Senior Engineer (Open Competitive)

Salary : $73,718.00 - $84,819.00 Annually

Location : Buffalo, NY

Job Type : Full-Time

Job Number : 88935010

Department : VARIOUS

Opening Date : 02 / 03 / 2025

Closing Date : 2 / 23 / 2025 11 : 59 PM Eastern

Fee : $15.00

RESIDENCE : Residence is a requirement for all positions. In the absence of clear and convincing evidence to the contrary, an applicant shall be deemed a non-resident if he / she cannot show ninety (90) days of continuous and uninterrupted residence in the City of Buffalo prior to filing application.

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE THAT THE ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF BUFFALO MANDATE CONTINUOUS RESIDENCY IN THE CITY DURING YOUR EMPLOYMENT, EXCEPT FOR POSITIONS SPECIFICALLY EXEMPT UNDER STATE LAW.

FEE : WHERE INDICATED, A NON-REFUNDABLE APPLICATION PROCESSING FEE MUST ACCOMPANY YOUR APPLICATION VIA CHECK, CASH OR MONEY ORDER (If using check for payment, your check must clear to complete processing.)

Check with Civil Service office for fee waiver info.

Distinguishing Features of the Class

Senior Engineer #88935010 (Open Competitive)

Exam Date : 03 / 15 / 2025

Final Filing Date : 02 / 23 / 2025

Senior Engineers perform technical engineering work of considerable difficulty and may supervise a unit in a specialized phase of engineering activities. Incumbents perform engineering work involving the responsibility for planning and supervising a unit engaged in specialized phase of engineering or assisting in the planning and coordinating a major phase of the overall engineering programs. Work is performed in accordance with established policies and procedures permitting latitude for independent action and requires a considerable degree of technical judgment. Incumbents work is subject to review for methods, results and accuracy of judgment. Immediate supervision is received from a professional engineer. Senior Engineers provide general and direct supervision to subordinates engaged in a wide range of engineering activities and tasks.

Examples of work (Illustration Only)

• Supervises and participates in the preparation, review and revision of plans, specifications and design of proposed engineering projects;
• Supervises and participates in the preparation, review and revision of cost estimates, time schedules and contracts for construction jobs;
• Prepares proposals for the procurement of consulting and construction services in accordance with applicable laws, policies and procedures;
• Manages and enforces consultant and construction service contracts from procurement through closeout;
• Reviews and approves invoices for payment of consulting and construction services;
• Plans and administers the activities of units or combinations of units is specialized engineering activities;
• Directs the work of consultants and / or technical staff on specific projects;
• Assists in coordinating and implementing a major phase of the overall engineering project;
• Confers with other City staff, utility companies and various agencies to coordinate projects;
• Supervises and participates in carrying out special studies;
• Gathers, records and analyzes various engineering data;
• Summarizes methods and reviews results;
• Advises, assists and instructs subordinates in carrying out difficult and specialized engineering activities;
• Performs a wide variety of field, laboratory and office work requiring specialized engineering skills and knowledge;
• Prepares communications for the Common Council on engineering activities;
• Inspects the condition of engineering facilities under the jurisdiction of the assigned unit for conformity with plans and specifications;
• Prepares communications for the Common Council on engineering activities dealing with city ordinances that affect matters within the scope of the incumbent's sub-section;
• Maintains accurate records and prepares clear and concise reports, correspondence and other related written materials;

Performs related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

D) Possession of a Professional Engineer's License and current registration.

Special Requirement : Applicants must possess and present a current New York State Driver's License at time of appointment and it must be maintained during employment.

Approved areas of engineering work experience :

Design, construction, investigation, inspection, analysis, development, maintenance or operation of engineering programs or projects in areas of :

1.) civil engineering

2.) sewers, water mains, streets

3.) related structures / areas

NOTE : Verifiable part-time experience will be pro-rated to meet full-time experience requirements.

Proof of education must be presented at time of appointment.

SUBJECT OF EXAMINATION - Written Test..........Relative Weight 100%

EXAMINATION WILL TEST FOR KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND / OR ABILITIES IN SUCH AREAS AS :

1.) Preparing written material

2.) Principles and practices of civil engineering

3.) Engineering plans, specifications and estimates

4.) Methods and materials of construction

5.) Principles of project management, including contracts, contract administration and construction economics

THE USE OF A CALCULATOR IS RECOMMENDED FOR THIS EXAMINATION

NOTE : The use a hand-held, battery- or solar- powered calculator is RECOMMENDED for this exam. Devices with typewriter keyboards, spell checkers, personal digital assistants, address books, language translators, dictionaries, cell phones or any similar devices are prohibited. You may not bring books or other reference material. Cell phones and any other electronic devices are also prohibited.

