Transportation Engineer 3 (Construction Engineering) (40 Hour)

State of Connecticut - DOT Bureau of Public Transportation; New Haven (CT); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Professional growth opportunities

Healthy work/life balance

Job summary

The State of Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) is seeking a Transportation Engineer 3 (Construction Engineering) in New Haven to lead railroad construction projects and supervise a Transportation Engineer 2. This role focuses on administering force account projects and coordinating with railroads under the Rail Construction Unit.

A bachelor’s degree in engineering or construction management is required, with experience in railroad infrastructure preferred.

Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s degree in engineering or construction management and three years of transportation construction engineering experience.
• Substitutions: PE/LS licensure, LSIT/EIT, NICET Level III; master’s degree can substitute for one year.
• Preferred: railroad track/structure experience; FRA 213/214; knowledge of Compass, SharePoint and Office 365.

Responsibilities

• Oversee a group of engineers and provide supervision and guidance.
• Act as working lead on complex transportation construction projects.
• Develop and implement rail construction programs and projects.
• Serve as liaison with consulting engineers and review final cost estimates.
• Coordinate labor, equipment, and material resources for rail projects.

Skills

Prioritizing work

Project management

Stakeholder liaison

Team supervision

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Construction Management

Master’s degree as substitution option

Tools

SharePoint

Microsoft Office 365

Compass

Job description

Introduction

The State of Connecticut, Department of Transportation (DOT) is accepting applications from current agency employees for a Transportation Engineer 3 (Construction Engineering) position in the Bureau of Public Transportation, Office of Rail Construction in New Haven.

Position Highlights

• Hybrid
• Monday - Friday
• Location: New Haven
• Full Time, 40 hours per week

Benefits

• Professional growth and development opportunities.
• A healthy work/life balance to all employees.

The Role

The Transportation Engineer 3 (Construction Engineering) position will be assigned work related to administering railroad force account projects, including managing the Metro-North capital bridge repair and routine maintenance programs, track installation, overhead catenary work, communication and signal work, bridge rehabilitation, and the freight railroad bridge program. Responsibilities include administering railroad construction projects, overseeing consultant construction inspection forces, coordinating with various railroads and facilities, managing force account activities such as invoice review and processing for all projects, preparing and processing various reports, and utilizing the Department’s SharePoint document control system.

The position requires a bachelor’s degree in engineering or construction management. Experience working in railroad infrastructure including tracks, catenary and power substations, signal and communication projects, bridge repair, the railroad environment, or railroad-related organizations is preferred. The Transportation Engineer 3 (Construction Engineering) role is part of the Rail Construction Unit within the CTDOT Office of Rail. Working under the general supervision of a Transportation Supervising Rail Officer, this position supervises a Transportation Engineer 2 and serves as a working lead while performing complex engineering and related tasks across various aspects of transportation construction engineering projects. The role is responsible for developing and implementing construction-related programs, projects, and activities for rail transportation.

In addition to overseeing a group of engineers, the position acts as a liaison with consulting engineers, reviews construction final cost estimates and verifies final payments, serves as a technical advisor for construction projects, and performs other construction-related duties as required.

The Rail Construction Department plays a pivotal role in managing and overseeing rail infrastructure cyclical maintenance and improvement projects throughout the state. The department coordinates and administers the allocation of resources—including labor, equipment, technical support, and materials—to execute rail projects efficiently and effectively. The department is responsible for project planning and budgeting, collaborating with other rail divisions to identify maintenance and improvement needs. These needs may include track repairs, bridge maintenance, signal and communication system upgrades, power infrastructure upgrades, and other critical projects. The department carefully evaluates project scopes, estimates resource requirements, and develops budgets to secure necessary funding for each initiative. Additionally, the Rail Construction Department oversees resource allocation and project execution. It manages a skilled workforce including track maintenance crews, engineers, and equipment operators, deploying them to various rail projects to ensure work is completed on schedule and within budget. The department also manages procurement of materials and equipment required for project implementation, maintaining a well‑equipped and efficient workforce.

Key Responsibilities

• Supervise a Transportation Engineer 2 and oversee a group of engineers.
• Act as a working lead on complex transportation construction engineering projects.
• Develop and implement construction-related programs, projects, and activities for rail transportation.
• Serve as a liaison with consulting engineers.
• Review construction final cost estimates and verify final payments.
• Serve as a technical advisor for construction projects.
• Coordinate and administer labor, equipment, technical support, and material resources for rail projects.
• Support the management and oversight of rail infrastructure cyclical maintenance and improvement projects throughout the state.
• Perform other construction-related duties as required.

About Us

As one of Connecticut’s largest State agencies, DOT employs approximately 3,300 individuals statewide in five distinct bureaus. It is the DOT's mission to improve quality of life through transportation. We have a significant transportation infrastructure system that is essential to maintaining mobility for Connecticut residents and businesses and supporting economic and community development while preserving environmental and cultural resources. The Department of Transportation is committed to cultivating a diverse staff that is representative of the communities we serve. Applications from individuals having diverse backgrounds and life experiences are strongly encouraged.

Learn more about our mission, vision, and values.

