Review Vacancy
AgencyParks, Recreation & Historic Preservation, Office of
TitleEngineer Trainee/Assistant Engineer (Civil) - Thousand Islands/Finger Lakes (NY HELPS)
Occupational CategoryI.T. Engineering, Sciences
Bargaining UnitPS&T - Professional, Scientific, and Technical (PEF)
Salary RangeFrom $66951 to $101121 Annually
Street Address Keewaydin State Park or Taughannock Falls State Park
Duties Description As an Assistant Engineer (Civil), you will report to a Professional Engineer 1 and support the Capital Bureau in the Thousand Islands Region by providing civil engineering services for capital projects at State Parks and Historic Sites.
Duties will include, but are not limited to assistance in planning, engineering surveys, design, construction support; in general, provide project oversight to ensure work conforms to accepted engineering standards and practices, agency policies, and applicable codes. Under the direction of senior engineering staff, you will work on tasks required for the overall capital project cycle from initiation of the project to construction administration and project/contract closeout. The portfolio that this role will cover includes but not limited to roadways, parking lots, pedestrian circulation systems, drainage and stormwater management systems, sanitary sewer systems, water supply and distribution systems, shoreline stabilization, utilities coordination, grading and earthwork, and related site improvements.
Specific duties may include:
• Assist in the preparation and review of feasibility studies, technical reports, contract drawings, specifications, cost estimates, submittals during construction phase, and supporting any documentation for civil engineering projects.
• Coordinate civil design elements with architectural, landscape architectural, structural, mechanical, electrical, environmental, and construction management disciplines.
• Assist in value engineering and constructability reviews to promote cost-effective, durable, and sustainable infrastructure solutions.
• Support stormwater management compliance, erosion and sediment control review, and coordination with regulatory agencies including DEC, DOH, and local authorities having jurisdiction.
• Support the review of plans and specifications prepared by consultants to ensure compliance with NYS codes, SEQRA requirements, environmental regulations, ADA accessibility standards, and agency design standards.
• Maintain project documentation including meeting minutes, correspondence, field reports, and progress tracking.
• Review shop drawings, respond to Requests for Information (RFIs) in coordination with senior staff, and assist with preparation of field directives and change documentation.
• Conduct site visits, field inspections, and engineering assessments to document existing conditions and monitor construction progress.
• Assist in resolving construction-related civil engineering issues including drainage conflicts, grading adjustments, utility coordination, and constructability concerns.
• Participate in project meetings with internal staff, consultants, contractors, and stakeholders.
Minimum Qualifications This title is part of the New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide Program (NY HELPS).*
To be considered for appointment through NY HELPS, or 55 b/c, candidates must meet the open competitive minimum qualifications for this position. The qualifications are:
Engineer Trainee (Civil), SG-18:
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.
As an Engineer Trainee, you will serve a 24-month traineeship that leads to Assistant Engineer, Grade 20. To advance to Assistant Engineer, you must have obtained proof of passing the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) Fundamentals of Engineering Examination (FE) and successfully completed the requirements of the traineeship to the satisfaction of the appointing authority. At the discretion of the appointing authority, early advancement to the Assistant Engineer is possible if you have obtained your FE and have successfully completed twelve months of the traineeship. It is your responsibility to notify the appointing authority’s personnel office upon obtaining proof of passing the FE. You may receive an increase in salary upon obtaining your FE. Information about this increase will be provided by the appointing authority.
Assistant Engineer (Civil), SG-20:
Either 1. 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
2. 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: Civil Engineering, Civil Engineering Technology, Construction Engineering, Construction Engineering Technology, Construction Engineering Management, Construction Engineering Management Technology, Electrical Engineering, Electrical Engineering Technology, Electrical Power Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Engineering Technology, Environmental Design Engineering, Environmental Resources Engineering, Environmental Systems Engineering, Forest Engineering, Geological Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, Hydraulics Engineering, Materials Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering Technology, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Structural Engineering, Transportation Engineering, Transportation Planning and Engineering, or Engineering Science with a recognized concentration in any of the above listed engineering degrees.
Your degree must have been awarded by a college or university accredited by a regional, national, or specialized agency recognized as an accrediting agency by the U.S. Department of Education/U.S. Secretary of Education. If your degree was awarded by an educational institution outside the United States or its territories, you must provide independent verification of equivalency. This information can be found at http://www.cs.ny.gov/jobseeker/degrees.cfm. Candidates are responsible for the evaluation fee.
QUALIFYING EXPERIENCE: One year of full-time engineering experience in the design and construction of parks, roads, bridges, recreational facilities, water and/or wastewater treatment facilities.
Candidates may also be qualified for permanent competitive appointment if reachable from the appropriate Civil Service eligible list or eligible for reassignment or transfer in accordance with Civil Service Law.
