SECTION CHIEF, ENGINEERING

Code: 15881C State Competitive Range: S31 (FY 2027) Work week N4: FLSA exemptOvertime table (4A:3, Appx. A)

Salary: $105,267.31 - $155,358.91/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 general direction of a supervisory official in the Department of Transportation, is responsible for the management and supervision of work programs of two (2) or more defined work units in an Engineering related bureau (or organizational equivalent) having responsibility for the oversight of any engineering phases of a project or program which may include complex studies and surveys, preliminary engineering, design, construction or inspection work and any associated contractual agreements or funding authorizations associated with such work along any mode of the State transportation system; does other related duties as required.

Examples of work

• Plans, organizes, and prioritizes the work of the section and supervises the overall work operations.
• Is responsible for planning and implementing all complex engineering functions relative to the section's responsibilities.
• Reviews and supervises analyses of highway safety data for engineering projects to promote transportation improvements.
• Coordinates with other engineers from within the Department and the Federal Highway Administration, as well as county, state, and municipal engineers concerning engineering problems related to transportation systems, and works with other units to implement recommended changes.
• Supervises the development of in-house engineering programs and projects, and the preparation of detailed engineering reports.
• 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.
• Supervises section staff in achieving goals and objectives; is responsible for the accomplishment of section objectives in conformance with pertinent federal and state laws, rules, and regulations, and ensures that interagency objectives are met.
• Provides specific high-level technical or engineering guidance for legal actions and public forums pertinent to the section's functions and responsibilities.
• Supervises section activities and priorities, staff, and workload to conform to bureau and/or division priorities.
• Reviews and provides relevant technical information for legal and/or scientific documents relating to or affecting the specific objectives of a program or section.
• Plans, schedules, and participates in formal meetings and conferences involving state, federal, county, and local officials, those of other states, and private interests in reference to section matters.
• Plans and supervises the preparation of detailed reports containing problem identification, analysis, findings, conclusions, and recommendations, including but not limited to studies, compilations of data, computations, and analyses pertaining to the section's work.
• Reviews and assists in developing guidelines, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures, and implements required changes relative to the section's work.
• Administers, interprets, and ensures compliance with applicable federal and state laws, rules, and regulations.
• Assists in the preparation of the budget, grant applications, and personnel needs requests for the section, and monitors expenses in conformance with established budgets.
• Prepares and/or supervises the preparation of complex correspondence in the course of official duties.
• Identifies specific operational or implementation problems within the section and supervises the staff in resolving these situations.
• Researches and/or introduces progressive technical methods most applicable to section operations and, when pertinent, supervises the establishment and maintenance of computer data base systems relative to section operations.
• Addresses professional, technical, and lay groups for the purpose of providing public information relative to the section's work.
• Keeps immediate supervisor apprised of current activities, problems, and developments relative to the section's work.
• Keeps abreast of laws, current knowledge, information, and developments pertaining to the section's needs.
• Supervises the establishment and maintenance of essential files, records, data sources, and/or related materials.
• 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.

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).

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 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.

AND

Three and one half (3-1/2) 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 prorated basis, thirty (30) credits equaling one (1) year of experience up to a maximum of two and one half (2-1/2) years.

Experience

Five (5) years of experience in a field related to transportation engineering, two (2) years of which shall have been in a supervisory capacity.

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 engineering theory and principles.
• Knowledge of the engineering techniques used in bridge, rail, and road construction and the applicable local, state, and federal laws, codes, and regulations associated with engineering work.
• Knowledge of administrative practices and procedures and operational/organizational theories, and the application thereof in supervising overall work operations.
• Knowledge of the tools, techniques, principles, and practices utilized in the specific discipline appropriate to the position.
• Knowledge of the state and federal laws, and the rules, regulations, standards, policies, and procedures as they apply to the functions and responsibilities of the section.
• Ability to plan, organize, coordinate, and assign engineering work, analyze engineering problems of varied types, and develop appropriate work methods.
• Ability to prepare and supervise the preparation of clear, technically sound, accurate, and informative engineering and other reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Ability to supervise the preparation of reports on administrative, engineering, or technical matters with clear and accurate findings and sound recommendations, including appropriate implementation and scheduling.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with consultants, contractors, outside engineers, representatives of local, county, state, and federal governments industry, civic associations, and others interested in the goals, functions, and responsibilities of the section.
• Ability to evaluate section performance, identify problem areas, and develop and implement improved or corrective methods and procedures.
• Ability to effectively represent a section at conferences, seminars, meetings, and negotiations.
• Ability to supervise the establishment and maintenance of essential records, files, and/or data sources.
• 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, and understand 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 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</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

A work unit for this purpose would typically consist of a primary level supervisor and at least three (3) professional and/or technical subordinates, as appropriate. Any deviation from this standard must be pre-approved by the Civil Service Commission before any appointments are made to the title.

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, Electrical &amp; Computer, Environmental, Industrial &amp; Systems, or Other Disciplines.

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.