MATERIALS AND RESEARCH ENGINEERING ASSOCIATE (SPECIALIST)

State of California; California (MO); Hybrid; USD 84,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Telework option

Job summary

State of California, Caltrans, Sacramento, is seeking a Materials and Research Engineering Associate (Specialist) to support evaluation, research, and development of roadside safety hardware, including full-scale testing. The incumbent will operate with considerable independence and may travel to project sites for field research and testing.

The position offers telework options where appropriate and requires a valid driver's license for operating state vehicles.

Qualifications

• Minimum requirements described in the Class Specification for the Materials and Research Engineering Associate (Specialist) role.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate, test, and contribute to the development of new roadside safety hardware, including full-scale testing.
• Operate with independence and initiative under supervision; follow guidance from the Branch Chief.
• Travel to project sites and perform field research activities; may work outdoors in varied conditions.

Job description

$7,492.00 - $9,379.00 per Month
New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

Final Filing Date: 10/8/2026

Application Methods: Electronic (Using your CalCareer Account) By Mail Drop-off

Under the supervision of the Chief, Roadside Safety Research Branch (Senior Transportation Engineer), the Materials and Research Engineering Associate performs a wide variety of duties critical to the evaluation, research, and development of new roadside safety hardware, including full scale testing. The incumbent is expected to exercise independence and originality in performing assigned tasks and receives only general instruction and guidance from the Branch Chief. Possession of a valid driver’s license is required when operating a State owned or leased vehicle.
PARF 65-27-0010 / JC 532894

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.

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: http://hrmanual.calhr.ca.gov/Home/ManualItem/1/2113.

Please take this 1-minute Caltrans Recruitment survey to tell us how you found out about this job.

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.

Working Conditions

Position located at 1120 N St Sacramento, Sacramento County.

Eligibility for hire may be determined by your score on the Materials and Research Engineering Associate (Specilaist) exam. For thos e who do not have current eligibility (e.g., transfer, permissive reinstatement, or voluntary demotions) and/or who will be new to state civil services employment, you must be on the state examination list to be eligible for these positions. To apply for the exam, please click here and search by typing in the classification title.

The incumbent is required to travel and work outdoors and may be exposed to dirt, noise, odors, dust, extreme weather conditions, uneven surfaces, and/or extreme heat or cold while doing field research and crash test support. The incumbent may work with and around a variety of materials, construction, and testing equipment. While at the base of operation, the incumbent works in a climate-controlled office under artificial lighting.

In the vehicle preparation area there may be exposure to a variety of automotive-related products and chemicals, including paint, grease, oil, coolant, gasoline, brake fluid and acids. The incumbent spends a significant amount of time working in an outdoor crash testing facility with exposure to dirt, dust, noise, uneven surfaces, heat and cold, wind, rain, fog, sun, insects, weeds and the automotive products and chemicals mentioned previously.

Telework options may be available for this position, which would allow the incumbent to perform their duties remotely. Resources will be provided by Caltrans to the incumbent to allow for teleworking. The incumbent is required to maintain safe and distraction free working conditions at the alternate work location and must abide by the Caltrans telework policy.

This position may be eligible for telework. The amount of telework is at the discretion of the Department and based on Caltrans' 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.

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

• MATERIALS AND RESEARCH ENGINEERING ASSOCIATE (SPECIALIST)

MATERIALS AND RESEARCH ENGINEERING ASSOCIATE (SPECIALIST) $7,492.00 - $9,379.00 New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

Caltrans Vision: A thriving and connected California.

The Caltrans workforce is made up of diverse and unique individuals who contribute to our organizational success.

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

Possessionof Minimum Qualifications will be verified prior to interview and/orappointment. If you are basing your eligibility on education, you mustinclude your unofficial transcript(s)/diploma for verification. Unofficial,original, or official sealed transcripts will be accepted and may be requiredupon appointment. Applicants with foreign transcripts/degrees must providea transcript/degree U.S. equivalency report evaluation that indicates thenumber of units and degree to which the foreign coursework is equivalent. Pleasevisit either of the following two websites for a list of evaluation agencies: https://www.naces.org/members or https://aice-eval.org . Please redact birthdates and social securitynumbers

Desirable Qualifications

In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:

The employee may request to travel and work at various locations throughout California. During research activities at project sites, the employee may remain in a stationary position for extended periods and navigate slopes or uneven terrain. In the base office setting, the employee may also remain seated for long periods while using a keyboard and video display terminal. Throughout the course of work, the employee is expected to maintain cooperative working relationships within the environment, including with peers, subordinates, contractors, and contractor staff.

When working in the vehicle preparation area or at the Caltrans Dynamic Testing Facility, the incumbent may spend long periods in a stationary position and move upward or downward as needed to work on test vehicles, operate hand and power tools, install test equipment and instrumentation, construct or install test articles, and carry out other required tasks. The incumbent also transports heavy objects at irregular intervals.

The incumbent is expected to grasp new information quickly and become proficient in new technical and business procedures. They are encouraged to multitask, adapt to shifting priorities, and complete assignments or projects with short notice. The role involves developing insights into evolving situations and applying innovative solutions to improve operations. The incumbent considers potential risks and takes deliberate, informed actions when such risks offer a clear benefit or advantage.

Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website.

Contact Information

The Human Resources Contact is available to answer questions regarding the application process. The Hiring Unit Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position.

Human Resources Contact:
Hyewon Pak
[phone]
[e-mail]

Please direct requests for Reasonable Accommodations to the interview scheduler at the time the interview is being scheduled.You may direct any additional questions regarding Reasonable Accommodations or Equal Employment Opportunity for this position(s)to the Department's EEO Office.

California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice)TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

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.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.