Engineer Training Program
Information
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation recognizes its dependence on registered professional engineers for the successful execution of its programs. Therefore, we have prepared a Training Program that emphasizes Professional Engineer registration for our civil engineers. Routine evaluations and department needs may lead to Program improvements from time-to-time, so the program outlined herein is subject to change.
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation's Engineer Training Program makes employment offers to individuals authorized to work in the United States. The minimum requirement for application into the Program is a BS in Civil Engineering from an ABET accredited college or university.
Normal progression through the Program is as follows:
- First Year: COOP Engineer Trainee XII (COOP XII)
- Second Year: Engineer Intern Level III (or IV)
- Third Year: Engineer Intern Level IV (or V)
- Fourth Year: Engineer Intern Level V
- Professional Engineer
Career progressions are based upon merit and are not automatic. However, if you are diligent and have passed the Fundamentals of Engineering examination (EIT), you may expect to be progressed each year of your first three years. All progressions are geared toward achieving Professional Engineer status. ODOT provides the books and online training needed to prepare you for the PE exam. In addition, the Department will pay tuition for college classes which are related to your job and which may be considered a part of your ongoing professional education.
COOP XII
Everyone enters the Engineer Training Program as a COOP XII. However, salary at this level is determined by which of the following elements you have already acquired: 1) a BS/civil engineering, 2) BS/civil and have passed the EIT, 3) MS/civil and have passed the EIT, 4) any of the previous three elements plus prior experience.
As a newly hired civil engineer, you begin with the core curriculum of our Program. During the first year you will rotate through fifteen divisions. Examples of some of these divisions and their responsibilities include:
- Bridge Design Division: Composed of two functional areas: 1) Operation, which inspects and rates existing bridges, provides technical assistance to a Field Division during construction, maintains the bridge database, review and approval of shop details and bridge management using the PONTIS Bridge Management System. 2) Design, which designs and details bridges resulting in final plans for construction. The design of bridges entails both a hydraulic design, to ensure the bridge provides an appropriate hydraulic opening, and structural design. Additional duties for Design include the design and detailing of other highway structures such as retaining walls, sign structures, and roadway drainage structures.
- Environmental Programs Division:Integrates environmental considerations and regulatory requirements into all aspects of the ODOT transportation program. It also provides assistance and guidance in complying with environmental rules and regulations that affect both project development and construction and maintenance operations, and provides a broad range of technical expertise in the natural and human environment. This includes obtaining National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documentation and applicable environmental permits for ODOT projects and activities.
- Field Construction: Administers Department Construction Contracts and oversees contractor's work to ensure quality construction that is accordance with plans and specifications and built in a safe and economical manner. Field Construction personal may also be involved with pre-construction activities such as plan development, utility relocation, and issues associated with Right-Of-Way clearing and acquisition.
- Maintenance Division: Administers the maintenance of the statewide highway system. This includes allocating funds statewide for routine maintenance and scheduling statewide routine maintenance activities within acceptable levels of service within budgetary constraints. It is also responsible for providing operational guidance as well as writing specialized contracts for use statewide to ensure uniformity and conformity. It acts as the Agency liaison with FHWA and the Oklahoma Emergency Management Office concerning all emergency related events. The Maintenance Division directs the development, implementation, use and support of the Maintenance Management, Equipment Management and Warehouse Management Systems. The Beautification Branch administers several statewide beautification programs while coordinating with the public and the Field Divisions. The Central Garage is responsible for maintaining the Central Office fleet.
- Materials Division: Provides quality sampling, testing, analysis, and inspection programs for the transportation industry to ensure that highway materials meet quality and performance standards.
