Highway Technician Associate - Ames

Job Description

Do you like having variety in your day-to-day activities? If you love being outside and have a safety-first mindset in all that you do, the Iowa DOT wants you to join our team!

As a Highway Technician Associate, your day-to-day work will often be on the roadside and include:

• Patching roadway
• Repairing and maintaining guardrails, signs, fences, lighting, culverts, and waterways
• Participating in traffic control for maintenance activities
• Picking up and disposing of litter and debris
• Operating snow equipment to remove snow, ice and frost from roadways
• Mowing, cutting brush, weed and vegetation control and spraying

The responsibilities of this role help contribute to our mission - Making Lives Better Through Transportation. You will be an important part of the Iowa Department of Transportation’s Core Values: Safety First, People Matter, Customer Focused, Servant Leadership, and Integrity Without Exception alongside your teammates.

Residency: Ames Maintenance Garage - Within five (5) months, employees are required to reside within 45 minutes driving time, during normal conditions, from assigned work location.

Shift: 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM, Monday through Friday. Hours may vary and the position is subject to be on call 24 hours a day during emergency and/or weather conditions. Some overnight travel may be required.



As a State of Iowa employee, you will be eligible for the following benefits:

• Competitive pay and benefits package including health, dental, flexible spending, and life insurance
• Insurance benefits start the first month following 30 days of employment and costs can be reviewed here.
• Opportunities for professional growth and development.
• Paid time off effective immediately - biweekly vacation, separate sick leave, accruals rollover on a yearly basis, and 9 paid holidays per year.
• Iowa Public Employee Retirement System (IPERS) Retirement Package with employer match
• Optional 401A plan with employer contributions.
• Employee Discount Programs from a variety of vendors (vision, cellular, fitness, recreation, season passes, travel, counseling; legal, financial).

We encourage you to view more about the State of Iowa Employee benefits and costs at the State of Iowa Employee Benefits Website!

Special Requirements:

• A CDL permit upon hire.
• Class A and endorsements/restrictions on your CDL within 5 months following your hire date. Entry Level Driver Training is available upon hire through the Iowa DOT. The multi-faceted training will help meet all state and federal regulations.

• A successful U.S. DOT Clearinghouse query.
• A pre-employment physical verifying the physical ability to perform the duties described. Click the video link for a demonstration: OPC Webinar Chapter 4 PCP Demo Test (youtube.com)
• A pre-employment drug screen and will require ongoing participation in random drug and alcohol testing programs.
• May be required to obtain pesticide/herbicide certifications or other certifications as needed.

Help make Iowa roadways safe for you, your family, and your friends.

You have the freedom to flourish in Iowa – Apply now !

The Iowa Department of Transportation is an equal-opportunity employer. If you require a reasonable accommodation in completing any screening, interviewing, pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the selection process, please direct your request to the Affirmative Action & Equal Employment Opportunity (AA/EEO) Officer at: View email address on jobs.institutedata.com

Reasonable accommodation such as interpreter, translator, written materials, modified equipment/devices, ADA access, etc. This does not include scheduling needs.

The State of Iowa participates in E-Verify, a federal program that helps employers confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. Within the required timeframe, new hires will be verified through the E-Verify system to ensure authorization to work in the United States. The State of Iowa also complies with the federal Right to Work laws, which protect employees’ rights to work without being required to join a labor organization. For more information, please visit

Minimum Qualification Requirements

Applicants must meet at least one of the following minimum requirements to qualify for positions in this job classification:

• Graduation from high school, GED, or equivalency.
• A total of four years of education and/or full-time experience, where one year of high school education equals one year of full-time work in highway maintenance or equipment operation.

Additional Qualification Requirements

• Positions in this class require possession of a valid Commercial Learner’s Permit upon hire. Within a timeframe determined by the appointing authority, a valid Commercial Driver’s License with the required endorsements and applicable restrictions must be obtained and subsequently maintained to continue employment.
• In conjunction with Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations (parts 40 and 382), this job requires a pre-employment drug screen and will require ongoing participation in the employer’s random drug and alcohol testing program and will be subject to the regulations regarding the Federal drug and alcohol testing program.
• Prior to starting employment, all persons are required to have a post offer, pre-employment physical verifying the physical ability to perform the duties described.
• Within a period of time after hire, as determined by the appointing authority, employees in this class may be required to obtain and maintain Herbicide Applicator certification from the Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.
• Positions require certification for testing materials and operating specialized equipment as required by the Iowa Department of Transportation’s Technical Training and Certification Program for Highway Materials and Construction; and/or other certifications as required.
• Travel, including overnight travel, may be required for positions in this class. Employees must arrange transportation to and from assigned work areas.
• Within a timeframe determined by the appointing authority, employees in designated positions are required to reside within a defined driving time, during normal conditions, from the assigned work location.
• Employees must respond to emergency situations as required.
• Employees must be able to work up to 16 consecutive hours.