Demo

Assistant Engineer (Environmental) / Engineer Trainee - NY HELPS

State of New York - Environmental Conservation, Department of
Schenectady, NY Full Time
POSTED ON 10/21/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 2/18/2027

Duties Description The incumbent will be responsible for conducting inspections and monitoring and evaluating activities at solid and hazardous waste management and recycling facilities to ensure compliance with applicable regulations. More specific duties will include evaluating permit applications, engineering reports and engineering drawings to determine compliance with regulatory and technical design standards; performing engineering analysis of facility designs and operations, analyzing environmental monitoring data and working with design consultants and Department staff to develop acceptable solutions; providing outreach and technical assistance to the regulated community; responding to and investigating complaints from the general public; preparing inspection reports and communicating inspection results to facility operators and consultants; initiating and managing enforcement actions as appropriate; preparing and presenting results of analyses, inspections, and research assignments to managers and other Department staff.

Essential Functions:
Must be competent with Microsoft Excel, Word and Power Point. Must be able to manage multiple projects. Must be able to read and interpret regulations, technical documents and engineering plans. Must have strong verbal and written communication skills. Must be able to communicate effectively and interact with the general 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.

Preferred Qualifications:
Experience with GIS.

Additional Comments If appointment is at the Assistant Engineer (Environmental), SG-20, level the starting salary for this position is $84,532. This amount is comprised of a base salary of $77,532 and a geographic pay differential of $7,000 specific to the title and location of the position.

The job rate for this position is $105,354. This amount is comprised of the base salary of $98,354 with an additional geographic pay differential of $7,000, specific to this title and location.

Please note, the geographic pay differential is not extended to the Engineer Trainee title.If appointed as an Engineer Trainee, you will receive the geographic pay differential upon advancement to the Assistant Engineer (Environmental).

Must have a valid driver’s license or demonstrate the ability to meet the transportation needs of the position.
Use of personal protection equipment, including a respirator, will be required.
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.
Overtime may be required.
Overnight travel may be required.
Must successfully complete (or have completed) the 40-hour OSHA 1910.120 training course and all other required training.
Must complete an annual Health and Safety Program including medical monitoring, fit testing, and 40 (or 8) hour OSHA HAZWOPER certification.
Must be able to lift and move objects up to 25 pounds.
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.
If you are a person with a disability and wish to request that a reasonable accommodation be provided for you to participate in a job interview, please email: equity@dec.ny.gov.

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 : $69,964 - $105,354

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 Albany, NY
  • Duties Description The Environmental Engineer Technician 1 (EET1) is responsible for providing overall administrative and specific technical support to the... more
  • 1 Day Ago

  • State of New York - Environmental Conservation, Department of New, NY
  • Duties Description The technician will be trained to work in the following areas of R3’s Water Program including State Pollutant Discharge Elimination Syst... more
  • 1 Day Ago

  • State of New York - Environmental Conservation, Department of Warrensburg, NY
  • Duties Description As an Office Assistant 1, you would help DEC serve the public by providing daily coverage for the Information Services Center (front des... more
  • 1 Day Ago

  • State of New York - Environmental Conservation, Department of Albany, NY
  • Duties Description This position is located in the Division of Materials Management in the Albany Central Office. Under the supervision of senior program s... more
  • 2 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.

  • NYS Department of Transportation Saratoga, NY
  • Duties Description The incumbent of this position will perform duties consistent with the standard for this title in the Transportation Bridge Maintenance ... more
  • 6 Days Ago

  • State of New York - Environmental Conservation, Department of Warrensburg, NY
  • Duties Description This position will provide key leadership for multiple programs in the Region 5 Wildlife Unit, including: harvest management, surveys, a... more
  • 2 Days Ago

AI Assistant is available now!

Feel free to start your new journey!