REGIONAL MATERIALS ENGINEER (&31)

Code: 61646 State Competitive Range: &31 (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 direction of a Regional Engineer, Transportation, Department of Transportation, develops policy, plans and implements field quality control and acceptance operations required to inspect, sample and test all materials used in Department construction and maintenance projects; does related work as required.

Examples of work

• Develops policy, plans and directs the work programs of a Materials Region, preparation of manuals and directives, and development of statistical analyses, including the inspection and field testing of bituminous concrete, portland cement concrete, soil aggregates, metal lumber, timber and structural clay products for the purpose of determining acceptability, durability and performance.
• Develops specifications for materials, testing equipment and the handling materials at the source or at the job site.
• Plans, develops and manages the implementation of the Department of Transportation's program of inspection and testing of metals and the fabrication thereof into public transportation equipment and facilities.
• Ensures proper technical and administrative coordination between the investigative, engineering and functional activities of the Region and the requirements of other regional offices and with the construction, design and research functions.
• Directs the review of materials problems at the source of job site and provides guidance to suppliers and Department personnel.
• Administers a program of Fracture Critical Inspection in accordance with federal guidelines.
• Plans, establishes, implements and analyzes a program of quality assurance to ensure that welds on buses and railroad equipment are durable and capable of withstanding the vigors of hard daily service.
• Supervises the work operations and/or functional programs and has responsibility for employee evaluations and for effectively recommending the hiring, firing, promoting, demoting, and/or disciplining of employees.
• Develops, organizes and administers the work of the Structural Materials Section of the Region, which is concerned with plant inspection at the fabrication site for manufactured materials used in Department construction, including manufacture of prestressed and precast concrete products and structural materials; and field inspection and testing of concrete and metal pipe, metal castings, lumber (plain and treated), timber piling (plain and treated), reinforcing metals, and structural clay products.
• Directs the field and plant inspection of sign and bridge components and the witnessing of related dead load tests.
• Directs periodic quality control inspections of all portland cement and bituminous concrete batching plants supplying or wishing to supply Department-sponsored projects.
• Plans and directs the monitoring of contract inspection forces and the evaluation of their performance; assigns contract inspection forces to jobs which cannot be handled by Department personnel.
• Plans, develops and manages the work of the source sampling and control section of the Region concerned with approval and continuing quality control of the raw and processed materials used in Department construction.
• Establishes, implements and constantly monitors a program to ensure that contractors' portland cement concrete mix designs are capable of providing high quality portland cement concrete in accordance with national and project standards.
• Directs a program of portland cement concrete acceptance testing including the verification of understrength lots and the computation of reductions in payment.
• Directs a program to measure riding quality characteristics.
• Ensures that accurate and complete information on materials problems, violations of contracts, law and procedures are provided to the Deputy Attorney General's Office.
• Develops programs for the evaluation of compaction equipment.
• Approves all sources of soil aggregates.
• Directs inspections at the source of the manufacture and control of paint, portland cement, asphalts, tars, oils, emulsions, concrete admixtures, air entraining agents, de-icing agents and other items used in Department sponsored projects.
• Provides technical knowledge and assistance to other Divisions, contractors' personnel, and the U.S. Department of Transportation on problems involving materials.
• Makes final determinations, based on engineering judgement, of the formulas to be used in preparing bituminous and portland cement concrete mixes.
• Plans the use of computer data processing and test analyses.
• Reviews and evaluates core reports to determine if pavements meet depth, strength, density and void requirements.
• Directs, reviews and evaluates special coring studies and investigations.
• May serve as a spokesman and representative for the Department of Transportation in dealing with those trade associations and national specifications societies directly related to materials.
• Supervises acceptance testing and reduction in payment functions which include composition, thickness and construction adequacy.
• Plans, develops and implements the Non-Destructive Testing program, concerned with the inspection evaluation and acceptance of welds on steel members for use in highway structures which includes analyzing X-rays to determine if welds are in compliance with specification requirements.
• Prepares an annual budget request for all materials activity in the Region.
• Prepares correspondence in the course of official duties.
• Represents the Department of the American Society of Testing and Materials Committees and serves as a member of the American Welding Society.
• Directs the keeping of statistical records pertaining to materials activities and other records, reports and files.
• May be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems by the agency, office or related units.

Education

Graduation from accredited college with a Bachelor's degree in engineering.

Possession of a valid license as a Professional Engineer issued by the New Jersey State Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors may be substituted for the Bachelor's degree in engineering.

Experience

Five years of materials engineering experience related to highway construction materials or maintenance including at least two years supervising a major phase of a materials engineering and/or quality control program.

A master's degree in engineering may be substituted for one year non-supervisory experience in materials engineering.

License

Appointee 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

• Ability to acquire thorough knowledge of the standards, policies, procedures, physical layout, regulations and functions of the Department.
• Thorough knowledge of the principles, practices, equipment and procedures of modern materials technology and their most effective use.
• Ability to acquire thorough knowledge of the rules, procedures and regulations of the Federal Highway Administration relating to the provision of Federal Aid for highway construction projects and plans.
• Thorough knowledge of the problems which may arise in providing suitable assignments, instruction, and supervision to construction, engineering and other employees.
• Ability to acquire thorough knowledge of the procedures and methods involving materials used in completing the construction projects and programs of the Department.
• Considerable knowledge of contract documents, plans, and public transportation equipment fabrication techniques and procedures.
• Thorough knowledge of design, construction and maintenance practices, construction equipment, and methods of construction of modern roads and structures to adopt the most suitable by durability in functional characteristics for specific uses and applications in road and bridge construction.
• Ability to acquire basic knowledge of legislation pertaining to or affecting the quality or use of materials in the construction or maintenance of highways or bridges within the jurisdiction of the Department.
• Ability to prepare and justify an itemized annual budget.
• Ability to establish appropriate work schedules and to develop effective work methods.
• Ability to comprehend, analyze, interpret and apply the standards, policies, procedures, physical layout, regulations and functions of the Department and apply them to specific materials testing or materials use problems in highway and bridge construction.
• Ability to assign, instruct and supervise regional engineering and other employees.
• Ability to plan, coordinate and supervise regional programs.
• Ability to prepare detailed correspondence.
• Ability to prepare clear, concise, intelligible reports as required.
• Ability to supervise the maintenance of essential records, reports and files.
• 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 be also 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 after reasonable accommodation is made to their known limitations. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.