Innovation Engineer

Job Description and Duties

Under the general direction of the Chief, Office of Performance and Innovation (Supervising Transportation Engineer), the Innovation Engineer performs difficult and complex engineering work that drives Division of Construction's effort to enhance and digitize existing construction administration tools and processes, develop training programs for Automated Machine Guidance (AMG) and digital field engineering, and integrate them with the Department's Building Information Modeling for Infrastructure (BIM4I) initiatives. The Innovation Engineer partners and collaborates with various headquarters and district functions, external vendors, the construction industry, other state DOTs and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to analyze and develop implementation strategies, policies, processes, programs, standards and concepts - and provides updates and trainings at various in-person or virtual venues. Travel is required to perform the duties.

PARF 54-27-0029 / JC- 535500

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:

This position may be eligible for telework. The amount of telework is at the discretion of the Department and based on Caltrans’s evolving telework policy. Caltrans supports telework, recognizing that in-person attendance may be required based on operational needs. Employees are expected to be able to report to their worksites with minimum notification if an urgent need arises. The selected candidate will be required to commute to the headquartered location as needed to meet operational needs. Business travel may be required, and reimbursement 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 headquartered location will be the responsibility of the selected candidate.

You will find additional information about the job in the .

Working Conditions

The incumbent will usually work in a climate-controlled environment under artificial lighting, but will be required to travel to districts. Travel to conferences and peer exchanges (both in-state and out-of-state) with other DOTs may also be required.

This position may be eligible for telework. The amount of telework is at the discretion of the Department and based on Caltrans's evolving telework policy. Caltrans supports telework, recognizing that in-person attendance may be required based on operational needs. Employees are expected to be able to report to their worksites with minimum notification if an urgent need arises. The selected candidate will be required to commute to the headquartered location as needed to meet operational needs. Business travel may be required, and reimbursement considers an employee's designated headquartered location, primary residence, and may be subject to CalHR regulations or applicable bargaining unit contract provisions. For permanent and limited term appointments, all commute expenses to the headquartered location will be the responsibility of the selected candidate.

Position located at 1120 N Street, Sacramento (Sacramento County).

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Special Requirements

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

Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) is required. Failure to submit a Statement of Qualifications will disqualify candidates from the hiring process.

The SOQ is a narrative discussion regarding how the applicant’s education, training, experience, and skills meet the criteria outlined below. In addition, the SOQ serves as documentation of each applicant’s ability to present information clearly and concisely in writing.

• Please address how you possess each SOQ criteria using the questions below using specific examples of your education, training, and experience.

• The SOQ must be formatted to show the answers numerically in the same order as outlined below.

• The SOQ must be typed, single-spaced, 12-point font, and not be more than two (2) pages in length.

• Cover letters and resumes do not take the place of SOQ, and applicants who do not follow the formatting requirements will be disqualified from the process.

Please explain your experience as it relates to the four questions below in the submitted

1. Describe a time when you identified a significant issue in a complex engineering or contract administration process. What steps did you take to analyze the problem, and how did your solution improve operational efficiency or compliance?

2. Provide an example of how you have led innovation through development and implementation of new (or improvement of existing) processes in a transportation or construction environment. Include how you ensured stakeholder alignment and buy-in.

3. Describe your experience documenting organizational processes and developing and delivering training programs.

4. Describe your experience using digital delivery tools (e.g., field data collection technologies, Computer Aided Design (CAD) and data processing platforms or data visualization tools) in your projects. How did you leverage these tools and how did you ensure successful implementation across teams or districts?

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.

Benefits

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 PARF 54-27-0029 and the Job Control number JC- 535500 and title of the position Senior Transportation Engineer 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.