ASSISTANT ENGINEER, TRANSPORTATION

Code: 10272 State Competitive Range: P20 (FY 2027) Hire up to Step 5

Salary: $63,662.98 - $92,953.28/year FY 2027 schedule (last updated 2026-07-27)

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 of a Principal Engineer, Transportation or other supervisor in the Department of Transportation, independently works in the engineering or planning phases of surveys, studies, designs, investigations, construction, or inspections of highways or other transportation systems and appurtenances; does other related duties.

Examples of work

• Completes independent assignments on field and/or office engineering or planning work and may provide guidance to technical staff.
• Aids in difficult field and/or office engineering or planning work.
• Analyzes and interprets plans and specifications.
• Prepares details for engineering and other reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Checks computations and calculations prepared by technical staff.
• Prepares contract drawings consisting of construction plans and specifications involving drainage, utility facilities, geometric and grading plans; prepares plans and agreements for appraisal and acquisition of lands for transportation purposes.
• Prepares preliminary design studies and calculations of alignment grades and plan quantities.
• Prepares as-built plans and final estimates on completion of contracts and performs work involved in keeping standard design sheets up-to-date.
• Participates in the preparation of engineers' estimates of cost and calculations for interchange designs.
• Studies and plans use of public utility structures relating to transportation construction.
• Participates in design work pertaining to soils in surface design or foundations for structures and the structural design of pavements.
• Inspects construction, maintenance, and repair work on county and municipal roads and bridges where state aid and federal aid funds are involved.
• Participates in field studies to improve safety conditions along highways.
• Provides engineering advice to county and municipal engineers and officials in the development of construction plans and specifications and of traffic engineering studies.
• Performs calculations to assist the principal engineer in designing safety improvements.
• Reviews contract drawings and preliminary designs and estimates, and calculates as-built plans and changes in plans.
• Interprets engineering information and data for use by nonengineering personnel.
• Reviews preliminary data relating to traffic engineering studies.
• Supervises the inspection of smaller contracts involving transportation construction, transportation facilities, and associated utilities.
• Inspects equipment, supplies, and materials used by the contractor for compliance with plans and specifications.
• Develops field-engineering details involved in minor changes in plans, as-built plans, as-built quantities, and associated estimates.
• Prepares daily, weekly, and monthly reports of the phases of completed construction and materials received and used for minor projects or part of a major project.
• Iinvestigates complaints and inquiries from property owners, citizens, and officials.
• When assigned as a project supervisor on smaller contracts, supervises a group of inspection personnel conducting physical inspection of material, workmanship, and general conformity with plans and specifications concerning transportation construction.
• Prepares transportation maintenance contract drawings, plans, and specifications involving studies, design, calculations, and estimates.
• Conducts engineering field surveys necessary to prepare construction plans, as-built plans, and for special problems connected with maintenance.
• Develops new methods for maintenance and equipment operations.
• Investigates appropriateness of new materials, engineering and construction operations, and equipment suitable for use in the department's maintenance program.
• Conducts indepth inspections of construction projects and maintenance jobs prior to acceptance.
• Participates in development of quality, quantity, and performance standards.
• Reviews contract drawings, preliminary designs, estimates, and changes in plans on assigned projects.
• Prepares small contract and shop plans and specifications for assigned projects and develops associated estimates.
• Supervises inspection on projects involving site development and construction, physical plant structures and facilities, and associated utilities.
• Develops, prepares, and assists in the administration of PM programs, and conducts inspections to determine compliance and effectiveness.
• Provides guidance to technical staff conducting field surveys, tests, and engineering investigations required for design and preparation of plans.
• Conducts engineering studies and analyses.
• Investigates application of new projects, materials, and equipment relating to physical plant.
• Participates in review and interpretation of research and other material relating to the assigned area.
• Reviews and interprets planning materials relating to various transportation categories.
• Conducts various field and office engineering work related to public transportation programs.
• Analyzes and interprets plans and specifications for public transportation passenger equipment, rail transportation electrification and signal improvement projects or facilities.
• Aids in the coordination of work of consultants retained for study and design of commuter transportation passenger equipment, rail transportation electrification and signal facilities, or public transportation facilities improvements.
• Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information system used by the agency, office, or related units.

Education

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree in civil, electrical, mechanical, or other engineering field relating to transportation engineering.

Experience

One (1) year of experience in highway or transportation engineering related work.

License

Appointee 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 essential duties of the position.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Knowledge of engineering principles.
• Knowledge of engineering or planning mathematics.
• Knowledge of engineering or planning problems that arise in the design, construction, and maintenance of transportation systems and their appurtenances.
• Knowledge of the proper use of surveying instruments.
• Knowledge of the form, content, and preparation of construction plans.
• Knowledge of the methods used to prepare detailed maps and charts, and of approved inspection techniques.
• Knowledge of the methods used to sample and check construction materials, lines, grades, and dimensions.
• Ability to organize technical field and office engineering or planning work, analyze assigned engineering problems, and develop appropriate work methods.
• Ability to apply basic engineering or planning principles and techniques in plans, designs, charts, maps, specifications, and estimates and to reduce and plot field notes.
• Ability to identify solutions for simple engineering or planning design problems.
• Ability to conduct physical inspections of work done by outside engineers or planners and by others.
• Ability to interpret plans and specifications, check lines and grades, perform simple engineering or planning mathematical computations, and to review and check calculations made by others.
• Ability to work cooperatively with associates, superiors, contractors, and technical staff.
• Ability to prepare technically sound, accurate, and informative engineering, cost, planning, and other reports of transportation matters containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
• 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 the 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 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.
• CODES: 19/P20 - MER 01/11/10

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 State Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors may be substituted for the Bachelor's degree in Engineering.

A Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Technology (BSET) in a field related to civil engineering from an accredited college having a curriculum approved by the Accreditation Board of Engineering Technology (ABET) meets the above education requirement.