CIVIL ENGINEER TRAINEE (State)

Code: 15843 State Non-Competitive Range: P95 (FY 2027) Work week 35: FLSA coveredOvertime table (4A:3, Appx. A)

Salary: $62,917.22 - $65,326.12/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 close supervision of a Principal Engineer or other supervisory official in a state department or agency or in a local jurisdiction, as a trainee and productive worker, performs basic engineering and related work in a civil hydrographic, hydraulic, materials, utilities, environmental, public works, and/or public health engineering program; does other related duties as required.

Examples of work

• Under close supervision, as trainee and productive worker:
• Learns to review and interpret plans and specifications.
• Learns to operate the transit and level.
• Learns to stake final lines.
• Learns to locate and plot topographical features.
• Performs engineering calculations involving trigonometry and calculus.
• Learns to draft construction plans; participates in preparing as-built plans and participates in preparing cost estimates of materials for specific projects.
• Learns to check and sample materials for laboratory tests; learns to lay out and conduct detailed inspections of excavating, embankment, earthwork, concrete, sheet asphalt, curbs, pipes, guard rails, culverts, inlets, utility holes, wells, and top-soiling.
• Learns to collect, compute, and analyze hydrologic, hydraulic, and other engineering data for water supply and/or flood control work.
• Learns to investigate dependable yield of surface and subsurface water supplies.
• May participate in hydrologic analyses of drought, storm rainfall, and flood runoff, and develops basic flood control data.
• Learns to perform hydraulic computations to design channel improvements; performs the field and office engineering work involved in shore protection, navigation channel and marina construction, and management of riparian lands.
• Learns to conduct inspections and physical and chemical tests of all materials and products used in the construction and maintenance of highways and transportation facilities.
• Performs the field and office work involved in measurement and determination of quantities and costs of structures, facilities, and/or studies of utility services, rates, and safety.
• In local service, may learn to inspect and oversee construction of bridges, buildings, dams, highways, and other public works projects to ensure that procedures and materials comply with plans and specifications.
• In local service, may learn to inspect finished installations to ensure conformity to plans and specifications.
• In local service, may learn to investigate complaints received regarding public works construction activities and recommend appropriate remedial action.
• Prepares clear, technically sound, accurate, and informative engineering and other related reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Prepares detailed correspondence.
• Maintains essential 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 Civil Engineering.

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 of civil engineering. Knowledge of the procedures used in locating, planning, and designing civil engineering projects, roadways, walks, and drainage projects. Knowledge of methods used to review and interpret engineering plans and specifications. Knowledge of engineering mathematics including trigonometry and calculus. Ability to apply basic civil engineering principles and techniques in plans, designs, charts, maps, specifications, and estimates. Ability to participate in field survey parties and conduct field inspections and investigations of work under construction. Ability to perform engineering mathematical computations. Ability to conduct field and laboratory tests. Ability to read and interpret engineering plans and specifications. Ability to inspect materials, workmanship, construction, and installation of various public works facilities when required in local service. Ability to apply local ordinances, resolutions, and codes relating to public works to specific cases when required in local service. Ability to observe prescribed inspection procedures. Ability to prepare clear, technically sound, accurate, and informative engineering and other reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations. Ability to prepare detailed correspondence. Ability to maintain essential 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 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 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. ADVANCEMENT: Appointees who successfully complete the twelve (12) month training period will be eligible for advancement to an Assistant Engineer level title, in accordance with the New Jersey Civil Service Commission procedures. The inability of an employee in this title to attain a level of performance warranting advancement to the Assistant Engineer level shall be considered as cause for separation. 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 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. The area of discipline indicated on the FE exam results must be in Civil Engineering. 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. CN409520P95-SN3595N/AP95- This job specification is for government use only. Salary range is only applicable to state government. Local salaries are established by individual local jurisdictions. 6/19/2021