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Engineering Technician Trainee/Senior Engineering Technician (NY HELPS) Region 3

NYS Department of Transportation
Syracuse, NY Full Time
POSTED ON 4/1/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 5/12/2026
Duties Description

Engineering Technician Trainees/Senior Engineering Technicians in the Construction Group will ensure that specifications, regulations, and contract plans are being obeyed by Contractors who are constructing the State’s highway and bridge infrastructure. Positions can be assigned to work in field assignments on construction projects and in the Technical Services Unit. Field assignments on construction projects would be as a Construction Inspector. An assignment in the Technical Services Unit would be as a Lab Technician. Duties may include but will not be limited to:

  • Performing concrete and soil sampling and testing
  • Taking measurements
  • Checking computations
  • Collecting and compiling data
  • Making simple calculations
  • Performing simple calculations
  • Performing inspections of small and relatively simple construction projects or portions of projects
  • Locating and understanding information on project drawings
  • Preparing and revising maps and drawings; and
  • Preparing portions of written reports

Candidates will be expected to understand, interpret, and use standard technical reference materials used in construction and commonly used engineering symbols and terminology used in design, construction, and materials specifications; demonstrate the ability to communicate with others to obtain or exchange information; and to be proficient in the use of computer programs such as Microsoft Office Applications.

Candidates will be expected to follow simple technical instruction from, provide assistance to, and learn Heavy/Highway construction inspection procedures and responsibilities from more experienced higher-level Technicians and Engineers.

While positions are being filled in the Construction Group, successful candidates may be assigned to various program areas throughout their employment based on operational need. Additionally, they may also be called upon to support department needs in other locations. This effort could range from participating remotely to occasional travel as necessary to support program operation, capital program delivery or other critical department initiatives.

At the time of appointment, and continuously thereafter, candidates must be able to demonstrate their ability to meet the travel requirements of the position by maintaining a valid license to operate a motor vehicle in New York State and/or having access to reliable transportation.

Responsibilities may include serving a role within the Incident Command System to support the department’s response to regional and statewide emergency situations.

Minimum Qualifications

This title is part of the New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide Program (NY HELPS).*

Engineer Technician Trainee

To be considered for appointment through NY HELPS, or 55 b/c, candidates must meet the open competitive minimum qualifications for this position. The qualifications are:

Either 1. one year of experience assisting in engineering, engineering technology, engineering management technology, architecture or architectural technology, environmental technology, electronics, electronics technology, landscape design, materials laboratory technology, drafting or surveying, and graduation from high school or possession of diploma issued by a recognized educational authority;

or 2. 18 semester credit hours of college course work in mathematics, physical science, geology, engineering or engineering technology, architecture or architectural technology, construction technology, environmental technology, landscape architecture/design, drafting, forestry, surveying, aeronautics, electronics, or electronics technology;

or 3. graduation from a high school technical program (recognized by an accrediting agency as meeting acceptable program practices and standards) in CAD/CAM, construction technology, drafting, engineering, engineering graphics, electronics, or electronics technology.

Note: Upon successful completion of the 52-week traineeship, candidates will be automatically advanced to the Senior Engineering Technician position (SG-13).

Senior Engineering Technician

Either 1. two years of experience assisting in engineering, engineering technology, engineering management technology, architecture or architectural technology, environmental technology, electronics, electronics technology, landscape design, materials laboratory technology, drafting or surveying; and graduation from high school or possession of an equivalent diploma;

Or 2. an associate degree in mathematics, physical science, geology, engineering or engineering technology, architecture or architectural technology, construction technology, environmental technology, landscape architecture/design, drafting, forestry, surveying, aeronautics, electronics, or electronics technology.

Substitution: Substitution: a certificate in CAD/CAM, construction technology, drafting, engineering, engineering graphics or electronics, may substitute for one year of the experience; or 36 semester college credit hours in mathematics, physical science, geology, engineering or engineering technology, architecture or architectural technology, construction technology, environmental technology, landscape architecture or landscape design, drafting, forestry, surveying, aeronautics, electronics or electronics technology may substitute for experience at the rate of 18 semester credit hours equaling one year of experience.

Candidates may also be qualified for permanent competitive appointment if reachable from the appropriate Civil Service eligible list or eligible for reassignment or transfer in accordance with Civil Service Law.

Additional Comments

Region 3, Construction Group, Senator Hughes State Office Building, Syracuse NY, Onondaga County

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.

  • For the duration of the NY HELPS Program, this title may be filled via a non-competitive appointment, which means no examination is required but all candidates must meet the minimum qualifications of the title for which they apply.

At a future date, it is expected employees hired under NY HELPS will have their non-competitive employment status converted to competitive status, without having to compete in an examination. Employees will then be afforded with all of the same rights and privileges of competitive class employees of New York State. While serving permanently in an NY HELPS title, employees may take part in any promotion examination for which they are qualified.

Your required educational credentials must have been awarded by an educational institution accredited by a regional, national, or specialized agency recognized as an accrediting agency by the United States (U.S.) Department of Education/Secretary of Education. If awarded by an institution outside of the U.S. and its territories, you must provide independent verification of equivalency. A list of companies that provide these services (fees must be paid to the company you choose) can be found at: http://www.cs.ny.gov/jobseeker/degrees.cfmt

The salary range listed reflects the full range for this graded position. For new State employees appointed into graded positions, the annual salary is the hiring rate (beginning of the Salary Range) of the position. Promotion salaries are calculated by the NYS Office of the State Comptroller in accordance with NYS Civil Service Law, OSC Payroll rules and regulations and negotiated union contracts. For more salary information please visit https://oer.ny.gov/salary-schedules

DOT is an equal opportunity employer. Disabled persons are encouraged to apply.

In compliance with Public Law 99-603, candidates selected for appointment must provide an original document to prove their citizenship and/or legal right to work in the United States. Candidates for employment must have proper authorization to work in the United States at the time an offer of employment is made. The Department will not sponsor a nonimmigrant for a temporary employment visa (H-1B or similar), OPT STEM, or for permanent residence. Offers of permanent employment may not be made to nonimmigrants whose employment authorization is limited to a period of practical training (F-1 or similar).

Salary : $38,571 - $65,061

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