SENIOR ENGINEER, MATERIALS

Code: 13093 State Competitive Range: P23 (FY 2027) Work week 40: FLSA coveredOvertime table (4A:3, Appx. A)

Salary: $72,896.47 - $106,798.07/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 limited supervision of a supervising engineer or other supervisory official in the Department of Transportation, has charge of either a functional or geographic engineering subsection of the division, including the coordination of a work force engaged in a full range of complex engineering work concerned with the field, laboratory, and facilities, physical and chemical testing and inspection where the department is responsible for quality control; does other related duties as required.

Examples of work

• Coordinates and controls test research and investigation programs, establishes priorities, and schedules assignments within the subsection.
• Coordinates and maintains operational subsection performance to ensure compliance with established standard specifications, evaluates material analyses, exercises engineering judgment, and makes technical recommendations relative to materials acceptability.
• As required, may take the lead over professional and/or technical staff.
• Investigates new test methods to improve accuracy and efficiency by optimum utilization of scientific equipment and instruments.
• Initiates, performs, and completes specialized testing and research programs requiring appropriate technical skills, makes complex mathematical calculations, and interprets data obtained from instrumental analyses.
• Performs engineering services at experimental test sites and other locations, provides technical assistance involving materials related problems, confers with engineering units of the department and outside agencies on testing matters, and instructs and attends technical and management seminars and courses.
• Prepares detailed technical reports requiring use of engineering knowledge and judgment, prepares progress reports and budget requirements for the subsection, and coordinates the maintenance of official test data records.
• Coordinates subsection units engaged in testing and evaluation of transportation construction and maintenance materials used in concrete roadway base construction, subgrades, and structures.
• Oversees a functional unit engaged in advanced engineering materials testing and evaluation requiring utilization of such instruments as the gas chromatograph, infrared, ultraviolet and atomic absorption spectrophotometers, environmental test chambers, computerized or digitally reporting universal testing machines, and other instrumentation.
• Coordinates special evaluation projects, which include experimental pavement marking materials, bituminous pavement mix designs, epoxy systems, experimental concrete designs, concrete admixtures, and soils design investigations.
• Confers with engineers from other department divisions and bureaus concerning mutual materials engineering problems related to highway and public transportation facility development, and recommends steps necessary for problem solving.
• Coordinates the maintenance of records, reports, and files.
• Will be required to learn how 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.

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

<b>OR</b>

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.

<b>AND</b>

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 of experience, up to a maximum of two and one-half (2 1/2) years.

Experience

Two (2) years of engineering experience involving the making, testing and/or inspecting of materials used in highway or building construction and maintenance.

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 essential duties of the position.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Knowledge of the materials and products used in construction and maintenance of highways and public transportation facilities.
• Knowledge of the problems which arise when tests are made in the field or at the point of manufacture, and of the precautions to be taken to prevent breakage, deterioration, or waste of testing equipment, materials, and supplies.
• Knowledge of the properties of varied types of highway, bridge, and other building materials and of the field and laboratory tests used to measure these properties.
• Knowledge of the methods, procedures, and techniques established for testing, inspection, and analysis of materials used in construction and maintenance of highway and public transportation facilities.
• Knowledge of the varied types of laboratory and field apparatus and equipment used in physical and chemical testing of highway and public transportation facility construction materials and their use, maintenance, adjustment, and repair.
• Knowledge of the specifications established for materials and products used in the construction and maintenance of highway and public transportation facilities.
• Knowledge of the form and content of construction plans and shop drawings.
• Knowledge of the use and operation of nuclear surface moisture-density gauges.
• Knowledge of federal safety regulations governing use of the nuclear density gauge and X-ray units.
• Ability to calibrate the nuclear density gauge used in testing of soil aggregates.
• Ability to adhere to established testing procedures, use good judgment in making minor deviations therefrom when circumstances warrant, and to devise new testing methods, procedures, and techniques when no standard method is available.
• Ability to plan, organize, and carry out research and analyses of construction and maintenance materials for highways and public transportation facilities and their uses in the field and in the laboratory.
• Ability to interpret data from instrumental analysis of various materials.
• Ability to determine suitability of currently used and/or proposed types of construction materials for specific projects.
• Ability to prepare clear, sound, accurate, and informative engineering reports of tests, inspections, and analyses containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Ability to coordinate the maintenance of records, reports, and files.
• Ability to learn how 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 if they can perform the 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:

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.

An Engineer-In-Training (EIT) certification issued by the Division of Consumer Affairs, New Jersey Office of the Attorney General may be substituted for the above education requirement. Applicants must submit proof of the EIT certification and the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam results.

Possession of a valid Professional Engineer's License 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 for Engineering and Technology (ABET) meets the above education requirement.