Agricultural Engineer III - Limited Service

This position will perform civil and/or environmental engineering duties in the Water Quality Division within the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets in support of technical and financial assistance programs. The primary duties of this position will include engineering and hydrology work for the design, construction and management of farmstead infrastructure practices. The position will also provide engineering support, expertise and guidance to farmers, to regulatory program staff, partner organizations, and engineering consultants or contractors.

This position will be based in Middlebury, Vermont, and will work directly in support of federal United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) conservation programs.

Examples of work to be performed by this position include:

• Prepare engineering designs for infrastructure such as agricultural waste storage structures, storage tanks, heavy use area, and special stability features, and other infrastructure improvements according to USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) technical standards and specifications or equivalent.
• Prepare design documents for practices and structures to include material standards and quantities, construction standards and acceptable site modifications.
• Conduct engineering surveys and soil and water sampling to obtain planning and design data for engineering work.
• Generate construction layouts and as-builts and oversee construction.
• Provide technical regulatory compliance recommendations during construction to document that structures will meet construction standards.
• Conduct environmental sampling to ensure compliance with construction standards.
• Provide technical assistance to Vermont farmers regarding how management practices effect agricultural systems and other infrastructure to reduce agricultural pollution.

Please note that this is a limited-service position currently funded through November of 2028 with the potential for extension.

As of July 14, 2025, the step 1 rate for pay grade 25 will be $29.87 per hour.

Minimum Qualifications

Master's degree in agricultural, civil, environmental, ecological, structural or geotechnical engineer or geology AND three (3) years or more of professional level engineering experience including the design, construction, and management of agricultural waste systems

OR

Bachelor’s degree in agricultural, civil, environmental, ecological, structural, or geotechnical engineering or geology AND four (4) or more years of professional level engineering experiences including the design, construction, and management of agricultural waste systems.

OR

Associate's degree in agricultural, civil, environmental, ecological, structural, or geotechnical engineering or geology AND six (6) years or more of professional level engineering experience including the design, construction, and management of agricultural waste systems.

AND

Required to be registered with the State of Vermont as a licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.) OR ability to obtain P.E. licensure reciprocity from another state within six (6) months.