PRINCIPAL ENGINEER, TRANSPORTATION

Code: 10274 State Competitive Range: R26 (FY 2027)

Salary: $83,582.01 - $122,831.91/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 Project Engineer or other supervisory official in the (A) Construction-Maintenance Service, (B) Design Service, or (C) Traffic and Local Road Design, Department of Transportation, supervises and/or performs the more complex contractural and/or engineering phases, or performs the highly complex surveys, studies, design, construction, or inspections of highways and mass transportation systems and appurtenances; does related work as required.

Examples of work

• GENERAL
• May give appropriate assignments and professional guidance to field and/or office engineering personnel and/or supervise the performance of their work.
• Confers with engineers from other divisions and bureaus of the department, the Federal Highway Administration, the Attorney General's Office, and county, state, and municipal engineers concerning engineering problems related to transportation systems; coordinates recommended steps and practices with other units.
• Analyzes and interprets plans and specifications.
• Analyzes information on highway safety with the intent of promoting necessary improvements.
• Manages work operations and/or functional programs, and has responsibility for employee evaluations and for effectively recommending the hiring, firing, promoting, demoting, and/or disciplining of employees.
• Prepares and/or supervises the preparation of detailed engineering and other reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Maintains and/or supervises the maintenance of extensive records and reports pertaining to the administration and operations of all assigned projects.
• Performs snow removal, ice control, and other tasks related to emergency situations, day or night, as required.
• Prepares and interprets computer data related to individual engineering projects.
• Assists in the development of and/or develops inhouse engineering oriented programming.
• Utilizes computer applications in engineering problem solving.
• Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and computerized information system used by the agency, office, or related units.
• CONSTRUCTION-MAINTENANCE SERVICE (CONSTRUCTION)
• May supervise the compliance with contractual requirements on projects left for construction which include in part: highways, railroad, or bridge construction, highway, railroad, or bridge facilities, and associated appurtenances.
• Takes the measures required to ensure that equipment, materials, and methods used by contractors conform to applicable specifications and contract plans.
• Is responsible for field engineering details involved in the development of change orders, as-built quantities, and associated estimates.
• Controls and may oversee work programs, schedules, and reports.
• Receives and investigates complaints and inquiries from property owners, citizens, and public officials.
• Assists the Attorney General's Office in contract and tort claims, such as answer interrogatories, participate in depositions, serve as expert witness in defense of litigation and serve as consultant to State Attorney.
• May assign, instruct, and direct subordinate employees in their work of inspecting the materials and work processes involved in highway, rail, bridge, and other related construction.
• Checks the bridge and roadway layout, lines, grades, and other mathematical calculations.
• May direct the measurement and computation of as built contract quantities.
• Inspects, evaluates, and reports on the general condition of contractor's operations, the rate of progress, and general and specific compliance with applicable local, state and federal laws, codes and ordinances.
• Participates in staff training.
• Assists in the preparation of construction manual procedures.
• CONSTRUCTION-MAINTENANCE SERVICE (MAINTENANCE)
• May give appropriate assignments and instructions to engineers; estimates needed personnel, equipment, materials, and supplies, and may review their work to see that proper procedures are followed, reasonable standards are maintained, and desired objectives are achieved.
• Assists in planning and organizing and may supervise work in the region; develops the work program and working procedures involved in the making of reconnaissance and preliminary surveys, construction stakeouts, and calculations.
• Establishes, plans, organizes, and may direct a comprehensive work program for the region operations according to the general organization and established procedures.
• Prepares clear, technically sound, accurate, and informative reports of department maintenance matters containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Serves on the staff of the Bureau of Maintenance as a coordinator for statewide operations to maintain standard statewide policies and procedures, to prepare manuals and directives, and to make statistical analyses.
• Develops, programs, monitors, and/or supervises the development, programming, and monitoring of Maintenance Management Systems.
• Monitors and/or supervises field monitoring of the Maintenance Management Systems through time studies, audits, and methods of engineering evaluations.
• Prepares and/or supervises the preparation of plans, specifications, and other related documents required for the bedding of construction, materials, and maintenance service contracts; supervises research connected with the project.
• Makes difficult and complex engineering calculations and/or supervises difficult and complex engineering calculations used in the preparation of highway construction plans and specifications, estimates, and reports.
• Organizes and/or directs special research projects related to transportation maintenance.
• Evaluates efficiency of new methods and performance of new materials and equipment.
• Acts as service or bureau representative on committees and other professional or technical groups concerning transportation maintenance.
• Prepares Bureau Operations Bulletins disseminating new policies and procedures of the Bureau.
• Prepares correspondence in the course of official duties.
• Establishes and maintains and/or supervises the establishment and maintenance of essential records and files.
• DESIGN SERVICE
• Field Survey Forces
• Performs and/or supervises preliminary design studies and calculations of alignment grades and plan quantities.
• Prepares and/or supervises the preparation of change of plan for construction contracts.
• Programs, assigns, and reviews the work of field parties involved in various types of surveys and construction work.
• Checks as built plans and final estimates upon completion of contracts.
• Prepares and/or supervises the preparation of the more complex input data sheets that are used in computer problems.
• STAFF DESIGN FORCES
• May assist the Project Engineer in the training and development of engineering personnel assigned.
• Performs the basic traffic analysis and prepares preliminary design studies for all types of highway projects including major sections of the Interstate System.
• Prepares design schematics and cost estimates for assigned projects.
• Prepares mathematical computations for all assigned projects, utilizing the programs of the Engineering Computer Bureau to include both horizontal and vertical alignment calculations and computerized solutions for earthwork.
• Coordinates the preparation of property acquisition maps and property agreement forms required for the purchase of right of way.
• Prepares final construction plans and specifications including establishing construction staging and material computations.
• Attends meetings with utility companies to negotiate the relocation of any facilities that may conflict with the proposed project.
• In cooperation with the Engineering Computer Bureau, participates in the preparation of engineering programs which are designed to solve specialized engineering problems.
• Makes field checks of parcels being prepared for condemnation, attends pretrials with Deputy Attorney Generals and Right of Way representatives; testifies at condemnation hearings.
• Consults with county and local officials to coordinate proposed state construction with theirs and for the purpose of obtaining preliminary information necessary for the preparation of right of way plans.
• Studies and plans the use of public utility structure relating to highway construction.
• TRANSPORTATION OPERATIONS AND LOCAL ROAD DESIGN
• Programs, assigns, coordinates, and reviews the field and office work involved in the inspection activities of construction maintenance and repair on county and municipal roads and bridges where state and federal aid funds are available.
• Consults with and advises consultants and county and municipal engineers in the solving of complex problems of construction plans and specifications and of traffic engineering studies and rules and regulations, in the appropriate methods of financing projects, and in steps involved in designing, constructing, inspecting, and approving work projects.
• Assists local government officials in acquiring permits and meeting other requirements of department and other state and federal agencies required for local government aid road, bridge, and traffic engineering projects.
• Ensures that the equipment, supplies, and materials used by contractors conform to pertinent specifications, contract drawings, and federal regulations.
• May supervise subordinate engineers in their review and/or preparation of contract drawings specifications, preliminary design, estimates, calculations, as-built plans, and change of plans, and may supervise engineers and technicians in their application and interpretation of such plans.
• Effects coordination between local government officials and Federal Highway Administration and other department engineers in solving highway problem areas encountered.
• <b>REQUIREMENTS
• EDUCATION:</b>
• Graduation from an accredited college with a Bachelor's degree in Engineering.

