can vary based on the specific engineering discipline, location, and government pay scales such as the General Schedule (GS) system.

Does the Dod hire engineers?

Yes, the Department of Defense (DoD) hires engineers for various roles in areas such as systems, aerospace, electrical, and mechanical engineering. These positions often require security clearances, specialized skills, and relevant certifications, and may involve working on defense projects or research and development efforts.

What is a DoD Engineering job?

A DoD Engineering job involves designing, developing, and maintaining technology, systems, and infrastructure for the U.S. Department of Defense. Engineers in this field work on projects related to defense systems, cybersecurity, communications, and military equipment. They ensure that critical defense technologies meet safety, performance, and security standards. These roles often require security clearances and expertise in engineering disciplines such as mechanical, electrical, software, or aerospace engineering.

What are some typical career paths and advancement opportunities for DoD Engineers?

As a DoD Engineer, you can start in entry-level positions focused on specific projects and gradually advance to lead engineer, project manager, or even program director roles as you gain experience and security clearances. Many professionals expand their expertise by pursuing certifications, advanced degrees, and leadership development programs, opening doors to higher responsibilities. Career advancement often includes the opportunity to specialize in areas such as cybersecurity, systems integration, or testing, and to take on mentorship, supervisory, or contract management duties. Collaborating with multidisciplinary teams and exposure to cutting-edge defense technologies also position DoD Engineers for long-term growth within both government and private defense sectors.

What engineers make $200,000 a year?

Senior engineers in fields such as software engineering, petroleum engineering, and aerospace engineering often earn $200,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, advanced skills, and in high-demand industries. These roles typically require specialized knowledge, advanced degrees, and sometimes leadership responsibilities or working in high-cost-of-living areas.

What engineers make $300,000 a year?

Senior engineers in specialized fields such as petroleum, aerospace, or software engineering can earn $300,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, advanced skills, and leadership roles. High-paying engineering positions often require advanced degrees, certifications, and working in high-demand industries or managerial capacities.
What job categories do people searching Dod Engineering jobs in Portland, OR look for? The top searched job categories for Dod Engineering jobs in Portland, OR are:
Infographic showing various Dod Engineering job openings in Portland, OR as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $155,754 per year, or $74.9 per hour.

$117K/yr

Other

Posted 28 days ago


U.S. Department Of Defense rating

7.8

Company rating: 7.8 out of 10

Based on 536 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

29th of 50 rated military and defense


Job description

As a Geotechnical Engineer you will coordinate planning and design for a multi-discipline team of engineers, scientists and other professionals for a variety of project designs, unique one-time projects, and improvements to existing projects. You'll apply advanced knowledge of geotechnical engineering and general knowledge of structural, hydraulic and civil engineering to define the nature and scope of work, and to project assumptions and derive criteria from inconclusive or variable data.Qualifications:Who May Apply: Only applicants who meet one of the employment authority categories below are eligible to apply for this job. You will be asked to identify which category or categories you meet, and to provide documents which prove you meet the category or categories you selected. See Proof of Eligibility for an extensive list of document requirements for all employment authorities.
  • 30 Percent or More Disabled Veterans
  • Current Department of Army Civilian Employees
  • Current Department of Defense (DOD) Civilian Employee (non-Army)
  • Domestic Defense Industrial Base/Major Range and Test Facilities Base Civilian Personnel Workforce
  • Executive Order (E.O.) 12721
  • Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan
  • Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act
  • Military Spouses, under Executive Order (E.O.) 13473
  • Non-Department of Defense (DoD) Transfer
  • Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Interchange Agreement Eligible
  • People with Disabilities, Schedule A
  • Postal Service/Peace Corps and Other Unique Authorities
  • Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technician Eligible
  • Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligible
  • Priority Placement Program, DoD MR and NG Preference Eligible Tech Receiving Disability Retirement
  • Priority Placement Program, DoD Retained Grade Preference Eligible
  • Reinstatement
  • Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) of 1998

In order to qualify, you must meet the individual occupational requirements and the minimum qualifications requirements described below. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document.
Minimum Qualifications: Your resume should clearly identify at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level in federal service with performing independent geotechnical field inspections, site investigations, and analysis and design for civil works projects.
You will be evaluated on the basis of your level of competency in the following areas:
  • Arithmetic/Mathematical Reasoning
  • Attention to Detail
  • Customer Service
  • Flexibility
  • Integrity/Honesty
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Learning
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Self-Management
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Teamwork

Time in Grade Requirement: Applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must have 52 weeks of Federal service at the next lower grade or equivalent (GS-11).Education:Individual Occupational Requirements:
Basic Requirement for a Civil Engineer: A. Degree: Bachelor's degree (or higher degree) in engineering. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor's degree (or higher degree) in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET); OR (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics.
OR
B. Combination of Education and Experience: College-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following:
1. Professional registration or licensure - Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT), or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico. Absent other means of qualifying under this standard, those applicants who achieved such registration by means other than written test (e.g., State grandfather or eminence provisions) are eligible only for positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of their registration. For example, an applicant who attains registration through a State Board's eminence provision as a manufacturing engineer typically would be rated eligible only for manufacturing engineering positions.
2. Written Test - Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination, or any other written test required for professional registration, by an engineering licensure board in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico.
3. Specified academic courses - Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and that included the courses specified in A above. The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of an engineering program.
4. Related curriculum - Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in an appropriate scientific field, e.g., engineering technology, physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. Ordinarily there should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering-type experience, e.g., in interdisciplinary positions.
FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.Employment Type: OTHER

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