Senior Engineering Technician (Soils)

You may be assigned to either Saturday or Sunday to take your test. The Department of Civil Service reserves the right to administer tests either online or with paper booklets and answer sheets. Your admission notice will tell you whether your test will be administered online. You cannot request a day in advance or change your scheduled day.

IMPORTANT: Unless waived, you must pay the non-refundable processing fee. For information on fee waivers, visit https://www.cs.ny.gov/examannouncements/types/oc/appinfo.cfm##Fee. It is important that you verify that you entered the correct examination number and title on your online or paper application prior to submitting. If you apply online, you should immediately review your email confirmation notice to verify that you applied for the correct examination. If you do not receive a confirmation number after submitting your online application, your application was NOT received by the Department of Civil Service. No late applications will be accepted after the filing deadline has passed.

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Minimum Qualifications

On or before September 28, 2019, you must have:

Either 1. TWO years of experience assisting in engineering or engineering technology, architecture or architectural technology, environmental technology, landscape architecture/design, materials laboratory technology, drafting or surveying, AND graduation from a high school or possession of a diploma issued by a recognized educational authority;

Or 2. 18 semester credit hours in mathematics, physical science, geology, engineering or engineering technology, architecture or architectural technology, construction technology, environmental technology, landscape architecture/design, drafting, forestry, surveying, aeronautics, electronics or electronics technology AND ONE year of experience listed above in number 1;

Or 3. 36 semester credit hours in mathematics, physical science, geology, engineering or engineering technology, architecture or architectural technology, construction technology, environmental technology, landscape architecture/design, drafting, forestry, surveying, aeronautics, electronics or electronics technology.

IMPORTANT: If you are using college coursework to qualify for this examination, you MUST provide additional course information on your application demonstrating you have earned the required number of credits. You must include the name and location of the college, the course title, and number of credits earned for each course. You can add this information into your online application, attach to your paper application, or you can email it separately to S2Unit1@cs.ny.gov with the subject line of the email including the exam number and your last name. Failure to provide this information may result in the disapproval of your application to take the examination.

If you expect to meet the educational requirements by January 31, 2020, you can be admitted to the written test, but you cannot be considered for appointment until you submit proof of successful completion of the educational requirement to the Appointing Authority at the time of the employment interview. Failure to meet the educational requirements by January 31, 2020 may result in your removal from the eligible list.

Notes

1. Your college credit, high school diploma, or equivalency diploma must have been awarded by a college or university or high school or educational institution 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 college credit or high school diploma was awarded by an educational institution outside the United States and its territories, you must provide independent verification of equivalency. You can write to the Examination Information Desk of the NYS Department of Civil Service for a list of acceptable companies who provide this service. This information can also be found on the Internet at http://www.cs.ny.gov/jobseeker/degrees.cfm. You must pay the required evaluation fee. If you are applying on the Internet, you must mail the independent verification of equivalency to the New York State Department of Civil Service, Albany, New York 12239. Attention: S2CAV.
2. A promotion examination is also being held for these positions. If you are eligible for appointment from a promotion list, you may not be appointed in your own agency from the list resulting from this examination open to the public.
3. Although promotion examinations are being held, it is expected that appointments will be made as the result of these examinations open to the public.
4. At the time of interview, you may be required to have a valid license to operate a motor vehicle in New York State or otherwise demonstrate your ability to meet the transportation needs of the job.
5. Some assignments may include nights and weekends with travel and overnight stays.
6. Appropriate part-time and volunteer experience, which can be verified, will be accepted on a prorated basis.
7. New York State residence is not required.

The Positions

These positions exist in the New York State Department of Transportation in Albany.

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Duties

As a Senior Engineering Technician (Soils), you would work under the general direction of a Soils Engineering Laboratory Supervisor, an Engineer, an Engineering Geologist, or a higher-ranking Technician. You would assist in laboratory, office, and/or field soils engineering work. You would prepare soil samples, perform laboratory and field soil tests, and compute results. You would check computations for routine laboratory and field tests and assist in performing complex soils tests. You may collect and assist in analyzing field instrumentation data. You may also be expected to use various computer applications including Computer-Aided Design and Drafting (CADD) in the performance of your duties.

