Highway Tech I Salary $29.34 - $41.67 Hourly Location Buffalo, MN Job Type Full-time Job Number December 2025 External Department Highway Opening Date 12/17/2025 Closing Date Continuous
Description Benefits Questions General Definition of Work Performs intermediate skilled technical work providing support in the areas of preliminary surveying, construction surveying, project design, and project inspection. Work is performed under the moderate supervision of the Design Engineer or Construction Engineer.
Essential Functions To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable an individual with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Conducts field surveys by setting up and operating field survey equipment to locate and record project topography. Checks for road alignment and flow line culvert placement; photographs and visually describes drainage ways; tests soil, pavements, and excavation areas; locates and places construction stakes. Provides technical support in the design and plan preparation for highway construction projects using computer programs. Prepares estimates, drawings, charts, graphs, and visual aids; computes quantities; researches land records for right-of-way activities. Performs and oversees project inspections, including physical and visual inspections of and quality assurance tests on materials and soil. Measures and establishes construction stakes, elevations and alignment data; notifies contractor of issues and concerns. Completes paperwork and prepares reports and documentation. Performs other duties and activities as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications & Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Associates/Technical degree in civil engineering, and one year of experience in surveying, planning, inspections, or equivalent combination of education and experience. MnDOT Inspector certification is preferred. A valid drivers license or evidence of equivalent mobility is required upon hire.
Knowledge of State specifications for highway construction and their application to various types of construction projects; knowledge of traffic control procedures and practices; knowledge of construction practices for project implementation; knowledge of engineering maps and records, and drafting nomenclature and symbols; knowledge of the practices and procedures used in determining storm water computations, culvert sizing, and drainage areas; knowledge of mathematics and its application to field surveying and engineering computations; knowledge of surveying procedures and equipment; knowledge of soil types and specifications; knowledge of County government work flows and processes; skill in the use of standard office equipment, including computer and software programs; verbal and written communication skills sufficient to effectively draft and present technical information, such as plans and layouts, and respond to questions from a wide variety of audiences; reading comprehension skills sufficient to understand and interpret construction plans, surveys, and complex technical documents; interpersonal skills sufficient to exchange and/or convey information, receive work direction, and maintain effective working relationships; ability to operate computers and micro-computers, survey application programs; ability to perform difficult technical computations and to compute and check survey computations; ability to use a hand-held computer in office and field applications; ability to pay attention to detail and effectively organize time and anticipate, plan and successfully respond to changing circumstances; ability to perform all job duties in compliance with safety guidelines and with an ongoing awareness of safety practices; ability to communicate courteously and professionally while maintaining positive working relationships with others when carrying out all job functions.
Physical Requirements This work requires the occasional exertion of up to 50 pounds of force; work regularly requires speaking or hearing, frequently requires standing, walking, sitting, using hands to finger, handle or feel and repetitive motions and occasionally requires climbing or balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling, reaching with hands and arms, tasting or smelling, pushing or pulling and lifting; work has standard vision requirements; vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels and to receive detailed information through oral communications and/or to make fine distinctions in sound; work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data, visual inspection involving small defects and/or small parts, using of measuring devices, operating machines, operating motor vehicles or equipment and observing general surroundings and activities; work occasionally requires wet, humid conditions (non-weather), working near moving mechanical parts, exposure to fumes or airborne particles, exposure to outdoor weather conditions, exposure to extreme cold (non-weather), exposure to extreme heat (non-weather) and exposure to vibration; work is generally in a loud noise location (e.g. grounds maintenance, heavy traffic).
Wright County offers an exceptional benefit package including vacation, sick leave and holiday pay. Also included in this benefit package is health, preventative dental and life insurance; medical and dependent care reimbursement accounts (Section 125 Plan); deferred compensation plan and Public Employees Retirement (pension). For a more detailed overview of our benefit package, Click Here.
Supplemental Questions
I understand that in order for my application to receive every consideration in the selection process, I must complete all the following supplemental questions. I understand that I will only receive credit to responses that are supported in the information I provide in my employment application and that a resume will not be accepted in lieu of an application. Please check the "yes" button if you have read and understand this.
Yes No
Associates/Technical degree in civil engineering and at least one (1) year of experience in surveying, planning and inspections At least three (3) years of experience in surveying, planning and inspections None of the above
Describe your education and experience that indicates you fulfill the listed minimum qualifications.
Which best describes your highest level of education (highest degree received as of closing date of position)?
High school or equivalent Associates/Technical degree Bachelors degree Masters degree None of the above
If indicated you have a degree, describe your area of study and from what institution. (If no degree, type "N/A").
Do you possess a valid drivers license or can you provide evidence of equivalent mobility?
Yes No
Less than 1 year of experience More than 1 year, but less than 3 years of experience More than 3 years of experience
Describe your experience with Roadway Design. Include employer and all duties involved, including State or Federally funded projects. If no experience, type "N/A".
List years of experience with Field and Construction surveys.
Less than 1 year of experience More than 1 year, but less than 3 years of experience More than 3 years of experience
Describe your experience with Field and Construction surveys. Include employer and duties performed associated with this type of work. If no experience, type "N/A".
List years of Construction Project Inspection and Field Testing of Materials.
Less than 1 year of experience More than 1 year, but less than 3 years of experience More than 3 years of experience
Describe your Construction Project Inspection and Field Testing of Materials related experience. Include employer and duties performed associated with this type of work. If no experience, type "N/A".
List years of work related experience at the County level.
No experience Less than 2 years of experience More than 2 years, but less than 5 years of experience More than 5 years of experience
Describe your related experience at the County level. Include employer and duties you performed associated with this type of work. If no experience, type "N/A".
Do you have experience with AutoCAD Civil 3D or related design software?
Yes No
Describe your AutoCAD Civil 3D or related design software experience. Include employer and duties you performed associated with this type of work. If no experience, type "N/A".
Do you possess a current MnDOT inspector certification?
Yes No
No Yes - Veteran who served on active duty 181 or more consecutive days and received an honorable discharge - see MN Statute 197.447 Yes - Veteran who served on active duty 181 or more consecutive days and received an honorable discharge and has a service connect disability of 10% or more Yes - Spouse of a veteran who served on active duty 181 or more consecutive days and received an honorable discharge and has a service connected disability of 10% or more (the Veteran must also be qualified to apply for the position but their service connected disability restricts them from applying for or performing the job duties) Yes - Spouse of a deceased veteran who served on active duty 181 or more days, received an honorable discharge, had a service connected disability of 10% or more and was disabled at the time of death. You are ineligible if you have remarried or were divorced from