You are reading the State of New Jersey Job Descriptions. This is not a Job Vacancy Announcement.

Job Specification

MECHANICAL ENGINEER TRAINEE				

DEFINITION:

Under the close supervision of a Principal Engineer, Mechanical or other supervisory 
official in a State department or agency, or local government agency, as a trainee and 
productive worker, learns to perform basic field and/or office work in mechanical 
engineering, including preparing layouts and work plans, and performing computations 
involving plumbing and drainage, heating and boiler installation, ventilation, air-conditioning, 
refrigeration, noise and vibration control, and sprinkler and fire protection systems for various 
types of State buildings; and/or learns to perform basic work in mechanical engineering 
research, design, and development of equipment operations, methods, and preventative 
maintenance; and/or learns to perform basic work involving the engineering review of 
carnival and amusement ride designs for compliance with applicable standards; does other 
related duties as required.

NOTE:  The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only.  A particular 
position using this title may not perform all of the duties listed in this job specification.
Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.

EXAMPLES OF WORK:

Under close supervision, as a trainee and productive worker:

Learns to prepare preliminary layouts and perform computations required for plumbing 
and drainage, heating and boiler installation, ventilation, air-conditioning, refrigeration, 
noise and vibration control, equipment design and fabrication, and sprinkler and fire 
protection systems for various types of State buildings.

Learns to prepare work plans for designated plumbing, heating, boiler operation, ventilation, 
air-conditioning, and fire protection and sprinkler systems; learns to check drawings and 
plans done by others.

Learns to conduct mechanical engineering and related studies, surveys, inspections, and
investigations.

Learns to prepare as-built reports; learns to assemble and reduce field notes.

Learns to gather field data concerning the physical features of the site of proposed 
mechanical projects; learns to make field inspections of the condition and functioning 
of mechanical installations.

Learns to perform varied field and/or office engineering work involved in the measurement 
and determination of quantities and costs of structures and facilities, or study of utility 
services, rates, and safety.

Learns to review submissions of equipment and machinery designs for compliance with 
applicable standards. 

Learns to perform field inspections of equipment and machinery for compliance with 
approved plans and specifications.

Learns to perform physical and chemical tests in the field and laboratory of all types of 
materials and products used in the construction and maintenance of highways and public 
transportation facilities.

Learns to prepare and interpret computer data related to individual engineering projects.

Learns to utilize computer applications in engineering problem-solving. 

Prepares clear, technically sound, accurate, and informative mechanical engineering and 
other related reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.

Prepares detailed correspondences.

Maintains essential records, reports, and files.

Will be required to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording 
and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.

For DCA use only:

Learns to prepare preliminary layouts and perform computations required for carnival and 
amusement ride equipment design and fabrication.

Learns to review drawings, specifications, and calculations of carnival and amusement rides 
for compliance with applicable standards.

Learns to performs field inspections of carnival and amusement rides for compliance with 
adopted standards and consistency with approved specifications, drawings, and calculations.

REQUIREMENTS:

EDUCATION:

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, 
Civil, or Electrical Engineering.

NOTE:  An Engineer-In-Training (EIT) certification issued by the Division of Consumer Affairs,
New Jersey Office of the Attorney General may be substituted for the above education 
requirement.  Applicants must submit proof of the EIT certification and the Fundamentals of 
Engineering (FE) exam results.  The area of discipline indicated on the FE exam results must 
be in Mechanical, Civil, or Electrical and Computer.

NOTE:  Possession of a valid Professional Engineer’s License issued by the New Jersey 
State Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors may be substituted for the 
Bachelor's degree in Engineering.

LICENSE:

Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the 
operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential 
duties of the position.

KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:

Knowledge of the principles, procedures, techniques, and applications of mechanical 
engineering.

Knowledge of engineering mathematics, including applied trigonometry and calculus.

Ability to learn the preparation and specifications of projects, plans, designs, and calculations 
for heating, ventilation, plumbing, air-conditioning, and fire protection for various types of 
State buildings.

Ability to learn equipment design and stress analysis for all types of equipment. 

Ability to learn boiler design and installation, and water treatment for such installations.  

Ability to learn the construction, operation, and maintenance of mechanical, heating,
electrical, hydraulic, gas, and refrigeration machinery and other equipment.

Ability to learn the methods used to prepare detailed specifications for mechanical engineering
projects, including the calculation of stress, heat losses, costs of materials required, and other 
basic calculations.

Ability to learn the mechanical engineering problems likely to be encountered in the 
maintenance of the large-scale equipment.

Ability to learn the capabilities and application of computers in mechanical engineering 
situations and projects.

Ability to learn to conduct engineering studies and prepare work plans for plumbing, 
ventilation, heating, air-conditioning, and fire protection systems, including calculation 
of quantities, layout of soil, waste, vent and water lines, and calculation of cost estimates.

Ability to learn to check shop drawings.

Ability to learn quickly from instruction, explanations, and demonstrations.

Ability to work alone or as one of a group in the office and in the field.

Ability to apply basic mechanical engineering principles and techniques in plans, designs, 
charts, maps, specifications, and estimates to assemble and reduce field notes.

Ability to collect and analyze engineering data for computer processing, and to read and 
interpret results.

Ability to prepare clear, technically sound, accurate, and informative mechanical engineering 
and other related reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.

Ability to prepare detailed correspondence.

Ability to maintain essential records, reports, and files.

Ability to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and 
information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.

Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform 
the duties of this position.  American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as 
acceptable forms of communication.

Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible if they can perform the essential 
functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation.  If the accommodation 
cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons 
may not be eligible.

For DCA use only:

Ability to learn the problems involved in mechanical engineering work including preparation 
of plans, designs, and calculations for carnival and amusement ride equipment.

Ability to learn the applicable industry standards related to the design, manufacture, and 
layout of carnival and amusement ride equipment.

Ability to apply appropriate industry standards related to the design, manufacture, and 
layout of carnival and amusement ride equipment.

ADVANCEMENT:

Appointees who successfully complete the twelve (12) month training period will be eligible 
for advancement to an Assistant Engineer level title, in accordance with the New Jersey 
Civil Service Commission procedures.

The inability of an employee in this trainee title to attain a level of performance warranting 
advancement to the Assistant Engineer level shall be considered as cause for separation.


This job specification is applicable to the following title code:
Job
Spec
Code
VariantState,
Local or
Common
Class of
Service
Work
Week
State
Class
Code
Local
Class
Code
Salary
Range
Note
16890CN409520P95-

This job specification is for state and local government use.
Salary range is only applicable to state government.
Local salaries are established by individual local jurisdictions.

8/29/2020