Additional Comments OPERATIONAL NEEDS:
• Must possess and maintain a valid license to operate a motor vehicle in New York State as a term and condition of employment.
SALARY INFORMATION:
Engineer Trainee (Civil), SG-18: Starting salary is $66,951.
Assistant Engineer (Civil), SG-20: Starting salary is $81,193. The salary indicated includes the sum of the statutory hiring rate for PS&T Grade 20 ($74,193), and the Geographic Pay Differential ($7,000). The maximum compensation for this position is $101,121. This amount is comprised of the statutory job rate ($94,121) and the Geographic Pay Differential ($7,000).
BENEFITS:
Generous benefits package, worth approximately 65% of salary, including:
Paid Time Off
• PEF: 44 days - 13 Vacation days, 13 Sick days, and 5 Personal Leave days, 13 Holidays
• Three (3) days of professional leave annually to participate in professional development
Health Care Benefits:
• Eligible employees and dependents can pick from a variety of affordable health insurance programs
• Family dental and vision benefits at no additional cost
Additional Benefits:
• New York State Employees’ Retirement System (ERS) Membership
• NYS Deferred Compensation
• Access to NY 529 and NY ABLE College Savings Programs, as well as U.S. Savings Bonds
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
• Paid Parental / Family Leave
To learn more about our benefits, visit: https://parks.ny.gov/employment/benefits.aspx
*NY HELPS PROGRAM:
For the duration of the NY HELPS Program, this title may be filled via a permanent non-competitive appointment, which means no examination is required but all candidates must meet the minimum qualifications of the title for which they apply.
At a future date (within one year of permanent appointment), it is expected employees hired under NY HELPS will have their non-competitive employment status converted to competitive status, without having to compete in an examination. Employees will then be afforded with all of the same rights and privileges of competitive class employees of New York State. While serving permanently in a NY HELPS title, employees may take part in any promotion examination for which they are qualified.
Employees appointed via the NY HELPS program are restricted for promotional appointment until their position is covered-in to the competitive class by the New York State Civil Service Commission (CSC), or they otherwise obtain permanent competitive status. The CSC has covered-in employees who were appointed via NY HELPS on a permanent or contingent permanent basis between June 26, 2024 and June 11, 2025. You may wish to apply if you received a permanent NY HELPS appointment to a qualifying title within these timeframes and are interested in this opportunity. Your eligibility for promotion will be reviewed by Human Resources. Employees with a permanent NY HELPS appointment occurring effective June 12, 2025 or later will be addressed with a subsequent cover-in.
Some positions may require additional credentials or a background check to verify your identity.
Email Address Employment@parks.ny.gov
Address
Street NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation; Personnel Office
Notes on ApplyingThere is one position available, and it will be filled at one of below locations, please indicate which location you are interested in when applying.
• Finger Lakes Administration Headquarters, Taughannock Falls State Park, 2221 Taughannock Park Rd, Trumansburg, NY 14886
• Thousand Islands Administrative Headquarters, Keewaydin State Park, 45443 Otter Street, Alexandria Bay, NY 13607
If you feel you meet the minimum qualifications and Agency operating needs and are interested in being considered for this vacancy, please submit a cover letter and resume demonstrating how you meet the stated minimum qualifications, in addition to any supporting documentation, such as proof of passing the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) Fundamentals of Engineering Examination (FE) and proof of degree (diploma or transcripts).
Your application must be received by June 20, 2026 and submitted via email to: Employment@parks.ny.gov
Please use the email subject line: Engineer - VID217520.
Failure to do so may result in a delay of processing your application.
It is the responsibility of each applicant to accurately describe their experience and demonstrate that they meet the minimum qualifications. Failure to demonstrate that you meet the minimum qualifications and operating needs may result in your resume not being considered for this position.
Candidates from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. The NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer committed to ensuring equal opportunity for persons with disabilities and workplace diversity.
New York State (NYS) is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. NYS Law prohibits discrimination because of age, race, creed, color, national origin, sexual orientation, military status, sex, disability, predisposing genetic characteristics, marital status, domestic violence victim status, carrier status, gender identity or prior conviction records, or prior arrests, youthful offender adjudications or sealed records unless based on a bona fide occupational qualification or other exception.
Executive Order 31 commits New York State government to becoming a model employer for people with disabilities, increasing the participation of people with disabilities in state service and ensuring equal access to opportunities. OPRHP encourages people with disabilities to apply. If an employee or job applicant believes that they need a reasonable accommodation, they should contact the Equal Opportunity Unit at ReasonableAccommodation@parks.ny.gov or (518) 486-7754.
Please be advised that New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation does not use E-Verify and does not offer sponsorship for employment visas statuses (i.e. H-1B, Self-Sponsorship, STEP OPT). Candidates sponsored for employment by an organization should be aware of their sponsorship status and the relevant expiration date(s) of that sponsorship before applying to this position.