Engineer Trainee/Assistant Engineer NY HELPS

About the Role

This is an entry-level position for an Engineer Trainee/Assistant Engineer within the NY HELPS (Region 4) program at the NYS Department of Transportation. The role involves working under the supervision of higher-level professional engineering staff, with increasing responsibility over time.

Key Responsibilities

• Producing plans, specifications, and estimates for design projects of varying complexity.
• Preparing engineering drawings utilizing 2D/3D CADD applications.
• Performing preliminary and final design activities, including:
• Writing design approval documents.
• Preparing and/or conducting public meetings.
• Performing highway capacity analysis.
• Highway drainage design.
• Horizontal and vertical alignment.
• Retaining wall design.
• Traffic signs/signals design.
• Structural design.
• Quantity work-ups.
• Technical review and evaluation of roads, bridges, and other highway features.
• Reviewing consultant and contract plans and estimates.
• Preparing routine project designs, proposals, and specifications.
• Evaluating contract proposals for transportation services, highway and bridge design, utility relocations, railroad crossings, bridge safety and integrity, geotechnical design, maintenance and protection of traffic, and public safety matters.
• Preparing project feasibility and scoping studies.
• Developing design criteria.
• Preparing environmental studies.
• Developing highway designs.
• Performing structural inspections following policies and procedures, sometimes requiring climbing structures.
• Evaluating the condition of existing highways, bridges, and structures by collecting and analyzing data and conducting field investigations.
• Assisting in setting up quality control requirements and quality assurance programs.
• Preparing hydraulic studies and foundation reports.
• Performing structural designs, including load rating analyses.
• Participating in preliminary and final review of project proposals.
• Assisting in Structures Safety Assurance activities.
• May be assigned to special engineering projects.
• May serve a role within the Incident Command System to support emergency situations.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• 2D/3D CADD applications.

Qualifications

Engineer Trainee (NY HELPS Program)

Candidates must meet the open competitive minimum qualifications.

• Either:

• A bachelor's degree or higher in an engineering or engineering technology field.

• Proof of passing the NCEES Fundamentals of Engineering Examination (FE) AND one year of full-time engineering experience.

• Traineeship: A 24-month traineeship leading to Assistant Engineer, Grade 20.

• Advancement to Assistant Engineer: Requires proof of passing the NCEES Fundamentals of Engineering Examination (FE) and successful completion of traineeship requirements. Early advancement is possible after 12 months with FE completion.

Assistant Engineer

• Either:
• Proof of passing the NCEES Fundamentals of Engineering Examination (FE) AND a qualifying bachelor's degree or higher.
• Proof of passing the NCEES Fundamentals of Engineering Examination (FE) AND one year of full-time qualifying engineering experience.

Qualifying Degrees

• Civil Engineering
• Civil Engineering Technology
• Construction Engineering
• Construction Engineering Technology
• Construction Engineering Management
• Construction Engineering Management Technology
• Geological Engineering
• Geotechnical Engineering
• Hydraulics Engineering
• Materials Engineering
• Materials Science and Engineering
• Metallurgical and Materials Engineering
• Structural Engineering
• Transportation Engineering
• Transportation Planning and Engineering
• Engineering Science with a recognized concentration in any of the above.

Qualifying Experience (for Assistant Engineer)

• One year of full-time engineering experience with transportation projects related to:
• Highways/roadways
• Railroads
• Bridges
• Airports
• Waterways
• Building structures
• Traffic management and safety systems

Additional Requirements

• Must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.
• Educational credentials must be from an accredited institution or have independent verification of equivalency.