Graduate Student Project Assistant Jobs in Minnesota

Salary: $38.75 - $48.45 Hourly
Location : Municipal Center - Apple Valley, MN
Job Type: Full-Time Regular
Job Number: 2025-00067
Department: Public Works
Division: Engineering
Opening Date: 06/05/2026
Closing Date: 6/22/2026 12:00 PM Central
SUMMARY OF POSITION
The City of Apple Valley is seeking a Graduate Engineer to join the Engineering Division of Public Works. The position will work closely with the City Engineer, Assistant City Engineer, Civil Engineer, Engineering Technicians, and GIS Coordinator to complete a wide variety of engineering assignments, including development of construction plans and specifications, stormwater management design, details, and reports, grading plans, utility plans, erosion control and SWPPP plans, details of construction, and project correspondence. The Graduate Engineer will also assist the Right of Way Manager with ensuring compliance with Right of Way rules. The position will have substantial coordination with other Municipal staff, residents, contractors, developers, and private utility owner/operators.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Municipal Public Works related projects:

• Assist with preparation of construction plans and specifications
• Assist with the preparation of cost estimates, design documents, and engineering reports
• Construction observation to ensure conformance with plans and specifications
• Provide detailed record keeping/project documentation
• Assist in the review of shop drawings and submittals, respond to request for information, and perform other contract administration tasks
• Measure/track project quantities and prepare payment applications for assigned projects
• Assist with preparing, reviewing, and maintaining as-built record plans

2. Assist with the development of technical specifications and detail plates
3. Right of Way Management:

• Assist the Right of Way Manager in review of permit applications
• Conduct routine site visits within the City of Apple Valley to perform construction observation and documentation for Right of Way Permits
• Assist the Right of Way Manager as the City liaison to the community on private utility projects in the Right of Way

4. Communicate (verbal and written) professionally and effectively with coworkers, contractors, and the public.
5. Assist the GIS Coordinator with data collection, field verification, and related tasks to ensure that the City's GIS database is continuously updated and maintained
6. Site Development and Building/Permit Review
7. Perform other duties consistent with the tasks of the position as may be assigned by the City
8. Must be available for extended workdays, call back and shift schedule changes during construction season (May-October)
QUALIFICATIONS
Minimum Requirements:

• Minimum Requirements:
  
  • Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from an accredited post-secondary institution
  • Ability to receive Engineer-In-Training Certification in 12 months from Start Date (this position is supervised by a Licensed Professional Engineer)
  • Must be capable of working in outdoor conditions and must be physically capable of navigating rugged terrain for the purpose of performing the construction observation duties.
  • Must have academic experience or on the job experience with AutoCAD Civil 3D.
  • Must possess basic MS Office skills including Word and Excel.
  Preferred Qualifications:
  
  • Engineer-In-Training Certification (this position is supervised by a Licensed Professional Engineer)
  • Experience with stormwater modeling/analysis in HydroCAD, Hydraflow, P8, or MIDS
  • Previous internship or work experience with municipalities, civil engineering firms, or field experience with construction surveying
  • Professional Certifications related to concrete, bituminous, aggregate, or soil field testing
  Working Conditions and Physical Requirements:
  
