PRINCIPAL ENGINEER ELECTRICAL
New Jersey treats Principal Engineer Electrical as a competitive-class job, so the gate is an examination and the ranked list it produces rather than a direct offer.
The minimum is a bachelor's degree and 3 years of relevant experience. The FY 2027 range lands between $76,287 and $111,856, and state payroll currently lists 9 people in the title, most of them at Transportation.
How to apply
This title is filled by competitive examination.
See every real route in, and where to apply. One agency employs it. We don't track live vacancies.
See where to apply for this title →Who employs this title
Principal Engineer Electrical appears on the State payroll at one department, Department of Transportation.
State departments
| Employer | Employees |
|---|---|
| Department of Transportation | 9 |
State payroll and independent authority payroll are separate systems and are never merged. See data sources.
Who employs this title
State payroll records show 9 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $107,301. The agencies employing the most are:
- Transportation (9)
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. Source: the official specification page at NJ CSC.
Definition
Under direction of a supervisory official in a state department, has charge of the planning of up-to-date electrical facilities for various state buildings and installations and the electrical engineering work associated with maintenance programs, or has charge of the electrical engineering work connected with the design, construction, and maintenance of electrical installations in a designated area of the state; does related work as required.
Examples of work
- Supervises the preparation of plans, specifications, and designs for the electrical engineering phase of state construction work including signal systems, electric lighting for buildings and installations of various types, for bridges, signs, driveways, roadways, and walks, for power systems, for unit substations, for light and power control centers, for conduit and bus duct distribution, for high voltage overhead distribution systems, and for underground distribution systems.
- Supervises the preparation of preliminary estimates of the costs of specific projects.
- Reviews plans and specifications prepared by consulting engineers and architects.
- Checks shop drawings prepared by electrical contractors.
- Supervises the inspections of construction work for conformance with designs, plans, and specifications.
- Supervises the making of field surveys of existing electrical systems.
- Plans, organizes, and assigns the work of the organizational unit and evaluates employee performance and conduct, enabling the effective recommendation of the hiring, firing, promoting, and disciplining of subordinates.
- Makes load checks.
- Prepares clear, sound, accurate, and informative engineering and other reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
- Works with department staff in furnishing engineering services required in the maintenance and alteration, or in the making of additions to existing installations.
- Represents the department in negotiations with utility companies.
- Plans and conducts surveys, tests, and investigations pertaining to electrical aspects of construction and maintenance.
- Designs the complex traffic signal, highway lighting, and illuminated sign installations for construction within the area of assignment.
- Supervises the preparation of contract drawings, specifications, and cost estimates.
- Makes and supervises field inspections of electrical work under construction within the area.
- Supervises the compilation of data to be used in monthly estimates for payments to contractors.
- Coordinates the work of the Bureau with that of other divisions and bureaus of the department.
- Works with the department staff in furnishing the engineering services required in the maintenance and alteration, or in the making of additions to existing installations.
- Engages in and supervises others in negotiations with municipalities, counties, and utility companies.
- Plans and conducts surveys, tests, and investigations within the assigned area.
- Supervises the design and/or review of the electrical circuitry and control equipment associated with movable bridges.
- Prepares clear, technically sound, accurate, and informative engineering and other reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
- Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and computerized information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
Education
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering.
Experience
Three (3) years of experience in electrical engineering work.
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 the essential duties of the position.
Knowledge, skills and abilities
Knowledge of the principles and practice of electrical engineering. Knowledge of standards, policies, and procedures with regard to the construction and maintenance of state buildings, installations, and highways. Knowledge of the form, content, and preparation of electrical construction plans. Knowledge of the techniques used in drafting and in preparing detailed maps and charts. Knowledge of field inspection techniques. Knowledge of electric circuitry and of the methods of determining load centers, conductor size, connected load, voltage drop, and the type and the location of service facilities. Knowledge of engineering problems involved in incorporating electrical facilities in highway construction projects. Knowledge of modern methods and techniques used in the installation and maintenance of electrical systems and equipment. Knowledge of the layout of cable and electrical equipment in connection with signal systems, light, and power systems, generators, motors, switchboards, and overhead and underground high and low voltage systems and substations. Knowledge of procedures used in planning a power system incorporating service reliability, economics, simplicity, load growth, safety flexibility, and voltage levels. Knowledge of the current national and other applicable electrical codes. Ability to apply basic electrical engineering principles and techniques in plans, designs, charts, maps, specifications, and estimates. Ability to make and supervise physical inspections of field work done by others and to prepare reports thereon. Ability to interpret plans and specifications for electrical installations, make complex engineering and trigonometric calculations, and to check computations made by others. Ability to interpret department policy to government officials and utility representatives and to negotiate in accord with these policies for the installation and maintenance of highway lighting, traffic signal, and sign installations. 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. This job specification is applicable to the following title code(s) which are different work week or work month and/or variants of the job class title: Job Spec Code State, Local or Common Class of Service Work Week State Class Code Local Class Code Salary Range
Note
The definition and 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. Possession of a valid Professional Engineer's license issued by the New Jersey Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors may be substituted for the Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering. A Master's degree in Electrical Engineering may be substituted for one (1) year of experience. SC3E25N/AR24-SC4E25N/AR26- This job specification is for government use only. Salary range is only applicable to state government. Local salaries are established by individual local jurisdictions. 1/08/1997