Engineer (Specification)

Reporting to the Deputy Director and collaborating closely with fellow specification engineers, you will be responsible for authoring, reviewing, and assembling the formal contract specification books that govern New York City’s major roadway, sewer, and water main capital projects, preparation of Task Orders for infrastructure design projects, estimate fees for design tasks using fee computation guidelines, negotiate fees with consultants, track and maintain records. In this role, you will bridge the gap between design engineering and public procurement evaluating consultant task orders, drafting critical pre-bid addenda, and ensuring all contract documents strictly adhere to DDC, City, State, and Federal engineering standards.

What You Will Do

Contract Specification Development & Quality Review

• Author, update, and compile standard and project-specific contract specification books for capital infrastructure projects across the five boroughs.
• Prepare Task Orders for infrastructure design projects, estimate fees for design tasks using fee computation guidelines, negotiate fees with consultants.
• Review drawings, engineering notes, and technical specifications prepared by in-house design units, private engineering consultants, and partner agencies to ensure constructability, technical consistency, and compliance with DDC policies.
• Proofread and perform quality assurance reviews on draft specifications developed by peer engineers, eliminating ambiguities, contradictions, or proprietary restrictions.
• Conduct in-depth research on technical reference standards, material specifications, and regulatory codes (ASTM, AASHTO, NYCDEP, NYCDOT) to incorporate modern construction methods and materials into standard templates.

Procurement, Bidding & Addenda Support

• Coordinate and draft formal contract addenda in response to contractor inquiries during the competitive bidding phase, ensuring clear technical resolutions before bid opening.
• Formulate and review Task Orders for architectural and engineering (A/E) consultants, utilizing City fee computation guidelines to establish independent government cost estimates.
• Participate in technical fee negotiations with consulting firms to align task scopes with approved project budgets.

Records Management & Technical Administration

• Organize and maintain comprehensive electronic specification archives (eFiles), standard detail templates, and revision tracking systems.
• Track project progress and coordinate milestone deliverables across internal design divisions, program management teams, and external regulatory bodies.

Educational credentials must be from a U.S. Department of Education-recognized accredited institution. Credentials from foreign institutions require independent equivalency verification from an approved evaluation service. A list of providers (fees apply) is available at: https://www.nyc.gov/assets/dcas/downloads/pdf/employment/nyc-dcas-foreign-education-evaluation-guide.pdf.

Every resilient capital project relies on rigorous, unambiguous contract specifications to protect public funds and ensure engineering integrity in the field. The NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC) is seeking a detail-oriented technical Engineer (Specifications) to join the Infrastructure Specifications team., 1. A baccalaureate degree in civil engineering from an accredited college or university and one year of fulltime satisfactory experience in civil engineering work; or

1. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university in civil engineering technology and three years of full-time satisfactory experience in civil engineering work; or

2. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and a master’s degree in civil engineering from an accredited college or university.

Preferred Skills

Please note the Preferred Skills & Qualifications - Specifications & Contract Packaging: Demonstrated experience writing, editing, or compiling technical contract specifications, special provisions, or contract books for civil infrastructure projects (roadways, storm/sanitary sewers, and water distribution networks). - Standards & Regulatory Knowledge: Working knowledge of NYC standard specifications (NYCDEP Standard Sewer and Water Main Specifications, NYCDOT Highway Standard Specifications), ASTM/AASHTO industry standards, and the City’s Procurement Policy Board (PPB) rules. - Technical Review & Estimating: Familiarity with consultant task order preparation, fee computation guidelines, scope reviews, and drafting technical addenda during active bid periods. - Software Proficiency: Strong proficiency in Microsoft 365 (advanced Word formatting, Excel, and Outlook), Adobe Acrobat/Bluebeam Revu for document markup, and working knowledge of AutoCAD for drawing interpretation. - Attention to Detail & Communication: Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, with an editorial eye for technical precision, legal/contractual clarity, and formatting accuracy. - Credentials: Possession of an active Engineer-in-Training (EIT) certification or Envision Sustainability Professional (ENV SP) credential is an asset.