PROJECT ENGINEER STRUCTURAL EVALUATION

Code: 10478 State Competitive Range: S28 (FY 2027)

Salary: $91,628.18 - $134,900.38/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 the Chief, Bureau of Structural Investigations, Evaluations and Rating, Department of Transportation, supervises the work program and staff of a section in the Structural Engineering Services Unit of the Bureau; does related work as required.

Examples of work

• Supervises the work of a structural evaluation unit including the engineering evaluations, analyses, and rating of new and existing bridges and coordinates the work of other bureau personnel involved in the National Bridge Inspection Program as mandated by the federal government.
• Supervises the on-site condition and evaluation of State owned highway and railroad structures.
• Develops, negotiates and administers County/State and consultant/state highway and railroad bridge survey agreements, contracts and other engineering projects including consultant monitoring, reviewing invoices, and project coordination.
• Controls State, County, highway and railroad consultant structural evaluation agreements and reviews at various stages to ensure compliance with FHWA, AREA, NBIS, and DOT rules and regulations.
• Directs the structural analysis of all highway and railroad bridges in New Jersey.
• Makes recommendations to supervisor regarding the posting and closing of bridges based on engineering survey reports.
• Develops priorities for bridge replacement based on compiled engineering data and rehabilitation lists using numerous computer and other reports to maximize the utilization of Federal Aid.
• Instructs evaluation unit in the retrieval of all Structural Inventory and Appraisal sheets for highway and railroad bridges in the State from various owners, and directs the review, correction and submission of same to the FHWA.
• Resolves conflicts between competing (for examples, environmental versus traffic growth) needs in negotiation 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.
• Initiates project programming for the Bureau.
• Compiles data for preparation of the Bureau's yearly budget.
• Assists supervisor in the evaluation and analysis of standards and specifications for all NJDOT highway and railroad bridges.
• 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.
• Supervises investigations of bridge design and construction problems, and load capacity of existing bridges.
• Supervises the preparation of structural evaluation reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Coordinates and insures the execution of specialized testing of bridges, for e.g. bridge deck condition surveys and fathometer studies).
• Advises the Bureau Chief on the purchase of specialized evaluation equipment such as fathometers, pachometers, Delamatects, restistivity detectors, other non-destructive testing equipment and supplies for use by staff. Coordinates the operations and maintenance of same.
• Maintains an extensive filing system for engineering drawings, bridge inspection photos and bridge inspection survey reports and other records and files.
• Prepares reports.
• 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.
• <b>REQUIRMENTS
• EDUCATION:</b>
• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree in Engineering.

Experience

Four years of experience in structural evaluation work which shall have included one year of supervisory experience in a major structural evaluation program.

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 principles, practices, equipment, and procedures of modern and past engineering for structural highway and railroad condition evaluation and appraisal, and their most effective use.
• Knowledge of the rules and regulations of the Federal Highway Administration relating to the allocation of federal aid to State and local authorities as it relates to structural evaluation of engineering projects for bridge rehabilitation and repair.
• Knowledge of the standards, specifications, policies, procedures, physical layout, regulations and functions of the Department of Transportation.
• Knowledge of related State and Federal policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of social, economic, environmental and safety engineering considerations.
• Knowledge of related State rules and regulations governing structural evaluations.
• Knowledge of the forms of deterioration of bridges, and structures and other condition evaluation techniques required to make definitive recommendations for rehabilitation or replacement.
• Knowledge of the structural engineering techniques required for rehabilitation or replacement of bridges and structures.
• Knowledge of standards for bridge condition evaluations, including FHWA, AASHTO, AREA, NBIS, and structural inventory and appraisal coding practices.
• Ability to prepare and/or supervise engineering and other technical reports on the evaluation, construction, and/or rehabilitation of bridges and structures, containing findings, analyses, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Ability to comprehend, analyze, and interpret the standards, regulations, policies, specifications, and procedures of the FHWA, AREA, AASHTO, and the Department of Transportation and apply them to specific engineering problems.
• Ability to carry out complex structural analyses of new and old structures in various stages of deterioration and to determine safe load capacities.
• Ability to interpret complex calculations and reports to make qualified recommendations of posting and closing of bridges.
• Ability to work cooperatively and establish cooperative relationships with associates, municipal officials and with those individuals, agencies or others interested in or concerned with the Department of Transportation projects.
• Ability to assign and administer the instruction of engineers and office personnel engaged in Department of Transportation projects and service the performance of their work.
• Ability to supervise the establishment and maintenance of essential records, reports, plans and files.
• Ability to prepare correspondence in the course of official duties.
• 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 dues of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered 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 process 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 educations 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 services. Failure to do so will result in rejects from the examination process.
• AND
• Three and one half (3 ') 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 experience, up to a maximum of two and one half (2 ') years.
• CODE: 27/S28 - MER 07/18/09

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 Civil Engineering.

Appointees must meet the Bridge Inspection "Team Leader" qualifications specified in the current version of 23 CFR (Code of Federal Regulations), Part 650, Subpart C, which is the National Bridge Inspection Standards (NBIS). These qualifications specify educational, bridge inspection experience and bridge inspection training requirements, some of which can be replaced by a PE license from the State of New Jersey (only) or a National Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET) Level III or IV Bridge Safety Inspector certification.

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.