Additional Information

EXPANDED SUBTEST DESCRIPTION :

1.) Preparing written material These questions test for the ability to present information clearly and accurately, and to organize paragraphs logically and comprehensibly. For some questions, you will be given information in two or three sentences followed by four restatements of the information. You must then choose the best version. For other questions, you will be given paragraphs with their sentences out of order. You must then choose, from four suggestions, the best order for the sentences. 2.) Principles and practices of civil engineering

These questions test for knowledge of engineering concepts and their practical applications to the construction, operation and maintenance of public works projects, including roadways, bridges, buildings, water and sewage systems and similar types of infrastructure.

3.) Engineering plans, specifications and estimates

These questions test for knowledge of and the ability to read and interpret construction drawings and technical specifications, and for the ability to calculate cost and quantity estimates from technical presentations and / or engineering and construction drawings. Knowledge of estimating techniques and the proper method of construction for specified projects will be required.

4.) Methods and materials of construction

These questions test for knowledge of the proper procedures and materials used in the construction, maintenance and repair of various types of public works projects, including such typical construction work as excavations, roadways, embankments, and building and related structural improvements.

5.) Principles of project management, including contracts, contract administration and construction economics

These questions test for knowledge of the concepts, terminology, proper procedures and computations used in the planning, scheduling and oversight of contractual agreements for public works projects, including economic and scheduling techniques such as cost / benefit analysis and the critical path method.

Test guide :

The New York State Department of Civil Service has not prepared a test guide for this examination. However, candidates may find information in the publication 'General Guide to Written Tests' helpful in preparing for this test. This publication is available on line at :

This written exam is being prepared and rated by the N.Y.S. Department of Civil Service in accordance with Section 23-2 of the Civil Service Law, and the provisions of the N.Y.S. Civil service Rules and Regulations dealing with the rating and review of exams apply.

If not attached, expanded subtest descriptions may be obtained from the Civil Service office, Room 1001 City Hall.)

The eligible list resulting from this exam may be used to fill comparable positions.)

MULTIPLE 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 date as this written test, you must notify each of the local jurisdictions no later than two weeks before the test date, so they can make arrangements for taking all tests at one site. All examinations for positions in State government will be held at a State examination center.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT EXAMS notify each civil service agency to make arrangements no later than two weeks before test date. You must notify each agency with whom you have filed. For this information, notify the Department of Human Resources, Division of Civil Service, Room 1001 City Hall, Buffalo, New York 14202 or call or come to the office.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING WEATHER CONDITIONS ON THE DAY OF THE EXAMINATION - In the event of severe weather conditions on the day of the examination, please listen to the following tv / radio stations for postponement or delay in the starting time of the administration of the examination : WBEN 550, WGR 930, WWW145.., WWKB 1520 -AM RADIO; WKSE 98.5, WLKK 102.5, WTSS 107.7 FM RADIO OR WIBT-TV (CH. 4). If no such announcement is made, you must presume that the examination will be administered as scheduled.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR USE OF VETERAN'S CREDITS

If you are currently serving on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States, you may apply for veteran's credits. These veteran's credits shall be granted on a conditional basis at time of establishment of the eligible list. You will be restricted from certification using these credits until you have received an honorable discharge or release under honorable conditions. Your DD214 must be presented as proof of service during war time, before you can be certified for appointment from the eligible list

using these credits.

Special Requirement for Appointment in School Districts and BOCES

Per Chapter 180 of the Laws of 2000, and by Regulations of the Commissioner of Education, to be employed in a position designated by a school district or BOCES as involving direct contact with students, a clearance for employment from the State Education Department is required.

NOTICE TO EXAM PARTICIPANTS : Additional Points Available to Children of Police Officers and Firefighters Killed in the Line of Duty

New Section 85-a, NYS Civil Service Law, effective 9 / 17 / 02)

On September 17, 2002, Governor Pataki signed into law a bill adding a new section 85-a to the Civil Service Law granting additional credit on civil service examinations for children of firefighters and police officers killed in the line of duty. This law is to take effect immediately.

In conformance with Section 85-a of the Civil Service Law, children of firefighters and police officers killed in the line of duty shall be entitled to receive an additional ten points in a competitive examination for original appointment in the same municipality in which his or her parent has served. If you are qualified to participate in this examination and are a child of a firefighter or police officer killed in the line of duty in this municipality, please inform this office of this matter when you submit your application for examination. A candidate claiming such credit has a minimum of two months from the application deadline to provide the necessary documentation to verify additional credit eligibility. However, no credit may be added after the eligible list has been established."

Applicants claiming these points must do so in writing (you may enclose in application), indicating the name, title, relationship and place of employment of the deceased parent.

Eligibility for points will be reviewed and applicants may be required to submit additional information to verify the claim.

Additional points available to siblings of Firefighters and Police Officers killed in the line of duty as the result of the September 11, 2001 World Trade Center Attack (Chapter 500, Laws of New York 2003).

For more information, check with the Department of Human Resources, Civil Service office.

The City of Buffalo's benefit package is designed to give our employees and their love one's, comfort, safety, and stability they need in serving our community each and every day.

Our offerings include :

Salary : $73,718 - $84,819