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Subject of Examination

There will be a written test which you must pass in order to be considered for appointment. The written test is designed to test for knowledge, skills, and/or abilities in such areas as:

1. Mathematics, including algebra, geometry and trigonometry - These questions test for the ability to read, analyze, and solve technician-level written problems involving addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, algebraic equations, geometric concepts and figures, and basic trigonometric functions.
2. Methods and materials for earthwork construction of transportation facilities, buildings and dams - These questions test for knowledge of the materials and procedures used in the earthwork-related aspects of construction and maintenance involving such areas as highways, drainage facilities, embankments, bridges, retaining walls, building foundations, sitework grading, levees, and earthen and concrete dams.
3. Soils properties and soils classification - These questions test for knowledge of the characteristics, uses, terminology, classification system, testing instruments, testing procedures, and computations used involving soils and/or aggregates related to construction and sitework projects.
4. Understanding and interpreting engineering plans and descriptive specifications - These questions test for the ability to read and analyze technical drawings and written technical presentations, and to perform related computations. Some technical knowledge of construction and estimating terminology and methods will be required.

Your final score must be 70 or higher in order to pass. Rank on the eligible list will be determined after adding any wartime Veterans' and Civil Service Law Section 85-a credits to your final passing score.

Important: The Department of Civil Service and other state agencies may communicate with you through email correspondence. This may include the notification of your examination results and canvassing you for interest in appointment. It will be important for you to keep your email address, phone number and mailing address current by logging into https://www.cs.ny.gov/home/myaccount.

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How To Apply

Additional Information

New York State is an Equal Opportunity Employer

It is the policy of the State of New York to provide for and promote equal opportunity employment, compensation, and other terms and conditions of employment without unlawful discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, religion, disability, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, veteran or military service member status, marital status, domestic violence victim status, genetic predisposition or carrier status, arrest and/or criminal conviction record, or any other category protected by law, unless based upon a bona fide occupational qualification or other exception.

Appointment to many positions in State government require candidates to undergo an investigative screening. This may include a thorough character investigation, a Federal Bureau of Investigation Criminal Record History Check, a Child Abuse Registry clearance, or other similar procedures. Candidates may be fingerprinted and may be required to pay any necessary fees for that procedure. Depending on the nature of the job, the criminal convictions discovered, or any falsified or omitted information revealed, the investigative findings may bar appointment or result in removal after appointment.

Eligibility for Employment

You must be legally eligible to work in the United States at the time of appointment and throughout your employment with New York State. If appointed, you must produce documents that establish your identity and eligibility to work in the United States, as required by the federal Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, and the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Religious Accommodation

Most written tests are held on Saturdays. If you cannot take the test on the announced test date, due to a conflict with a religious observance or practice, check the box under “Religious Accommodation.” We will make arrangements for you to take the test on a different date (usually the following day).

Reasonable Accommodations in Testing

It is the policy of the Department of Civil Service, in accordance with the New York State Human Rights Law and the Americans with Disabilities Act, to provide qualified persons with disabilities equal employment opportunity and equal opportunity to participate in and receive the benefits, services, programs, and activities of the Department. It is the policy of the Department to provide such persons reasonable accommodations and reasonable modifications as are necessary to provide equal opportunity. Persons with disabilities who require an accommodation to participate in an examination must note this on their application. Further information is available from the Test Administration Unit of the Department of Civil Service. In the Albany area, call 518-457-2487. Outside of the Albany area, call toll free at 1-877-697-5627. For TDD services, call NY Relay at 711 (requires a fee) or 1-800-662-1220.

Admission to Examination

Notice to appear for the test may be conditional as review of applications may not be made until after the test. If you have not received your notice to appear for the written test three days before the date of the test, email us at AdmissionNotices@cs.ny.gov. Please provide your first and last name, address, and the last four digits of your social security number, and we will provide you with the information you need to attend your written test. If you have an issue other than not receiving your admission notice, please contact our office at (518) 474-6470 in the Albany area or toll free at 1-877-697-5627. Please leave a clear concise message and provide your first and last name, last four digits of your social security number and a daytime phone number.

Taking State and Local Examinations Scheduled for the Same Day

If you have applied to take a written test announced by either one or several local jurisdictions (county, town, city) scheduled to be held on the same test date as this written test, you must notify each of the local jurisdictions no later than two weeks before the test date to make arrangements for taking all tests at one test site. All tests will be held at the state examination center. For your convenience, contact information for all local civil service agencies is available on our website at: https://www.cs.ny.gov/jobseeker/local.cfm.

Cell Phones or Electronic/Communication Devices at the Test Site

Do not bring cell phones, beepers, headphones, or any electronic or other communication devices to the test site. The use of such devices at the test site in the test room, hallways, restrooms, building, grounds, or other areas could result in your disqualification.

S2/TC3 CAV-dah
Issued: 07/12/2019

This announcement is subject to amendment or cancellation without notice. Do not copy it, or post it to any other site, but link to it instead.

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