NHDOT Geotechnical Engineer

NHDOT Employee Spotlight!

Zachery Roller, PE, Geotechnical Engineer

The State of New Hampshire DOT would like to welcome our new Geotechnical Engineer/Civil Engineer IV for the Bureau of Materials and Research. Zachery Roller earned his BS in Civil Engineering from Central Connecticut State University in 2016 and MS with a concentration in Geotechnical Engineering from the University of Oklahoma in May of 2022.

Zachery Roller is new to the New Hampshire Department of Transportation. He learned about the NHDOT while working for a large engineering firm. In October of 2022, he decided his work-life balance would be better in the public sector. His favorite part of working for the State of New Hampshire is a consistent schedule. He knows where he is, and he’s living a healthier life with time for exercise and to prepare meals. Both the public and private industry provide a steady source of income, but the State of NH provides great benefits.

On a typical day, he works at his desk on developing projects. However, every other week he gets away from the office to go to the site of a project and forms relationships with NHDOT’s own field staff, like our Geological Exploration Technicians who operate the heavy drilling equipment. His advice for new hires is to get all the administrative paperwork taken care of right away, so that they can get right to work. “Have IT set up your hardware, e-mail, and phone and make sure you have the appropriate programs on your computer. Take every opportunity to learn; never stop learning both technically and professionally. We tend to pick niches and stick with them, but get involved and ask questions,” he says. 

He advises prospective candidates to look at what a job has to offer whole scale. Taking into consideration extensive travel to project sites, timing his commute to/from Boston, parking fees, taxes and other costs related to energy, time and money, NHDOT was an attractive package. While working for the private sector, Zachery was providing geotechnical support to project design teams and construction oversight for projects. In his new job, however, he supports bolstering both natural and historical resources like a dry-laid granite block wall at a retaining wall project on Meredith Neck Road. In New England, dry-laid stone wall building dates as far back as the settlers of the 1600s. Stones buried in the soil were dug out and dragged to the edges of fields and along property boundaries. Like the stones moved during farming, there’s been a shift in this geotechnical engineer’s career development, going from the private to public sector. He has unearthed a new perspective in how to look at a project development site. Zachery takes pride in doing a good job for the beautiful State of New Hampshire by helping both the general public and preserving our natural resources.

His favorite project has been the Dummer-Cambridge-Errol plan. The development of Route 16, which runs adjacent to the Androscoggin River, starts just east of the Dummer-Cambridge town line near the intersection of NH 110A and continues approximately 1.3 miles towards Errol. Project 16304 will address the poor condition of the pavement and road base, provide a sustainable roadway that maintains the connectivity of the corridor, minimize long-term maintenance and risk resulting from the proximity of the Androscoggin River, and preserves the scenic quality of the surrounding area near Thirteen Mile Woods Community Forest. 

Zachery has gone camping with his fiancé at Mollidgewock State Park in Errol and the location holds special memories for them. On his days off from work, he enjoys hunting, fishing, going to the range and tinkering in the garage, getting his gear ready. At NHDOT Zachery balances his career by scheduling time with family and friends and doesn’t worry about working late, traveling for work or long commutes. “Work to live, don’t live to work,”is Zachery’s mantra. 

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