  • Primary job functions require sufficient physical ability and mobility to work in an office setting; to stand or sit for prolonged periods of time; to occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and twist; to lift, carry, push, and/or pull light weight (25 pounds); ability to perform physical tasks encountered during inspections at construction sites, including climbing ladders and walking over rugged terrain.
  • While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands, feel or operate objects, use tools and keyboards, drive a vehicle, crawl inside manholes, and climb to heights or depths of twenty feet. Must frequently move, turn, lift and carry objects weighing up to forty (40) pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, distance vision, and depth perception.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements:
Primary job functions require sufficient physical ability and mobility to work in an office setting; to stand or sit for prolonged periods of time; to occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and twist; to lift, carry, push, and/or pull light weight (25 pounds); ability to perform physical tasks encountered during inspections at construction sites, including climbing ladders and walking over rugged terrain.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands, feel or operate objects, use tools and keyboards, drive a vehicle, crawl inside manholes, and climb to heights or depths of twenty feet. Must frequently move, turn, lift and carry objects weighing up to forty (40) pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, distance vision, and depth perception.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Reports to: City Engineer
Starting Pay: Within started range, dependent on qualifications.
Schedule: Full-time, non-exempt, Monday - Friday, days, Must be available for extended workdays if needed during construction season.
Post Offer Requirements: Offer of employment are contingent on acceptable result of background investigation.
Application: Apply online before the deadline. Late or incomplete submissions not considered.
Regular, full-time employees of the City of Apple Valley are eligible for a benefits package.
Annual Leave. Paid time off for vacation, sick leave, or personal leave. Accrues each pay period. 15 days per year for first 5 years of employment.
Holidays. Paid time off on 12 designated holidays plus 1 personal floating holiday per year.
Insurance. Employer-paid employee health, dental, and life insurance. Dependent coverage available.
Disability. Income replacement insurance for short and long term disability, if unable to work due to illness or injury. Subject to waiting periods and medical confirmation of disability.
Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA) Pension plan. State mandated pension plan. Employee and Employer contributions. Members are vested in the plan after 3 years.
Deferred Compensation Plan (457). Income set aside on a pre-tax basis for the purpose of retirement income. Investments are participant-directed. Participation is optional and the City does not contribute to the plan.
Flexible Spending Arrangements. Tax-free reimbursement accounts for health care and daycare expenses.
EAP. Free Employee Assistance Program provides confidential counseling and referral services to employees, family, and household members.
Wellness & Fitness. Free on-campus fitness room featuring cardio and weight machines, free weights and kettle bells, open mat space and more. Shower and locker rooms also on site. Wellness programs and fitness classes offered.
Payroll Automatic Deposit. Payroll checks are automatically deposited into your designated checking and/or savings account(s) each bi-weekly payday.
This summary highlights certain benefits available through the City of Apple Valley. Benefits may differ based on union contracts for employees represented by a collective bargaining unit. If there are any differences between benefits as described in this summary and the legal plan documents or contracts, the plan documents or contracts shall govern. This summary is for information only and is subject to change or revocation without notice. This summary shall not constitute a contract or guarantee, express or implied.
01
The City of Apple Valley awards veterans' preference points to qualified veterans and spouses of deceased or disabled veterans in accordance with Minnesota State Statute 197.447. Are you requesting Veteran's Preference Points for this position? If so, please select your Veterans status and assure you have attached a copy of your DD-214 and/or documentation verifying your service-connected disability rating if you are deemed a disabled veteran, as defined in state statute, to your application.

• Not Applicable
• Veteran
• Disabled Veteran
• Spouse of Deceased Veteran
• Spouse of Disabled Veteran

02
Do you have a Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering from an accredited post - secondary Institution?

• Yes
• No

03
Do you have the ability to receive or already have an Engineering-in-Training Certification in 12 months from start date?

• Yes
• No

04
Do you have an Engineering-in-Training Certification?

• Yes
• No

05
Do you have experience with stormwater modeling/analysis in Hydro CAD, Hydra Flow, PB or MIDS?

• Yes
• No

06
If you answered yes to the above question, please describe your experience below.
07
Do you have previous internship or work experience with municipalities, civil engineering firms, or field experience with construction surveying?

• Yes
• No

08
If you answered yes to the above question, please describe your internship, Municipalities, Civil engineering firms, field or construction surveying experience below.
09
Do you have professional certifications related to concrete, bituminous, aggregate, or soil field testing?

• Yes
• No

10
If you answered yes to the above question, please list your certifications below.
11
Do you have academic experience or on the job experience with AutoCAD and/or GIS?

• Yes
• No

12
If you answered yes, to the above questions, please describe your experience below.
13
Do you have basic Microsoft Office skills including Word and EXCEL?

• Yes
• No

14
If you answered yes to the above question, please briefly describe what you have used Microsoft Word and EXCEL for.
Required Question