PROJECT ENGINEER, SURFACE DESIGN

Code: 10275 State Competitive Range: S29 (FY 2027)

Salary: $95,955.4 - $141,386.2/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 Supervising Engineer, Surface Design, in the Department of Transportation, has charge of the design operations in one of the centralized design squads, or, under a Supervising Engineer, Field Survey, has charge of the field survey work done by several field survey parties; does related work as required.

Examples of work

• <u>Design Squad:</u>
• Assists in planning, organizing and supervising the work of a surface design squad; develops the work programs and working procedures involved in the development of designs for all types of highways and other transportation projects.
• Responsible for the training and development of assigned engineering personnel.
• Supervises the preparation of construction plans; the preparation of plans and agreements for the acquisition of rights of way; and research connected with the design and construction of highways, airports, railroads, and other transportation projects.
• Supervises the traffic analyses and prepares preliminary design studies of all types of transportation projects, from major sections of the Interstate System down to small intersection channelization of drainage projects.
• Directs the preparation of design schematics and cost estimates for transportation projects after approval by the Department.
• Supervises the compilation of the contract documents, including establishing construction staging and material computations.
• Attends meetings with utility companies to negotiate the relocation of any of their facilities that conflict with the proposed project.
• Supervises engineering calculations used in the preparation of surface design construction plans and specifications, estimates and reports.
• Resolves conflicts between competing (i.e. environmental versus traffic growth) needs in negotiations and advisory efforts with new or expanded State and Federal agencies, with local municipalities, and with the public at interest.
• Resolves conflicts between State and Federal procedures.
• Makes engineering determinations that take into account the details of diversified factors of consideration which include social, economic, safety and environmental aspects. Gives appropriate assignments and instructions to engineers; provides them with needed personnel, equipment, materials and supplies; and checks their work to see that proper procedures are followed, that reasonable standards are maintained, and that desired objectives are achieved.
• Supervises the work operations and/or functional programs and has responsibility for employee evaluations and for effectively recommending the firing, hiring, promoting, demoting and/or disciplining of employees.
• Collaborates and cooperates with the area supervisors; engineers of the Federal Government; official and engineers of political subdivisions of the state; Public Utility Companies; and with the consulting engineers, property owners, and others to coordinate properly the design of transportation projects.
• Addresses public meetings and service clubs concerning matters related to transportation projects and conducts public hearings when necessary.
• <u>Field Unit:</u>
• Assists in planning, organizing and supervising all work in the field units of an assigned region or area and develops the work program and working procedures involved in the making of reconnaissance and preliminary surveys, drainage surveys, changes of plan, construction stakeouts, as-built surveys, and calculations.
• Supervises the preparation of topographic and right of way data and the preparation of reconnaissance maps showing preliminary designs.
• Supervises the preparation of bridge surveys and location plans and coordinates the activities with the Structural Design Bureau of other divisions and bureaus.
• Supervises the preparation of study location plans.
• Supervises the preparation of specific information and survey data for right of way plans for the acquisition of property for proposed projects, such as: Entire Tract Maps; General Property Key Maps; and Individual and Condemnation Maps.
• Supervises the work operations and/or functional programs and has responsibility for employees' evaluations and for effectively recommending the firing, hiring, promoting, demoting and /or disciplining of employees.
• Prepares and directs the preparation of clear, sound, accurate and informative design engineering reports including comprehensive reports of contractor's claims; complaints of property owners and complaints from public officials.
• Maintains essential records and files.
• Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and computerized information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
• <b>REQUIREMENTS
• EDUCATION:</b>
• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree in Engineering.

Experience

Four (4) years of professional surface design engineering experience, one (1) year of which shall have included supervisory responsibilities.

Applicants may substitute a Masters degree in Civil or Transportation Engineering for one year of the non-supervisory experience.

License

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.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Knowledge of engineering principles including highway design for all types of transportation facilities and familiarity with the economic, engineering, administrative and other problems encountered in supervising and directing the work of an engineering office or field survey office involved in the design of highways and other transportation projects.
• Knowledge of the principles, practices, equipment and procedures of highway engineering.
• Knowledge of the work of a design survey party and the problems encountered in the field operations required to gather engineering data and to make as-built plans in the field.
• Knowledge of social, economic, environmental and safety engineering considerations.
• Knowledge of the standards, specifications, policies, procedures, physical layout, regulations and functions of the Department of Transportation.
• Ability to give appropriate assignments and instructions to the Engineers and office personnel engaged on surface design projects, both in the design squads or the survey parties in the field.
• Ability to comprehend, analyze, and interpret the standards, regulations, policies, specifications, and procedures of the Department of Transportation and to apply them to specific design problems.
• Ability to manage efficiently the technical and administrative operations of a design squad or survey party.
• Ability to coordinate the functions of a design squad or survey party with other Department operating units, the Federal Highway Administration, municipal and other government officials and officials of other agencies concerned with transportation design matters
• Ability to acquire a thorough knowledge of related State and Federal policies and procedures.
• Ability to prepare and supervise the preparation of engineering and other detailed reports 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 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 course. 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 ') years of full time experience in engineering related work.
• Applicants who have more that 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 ') years.
• CODES: 28/S29 - MER 7/18/09

Note

The definition and 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.

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