ENGINEER TRAINEE, TRANSPORTATION

Code: 16270 State Non-Competitive Range: P95 (FY 2027) Work week 40: FLSA coveredOvertime table (4A:3, Appx. A)

Salary: $68,838.62 - $71,492.72/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 close supervision of a supervisory official in the Department of Transportation, as a trainee and productive worker, performs basic field, laboratory, and/or office engineering work which may include conducting routine surveys, designs, studies, tests, inspections and/or investigations relating to the engineering program and/or work of the unit; does related work as required.

Examples of work

• As a trainee and productive worker:
• Learns to perform field, laboratory, and/or office engineering work.
• Learns to prepare, review, analyze, and interpret plans, specifications, diagrams, maps, and/or drawings.
• Learns to draft construction plans and participate in preparing as-built plans and cost estimates.
• Learns to test various types of materials and/or products and may classify and grade their physical properties.
• Learns to collect, compute, and/or analyze engineering data.
• Learns to collect and prepare samples for laboratory analysis.
• Learns to review submissions of equipment and machinery designs for compliance with applicable standards.
• May assist in the development, review, and issuance of permits.
• Learns to operate equipment and devices used in engineering programs and/or work.
• Learns to perform investigations relating to engineering programs and/or work.
• Learns to conduct various types of inspections.
• Performs engineering calculations.
• Assists in the design, installation, maintenance, repair, and alteration of the State's highway system and ancillary structures.
• May confer with outside entities on engineering matters.
• Learns to prepare evidence for use in court actions and hearings and may be required to give testimony.
• Learns to prepare engineering and other reports.
• Maintains 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 in a discipline appropriate to the position.

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 principles, procedures, techniques, and application of engineering.
• Knowledge of the preparation of specifications for engineering projects.
• Knowledge of methods used to review and interpret engineering plans and specifications.
• Knowledge of the problems involved in engineering work including the preparation of plans, designs, and calculations.
• Knowledge of the methods used to collect and analyze engineering data.
• Knowledge of the methods used to conduct field and laboratory tests.
• Knowledge of the methods and procedures used to obtain samples, prepare them for testing, and determine the proper degree of accuracy in conducting tests.
• Knowledge of precautions taken to prevent breakage, deterioration, and waste of testing equipment, materials, and supplies in the laboratory.
• Knowledge of the proper procedures for obtaining permits.
• Knowledge of the equipment and devices used in engineering programs and/or work.
• Knowledge of applied trigonometry and calculus.
• Ability to apply basic engineering principles and techniques to assignments and projects.
• Ability to examine and analyze engineering drawings, plans, designs, charts, maps, diagrams, and sketches.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering plans and specifications and/or environmental impact statements.
• Ability to gather and analyze data.
• Ability to conduct field and laboratory tests.
• Ability to interpret laws, rules, and regulations and apply them to specific situations.
• Ability to conduct field inspections and investigations.
• Ability to observe prescribed inspection procedures.
• Ability to perform engineering calculations and analyze engineering problems.
• Ability to learn the properties of varied types of highway construction and maintenance materials.
• Ability to learn the proper use of field and/or laboratory apparatus and equipment used in testing of highway and other construction and maintenance materials.
• Ability to follow complex oral and written instructions and to learn quickly from instructions, explanations, and demonstrations.
• Ability to work alone or as one of a group in the office and/or field.
• Ability to establish cooperating working relationships with others.
• Ability to give testimony in court.
• Ability to prepare engineering reports.
• Ability to maintain essential records and files.
• Ability 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 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.
• <b>ADVANCEMENT</b>
• Appointees who complete the twelve (12) month training period successfully will be eligible for advancement to one of the following titles under Civil Service Commission procedures : Assistant Engineer Civil, Assistant Engineer Electrical, Assistant Engineer Materials, Assistant Engineer Materials Non-Destructive Testing, Assistant Engineer Mechanical, Assistant Engineer Planning, Assistant Engineer Traffic, Assistant Engineer Transportation, Environmental Engineer 1 Or other titles designated appropriate by the Civil Service Commission.
• The inability of an employee in this title to attain a level of performance warranting advancement to one of the titles listed above shall be considered as cause for separation.

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.

The responsibility for ensuring that employees possess the required education, commensurate with the type of engineering discipline required of the position, rests with the Appointing Authority.

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 (e.g., Civil, Electrical and Computers, Chemical, Industrial and Systems, Environmental, Mechanical, and Other Disciplines) must be appropriate to the position.

For positions in the Geotechnical Engineering discipline, candidates must possess six (6) college credits in various Geotechnical courses, such as Geotechnics, Soil Mechanics, Geotechnical Engineering, Foundation Engineering, etc.

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.