ENGINEER STRUCTURES PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS

Code: 10494 State Competitive Range: P27 (FY 2027) Work week 4E: FLSA exemptOvertime table (4A:3, Appx. A)

Salary: $87,507 - $128,718.8/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 Supervising Highway Engineer, Bridge Design, Specification Review, in the Structural Design Bureau, Department of Transportation, reviews preliminary and final plan of proposed structures for highways and public transportation and final plans for repair or rehabilitation of existing structures; writes original specifications for bridges and structures designed by Bureau forces; reviews specifications prepared by consulting engineers; does related work as required.

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.

Examples of work

• Reviews and recommends approval of preliminary plans of structures for development into final plans or recommends changes to the preliminary after and in-depth review, considering such features as structural integrity, foundations, geometrics, aesthetics, and economy.
• Reviews and recommends approval of final plans for structures for conformance with the approved preliminary plans and checks that details are in accordance with department standards and accepts design and construction principles, and recommends changes to be made accordingly.
• Confers with the supervising Highway engineer, Bridge Design, Specification Review, and recommends changes to the plans dictated by reason of economy, improved structural design concepts, proven construction details, and latest foundation methods.
• Maintains liaison with Bureau design forces and consulting engineers to direct changes in bridge and structure plans after changes have been approved by the Supervising Highway Engineer, Bridge design, Specification Review, or the Chief, Bureau of Structural Design.
• Maintains liaison with Department engineering staff and related disciplines associated with utilities, road design, geometrics, soils drainage, electrical, right of way, and other phases of a project affecting plans and specifications for bridge and structure work.
• Prepares technical specifications for bridges and structures prepared by consulting engineers and makes additions or revisions as required to conform to Department standards or special features shown on final plans and checks for complete and proper coverage of all structural items work.
• Recommends for approval technical specifications for bridges and structures prepared by consulting engineers and makes additions or revisions as required to conform to Department standards or special features shown on final plans and checks for complete and proper coverage of all structural items of work.
• Prepares general provision to be included in specifications for contracts which involve only structural work or the rehabilitation and repair of existing structures.
• Checks to see that the provisions of agreements with municipalities, utilities, railroads, and other agencies are properly concluded in the specifications.
• Prepares appropriate material to secure and maintain necessary permits for structures.
• Determines preliminary and final engineering cost estimates for the structural work in projects.
• Reviews the prices bid by contractors for the structural items in contract and recommend either award of contract or re-advertisement; supports recommendation with justification for proposed course of action.
• Prepares correspondence, proposal forms, and all other documents required in connection with the preparation of final plans, specifications, and estimates for submission to the Federal Highway Administration and Authorities, and for use on the advertisement of contracts approved by the Commissioner.
• Reviews engineering proposals submitted by consultants for the design of bridges and structures; checks that the proposals are accurate as to scope of work and the estimated mandays, skill categories, and salaries are commensurate with the nature of the design to be done; drafts an Engineering Agreement with the consultant and processes it through the Department of Transportation.
• Confers with the Supervising Highway engineer, Bridge design, Specification Review, to interpret the requirements of Plans and Specifications.
• Prepares addenda and changes of plans covering corrections or revisions to plans and specifications for contracts after advertising as required.
• Makes periodic field trips to view and report on construction details and procedures which may result in commended changes in the specifications for structural work.
• Recommends solutions to problems which develop in the field during construction.
• Prepares specifications for new items of bridge and structural work and revises existing specifications, as necessary, because of new design and construction techniques.
• Makes investigations of special bridge design and construction problems and prepares technical reports containing analyses, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Gives appropriate information and instructions to engineering and drafting forces as required for making revisions to the plan; gives appropriate information and instructions to the clerical staff for the typing of proposals, estimates, addendums, correspondence, and special reports.
• Represents the Supervising Highway Engineer, Bridge Design, Specification Review, and the Chief, Bureau of Structural Design, at meetings and conferences concerning bridge and structural work.
• Prepares and interprets computer data related to individual engineering projects.
• Assists in the development of and/or develops in-house engineering oriented programming.
• Utilizes computer applications in engineering problem solving.
• Maintains essential records and files of bridge specifications, cost estimates, unit prices, and other detailed information.
• Will be required to learn to utilizes 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 or university with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering.