- Planning and Research Division: Performs a variety of functions related to research, data collection, inventory, mapping, coordination with other levels of government, and meeting federal requirements. The major functions are to maintain and process changes to the certified mileages of public roads; collect data and keep an accurate inventory of all highways and county roads; maintain official maps (county maps, state map, etc.); maintain ODOT's GIS system (GRIP); collect and analyze traffic data, turning movements, vehicle classifications, and vehicle weights for statewide coverage and project-level design; collect and analyze pavement condition data and produce reports of optimized timing of pavement treatments; collect data on the condition and design adequacy of the roads and bridges on the state highway system and predict future conditions and funding needed over the next 20 years to bring all roads and bridges to an adequate condition; report annually to the FHWA on the condition and performance of the state highway system and selected non-highway sections of roads; perform long-range planning, air quality planning; coordinate with metropolitan planning organizations and FHWA; maintain the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (first four years of 8-Year Construction Work Program); conduct/oversee in-house and contract research; and perform public involvement meetings as part of NEPA process, STIP, long range plan, and highway removal hearings.
- Right of Way and Utilities Division: Acquires and clears right-of-way to construct and maintain Department sponsored projects in compliance with all laws and regulations. Acquiring right-of-way entails title investigation, mapping, appraisal, appraisal review, negotiation, condemnation, residential relocation, and commercial relocation. Clearing right-of-way includes abatement of hazardous materials, demolition, and relocation of utilities that are in conflict with proposed construction. Other administrative functions include outdoor advertising control, scope - cost - schedule management, highway system removals, disposal of surplus property, and acquisition of sites for maintenance and communication needs.
- Roadway Design Division: Provide the contractors and ODOT construction personnel with well-designed Roadway plans which comply with all appropriate AASHTO and ODOT design criteria in order to ensure a safe and efficient transportation system at the lowest possible long term cost.
- Survey Division: Provide pre-construction surveys (engineering surveys) for the design divisions. Additional duties include: responsibility for retracement of the Public Lands Survey System (PLSS) and re-establishment and perpetuation of major land corners, property lines (including ODOT's rights-of-way lines), maintain horizontal and vertical control state-wide via Continuous Operating Reference Stations (CORS) that broadcast continuous Global Positioning Systems (GPS) data, and providing the Department with current aerial photography for mapping, legal displays, planning, etc.
- Traffic Engineering Division: Oversee and implement work zone traffic control (WZTC), highway signing, pavement marking, traffic signals, highway lighting, crash data collection, crash data analysis, safety improvement program, and product evaluation.
You will be assigned specific tasks in each division, based on a training plan/curriculum developed by the division. A copy of the division specific plan will be provided to you before each assignment. This is an on-the-job training program and you will perform engineering related work throughout your training period.
The average COOP XII spends approximately six months of the first year in the Oklahoma City area and approximately five months in the field on Construction, Maintenance, and Survey assignments. However, if you desire a design assignment after rotation an additional three months of field construction is required. The Department pays for travel related costs (lodging, per diem, and mileage at the state rates) during field assignments more than sixty map miles from Oklahoma City.
Upon completion of the rotational training, you will meet with the Engineer Development Council (EDC), a group of Professional Engineers who are responsible for overseeing the Engineer Training Program. They review your progress, approve your area of specialization and assign your duty station. The assignment takes into consideration your preferences and the department's needs.
Permanent assignments in construction are statewide. Positions in virtually all other divisions will normally be in the Oklahoma City office. However, our goal is to have two or three engineers in every construction residency in the state. So if you prefer to live in a smaller town, you should request an assignment to one of the residencies.
Engineer Intern Level III
The Advanced Curriculum normally begins at the Engineer Intern Level III (EI III) stage. As an EI III, you will be given additional responsibilities and in-depth training in your area of specialization. For example, an EI III in Construction will normally gain 3 to 6 months of in-depth experience in construction survey, 3 to 6 months in construction inspection, one month in all phases of material testing, and one month in estimate preparation, final project documentation and other office procedures.
Engineer Intern Level IV
At the EI IV stage, you will be given broader project responsibilities and will be expected to assume a position of leadership in engineering roles.
Engineer Intern Level V
As an EI V, you will be expected to handle multiple engineering jobs simultaneously. You will also be required to supervise other ODOT employees.
The experience gained in the Engineer Training Program will qualify you for the Professional Engineer examination. The purpose of the Program is to create Professional Engineers who are trained to become the future leaders of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation.
Professional Engineer
The Professional Engineer assumes tasks bearing high responsibility and engineering expertise.
The State of Oklahoma is an Equal Opportunity Employer
