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Graduate Trainee Engineer Jobs in Redmond, WA (NOW HIRING)

Graduate Trainee Engineer information

See Redmond, WA salary details

$34.2K

$76.8K

$129.4K

How much do graduate trainee engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 1, 2026, the average yearly pay for graduate trainee engineer in Redmond, WA is $76,847.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $58,200.00 and $83,400.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a graduate trainee engineer?

Graduate Trainee Engineers are recent university graduates who are hired by companies to undergo training and gain practical experience in engineering roles. These positions are designed to help new engineers develop their technical skills, understand company processes, and prepare for permanent engineering roles within the organization. Graduate trainee programs typically rotate trainees through different departments and projects, exposing them to a variety of engineering challenges. The goal is to build a strong foundation for a successful engineering career.

What do graduate trainee engineers do?

As a Graduate Trainee Engineer, you can anticipate working on a variety of entry-level engineering projects under the supervision of senior engineers. Your responsibilities may include assisting in the design and development of products, conducting tests, preparing technical documentation, and analyzing data. Most programs are structured to rotate you through different departments, allowing you to gain exposure to various engineering functions and build a broad skill set. Collaboration with cross-functional teams is common, providing opportunities to learn from experienced professionals and contribute to meaningful projects early in your career.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a graduate trainee engineer?

To thrive as a Graduate Trainee Engineer, you need a solid foundation in engineering principles, problem-solving abilities, and at least a bachelor's degree in a relevant engineering discipline. Familiarity with technical tools such as CAD software, data analysis programs, and industry-specific standards or certifications is often required. Strong communication, teamwork, and adaptability are crucial soft skills for collaborating on projects and learning new concepts quickly. These skills enable graduate trainees to effectively contribute to engineering teams, meet project goals, and grow into more advanced roles.

What is the difference between Graduate Trainee Engineer vs Junior Engineer?

AspectGraduate Trainee EngineerJunior Engineer
QualificationsTypically recent graduates with a relevant degreeOften requires some experience or entry-level qualification
Work EnvironmentTraining-focused, supervised learningHands-on, independent tasks with supervision
Employer UsageEntry-level position for new graduatesInitial professional role for early-career engineers

The Graduate Trainee Engineer is primarily a training role designed for recent graduates to develop skills, while a Junior Engineer is an entry-level position where individuals start applying their knowledge in real projects. Both roles are common in engineering industries and serve as stepping stones in an engineering career.

What cities near Redmond, WA are hiring for Graduate Trainee Engineer jobs?

Cities near Redmond, WA with the most Graduate Trainee Engineer job openings:

Student Trainee (Physical Science)

Seattle, WA • On-site

Work with us | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

$51K/yr

Full-time

Posted 6 days ago


Job description

This position is located in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), Office of Coast Survey (OCS), with three vacancies in Seattle, WA; Durham, NH; Norfolk, VA; and Silver Spring, MD.Qualifications:

Eligibility Requirements
In order to be eligible for an appointment under the Pathways Internship Program:

  • You must be a student accepted for enrollment or enrolled in a degree or certificate program on a full- or half-time basis as defined by the school (certificate program means post-secondary education, in a qualifying educational institution, equivalent to at least one academic year of full-time study that is part of an accredited college-level, technical, trade, vocational, or business school curriculum), or career or technical education programs, (which may include Registered Apprenticeship Programs, Job Corps, Climate Corps, AmeriCorps, and Peace Corps); AND
  • Enrollment is with a qualifying educational institution such as a high school or state-approved homeschool; or accredited technical or vocational school; a 2- or 4-year college or university; a graduate or professional school (e.g., law school, medical school); or a post-secondary home school curriculum; AND
  • Students currently enrolled must be in good academic standing maintaining a 2.0 grade point average on a cumulative basis; AND
  • The duties of this position should be related to your academic or career goals.
  • You must continue to meet these eligibility requirements throughout the duration of your appointment under the Pathways Internship Program.
Students who successfully complete the internship program may be eligible for conversion to a permanent appointment or a term (1-4 years in duration) appointment without further competition. Eligibility requirements for conversion: must be a U.S. Citizen; complete at least 480 hours of work experience acquired through the Internship Program (*In accordance with 5 CFR 362.204, 160 hours may be waived under certain conditions provided the Intern has completed at least 320 work hours under a Pathways Internship Appointment); successfully complete your degree or certificate requirements from a qualifying institution; meet the qualification requirements for the position to which you will be converted; meet agency-specific requirements as outlined in the Participant's Agreement; and must have performed successfully in your position as documented through performance evaluations.

If converted to a permanent or term appointment, the anticipated target position is a Physical Scientist 1301. If not qualified for the 1301, the incumbent may be converted to any series within the 1300 - Physical Sciences Group to which they qualify for; the target position and FPL may change based on the need of the organization at that time. Interns must meet the qualification requirements for the position to which converted.
Individual Occupational Requirements Upon Conversion (General Physical Science Series, 1301):
Basic Requirements:
A. Degree: physical science, engineering, or mathematics that included 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, and electronics.
OR
B. Combination of education and experience: education equivalent to one of the majors shown in A above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards. This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This experience need not have been in the federal government.
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). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies; knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
To qualify at the ZP-2 or GS-07 level:
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZP-1 or GS-05 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following:

  • Assisting with collecting and sorting physical science data.

OR
SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: Completion of one full academic year of graduate-level education.
OR
SUPERIOR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT: As demonstrated by a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with one of the following. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your application clearly states how you meet one of the provisions below:

  • A grade point average (GPA) of 2.9 or higher based on a 4.0 scale for all completed undergraduate courses, or those completed in the last 2 full years of undergraduate study;
  • A GPA of 3.5 or higher based on a 4.0 scale for required courses completed in a major field of study, or those courses completed in a major field of study during the last two years of undergraduate study;
  • Class standing of upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision of the college;
  • Membership in a national Scholastic Honor Society certified by the Association of College honor Societies, excluding freshman honor societies.
OR

COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: A combination of graduate-level education and specialized experience.

Education:

Applicants must demonstrate proof of enrollment for Fall 2026 by submitting an official proof of enrollment letter from a qualifying educational institution or a transcript indicating courses to be taken in Fall 2026. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.
College Transcript: If you are qualifying based on education, submit a copy of your college transcript that lists college courses detailing each course by the number and department (i.e., Bio 101, Math 210, etc.), name of accredited institution, course title, number of credit hours and grade earned. You must submit evidence that any education completed in a foreign institution is equivalent to U.S. education standards with your resume. You may submit an unofficial copy of the transcript at the initial phase of the application process. If course content cannot be easily identified from the title of the course as listed on your transcript, you must submit an official course description from the college/university that reflects the content at the time the course was taken.
Note: Your college transcript is used to verify successful completion of degree, or college course work. An official college transcript will be required before you can report to duty.
Education completed in colleges or universities outside the United States may be used to meet the above requirements. You must provide acceptable documentation that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit: OPM Foreign Education Evaluation.
IF YOU ARE IN YOUR LAST SEMESTER/QUARTER of completing your degree/certificate requirements, you must show proof of acceptance to a continuing degree/certificate program. This may be documented by an acceptance letter for future enrollment in a degree/certificate program. If you do not provide proof of continuing education, you will be disqualified from further consideration. If selected, you will be required to provide official transcripts.

Employment Type: OTHER