PRINCIPAL ENGINEER GEOTECHNICAL

Code: 10454 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 the direction of a Project Engineer Geotechnical or other supervisory officer, performs, reviews, and supervises employees in all designs pertaining to soils, checks foundation designs for structures pertaining to soils, designs pavements and makes recommendations for acceptance of soils materials for construction projects; does related work as required.

Examples of work

• Supervises or performs the complex roadway designs pertaining to soils, structural foundation design pertaining to soils and pavement design.
• Reviews and/or supervises the review of foundations of all types of structures as requested.
• Performs and/or supervises the more complex design work in determining the structural makeup of pavements.
• Determines the need for and evaluates the results of all testing programs involving soils.
• Prepares and/or supervises the preparation of geotechnical specifications pertaining to soils and foundations.
• Investigates and makes recommendations to construction forces in regard to the soil problems which occur during construction.
• Maintains a constant review of current developments in the field of soil design.
• As directed, supervises and administers soils and materials testing programs for buildings and construction, specifically pertaining to soils.
• Gives professional guidance to field and/or personnel and supervises the performance of their work.
• Supervises construction of roadways and other site improvements involving soils.
• Prepares and supervises the preparation of specifications pertaining to soils and foundations.
• Investigates and makes recommendations to construction forces in regard to all soil problems which occur during construction.
• Maintains a constant review of current developments in the field of soil design and construction.
• Maintains close liaison with all consulting engineers employed by the department in order to ensure the submission of acceptable designs and specifications.
• Prepares and presents papers on technical matters.
• Plans, organizes and assigns the work of the organizational unit and evaluate employee performance and conduct, enabling the effective recommendation of the hiring, firing, promoting, and disciplining of subordinates.
• Establishes and maintains the essential records and files.
• May 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 with a Bachelor's degree in engineering, including or supplemented by three (3) college credits in soils mechanics.

Experience

Three (3) years of professional experience in soils engineering.

NOTE: A Master's degree in soils mechanics may be substituted for one (1) year of the required experience.

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 the fundamental, theoretical, and practical concepts of soils mechanics as applied to highway and building design and construction.
• Knowledge of the laboratory and field test procedures as applied to soils and pavements components.
• Knowledge of the problems implicit in the design of pavements, including the materials and construction methods to be used.
• Knowledge of the principles of engineering geology.
• Ability to organize assigned technical and supervisory soils engineering work, analyze soils engineering problems, and develop appropriate work methods.
• Ability to assign and instruct employees, effectively preparing and/or overseeing their performance appraisal.
• Ability to establish cooperative working relationships with contractors, outside engineers, and others.
• Ability to prepare realistic and sound cost, personnel, materials, time and other estimates, reports and records.
• Ability to review all plans and specifications to determine their adequacy in regard to soils and subdrainage design, pavement components, quantities, and payment.
• Ability to prepare correspondence in the course of official duties.
• Ability to prepare clear, technically sound, and comprehensive engineering and other reports and files containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Ability to supervise the maintenance of the essential records, plans, 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 requirement:
• 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

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.

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) including or supplemented by three (3) college credits in soil mechanics 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.