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Traffic Engineering Intern

State of Iowa

Ames - 50010 - Story County, IAInternship$19.76/hrPosted 2 days agoStill listed 1 day ago

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At a glance

Compensation
$19.76/hr
Location
Ames - 50010 - Story County, IA
Role Type
Internship
Schedule
Internship
Work Authorization
Not specified

Olive lists jobs from US employers, including remote roles you can work from the United States.

Job overview

The Iowa Department of Transportation seeks an engineering student intern for the Traffic Engineering Section of its Traffic Operations and Safety Bureau. The intern will support the design and ordering of highway signs under a professional engineer’s supervision, with exposure to transportation planning, traffic operations, and highway safety. The role runs January through May, with potential to continue through summer.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

Microsoft OfficeAdobe ProductsCADD SoftwareCommunicationIndependent WorkTeamworkTraffic EngineeringPlan DevelopmentCost Estimating

Qualifications

Two Years of Engineering StudyJunior Status Upon ReturnAccredited Four-Year College

Full job description

The Iowa Department of Transportation is seeking an Engineering Student Intern who is interested in the Operations side of Traffic Engineering in Traffic Operations & Safety!

This intern position is located in the Traffic Engineering Section of the Traffic Operations and Safety Bureau. The individual selected will be responsible for designing and ordering new and replacement signs on primary highways, under the supervision of a professional engineer. Exposure to related disciplines such as transportation planning, traffic operations, and highway safety is expected. There will be additional opportunities to attend project meetings, participate in on-site field reviews, and attend workshops and conferences. Some examples of tasks include:

  • Review existing site conditions using Google Earth, as-built plans, and other internal resources
  • Draw non-standard signs using SignCAD or other sign drafting software
  • Submit fabrication orders to the DOT’s Sign Shop
  • Enter and edit information in the sign inventory database
  • Prepare monthly cost reports for the Type A Sign replacement project
  • Become familiar with state and federal signing policies (Traffic & Safety Manual, MUTCD, etc.)

Preferred background:

  • Experience with Microsoft Office and Adobe products
  • CADD software experience is preferred but not required.
  • Strong communicator with the ability to work both independently and as part of a team
  • Interest in learning traffic engineering concepts, plan development, and cost estimating

Duration: January - May; up to 20 hours/week; potential to continue through summer Requirements: Completion of at least?two years?in civil, construction, materials, or transportation engineering, or in an engineering management curriculum at an accredited?four-year college or university with eligibility for junior status upon return to school.

Eligible majors: Civil Engineer, Construction Engineer, or other Transportation Engineer related majors

How this job compares

Set against the 2,145 open Engineering Intern jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 6, 2026.

Pay
  • This posting$19.76/hr
  • US median$23–30/hr1,124 hourly ranges

This rate, $19.76/hr, is 25% below the US median midpoint ($27/hr) — in the lowest quarter of Engineering Intern hourly ranges across the US.

Openings
Olive Jobs lists 27 open Engineering Intern jobs in Iowa and 2,145 across the US. Under 1% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
Hiring the most in Iowa
Experience
Engineering Intern postings that state a minimum ask for 0 years of experience at the median; the middle half ask for 0 to 1 year (36 postings).
Education
720 of the 2,145 open Engineering Intern jobs (34%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.

Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 6, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.

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