AOT Technical Apprentice III - Summer Opportunity

State of Vermont•Cape Coral, FL

About The Position

The Vermont Agency of Transportation (AOT/VTrans) is recruiting paid Technical Apprentices for Summer 2027. Apprentices gain hands-on experience in engineering, environmental science, planning, aviation, construction, and other transportation fields. College students are encouraged to apply, and scheduling is flexible. Applicants should identify their top four fields of interest and preferred work locations. Available assignments include aviation project delivery and engineering; unmanned aircraft systems; construction; rail trail; stormwater; bridge inspection; geotechnical; pavement management; structures and hydraulics; traffic design; natural resources and landscape architecture; archaeology; transportation planning and development review; and research. Duties vary by assignment and may include engineering and planning work, inspections, field data collection, GIS and mapping, surveys, environmental fieldwork, project research, and preparation or review of plans and reports. Work locations include Berlin, Barre, Colchester, White River Junction, Rutland, and Danville, with statewide fieldwork for some assignments. Duties are generally performed in both office and field settings. Field assignments may involve hazardous materials, traffic and construction hazards, all-weather work, rough terrain and bodies of water, carrying equipment weighing up to 40 pounds, boats, and structures above ground level. A current, valid driver’s license is required, and transportation may be required for field assignments. These are temporary positions with variable hours; the State does not guarantee 40 hours of work per week. The State of Vermont is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity, mutual respect, and meaningful inclusion. Employment decisions are merit-based, and retaliatory adverse employment actions are forbidden.

Requirements

One or more years of college coursework in engineering, construction management, or a related field, or two or more years of work experience in civil, construction, or environmental engineering, or a related field.
A current, valid driver’s license.
Transportation may be required for field assignments.

Nice To Haves

Coursework in engineering, construction management, or a related technical field.

Responsibilities

Support aviation engineering, planning, pavement management, GIS, and airport operations and maintenance, depending on assignment.
Support agency unmanned aircraft system flights and potential emergency response; collect data using photogrammetry, LiDAR, photos, and video.
Assist inspectors on active highway construction projects by reviewing plans and helping verify that work meets specifications.
Maintain rail trails, create GIS asset inventories, support user counts, and conduct surveys.
Map and inspect roadway drainage, collect water samples, and help identify illicit discharges through water testing and mobile apps.
Help evaluate state and town bridges and calculate load ratings.
Log rock cores, evaluate unstable slopes, review rock-slope construction, and identify aggregate materials.
Evaluate pavement, support design, assess roads before construction, and review completed projects for lifecycle performance.
Assist with bridge design and hydraulics through project reviews, site inspections, and investigations.
Support roadway safety and capacity projects by preparing intersection plans, specifications, and estimates.
Conduct fieldwork involving wetlands, plant and soil identification, monarch butterfly habitat, and invasive plant mapping; assist with planting plans and adding field data to GIS and MicroStation plans.
Assist with archaeological fieldwork, GIS/GPS, background research, and report review; support project tracking and review engineering plans and regulatory requirements.
Support statewide transportation planning through stakeholder meetings, site visits, and research into other states’ transportation policies.
Develop a system to track research implementation and communicate project benefits; work may involve VTrans-funded research, research from other states, and the National Cooperative Highway Research Program.