SENIOR ENGINEER CIVIL
New Jersey treats Senior Engineer Civil 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 2 years of relevant experience. The FY2027 range lands between $66,592 and $97,354.
How to apply
-
Exam
This is an application to sit an exam and be placed on an eligible list for this title, not an application for a specific job. A $35 application fee applies to Non-Public-Safety announcements issued on or after 2026-02-01. There may be no current vacancy behind it, and the list it produces may not be certified for months or years.
-
Exam
Open to permanent employees in the competitive division who hold a qualifying lower title in the same unit. A $35 application fee applies to Non-Public-Safety announcements issued on or after 2026-02-01. Like the open competitive exam, this places you on a list; it is not itself a job offer.
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.
Definition
Under the limited supervision of a Principal Engineer or other supervisory official in a state department or agency, performs independent work in the complex engineering phases of general civil engineering, design, inspection, and/or survey of construction projects, utilities, or related engineering facilities; does other related duties as required.
Examples of work
- Prepares and/or checks plans, drawings, and detailed maps and charts to be used in construction and as-built reports as well as assembles and reduces field notes in formal reports.
- Takes the lead on office and field surveys, inspections, investigations, and/or tests on projects assigned to the department involved.
- Performs independent assignments and may act as a lead worker on the more difficult field and/or office engineering work.
- Analyzes and interprets complex plans and specifications.
- Prepares complex contract drawings, specifications, cost estimates, and preliminary estimates for various engineering projects.
- Prepares work plans and estimates of probable cost for materials needed in assigned work projects, and prepares requisitions for needed labor, equipment, materials, and supplies.
- Inspects the equipment, methods, procedures, supplies, and materials used by the contractor, to ensure compliance with design plans and specifications.
- Develops field engineering details involved in change in plans, as-built plans, and associated estimates.
- Conducts civil engineering studies.
- Performs complex engineering mathematic calculations involving trigonometry and calculus.
- Designs state building construction, utilities, and other related facilities.
- 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 computerized information system used by the agency, office, or related units.
Education
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering.
Experience
Two (2) years of experience in civil engineering related 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 of civil engineering. Knowledge of the procedures used in locating, planning, and designing civil engineering projects, roadways, walks, and drainage projects. Knowledge of the methods used to review and interpret engineering plans and specifications. Knowledge of engineering mathematics, including trigonometry and calculus. Knowledge of Record of Decision (ROD) and transit activities of a field survey party. Knowledge of the form, content, and preparation of construction plans and specifications, of the techniques used in drafting and preparing detailed maps and charts, and of approved inspection techniques. Ability to design new utility installations. Ability to prepare topographic maps, profiles, and plans used in construction and to use such instruments as required to obtain the necessary data. Ability to apply basic civil engineering principles and techniques in plans, designs, charts, maps, specifications, and estimates and to reduce and plot field notes. Ability to inspect construction projects for the purpose of determining conformance with designs, plans, and specifications. Ability to organize assigned technical field and office engineering work, analyze engineering problems, and develop appropriate work methods. Ability to take the lead in field survey parties, conduct inspections and investigations of work under construction, and prepare reports. Ability to prepare preliminary estimates of the cost of new construction or installations and to check drawings submitted by contractors for these projects. Ability to solve fairly complex engineering and design problems. 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 prepare and 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 after 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 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 Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors may be substituted for the Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering. A Master's degree in Civil Engineering may be substituted for one (1) year of experience as stated above. SC4022N/AP23-SC3522N/AP21- 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