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General Engineer Jobs in Iowa (NOW HIRING)

Staff Engineer

IA · On-site

$87K - $123K/yr

General engineering design codes, construction methods, and building code requirements. * Construction trades, materials, and typical practices used in water utility construction. * Safety practices ...

Staff Engineer

Des Moines, IA · On-site

$87K - $123K/yr

General engineering design codes, construction methods, and building code requirements. Construction trades, materials, and typical practices used in water utility construction. Safety practices and ...

Support design activities such as brainstorming, database management and development, design and peer reviews, and general engineering analysis. * Conduct tolerance analysis and apply basic machine ...

Support design activities such as brainstorming, database management and development, design and peer reviews, and general engineering analysis. * Conduct tolerance analysis and apply basic machine ...

General Responsibilities: • Develops, maintains and enhances client, subcontractor and vendor ... engineering principals and construction techniques, materials, methods, and sequencing • ...

General Manager

Muscatine, IA · On-site

$120 - $180/hr

The new General Manager will have full responsibility for all facets of club operations, programming, sales and marketing, and financial performance. This is far more than a management role. Geneva ...

General Engineering Principles learned in Engineering School. * Ability to use digital tools effectively. * Understanding of industry standards for drawing deliverables, field support, and details of ...

General Manager

Muscatine, IA · On-site

$110 - $170/hr

The General Manager will have full responsibility for all facets of club operations, programming, sales and marketing, and financial performance. This is far more than a management role. Geneva is at ...

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Showing results 1-20

General Engineer information

See Iowa salary details

$36.6K

$95.6K

$129.2K

How much do general engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 24, 2026, the average yearly pay for general engineer in Iowa is $95,572.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $78,900.00 and $109,400.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a general engineer?

General Engineers are versatile professionals who apply principles of engineering, mathematics, and science to solve a wide range of technical problems. They often work across various disciplines, such as mechanical, electrical, or civil engineering, and may be involved in designing, developing, testing, and overseeing the production of different systems or products. Their broad skill set allows them to adapt to numerous industries, including manufacturing, government, construction, and technology. General Engineers typically collaborate with other engineers and professionals to ensure that projects meet technical specifications, safety standards, and regulatory requirements.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a general engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a General Engineer, you need a solid background in engineering principles, mathematics, and problem-solving, usually supported by a bachelor's degree in engineering or a related field. Familiarity with CAD software, project management tools, and relevant industry standards or certifications (such as EIT or PE) is often required. Strong analytical thinking, teamwork, and effective communication skills help set outstanding engineers apart. These competencies ensure successful project execution, innovation, and collaboration across multidisciplinary teams.

What are some common challenges faced by general engineers when working on multidisciplinary projects?

General Engineers often collaborate with teams from various specialties such as mechanical, electrical, and civil engineering. A common challenge is effectively communicating technical requirements and expectations across disciplines to ensure project goals are met. Balancing multiple priorities and adapting to changing project scopes can also be demanding. Successful General Engineers use strong problem-solving and teamwork skills to bridge gaps and maintain project momentum.

What is the difference between General Engineer vs Civil Engineer?

AspectGeneral EngineerCivil Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's degree in engineering, often with diverse specializationBachelor's degree in civil engineering, often with PE licensure
Work EnvironmentVarious industries including defense, aerospace, and infrastructureConstruction sites, urban planning, infrastructure projects
Employer & Industry UsageGovernment agencies, defense contractors, manufacturingConstruction firms, government agencies, consulting firms

General Engineers have a broad scope, working across multiple engineering disciplines, while Civil Engineers focus specifically on infrastructure and construction projects. Both roles require similar foundational credentials, but their work environments and industry applications differ significantly.

How much money does a general engineer make?

A general engineer's salary varies based on experience, location, and industry, but the median annual wage in the United States is around $95,000. Entry-level engineers typically earn less, while experienced professionals with specialized skills or certifications can earn over $130,000 annually. Salary also depends on the complexity of projects and the engineer's ability to manage multiple tasks efficiently.

What jobs do general engineers do?

General engineers work on designing, developing, and overseeing the construction and operation of various systems and structures across industries such as manufacturing, infrastructure, and energy. They often use technical skills, problem-solving, and knowledge of engineering principles to manage projects, ensure safety, and improve efficiency. Their work may involve project management, technical analysis, and collaboration with specialists, often requiring a bachelor's degree in engineering and relevant certifications.

What job categories do people searching General Engineer jobs in Iowa look for?

The top searched job categories for General Engineer jobs in Iowa are:

What are popular job titles related to General Engineer jobs in IA?

For General Engineer jobs in IA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various General Engineer job openings in Iowa as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 78% Full Time, and 22% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $95,572 per year, or $45.9 per hour.

