Principal Engineer 2026-01864

About the role

Open Until Filled

General Description

The Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) is looking for a dynamic Principal Engineer to lead our Construction Program in Newcastle, Wyoming. This isn’t just a job—it’s your chance to shape Wyoming’s highways, bridges, and public spaces while guiding a talented team of technicians and engineers.

As the Principal Engineer, you’ll oversee highway construction and contract administration from design to finalization. Your projects will range from maintaining city streets to reconstructing major interstate highways and bridges. You’ll work closely with Federal, State, County, and City personnel, utility companies, landowners, and the public, ensuring every project is completed on time, within budget, and to the highest standards—all while fostering a safe, claim-free environment.

Located in the heart of the Black Hills, Newcastle offers the best of small-town western living with easy access to fishing, hunting, skiing, hiking, biking, snowmobiling, and more. Need a dose of city life? Rapid City, South Dakota, is just a short drive away. Plus, Wyoming is one of only nine states with no state income tax!

If you’re ready to put your professional engineering skills to work while enjoying the boundless beauty and adventure of Wyoming, apply now. Your next great project—and lifestyle—awaits in Newcastle!

This position offers

• $2,000 Hiring Bonus See notes for eligibility
• The successful candidate may be eligible for moving expense reimbursement

Working for the State of Wyoming offers more than a paycheck. Our total compensation package includes:

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid vacation, sick leave, FMLA, and holidays
• Retirement - Pension and 457(b) plans that help you build a secure future
• Flexible schedules and work-life balance options
• Meaningful work that makes a difference for Wyoming communities and MUCH MORE! Click here for detailed information, oryou can watch this short video to learn about our benefit package!

Essential Functions

The listed functions are illustrative only and are not intended to describe every function which may be performed at the job level.

• Responsible for documentation of project quantities and payment.
• Responsible for negotiating and securing agreements with landowners, government agencies, and consultants.
• Responsible for meeting requirements of DEQ, BLM, USFS, and other agencies on projects.
• Coordinate and develop consensus among the city, county, federal, and department representatives, the general public, and special interest groups to address project impacts and effects at the design and construction level.
• Research, locate, and negotiate materials, survey, water, and plant site agreements with private landowners, businesses, and government agencies.
• Generate special provisions for all projects to address issues unique to each project.
• Initiate and monitor consultant agreements and progress to provide various surveying and engineering services.
• Generate plans, summaries, and estimates for maintenance projects.
• Resolve and recommend a resolution of contractor disputes and claims.
• Review, generate, and negotiate change orders.
• Provide fundamental and supplemental training to subordinates.
• Manages, coordinates, and organizes field inspections, surveys, laboratory testing, material analysis, and quality control to ensure the project is constructed in accordance with plans and specifications.
• Prepares technical engineering studies and/or summaries for a variety of projects.
• Responsible for the development of plans and documents.
• Responsible for determining equipment & workforce needs & budget requirements.
• Assures projects are completed in accordance with plans, specifications, and design criteria.
• Responsible for engineering recommendations and summaries for a variety of projects.
• Reviews and approves or rejects submittals.
• Ensures the work activities of the engineering staff meet project technical and policy requirements, state statutes, and federal regulations.
• Performs feasibility analysis to ensure cost-effective solutions.
• Coordinates with other programs, agencies, or outside entities; participates in value engineering studies and public meetings.
• Provides responses as the result of claims, lawsuits, or other public record requests.
• Prepares and coordinates budget recommendations.
• Conducts performance appraisals, makes hiring and firing recommendations, and conducts disciplinary actions.
• Trains develop and mentor staff.
• Advises senior leaders regarding design and project budgets, design and schedules, and contracts.
• Develops and implements standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the engineering section.
• Participates in selection panels of architects, engineers, and contractors.
• Confers with agencies' staff in other states or government levels regarding joint actions taken or to be taken, or in exchange for vital or useful information; develops, reviews, and makes adjustments in a long-range plan for agency (or major program) goals.
• Review blueprints, design plans, and specifications for technical merit and owner intent on all projects and quality control, functionality, readability, sustainability, and construction flow.
• Develops cost estimates for future projects to include design and construction costs; Advises senior leaders on the acquisition of engineering-specific software, hardware, equipment, and materials.
• Affix the PE stamp to the work completed.

Knowledge

• Knowledge of engineering fundamentals relating to highway geometrics, hydraulic design, soil engineering, and construction practices.
• Knowledge of legal aspects of supervision, hiring, and firing.
• Skilled in preparing and delivering technical training and presentations.
• Able to communicate effectively through verbal and written means to relate specific concepts and ideas to outside agencies, public partners, and direction to engineers and technicians.
• Able to effectively plan, organize, oversee, and monitor work schedules and projects.
• Able to give attention and work under pressure.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's Degree (in Engineering)

Experience

2-4 years of progressive work experience (in Engineering) with acquired knowledge at the level of a Project Engineer

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

Professional Engineer's (PE) License Required at time of hire - (Wyoming PE required within six months of hire date.)

Notes

• FLSA: Exempt
• The Wyoming Department of Transportation is a Drug-Free Workplace.
• E-Verify: WYDOT uses E-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities
• This position will supervise the construction staff and projects located in Newcastle, Wyoming.
• The successful candidate may be eligible for relocation expense reimbursement.
• Qualifying eligibility and criteria for the hiring bonus
• Temporary employees accepting a full-time position.
• Current employees accepting a promotional opportunity - recruitment must have been opened to the public.
• One year of service to WYDOT must be completed, failure to complete this requirement will forfeit the hiring incentive, and funds will be recouped from final pay.
• Internal candidates would be required to remain in the position for a minimum of one (1) year from their promotion date.
• Employees would only be eligible for one (1) hiring bonus in a 12-month period.
• If the employee elects to downgrade through an active recruitment and/or appointment during the twelve (12) month period, they would be required to pay the bonus back.

• Click here to view the State of Wyoming Classification and Pay Structure.
• Click here to view the State of Wyoming total Compensation Calculator.

URL

Class Specifications are subject to change, please refer to the A & I HRD Website to ensure that you have the most recent version.