civil engineer

engineering technician

maintenance person

technical manager

senior technician

Illinois Department of Transportation

In my experience, work as an engineering technician was largely related to supporting the day-to-day construction activities in an administrative role. This included maintaining reports on current work being done, creating patch depth reports, collecting weigh tickets for any material delivered, and assisting with mapping/locating future work sites. My coworkers were largely supportive and understanding of my desire to learn, and often invited me out to any out-of-the-ordinary activities they were assigned. Standard working environment was usually roadside, either on foot or in a company truck. Occasionally had to eat a working lunch, and usually had to be available for earlier morning and evening activities (earliest 4am for busy intersection work, latest 7pm for big pushes to meet deadlines). Physically demanding, but honest and rewarding work.

Having worked for the FAA for over 25 years, I have seen it progressively slide downward.  The professionalism that used to be a hallmark of air traffic control is gone.  The integrity of managers and too many employees is gone.  A sense of progress and vision is non-existent.  In conversations with peers around the country, the same refrain is heard again and again:  ATC needs to be contracted out to fix it.  The ATO is rotting from the inside out.  The head of the snake needs to be cut off.

The hardest part of an ATC job is working within the management structure.  It's hostile both directions, and many managers refuse to take a stand out of fear of reprisal.  The only enjoyable part of the job is the pay and the benefits.  (Know anywhere besides public "service" where you get a pension AND Social Security AND a 401(k)?)

While I was a summer tech at IDOT, I was working full time and really enjoyed the work and the workload given to me. I was able to learn new practical skills and was able to get more people skills than in any of my previous jobs. My management was fine until they became dependent on me to do most of the jobs in the office. I was given jobs that needed done weekly and loved doing these jobs and accomplishing the goals of finishing the jobs of the week but after the second month of learning new jobs and writing manuals for the office it began to be more and more difficult. I was unable to finish all of the jobs given to me in a timely manner. This would not have been so frustrating if I wasn't the only summer tech under my department. It seemed like the more productive I was the more responsibility I was given; which I loved until they began to put all of the responsibility on me and not on the other summer techs.

I truly enjoyed working with the public because everyday was different I got to use my language skills everyday and knowing and understanding other people culture was a plus that help me throughout my time there. My military background enable to stay sharp and focus in getting the job done.
Screened thousands of passengers daily, paying close attention to detail and enforcing the rules and regulations
Assisting the public going thru the process safely was great
Using the X-Ray machines, identifying restricted items, ensuring that at the end of your watch nothing went wrong.
Co-workers: Some were just there for a job. Under the right supervisory leadership everyone did their jobs.

As an Operating Practice Safety Inspector, the majority of time was spent in the field doing direct observations of railroad employees to determine their level of compliance with Federal Regulations and Railroad Operating Rules.  This provided direct impact to their personal and professional lives by raising their awareness of safety procedures in the work environment. Periodically I would conduct random audits of the railroad records for hours of service reporting, drug and alcohol testing, Engineer Certification, and accident/incident reporting.  These audits insured proper reporting allowing myself and management the ability to track and identify trends of potential non-compliance and safety concerns in an effort to provide intervention prior to the occurrence of a critical event.

Traveled throughout District 3 (9 counties) and monitored completed roadway projects.
Verified projects were completed accurately and ensured roads, signs and guard rails were in good working order.
Took pictures and wrote memos to record all activity.
Displayed excellent independent decision making skills and reliability with state issued vehicles and equipment.
Monitored independent contractors and ensured that safety
rules and regulations of the road construction projects were adhered to. Worked collaboratively with several different road crews throughout
9 county area.
Input data into software program to determine payments to contractors. Utilized Excel spreadsheets to create charts for work to be done. Traveled to various locations to pick up equipment.

Was in charge of traffic collection and data for our six counties, and the  two consultant  companies that were collecting the data. Also I would input the data and pass out to the general public,publish on our website and for the engineers that requested the data. Over look day to day supervision of over 20 employees and the schedule and time  cards. Was project manager and oversaw a $2.5 million dollar year to year contract. Was in daily contact with varies Mayors, Township and City Transportation Officials  and internal managers. Along with our Springfield office of Planning. I also had to drive and check on the field crews in different locations with set-up and  supervision between 6:00 am -6:00pm. 

The job is not hard, my yard was very open and friendly. It's like a family. We all looked out for each other out on the road, even if was had a "cat fight" in the yard. You get to drive help keep the road ways open and people moving. The motoring public hates us, but without us they are definitely not going anywhere. When there's no snow to clear, you get to pick trash, cut trees, fill pot holes, clean sewer, pick up road kill. If it has anything to do with the road, plan on working on it. On snow watch, bring lunch, dinner, breakfast. Long days/nights. Keep moving, clear the snow, open the lanes and salt the heck out of it.

A typical day consisted of database entries, operating the switchboard telephone, delivering/sending mail, store room inventory and stocking, paper work, organization, office work. I learned to organize and to have a lot of people skills. My co-workers and management team were excellent. They always helped if you needed anything at all. The hardest part of my job was keeping up on all the gas receipts that needed entered into the Excel program. Once the receipts got piled up from long trips or when the drivers turned a lot in at once, it was very important to get as many into the database as possible. The most enjoyable part of this job was learning what all the office work was about.

What is the best part of working at the company?
The atmosphere everyone here acts their age and does their job we all know what needs to be done and we do it with pride!

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Nothing unless you think it’s just a sit behind the wheel job you are in fact required to do labor as well and trust me your team is your best friend do the work and everything else is nothing 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
The best I’ve ever seen I’ve worked at several big companies nothing compares 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Get in get your orders head out get it done come back and be proud

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Civil engineer 1 salary reported	$35.00 per hour
Engineering technician 18 salaries reported	$4,177 per month
Maintenance person 13 salaries reported	$6,062 per month
Technical manager 8 salaries reported	$6,413 per month
Senior technician 5 salaries reported	$5,266 per month

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