Civil Engineer Trainee (Southeast Region)

Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission; Pennsylvania; On-site; USD 60,000 - 73,000; Full time

Job summary

The Civil Engineer Trainee position with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission offers hands‑on safety work and guidance from experienced staff as you build core engineering skills. Based in the southeastern Pennsylvania region, the role focuses on inspections, reviews, and analysis to protect pipelines and communities.

This entry level role requires residency within Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, or Philadelphia counties or relocation within six months.

Qualifications

• One year civil engineering experience and an Engineer-in-Training certificate.
• Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering with relevant coursework only.
• Within three months of graduating is acceptable for educational requirements.

Responsibilities

• Compliance reviews of pipeline operator plans, procedures, and operations.
• Safety inspections of facilities and systems to evaluate practices.
• Drafting technical inspection reports with findings and corrective actions.
• Apply engineering guidelines and laws to assess operator compliance.
• Collaborate with senior engineers to support investigations.

Skills

One year civil engineering experience

Engineer-in-Training certificate

Active driver’s license

Education

Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering

Job description

THE POSITION

The Civil Engineer Trainee position with the Public Utility Commission offers a chance to learn and grow while helping protect important utility systems. This role allows you to build engineering skills through hands‑on safety work and guidance from experienced staff. You will contribute to keeping pipelines safe for communities across Pennsylvania. Join the Public Utility Commission and start your engineering career with purpose.

This role is home headquartered and based in the southeastern Pennsylvania region, consisting of Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties, and offers a rewarding career path with opportunities for advancement.

DESCRIPTION OF WORK

This entry level role focuses on supporting pipeline safety work through inspections, reviews, and engineering analysis under the direction of senior staff of the Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement. As a Civil Engineer Trainee, you will perform the following duties:

• Compliance Reviews: Review pipeline operator plans, procedures, and operations for compliance with safety requirements
• Safety Inspections: Inspect facilities and systems to evaluate operational practices and identify safety concerns
• Technical Reporting: Draft clear inspection reports that describe findings and recommend corrective actions
• Regulatory Enforcement: Apply engineering guidelines and relevant laws to assess whether operators meet required standards
• Team Collaboration: Work with senior engineers and supervisors to support investigations and ensure alignment with objectives

Please be advised, this home headquartered position requires residency within one of the following southeastern Pennsylvania counties, or the selected candidate must relocate within six months of employment: Bucks, Delaware, Chester, Philadelphia and Montgomery Counties only.

Work Schedule and Additional Information:

• Full-time employment.
• This position requires moderate travel (including overnight). A state vehicle and all personal protective equipment (PPE) will be provided.
• Work hours are 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday - Friday, with a 60-minute lunch.
• Telework: You will not have the option to telework in this position.
• Salary:Most selected candidates who are new to employment with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will begin employment at the starting annual salary of $66,658.00 (before taxes).
• You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE, TRAINING & ELIGIBILITY

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Experience and Training Requirements:

• One year of civil engineering experience and a valid Engineer-in-Training certificate issued by or acceptable to the Pennsylvania State Registration Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors and Geologists
• A bachelor’s degree in civil engineering or a closely related field that includes or is supplemented by major coursework in civil engineering.
• Applicants will be considered to have met the educational requirements once they are within three months of graduating with a qualifying degree.

Special Requirement:

• This position also requires possession of an active motor vehicle license.

Other Requirements:

• PA residency requirement is currently waived for this title.
• You must reside in or be willing to relocate to Bucks, Delaware, Chester, Philadelphia or Montgomery county within 6 months.
• Enrollment and completion of designated PHMSA Training and Qualifications (T&Q) courses in Oklahoma City, OK will be required upon hire.
• You must be able to perform essential job functions.

Veterans:

• Pennsylvania law (51 Pa. C.S. §7103) provides employment preference for qualified veterans for appointment to many state and local government jobs. To learn more about employment preferences for veterans, go to www.pa.gov/agencies/employment/how-to-apply.html and click on Veterans.

Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS):

• 711 (hearing and speech disabilities or other individuals).

If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodations due to a disability, please discuss your request for accommodations with the interviewer in advance of your interview date.

The Commonwealth is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce. The Commonwealth values inclusion as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most qualified people to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, union membership, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, AIDS or HIV status, disability, or any other categories protected by applicable federal or state law. All diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.

EXAMINATION INFORMATION

• Completing the application, including all supplemental questions, serves as your exam for this position. No additional exam is required at a test center (also referred to as a written exam).
• Your score is based on the detailed information you provide on your application and in response to the supplemental questions.
• Your score is valid for this specific posting only.
• You must provide complete and accurate information or:
  • your score may be lower than deserved.
  • you may be disqualified.
• You may only apply/test once for this posting.
• Your results will be provided via email.