General Engineer (Lead)

Federal Aviation Administration

Des Moines, IA • On-site

$100K - $131K/yr

Other

Posted 8 days ago


Federal Aviation Administration rating

8.0

Company rating: 8.0 out of 10

Based on 154 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

68th of 295 rated public sector bodies


Job description

Summary
The Lead Engineer (LE) is responsible for the implementation of highly complex and challenging projects comprised of multiple sub-projects and/or large national programs which require application of in-depth engineering knowledge and independent judgement and the ability to coordinate difficult and/or critical activities.
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Duties
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Applies experience and comprehensive knowledge of engineering principles, theories, and concepts applicable to his/her discipline, as well as an understanding of new technologies and methodologies, to solve complex problems and to develop improved technical processes for the organization. Assignments typically involves engineer to have knowledge of NAS Facilities, Facilities and Equipment Programs, and FAA organizations.
Represents assigned Center on matter requiring technical interpretation and guidance, as the senior technical point of contact. Serves as the senior engineering for assigned projects/programs to all stakeholders including management, other employees and external parties. Plans, coordinates and reviews engineering work of the installation actives. Prioritizes and outlines work. Provides advice to solve technical problems.
Reviews work of other engineers for technical accuracy and adequacy. Assists Center personnel with resolving all, but unique, engineering problems and may create new solutions and policy interpretations, as the situation requires. Provides constructive feedback and persuasion on project/program matters using effective interpersonal skills and abilities. Organizes, coordinates and mentors the efforts of project engineers supporting the program.
Leads the development of standardized implementation plans, processes templates, and activities within assigned Engineering Center and/or program area. Works as a team with other Leads to deliver a consistent and efficient implementation produce across each Service Area. Serves as the focal for gathering and integrating feedback into downstream sites and coordinating feedback with other Leads in the Service Area. Maintains consistency with applicable standards, procedures, and implementation methodologies.
Ensures project/program schedules are compatible with organizational objectives, support project/program needs; and can be accomplished within available resources and funding. Oversees and monitors project interdependencies by assessing the impacts to project/programs due to new requirements, technologies, budget constraints, or changes.
Plans, coordinates, identifies resources, schedules, and tracks large-scale and/or multi-site engineering projects through completion. Prepares cost estimates and risk management reports for work at the assigned area of responsibility. The work is reviewed rarely, typically though status reports and at project completion, to ensure technical compliance and alignment with the requirements of the project or other work activity.
Requirements
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Conditions of employment
  • ship is required.
  • Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
  • Must submit an SF50 (See Required Documents).
  • This position has a positive education requirement. Transcript(s) required.
  • Successful completion of a security investigation will be required

Qualifications
Basic Requirements:
Degree: Professional Engineering. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor's degree in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by (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
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)1 , 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)2 examination or any other written test required for professional registration by an engineering licensure board in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and 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 the basic requirements section above. The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of an engineering program as described above.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 bachelor's 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. (The above examples of related curricula are not all-inclusive.)
To qualify for this position, you must demonstrate in your application that you possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to FV-I (FG/GS-13). Specialized experience is experience gained in an 800 Engineer series position that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position.
Specialized experience is: Experience in the planning, coordinating, identifying resources, scheduling, and tracking of multi-site engineering projects through completion.
You should include relevant
examples of the specialized experience in your work history. Errors or
omissions may impact your rating or may result in you not being considered.
Applicants who fail to demonstrate possession of any of the above criteria AND who do not provide the required documentation will receive no further consideration for this position.
Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this vacancy announcement.
For additional information on qualification requirements, please visit the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) website at: ;br>
Education
This position has a positive education requirement: Applicants must submit a copy of their college or university transcripts(s) and certificates by the closing date of announcement to verify qualifications. If selected, an official transcript will be required prior to appointment. You may upload these documents with your application in USAJOBS or fax it to fax number provided in the announcement (please include announcement number on each page).
Failure to do so will result in loss of consideration.
Schools must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation may be verified at the following website: ;br>
Foreign education must be evaluated by a private professional organization specializing in interpretation of foreign education credentials or an accredited U.S. educational institution in terms of equivalence to a degree acquired at an American college or university. A copy of the evaluation results must be included, otherwise your foreign education will not be considered.
A copy of your unofficial/final college or university transcript MUST accompany your application if you have never held a position in the 800 series with the FAA.
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Make sure your resume includes detailed information to support your qualifications and answers to the job questionnaire.
Additional information
We may use this vacancy to fill other similar vacant positions.
Position may be subject to a background investigation.
A one-year probationary period may be required.
The person selected for this position may be required to file a financial disclosure statement within 30 days of entry on duty. FAA policy limits certain outside employment and financial investments in aviation-related companies. ;br>
As a part of the Federal-Wide Hiring Reform Initiative (streamlining the hiring process), the FAA is committed to eliminating the use of the Knowledge, Skills and Ability (KSA) narratives from the initial application in the hiring process for all announcements. Therefore, as an applicant for this announcement, you are NOT required to provide a narrative response in the text box listed below each KSA.
In lieu of providing a KSA narrative response in the text box listed below each KSA, in your work history, please include information that provides specific examples of how you meet the response level or answer you chose for each KSA. Your work history examples should be specific and clearly reflect the highest level of ability. Your KSA answers will be evaluated further to validate whether the level that you selected is appropriate based on the work history and experience you provided. Your answers may be adjusted by a Human Resource Specialist as appropriate.
Eligible applicants meeting the minimum qualification requirements listed in the announcement. Based on this evaluation, applicants will be placed in one of the following categories: score order, category grouping, or alphabetical and referred to the selecting official for consideration.
Current FAA employee: You MUST submit a copy of your most recent (non-award) SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, or equivalent document that verifies tenure (block 24, code 1 or 2). Failure to provide the required documentation by the closing date of this announcement will result in non-consideration for this position.
Security Requirements: Moderate Risk (5): This position requires completion & favorable adjudication of a National Agency Check with Inquiry (NACI) background investigation prior to appointment, unless a waiver is obtained.
If the Agency decides to interview any qualified employee on the selection list, then all on the list who are qualified must be interviewed.
This position is in AJW-2W12B. However, this announcement may be used to fill future vacancies in any other of the Technical Operations, Engineering Services offices in the advertised Duty Location.
Links to Important Information: Locality Pay, COLA
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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
Benefits
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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

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