Purpose of Job Class

In the Department of Transportation this class is accountable for acting as a working lead who assists a supervisor in supervising a designated group of employees and/or for performing the most complex engineering or related tasks in one or more aspects of transportation construction engineering projects or studies in the areas of construction, administration, rehabilitation, surveying, testing, materials testing, maintenance or operations.

Examples of Duties

• Oversees a group of engineers and personnel of lower grade in construction of highways or other transportation projects;
• Acts as a liaison with consulting engineers;
• Trains in‑house and consultant inspectors;
• Reviews construction final cost estimates and verifies final payments;
• Serves as technical advisor for construction projects;
• Develops and maintains cost data relative to design, construction and maintenance of highways and bridges;
• Prepares comprehensive reports;
• Develops and maintains standards and specifications for highways and bridges consistent with technological advances in design, construction and maintenance;
• Oversees group of engineers and other personnel conducting preliminary reconnaissance location surveys, preliminary design, estimating and plan preparation or conducting boundary surveys, setting and checking boundary monuments and preparing right‑of‑way boundary plans;
• Oversees chemical and physical testing and analysis and makes recommendations concerning suitability of construction and maintenance materials;
• Prepares survey reports and recommendations on highway location;
• Perform(s) related duties as required.

Working Lead Level

• As assigned by the supervisor distributes, prioritizes, oversees and reviews unit work;
• Provides staff training and assistance;
• Conducts or assists in conducting performance evaluations;
• Acts as liaison with operating units, agencies, consultant staffs and other outside officials regarding unit policies and procedures;
• Recommends policies and standards;
• Prepares reports and correspondence;
• Performs related duties as required.

Knowledge, Skill and Ability

• Considerable knowledge of principles and practices involved in transportation construction engineering such as construction, surveys, geodetic surveys and materials testing;
• highway construction methods and materials;
• operational methodologies and established policies;
• Knowledge of administrative and financial controls with respect to transportation construction engineering plans, contracts, projects and reports;
• Considerable analytical, problem solving and technical report development skills;
• interpersonal skills;
• oral and written communication skills;
• Considerable ability to interpret and apply principles of information systems and technologies;
• Ability to analyze plans and estimates;
• Supervisory ability.

Minimum Qualifications – General Experience

A Bachelor’s degree in engineering or construction management and three (3) years of experience in transportation construction engineering.

Minimum Qualifications – Special Experience

One (1) year of the General Experience must have been at the working level in a professional transportation construction engineering capacity. NOTE: For state employees this experience is interpreted at the level of a Transportation Engineer 2 (Construction Engineering).

Minimum Qualifications – Substitutions Allowed

• Possession of Land Surveyor (LS) licensure or Professional Engineer (PE) licensure from the Department of Consumer Protection State Board of Examiners for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors consistent with C.G.S. 20-302 may be substituted for the Bachelor's degree requirement.
• Possession of Land Surveyor‑In‑Training (LSIT) licensure or Engineer‑In‑Training (EIT) licensure from the Department of Consumer Protection State Board of Examiners for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors consistent with C.G.S. 20-302 may be substituted for the Bachelor’s degree requirement.
• Possession of at least Level III certification in the Civil Engineering Technology‑Transportation Program, Highway Construction Inspection or Highway Surveys from the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET) may be substituted for the Bachelor’s degree requirement.
• A Master’s degree in engineering may be substituted for one (1) year of the General Experience.
• Current incumbents in the class of Transportation Engineer 2 (Construction Engineering) who do not possess the degree or certification/licensure qualifications as detailed on this class specification may be considered for promotion to Transportation Engineer 3 (Construction Engineering) upon having three (3) years of experience in transportation construction engineering. One (1) of the three (3) years must have been as a Transportation Engineer 2 (Construction Engineering).

Preferred Qualifications

• Possession of a Bachelor’s degree or higher in Engineering or Construction Management.
• Experience in prioritizing work assignments, meeting sensitive deadlines and project management.
• Experience with railroad track and structures, power and signal infrastructure, moveable bridges, culverts, drainage structure, retaining wall construction, inspection and maintenance.
• Experience and knowledge of FRA 213 and FRA 214, AREMA Standards.
• Experience in railroad construction with an emphasis in bridge repair and rehabilitation or railroad related organizations.
• Experience with Compass, Sharepoint and Microsoft Office 365 including scheduling meetings, managing data, composing correspondence, report writing and tracking work.
• Experience in developing relationships with stakeholders and staff throughout the Department at all levels.
• Experience in identifying problems, researching solutions, making decisions and verifying the accuracy of the decision.

Special Requirements

• Incumbents may be required to possess appropriate certification from the NorthEast Transportation Training and Certification Program (NETTCP).
• Incumbents in this class may be required to possess and retain a valid Motor Vehicle Operator’s license.
• Incumbents may be required to travel.

Working Conditions

Incumbents in this class may be exposed to some danger of injury or physical harm from highway or construction environments and a moderate degree of discomfort from exposure to year round weather conditions.

Conclusion

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

This employer may participate in E‑Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I‑9 information to confirm work authorization.

Acknowledgement

As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes. As such, a job class is not meant to be all inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.