NJ Civil Service Navigator

SUPERVISING HIGHWAY ENGINEER 2, TRAFFIC

Code: 11285 State Competitive Range: S31 (FY2026)

Career Family: SUPERVISING HIGHWAY ENGINEER

Salary: $101,707.55 - $150,105.19/year FY2026 schedule (last updated 2026-05-08)

Supervising Highway Engineer 2, Traffic is a competitive state title, the kind you test for: the exam result, not a hiring manager's pick, decides where you land in line.

You can qualify with a bachelor's degree or, if you do not have one, by piling up more experience instead. Pay on the FY2026 schedule runs $101,708 to $150,105, and state payroll currently lists 6 people in the title, most of them at Transportation.

How to get hired

  1. Watch for an open-competitive announcement for Supervising Highway Engineer 2, Traffic on the NJ Civil Service Commission jobs portal. Announcements run for a fixed filing window.
  2. Apply during that window and sit the examination. Depending on the title, that can be a written test, a rating of your training and experience, or a mix of the two.
  3. Passing scores go onto a ranked eligible list. Veterans get preference points added on top of their score.
  4. When an agency has a vacancy it must appoint from the top of that list under the "Rule of Three." Many competitive jobs are first filled provisionally while the list is being built.

Read the official specification at NJ Civil Service Commission.

Who employs this title

State payroll records show 6 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $121,067. The agencies employing the most are:

  • Transportation (6)

Counts from NJ YourMoney agency payroll. See statewide workforce analytics.

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.

Definition

Under the direction of a supervisory official in the Department of Transportation, supervises the work programs and staff of several units; does other related duties.

Examples of work

Plans, organizes, and supervises the development of Traffic Control Plans (TCP) and the inspection of construction projects and detours for the adequate and safe movement of traffic. Supervises the design of traffic control devises. Supervises the work operations and/or functional programs and has responsibility for employee evaluations and for effectively recommending the hiring, firing, promoting, demoting, disciplining, and/or training of employees. Supervises the preparation of documents for approval of all traffic regulations and traffic control devices. Supervises the review of construction plans and specifications prior to bids to ensure the accuracy of traffic control and capacity including signs, signals, and other related traffic control devices. Assists in the preparation of the annual budget and work program. Serves on technical and professional committees dealing with matters related to traffic engineering including those used in evaluating new traffic control devices, materials, or methods. Interprets and explains traffic engineering features of design plans to county and municipal officials. Prepares clear, technically sound, accurate, and informative traffic and related engineering reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations. Assists the supervisor in various aspects of the Federal Highway Safety Program. Resolves conflicts between competing (environment versus traffic growth) needs in negotiation and advisory efforts with new or expanded state and federal agencies, local municipalities, and the public at interest. Supervises the development and review of sophisticated traffic systems which employ computers and microprocessors as the primary instruments. Makes complex engineering determinations that take into account the details of diversified factors of consideration which include social, economic, and environmental aspects. Prepares correspondence in accordance with official duties. Supervises the establishment and maintenance of essential records and files. 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.

Education

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree in engineering. 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 ½) 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 ½) years. CODE: 30/S31 - MER 7/18/09

Experience

Five (5) years of traffic engineering experience including one (1) year in charge of a major phase of a traffic engineering 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 traffic engineering and their most effective utilization and adaptation to New Jersey traffic problems. Knowledge of the economic, engineering, administrative, and other problems encountered in supervising and directing the work of a traffic engineering office involved in the planning and design of traffic control measures. Knowledge of office practices, procedures, modern traffic design, and the preparation of highway construction plans. Knowledge of social, economic, and environmental considerations. Knowledge of modern computer techniques as they apply traffic systems. Ability to acquire knowledge of the standards and warrants set forth in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. Ability to acquire knowledge of those portions of the New Jersey Statutes pertaining to traffic control, particularly R.S. 39, Chapter 4. Ability to acquire knowledge of the standards, specifications, policies, procedures, physical layout, regulations, and functions of the department. Ability to comprehend, analyze, and interpret the standards, regulations, policies, specifications, and procedures, of the department, and to apply them to specific traffic engineering problems and projects. Ability to assign and instruct traffic engineers, consulting engineers, and office personnel engaged in traffic engineering projects within component sections, and to supervise and control the performance of their work. Ability to speak before professional, civic, business, and other groups concerning existing and proposed traffic control projects. Ability to coordinate the work of the subordinate sections with other units of the department, representatives of the Federal Highway Administration, municipal and county officials, and officials of other agencies concerned with traffic engineering projects. Ability to devise sound operating procedures in formulating and carrying out plans for the effective use of personnel, equipment, materials, and supplies in the subordinate sections. Ability to work cooperatively and to establish cooperative relationships with associates, municipal officials, and those persons, agencies, or others interested in or concerned with traffic control projects. Ability to prepare correspondence in the course of official duties. Ability to prepare and supervise the preparation of engineering and other detailed reports containing findings, conclusions, and formal recommendations. Ability to supervise the establishment and maintenance of 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. NOTE: FOR PROMOTIONAL PURPOSES ONLY 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.

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. 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. Possession of a Master's degree in Civil Engineering may be substituted for one (1) year of non-supervisory experience.

Study guides for this exam

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. If you buy a book through a link on this page, Amazon pays this site a small commission. The price you pay is the same either way. How this site makes money.

The Civil Service Commission does not publish official study guides or release past tests. These are independent equivalency guides.