Possession of a bachelor's degree in Engineering Technology in a field related to civil engineering from a accredited college having a curriculum approved by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).

Or

Completion of forty-five (45) semester hours credits of specialized college engineering education in an accredited college, vocational school, education includes: engineering, mathematics, chemistry, drafting, mechanics, and related engineering subjects meeting criteria established by the Department of Personnel.

Experience

Four (4) years of experience in bridge and related highway structural design and construction of structures, which shall have included one (1) year of supervisory or specialized experience in writing general and technical specifications for bridges and structures.

Three and the half years (3 ') of fulltime experience in engineering related work.

NOTE: Applicants who have more than the required forty-five (45) engineering related credits will be allowed to substitute additional major credits (on a prorated basis, with thirty (30) credits equaling one (1) year of experience) for the required experience in accordance with criteria established by the Department of Personnel, up to a maximum of two and-the-half (2 ') years.

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 modern highway and railroad bridge and structural design.
• Knowledge of the procedures and problems involved in laying out, designing and correlating information relating to comparative designs prepared from engineering data.
• Knowledge of soil mechanics in relation to foundation design for bridges and structures.
• Knowledge of the methods used in the calculation of quantities, cost estimates, and construction costs, and estimates of construction time for bridges and structures.
• Knowledge of estimating engineering costs and time required for design.
• Knowledge of the technical provisions for specifications of materials, methods of construction, quantities and basic of payment used in the construction of new bridges and structures, and for the rehabilitation and repair of existing bridges and structures.
• Knowledge of the general provisions to be included in specifications for contracts containing bridge and structure work.
• Knowledge of the checks to be made in specifications affecting utilities, geometrics, soils, drainage, electrical, right of way, and other phases of work in the contract.
• Knowledge of technical design and detail standards, specification standards, policies and procedures of the Bureau of Structural Design and the Department of Transportation.
• Knowledge of the Department's Action Plan and its compliance for Bureau's lead projects.
• Knowledge of the capabilities and applications of computers in engineering situations and projects.
• Ability to visualize, analyze, interpret, and appraise the engineering principles, data, and problems involved in laying out and preparing designs for all types of bridges and structures.
• Ability to interpret and analyze subsurface data in order to provide the most advantageous foundations for use in bridges and structures.
• Ability to make and supervise the making of complex mathematical calculations.
• Ability to interpret bridge and structure plans and write technical specifications in clear, concise, and accurate language to facilitate construction after award of the contract.
• Ability to write general specifications in clear, concise, and accurate language to convey information and directions necessary for bidding procedures and conditions and all information of a legal nature such as time, payment, changes, liquidated damages, and other clauses and detailed technical specifications for new materials and methods of construction developed for bridges and structures.
• Ability to prepare preliminary and final cost estimates of bridges and structures.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative work relationships with associates, supervising officers, consulting engineers and others.
• Ability to assign, instruct and supervise engineering drafting and clerical staff assigned to make changes in plans and to the typing of proposals, estimates, addenda, and correspondence.
• Ability to draft technical and routine correspondence and notices of revisions to plans and specifications in clear, accurate language.
• Ability to prepare engineering reports containing analyses, conclusions and recommendations on various matters affecting bridge design, construction and the repair of existing structures.
• Ability to speak fluently when representing the Bureau or the Department at meetings with the public, other agencies, and consultants.
• Ability to plan and undertake the collection and analysis of engineering data for computer processing and to read and interpret the results.
• Ability to 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 the essential functions of the job after reasonable accommodation is made to their known limitations. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
• <b>SPECIAL NOTE: FOR PROMOTIONAL PURPOSE ONLY:</b>
• Individuals who do not meet the Engineering degree requirement as shown above may meet the educational requirement for this title if they have attained either of the following.