Summer/Temporary Employment

Interested in temporary employment, working outside, and learning about highway construction projects?

Transportation Construction Inspectors (TCIs) are hired prior to the start of each construction season and assist in monitoring and inspecting road and bridge projects. Employment can range from two to nine months, and positions exist throughout New York State.

Each year, prior to the construction season, the New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) begins hiring qualified individuals to augment its permanent workforce. All Transportation Construction Inspectors (TCIs) are seasonal employees who assist in monitoring and inspecting construction projects beginning in April.

Tasks and Duties

Under the supervision of a Department of Transportation engineer, a Transportation Construction Inspector will be physically assigned to one or more construction projects to perform the following construction or materials inspection or inspection-related tasks:

• Earthwork Inspection: Inspects building of earth or rock embankments; conducts gradation, compaction and moisture content tests; checks thickness of materials placed and type and suitability of compaction equipment; assists in survey, layout and measurement activities.
• On-Site Concrete Inspection: Inspects concrete placement for pavement, bridge piers and abutments; tests air content and slump and obtains cylinders for subsequent load tests; inspects method of handling and placing concrete to minimize segregation, concrete finishing, and curing method; inspects paving trains to ensure smooth concrete pavement.
• Structural Inspection: Inspects steel erection, field welds, surface preparation and steel painting.
• Drainage Inspection: Inspects installation of culverts, sewers and ditches; ensures trench excavation is done safely for proper alignment and grade, that correct material is placed and properly shaped, and that material and compaction of backfill over pipe is correct.
• Asphalt Pavement Inspection: Inspects asphalt pavement placement; ensures correct temperature, lift thickness and proper compaction.
• Materials Inspection: Inspects concrete production; ensures ingredients are from an approved source and are mixed in correct proportions for a specified time period; checks that automation features are working properly;
• Project Support Activities: Calculates actual construction project length, areas and volumes; performs technical checking activities.
• Materials Analyst: Performs design, verification, or acceptance testing of construction materials at the central laboratory. Lab groups focus on geotechnical applications, strength of materials, geologic characterization, concrete asphalt, or chemical analysis.
• Miscellaneous Inspection Assignments: Inspects curbing, sidewalk, signs, guide rail, pavement markings, traffic signals, lighting, fencing, etc.

Minimum Qualifications

Transportation Construction Inspector 1

• One construction season (minimum of 3 months) of work experience in highway, bridge or other civil engineering related construction inspection, as described in the Transportation Construction Inspector Tasks and Duties; or
• Completion of at least one semester (minimum of 12 semester credit hours) of college course work as part of an associate degree program in engineering, engineering technology, construction technology, engineering science, surveying technology, drafting/CAD, or heavy equipment operations; or
• Completion of at least one semester (minimum of 12 semester credit hours) of college course work as part of a bachelor degree program in engineering, engineering technology, environmental sciences or environmental technology, construction management, construction supervision, engineering management, construction engineering or construction engineering technology, transportation planning, mathematics, physical science, architecture or architectural technology, construction technology, landscape architecture, surveying, physics, geology or forestry.

Transportation Construction Inspector 2

• Two separate construction seasons (minimum 6 months total) of work experience in highway, bridge or other civil engineering related construction inspection, as described above for the Transportation Construction Inspector tasks and duties; or
• Completion of an associate degree program in engineering, engineering technology, construction technology, engineering science, surveying technology, drafting/CAD, or heavy equipment operations; or
• Completion of at least 2 years (minimum of 54 semester credit hours) of college course work as part of a bachelor’s degree program in engineering, engineering technology, environmental sciences or environmental technology, construction management, construction supervision, engineering management, construction engineering or construction engineering technology, transportation planning, mathematics, physical science, architecture or architectural technology, construction technology, landscape architecture, surveying, physics, geology or forestry; or
• Completion of one construction season of work experience, as described in Transportation Construction Inspector 1 above, plus a minimum of 27 semester credit hours of college course work as part of an associate or bachelor’s degree program as cited above (note: as long as applicant was once enrolled in a required program and completed 27 credit hours towards that program they can be approved).
  
  NOTE: The degree or college credit must have been awarded by a regionally accredited college or university or one recognized by the NYS Education Department as following acceptable educational practices. If a degree or college credit was awarded by an educational institution outside of the United States and its territories, the applicant must provide independent verifications of equivalency.

Transportation Construction Inspector 3

• All Transportation Construction Inspector 2’s will progress to a 3 upon satisfactory completion of 6 months as a TCI 2 or completion of 3 months as a TCI 2 and completion of at least 27 additional credit hours of college course work as part of a Bachelor's Degree program as cited above.
• Three construction seasons (minimum 9 months total) of work experience in highway, bridge or other civil engineering related construction inspection, as described above for the Transportation Construction Inspector tasks and duties.

Salary

The starting salary for a Transportation Construction Inspector is $20.10 or $22.31 per hour, depending on qualifications. An increase as high as $24.83 will occur depending on satisfactory performance and completion of six months of service.

To be eligible for holiday compensation, an employee must work on the holiday. For further information, refer to Article 12 of the New York State PEF seasonal agreement.

Only employees appointed and expected to work for six months or longer may be enrolled for State employee's health insurance coverage and anyone in student status is advised to pay particular attention to the ramifications of accepting any benefits (inquire with the Benefits Unit prior to enrollment.) Review Restrictions on Employment After Leaving.

As seasonal employees, TCIs do not have to join the Retirement System. An employee having previous Retirement System membership must continue that membership unless they withdraw from the system.

TCI's are entitled to travel expense reimbursement.

Apply

To apply for a TCI position, please complete the availability questionnaire and send it, along with your resume, cover letter, and transcripts to [email protected].

TCI positions are available statewide, please include your preference of location on your cover letter. Locations available: Albany, Utica, Syracuse, Rochester, Buffalo, Hornell, Watertown, Poughkeepsie, Binghamton, Hauppauge, New York City.

Graduating high school? Not sure if college is the right path for you now?

Consider spending the summer maintaining state roads with the Department of Transportation. Summer positions are located across New York State, excluding New York City, and can lead to permanent employment.

DOT’s summer maintenance program offers 100 seasonal maintenance positions located throughout New York State, excluding New York City. Learn roadway maintenance skills during the summer that could lead to a permanent position in the fall.

Tasks and Duties

• pothole patching, paving and resurfacing;
• brush/foliage removal;
• guide rail repair;
• shoulder widening and repair;
• drainage system maintenance;
• highway sign repair and maintenance;
• work zone traffic control; and
• litter removal and general highway beautification.

For those who obtain a Commercial Driver’s License permit, DOT may be able to provide some driver training to assist in the DMV skills test.

See our brochure for additional details.

Minimum Qualifications

• 18 years old at the time of appointment
• Clean, valid Class D driver’s license
• Pass a physical and drug test

Salary

Annual salary starts at $45,473.

Those who become permanent employees qualify for numerous Benefits.

Apply now

Do you like operating heavy equipment? Do you want to help keep your roads safe?

Highway Maintenance Workers are relied upon to keep our roads clear in the winter and perform essential maintenance tasks throughout the year in every county of New York State. This is an important and rewarding career.

Positions are full time and can be permanent or seasonal. Click here for more information on the Highway Maintenance Worker series.