Transportation Materials Engineer
Department of Transportation
Job Description and Duties
Under direction of a Senior Bridge Engineer or Senior Transportation Engineer, the Transportation Engineer will perform the duties of a Materials Engineering and Testing Services Materials Engineer (METS ME) within METS. The Primary function of the METS ME is to ensure the materials and products used in California Department of Transportation construction projects comply with contract requirements and provide recommendations and decisions using engineering judgment and principles.
Eligibility for hire may be determined by your score on the Transportation Engineer (Civil) exam. For those 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.
Candidates are required to review the Minimum Qualifications (MQs) for this classification. If you meet MQs under Pattern II and require the TE Civil in‑person written hurdle exam, DO NOT TAKE the TE Civil online exam prior to passing the written hurdle. Candidates who take the TE Civil online exam prior to passing the written hurdle may negatively impact their hiring eligibility. Please contact the exam unit at askexams@dot.ca.gov for additional information prior to taking the online examination.
For clarification on the education requirement of the minimum qualifications, please reach out to the Human Resources Contact prior to taking the online Training and Experience Evaluation. For a list of ABET accredited schools, please refer to this link: Find Programs | ABET.
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You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.
Working Conditions
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.
The Caltrans Transportation Engineer (Civil) Rotation Program is a mandatory 24‑month to 33‑month rotation assignment for all permanent, full‑time Transportation Engineer (Civil) employees that have completed their probationary period hired by Caltrans Districts after June 22, 2018, or an earlier date as determined by the Districts. The purpose of the Rotation Program is to provide opportunities for employees and Caltrans to benefit by participating in a standardized process that systematically engages newly hired engineers. Participants will develop well‑rounded project delivery knowledge, skills, and abilities by rotating through diverse project delivery functional units. The Rotation Program includes mandatory core assignments in Design and Construction units, as well as a mandatory elective assignment. Each rotation assignment is typically between 6 to 12 months and will be based on workload needs and the employee’s goals. Assignments may involve long‑term travel and can be located throughout the state.
In addition to the Caltrans Transportation Engineer (Civil) Rotation Program, an incumbent may be required to go on loan to another project delivery function when there are temporary or peak staffing needs in those areas.
Minimum Requirements
You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.
Special Requirements
- Appointment to Range D requires a valid Professional Engineering License (Civil) issued by the California Board of Registration for Professional Engineers. For all other ranges, a PE license is not required.
- Statement of qualifications (SOQ) required.
The SOQ serves as documentation of each candidate’s ability to present information clearly and concisely in writing. It also represents the candidate’s writing abilities. SOQ must be typed and no more than two pages, single‑spaced, using 12‑point font. Resumes do not take the place of the SOQ.
- Describe how your education and professional experience have prepared you for the responsibilities outlined in the duty statement. Highlight any specialized training or certifications relevant to structural or bridge engineering.
- Provide an example of a project where you applied your knowledge of concrete materials, specifications, or construction standards. What challenges did you face, and how did you ensure compliance with applicable codes or guidelines?
- Describe a time when you contributed to a team effort or led a group to achieve a common goal. What was your role, how did you handle differing opinions or obstacles, and what was the outcome?
Possession of Minimum Qualifications will be verified prior to interview and/or appointment. If you are basing your eligibility on education, you must include your unofficial transcript(s)/diploma for verification. Unofficial, original, or official sealed transcripts will be accepted and may be required upon appointment. Applicants with foreign transcripts/degrees must provide a transcript/degree U.S. equivalency report evaluation that indicates the number of units and degree to which the foreign coursework is equivalent. Please visit 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 security numbers.
