Demo

Assistant Engineer (Environmental) / Engineer Trainee - NY HELPS

State of New York - Environmental Conservation, Department of
Schenectady, NY Full Time
POSTED ON 7/8/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 11/4/2026

Duties Description Duties of this position will include various activities at the regional level in the Division of Water, not limited to: conduct site inspections at permitted municipal and industrial wastewater treatment facilities and evaluate for compliance with applicable program requirements; prepare documents for compliance and enforcement activities for sanitary, industrial, and stormwater State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) permits; implement Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO) permit including review of annual reports and nutrient management plans and work with Agricultural Environmental Management certified planners; review applications and develop permits for SPDES and water withdrawal permits; review engineering plans and reports for sanitary and stormwater projects; investigate complaints pertaining to permitted facilities and water quality impacts and conduct follow-up activities; review and score grant applications for the Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) and Engineering Planning Grant (EPG) programs; manage grant contracts. Preferred candidate will have effective written and oral communication skills to interact with the regulated community, consulting engineers, other involved agencies, and the public.

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

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.

To be eligible for appointment under NY HELPS, candidates must meet the minimum qualifications below:

Minimum Qualifications for appointment to Engineer Trainee, NS:

Either 1. A bachelor's degree or higher in engineering or engineering technology as listed below;

Or 2. Proof of passing the NCEES Fundamentals of Engineering Examination (FE) AND one year of full-time engineering experience as listed below.

Minimum Qualifications for appointment to Assistant Engineer (Environmental), SG-20:

Proof of passing the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) Fundamentals of Engineering Examination (FE) AND a qualifying bachelor's degree or higher as listed below; OR proof of passing the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) Fundamentals of Engineering Examination (FE) AND one year of full-time qualifying engineering experience as listed below.

Qualifying degrees: Aeronautical Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering Technology, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Civil Engineering Technology, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Engineering Technology, Environmental Design Engineering, Environmental Resources Engineering, Environmental Systems Engineering, Forest Engineering, Geological Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering Technology, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Paper Engineering, Petroleum Engineering, Plastics Engineering, Sanitary Engineering, Soil and Water Resources Engineering, Water Resources Engineering, or Engineering Science with a recognized concentration in any of the above listed engineering degrees.

Qualifying experience: One year of full-time experience in sanitary, public health or environmental engineering.

Candidates may also be appointed via the following, if applicable:

Reassignment - Currently in the title and an employee of DEC
or

Reinstatement - Previously held the title on a permanent competitive basis.
or

Transfer – One year of permanent competitive service in a title designated as appropriate for transfer in accordance with Section 70.1 of Civil Service Law.

55 b/c Appointment - Must meet the minimum qualifications above. Please note that if applying under the 55b/, candidates must include with their resume or application, a copy of the letter from Civil Service which indicates approval for the 55b/c program.

Individuals appointed as an Engineer Trainee are required to complete a minimum of one year of successful performance as an Engineer Trainee and pass the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam. If you pass the FE by the end of the first year, you may be advanced to the Grade 20 Assistant Engineer (Environmental) title. If you do not pass the FE by the end of the second year of the traineeship, you will be terminated from your position.

Additional Comments *If appointment is at the Assistant Engineer, SG-20 level, the starting salary for this position is $81,193. This amount is comprised of the base salary of $74,193 with an additional geographic pay differential of $7,000, specific to this title and location.

The job rate for this position is $101,121. This amount is comprised of the base salary of $94,121 with an additional geographic pay differential of $7,000, specific to this title and location.

Please note, this is not extended to any trainee titles.If appointed at trainee level, you will receive differential upon advancement to grade 20.

Must have a valid driver’s license or demonstrate the ability to meet the transportation needs of the position.
Must be able to negotiate difficult terrain.
Must be able to work in remote areas.
Must be able to work in adverse weather conditions.
Travel may be required.
Telecommuting may be available up to 50% of work schedule, will be discussed at interview.

We offer a work-life balance and a generous benefits package, worth 65% of salary, including:

  • Holiday & Paid Time Off
  • Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
  • Pension from New York State Employees’ Retirement System
  • Shift & Geographic pay differentials
  • Affordable Health Care options
  • Family dental and vision benefits at no additional cost
  • NYS Deferred Compensation plan
  • Access to NY 529 and NY ABLE College Savings Programs, and U.S. Savings Bonds
  • And many more...

For new State employees appointed to 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.

The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is committed to fostering a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. Our work would not be possible without the diverse backgrounds, experiences, ideas, and abilities of our employees. DEC is committed to developing a workforce which represents the diverse population of New York State. DEC embraces a diverse and inclusive work environment by encouraging all individuals, including those with disabilities, to apply to open positions at the agency.

Please be advised, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation does not use E-Verify, and we are unable to provide sponsorship for employment visa statuses (i.e. H-1B, Self-Sponsorship, STEM OPT).

Some positions may require additional credentials or a background check to verify your identity.

Salary : $66,951 - $101,121

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution. Compensation Planning
Enhance your organization's compensation strategy with salary data sets that HR and team managers can use to pay your staff right. Surveys & Data Sets

What is the career path for a Assistant Engineer (Environmental) / Engineer Trainee - NY HELPS?

Sign up to receive alerts about other jobs on the Assistant Engineer (Environmental) / Engineer Trainee - NY HELPS career path by checking the boxes next to the positions that interest you.
Income Estimation: 
$55,620 - $69,820
Income Estimation: 
$152,677 - $195,716
Income Estimation: 
$135,707 - $161,984
Income Estimation: 
$66,311 - $82,620
Income Estimation: 
$118,386 - $167,771
Income Estimation: 
$61,843 - $79,686
Income Estimation: 
$87,186 - $108,041
Income Estimation: 
$78,935 - $89,377
Income Estimation: 
$79,311 - $112,035
Employees: Get a Salary Increase
View Core, Job Family, and Industry Job Skills and Competency Data for more than 15,000 Job Titles Skills Library

Job openings at State of New York - Environmental Conservation, Department of

  • State of New York - Environmental Conservation, Department of Dexter, NY
  • Duties Description Incumbent will be responsible for the supervision and management of Operations field staff and vehicle maintenance centers in Jefferson ... more
  • 9 Days Ago

  • State of New York - Environmental Conservation, Department of Stamford, NY
  • Duties Description The primary duties of this position will be to work closely with Wildlife Biologists to resolve human/wildlife conflict issues including... more
  • 9 Days Ago

  • State of New York - Environmental Conservation, Department of Schenectady, NY
  • Duties Description The Supervising Carpenter will be responsible for directing skilled and semi-skilled employees. Have project over-site with a concentrat... more
  • 9 Days Ago

  • State of New York - Environmental Conservation, Department of Albany, NY
  • Duties Description Section Overview The Department of Environmental Conservation’s Office of Environmental Justice (OEJ) works to address environmental iss... more
  • 9 Days Ago


Not the job you're looking for? Here are some other Assistant Engineer (Environmental) / Engineer Trainee - NY HELPS jobs in the Schenectady, NY area that may be a better fit.

  • State of New York - Environmental Conservation,... Schenectady, NY
  • Duties Description Duties of this position will include various activities at the regional level in the Division of Water, not limited to: conduct site ins... more
  • 11 Days Ago

  • State of New York Schenectady, NY
  • Duties of this position will include various activities at the regional level in the Division of Water, not limited to: conduct site inspections at permitt... more
  • 2 Days Ago

AI Assistant is available now!

Feel free to start your new journey!