Project Engineer - Major Maintenance

Job Description and Duties

Under the general direction of the Pavement/Bridge/Drainage/Facilities Manager, a Senior Transportation Engineer, the Project Engineer will perform varied duties in support of the District 5 Maintenance Program. The primary focus will be on the development of plans, specifications, and estimates for Major Maintenance projects (Roadway, Roadside, Structures, Traffic Guidance, Electrical, Drainage, TBMP and Facilities) including those targeted for SB 1 funding. The incumbent will perform field reviews, identify possible solutions, and prioritize needs as necessary. Reviews and analyzes the current condition of the Maintenance Program assets. Works closely with HQ and other District programs to meet the Maintenance program's objectives and requirements. Makes special reports and provides recommendations with regard to the program element requirements. Coordinates with the District and HQ functional units for the preparation of project PS&E package. Reviews project priority and develops the annual project proposals for Maintenance Program. Prepares and delivers Minor B Projects and Service Contracts.

PARF 05-27-0123/ JC-531533

Personal Leave Program: Effective July 1, 2025, state employees are subject to temporary salary reductions ranging from 2% to 4.62% in exchange for Personal Leave Program (PLP) hours. Please note that the salary ranges listed in this Job Control may not reflect these reductions associated with the 2025 Personal Leave Program. Please follow the link for more information regarding the 2025 Personal Leave program: .

Candidates are required to review the Minimum Qualifications (MQs) for this classification. If you meet MQs under Pattern II and require the TE Civil in-person written hurdle exam, DO NOT TAKE the TE Civil online exam prior to passing the written hurdle. Candidates who take the TE Civil online exam prior to passing the written hurdle may negatively impact their hiring eligibility. Please contact the exam unit at View email address on us.fitly.work for additional information prior to taking the online examination.

For clarification on the education requirement of the minimum qualifications, please reach out to the Human Resources Contact prior to taking the online Training and Experience Evaluation. For a list of ABET accredited schools, please refer to this link: .

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Working Conditions

Position located at 50 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo County

Multiple positions may be filled from this recruitment.

While at their base location, the employee will be working in an office setting utilizing computer equipment. The work setting is primary open space with modular furnishings in a climate-controlled office. Employee may be required to work in close proximity to traffic as part of site or activity reviews. Employee may be involved in meetings and discussions with other agencies and/or parties.

While performing field work, the employee will be required to travel District wide. Overnight stays may be required to facilitate field data collection. The incumbent will occasionally be required to travel throughout the District to attend various meetings and to perform field reviews. Possession of a valid driver’s license is required when operating a state owned or leased vehicle.Employee may be required to work in close proximity to traffic as part of site or activity reviews. The incumbent may be exposed to dirt, noise, and fluctuating temperatures in an outdoor environment.

This position may be eligible for telework. The amount of telework is at the discretion of the Department and based on Caltrans's current telework policy. While Caltrans supports telework, in-person attendance may be required based on operational needs. Employees are expected to be able to report to their worksite with minimal notification if an urgent need arises. The selected candidate may be required to conduct business travel on behalf of the Department or commute to the headquartered location. Business travel reimbursements considers an employee's designated headquartered location, primary residence, and may be subject to CalHR regulations or applicable bargaining unit contract provisions. All commute expenses to the heardquartered location will be the responsibility of the selected candidate.

The Caltrans Transportation Engineer (Civil) Rotation Program is a mandatory 24 month to 33 months rotation assignment for all permanent, full-time Transportation Engineer (Civil) employees that have completed their probationary period hired by Caltrans Districts after June 22, 2018, or an earlier date as determined by the Districts. The purpose of Rotation Program is to provide opportunities for employees and Caltrans to benefit by participating in a standardized process that systematically engages newly hired engineers. Participants will develop well-rounded project delivery knowledge, skills, and abilities by rotating through diverse project delivery functional units. The Rotation Program includes mandatory core assignments in Design and Construction units, as well as a mandatory elective assignment. Each rotation assignment is typically between 6 to 12 months and will be based on workload needs and the employee’s goals. Assignments may involve long term travel and can be located throughout the state. In addition to the Caltrans Transportation Engineer (Civil) Rotation Program, an incumbent may be required to go on loan to another project delivery function when there are temporary or peak staffing needs in those areas.

Special Requirements

• Appointment to Range D requires a valid Professional Engineering License (Civil) issued by the California Board of Registration for Professional Engineers. For all other ranges, a PE license is not required.

• Possession of a valid driver’s license is required when operating a state owned or leased vehicle.

• Statement of Qualifications is required. 

The Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) serves as documentation of each applicant's ability to present information clearly and concisely in writing. Please follow the instructions below; failure to include and complete the SOQ as instructed may result in the SOQ not being considered and in disqualification from the interview. Resumes and cover letters will not take the place of the SOQ. The SOQ must be typed, no more than two pages in length, and 12-point Arial font.

1. Describe why you believe your knowledge, skills, and experience would make you the best candidate to take on the roles and responsibilities of the TE (Civil) – Maintenance Design Project Engineer position.

2. Describe your most challenging experience dealing with issues on a project. How did you handle the situation? And what did to take away from the experience?

3. Describe how you approach building positive, constructive, and professional relationships?

Possession of Minimum Qualifications will be verified prior to interview and/or appointment. If you are basing your eligibility on education, you must include your unofficial transcript(s)/diploma for verification.  Unofficial, original, or official sealed transcripts will be accepted and may be required upon appointment. Applicants with foreign transcripts/degrees must provide a transcript/degree U.S. equivalency report evaluation that indicates the number of units and degree to which the foreign coursework is equivalent. Please visit either of the following two websites for a list of evaluation agencies: or . Please redact birthdates and social security numbers.

Desirable Qualifications

In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:

Benefits

Click HERE to view the Benefits Summary for Civil Service Employees in the State of California.

Important Application Instructions:

The State application (STD. 678) is required, and each section must be filled out completely and thoroughly. For mailed or hand delivered applications to be considered for this position, the Job Control number (JC-531533), PARF# 05-27-0123 and title of the position (Transportation Engineer (Civil)) must be included on the STD. 678 form.

Electronic applications through your CalCareers account are highly recommended and encouraged.

Candidates that meet the minimum qualifications based on possession of EDUCATION, LICENSE, OR CERTIFICATE must include a copy of your DEGREE/TRANSCRIPTS, LICENSE, or CERTIFICATE, along with your State application (STD. 678), to be considered for this position.

NOTE: Do not submit the “Equal Employment Opportunity” questionnaire (page 5) with your completed State application (STD. 678). This page is for examination use only. Do not include any confidential information on any documents you submit for this job vacancy, such as your state application, resume, or educational transcripts. Confidential information that should be excluded or removed from these documents includes, but is not limited to, your Social Security Number, birth date, driver’s license number, examination results, LEAP status, marital status, and age. The job application packet checklist is not required to apply for this position. Failure to follow these instructions may result in your application not being considered for this position.

Required Application Package Documents

The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

• Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
• Resume is optional. It may be included, but is not required.
• Statement of Qualifications -

  Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) is required. Please see the Special Requirements section for SOQ instructions.