PRINCIPAL ENGINEER (HYDRAULIC)

Code: 02798 Local Competitive

Official job specification

The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator. Source: the official specification page at NJ CSC.

Definition

Under direction takes the lead and/or performs the complex work involved in hydrologic and hydraulic, engineering; in some jurisdictions, may supervise staff conducting field and office engineering work; does other related duties.

Examples of work

• Takes the lead in and/or performs the complex work involved in hydrologic and hydraulic engineering.
• Performs hydrologic, hydraulic, and engineering studies for water supply, storm drainage and/or flood control.
• Investigates floods and flood damages within the jurisdiction.
• Reviews flood control plans and studies.
• Assists the County or Municipal Engineer in design of drainage facilities
• Provides technical services to flood commission authorities and citizen groups interested in flood control.
• Issues written orders for the construction work required to expand, maintain and repair the water distribution and transmission system.
• Conducts analyses of droughts, storm, rainfall, and flood runoff records in order to develop basic data for the use of the jurisdiction.
• Consults with engineers of other governmental agencies relative to the development of comprehensive plans for the alleviation and prevention of flood damages.
• Prepares design for channel improvements and other flood control work to coordinate the work of municipal, county and state agencies in long range construction and planning programs.
• Coordinates the flood control activities of federal agencies with those of the jurisdiction and local interests.
• Cooperates with the U.S. Weather Bureau and State Civil Defense Authorities in flood forecasting and warning.
• Makes field inspections of streams and water ways under study.
• Investigates major floods to collect data; prepares reports for further study.
• Prepares reports and correspondence relative to inspections, collection of data, and other routine matters and summarizes findings and recommendations in published reports.
• Conducts studies to establish the magnitude of storm water runoff resulting from changes in land use of highway construction.
• Attends meetings and public hearings as required.
• Reviews subdivision and site plans for impact on drainage.
• Promotes sound watershed management practices.
• Coordinates the work of and provides technical services to flood control commissions, river basin authorities, watershed associations and citizen groups active in county and watershed drainage and flood control efforts.
• Assists the county engineer in the design of appropriate storm water and other drainage structure plans.
• Prepares cost estimates for drainage design projects.
• Prepares clear, technically sound, accurate and informative drainage, engineering and other reports containing findings, conclusions and recommendations.
• Computes consumption and charges on wholesale accounts with private water companies and other municipal water departments.
• Takes the lead in the conduct and analysis of hydraulic flow tests. Advises and assists all other departments on matters relating to engineering.
• May supervise the work operations and/or functional programs and have responsibility for effectively recommending the hiring, firing, promoting, demoting and/or disciplining of employees.
• Works with consulting engineering firms on revisions to the water system due to highway construction, urban renewal projects, including preparing plans and detailed cost estimates.
• Consults with state, county and city engineers, fire chiefs, fire insurance engineers and inspectors, architects private engineers, etc., on the engineering problems relating to the transmission and distribution of water.
• Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.

Education

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree in civil, hydrological or hydraulic engineering.

Experience

Three (3) years of professional engineering experience involved in either flood, surface water or ground water hydrology, open channel hydraulics, water supply and/or flood control.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Knowledge of modern engineering principles, techniques, and methods involved in flood hydrology, open channel hydraulics, flood routing, water supply, flood control and/or analysis of stream flow and rainfall records.
• Knowledge of the collection, tabulation, and presentation of engineering data and computations.
• Knowledge of the collection and evaluation of hydrologic data pertaining to rainfall, stream flow, and ground water.
• Knowledge of the regulatory laws, rules, regulations, and policies pertaining to storm drainage and flood control.
• Knowledge of the natural water resources, geology, drainage base characteristics (streams and rivers), and flood history, of the State of New Jersey.
• Knowledge of the engineering principles and problems involved in the related field of engineering, surveying, structural design, earth work construction, soil mechanics, and stream gauging.
• Knowledge of the problems involved in public relations.
• Knowledge of the zoning, health, and other State laws relating to drainage.
• Knowledge of engineering mathematics, including trigonometry and calculus.
• Ability to take the lead and provide suitable assignments and guidance to subordinate employees.
• Ability to make accurate estimates of quantities and project costs.
• Ability to apply, under general supervision, advanced engineering principles and techniques in hydrology, and/or hydraulics and develops engineering methods and procedures for the examination of applications and the conduct of studies, investigations, and designs.
• Ability to perform specialized tasks and other routine administrative work assigned.
• Ability to collect, compute, tabulate, and analyze rainfall, stream flow and/or ground water records in order to develop hydrographs, infiltration values, runoff coefficients, stream flow mass curves, rainfall intensity-duration diagrams, and storm rainfall relations.
• Ability to train new personnel, explains and apply new technical procedures, and provide advice and assistance with unusual and difficult problems.
• Ability to analyze and examine engineering drawings, plans, and reports.
• Ability to make contacts with the general public and the representatives of local, county and state government agencies relative to technical questions.
• Ability to prepare and present testimony at public Hearings.
• Ability to work harmoniously with associates, subordinates and the public.
• Ability to supervise the work operations and/or functional programs and effectively recommend the hiring, firing, promoting, demoting and/or disciplining of employees may be required.
• Ability to draft correspondence relative to technical and other official matters.
• Ability to maintain essential records and files.
• Ability to prepare, review, and submit clear, sound, accurate, and informative reports on routine and special technical and other matters containing findings, conclusions and also reports for publication.
• Ability to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
• Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
• Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.

Note

The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.

Possession of a professional engineer's license issued by the New Jersey Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors may be substituted for the college degree.

Possession of a master's degree in civil, hydrology or hydraulic engineering may be substituted for one (1) year of the work experience.

Appointees may be required to possess a valid Professional Engineering (PE) license issued by the NJ State Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors, particularly for positions assuming 'responsible charge' over staff as defined by NJAC 13:40-1.3

Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.