Experience

Three (3) years of experience in the survey, design, construction, and/or maintenance of highways and bridges or 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 the essential duties of the position.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Knowledge of engineering mathematics.
• Knowledge of the application of computer programming after a period of training.
• Knowledge of engineering techniques and materials used in bridge, rail, and road construction and of the local, state, and federal laws, codes, and regulations applicable to specific situations.
• Knowledge of the purposes, policies, responsibilities, procedures, standards, and programs of the Department of Transportation a period of training.
• Knowledge of the approved form, content, and preparation of detailed construction and as-built plans, and of the techniques used in the preparation of maps, charts, graphs, and specifications.
• Knowledge of approved engineering inspection techniques.
• Knowledge of the capabilities and applications of computers in engineering situations and projects.
• Ability to organize assigned technical engineering and supervisory work, analyze engineering problems of varied types, and develop appropriate work methods.
• Ability to supervise the application of basic engineering principles, concepts, and techniques in designs, charts, maps, specifications, and estimates, and to supervise the reduction and plotting of extensive field notes.
• Ability to prepare solutions for complex and difficult engineering and design problems.
• Ability to supervise the work of department staff and outside firms for adherence to plans and specifications and for the quality of the workmanship used and to prepare detailed reports .
• Ability to interpret plans and specifications and to supervise the checking of lines and grades.
• Ability to make complex engineering and mathematical calculations and to review and check those made by others.
• Ability to lay out and supervise the work of field parties.
• Ability to give appropriate assignments and instructions to engineers and subprofessional and other employees and to supervise the performance of their work.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with contractors, outside engineers, and others.
• Ability to prepare realistic and sound cost, personnel, materials, time, and other estimates and records.
• Ability to prepare and supervise the preparation of clear, technically sound, accurate, and informative engineering and other reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Ability to prepare and maintain essential records and files.
• Ability to learn 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, or 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.
• <b>NOTE: FOR PROMOTIONAL PURPOSES ONLY</b>
• Employees hired by the Department of Transportation on or before July 1, 1999, who do not possess the Bachelor's degree listed above, may substitute education and experience as indicated below to meet the education requirements:
• EDUCATION:
• An Associate's degree in Engineering or Engineering Technology.
• OR
• Completion of forty-five (45) semester hour credits of specialized college level/non-remedial engineering education from an accredited college in an engineering or engineering technology program. Acceptable specialized education must include a minimum of 24 credits in Engineering/Engineering Science and a minimum of 21 credits in general science and higher-level math courses. Information regarding acceptable courses may be obtained from DOT/Human Resources.
• You must attach a copy of your transcript(s) to your application. Foreign degrees/transcripts must be evaluated by a recognized evaluation service. Failure to do so will result in rejection from the examination process.
• AND
• Three and one half (3 1/2 years of full time experience in engineering related work.
• Applicants who have more than the required forty-five (45) engineering related credits may substitute additional credits for the required experience on a pro-rated basis, thirty (30) credits equaling one (1) year of experience, up to a maximum of two and one-half (2 1/2) years.
• CODES: R26- MER 7/18/09

Note

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 requirements.

Possession of a valid Professional Engineer's license issued by the New Jersey Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors may be substituted for the Bachelor's degree in Engineering.

A Master's degree in Civil or Transportation Engineering may be substituted for one (1) year of the indicated experience.