Grade VI  Grade VII  Grade VIII 

General Characteristics

• Appliesathoroughknowledgeofcurrentprinciplesandpracticesofengineeringasrelatedtothevarietyofaspectsaffectinghisorherorganization.

• Appliesknowledgeandexpertiseacquiredthroughprogressiveexperiencetoresolvecrucialissuesand/oruniqueconditions.

• Keepsinformedofnewmethodsanddevelopmentsaffectinghisorherorganization,andrecommendsnewpracticesorchangesinemphasisofprograms.

• Worksonprogramsoflimitedcomplexityandscope.

• Usescreativity,foresight,andmaturejudgmentinanticipatingandsolvingunprecedentedproblems.

• Makesdecisionsandrecommendationsthatareauthoritativeandhaveanimportantimpactonextensiveorganizationalactivities.

• Setsprioritiesandreconcilesdirectionsfromcompetinginterests.• Worksonprogramswithcomplexfeatures.

• Makesdecisionswithbroadinfluenceontheactivitiesofhisorherorganization.

• Makesauthoritativedecisionsandrecommendationsthatareconclusiveandhaveafar-reachingimpactontheorganization.

• Demonstratesahighdegreeofcreativity,foresight,andmaturejudgmentinplanning,organizing,andguidingextensiveprogramsandactivitiesofmajorconsequence.

Technical  Responsibilities

• Servesasthetechnicalspecialistfortheorganizationintheapplicationofadvancedconcepts,principles,andmethodsinanassignedarea.

• Keepsinformedofnewdevelopmentsandrequirementsaffectingtheorganizationforthepurposeofrecommendingchangesinprogramsorapplications.

• Interprets,organizes,executes,andcoordinatesassignments.

• Developsstandardsandguidelines.• Leadstheorganizationinabroadareaofspecializationorina

narrowbutintenselyspecializedfield.

• Performsadvisoryorconsultingworkfortheorganizationforbroadprogramareasoranintenselyspecializedareawithinnovativeorimportantaspects.

Managerial Responsibilities

• Supervisesastaffofengineersandtechnicians.• Plans,schedules,orcoordinatesthepreparationofdocumentsoractivitiesfor

multiplemajorprojects,orisresponsibleforanentireprogramofanorganization.• Reviewsoperationalprocedurestoensurecompliancewithapplicablepoliciesand

performancemeasures.

• Supervisesseveralorganizationalsegmentsorteams.• Recommendsfacilities,personnel,andfundsrequiredtocarryout

programs.• Overseesthetechnical,legal,andfinancialissuesofanentire

program.• Determinesprogramobjectivesandrequirements.• Developsstandardsandguidelines.

• Leadsanentireprogramofcriticalimportance.• Decidesthekindandextentofengineeringandrelatedprograms

neededforaccomplishingtheobjectivesofanorganization.

Direction Received• Receivesadministrativesupervisionwithassignmentsgivenintermsofbroad

generalobjectivesandlimits.• Receivesadministrativesupervisionwithassignmentsgivenin

termsofbroadgeneralobjectivesandlimits.• Receivesgeneraladministrativedirectionfromaboardof

directorsorregionalcouncil.

Communication Skills

• Routinelyinteractswithclients,customers,officials,contractors,andothers.• Leadsprojectmeetingsandmakespresentations.• Representstheorganizationandmaintainsliaisonwithindividualsandrelated

organizations.

• Possessesexceptionaloralandwrittencommunicationskills.• Routinelyinteractswithorganizationleaders,clients,customers,

officials,contractors,andothers.• Initiatesandmaintainsextensivecontactswithkeyengineersand

officials,orotherorganizationsandcompanies.• Demonstratesskillsinpersuasionandnegotiationofcriticalissues.

• Negotiatescriticalandcontroversialissueswithtop-levelengineersandofficersofotherorganizationsandcompanies.

• Conductspresentationsandmayparticipateinmediainterviews.• Representshisorherorganizationatimportantfunctionsor

conferences,includingmediainterviewsasrequired.

Typical Titles PrincipalEngineer,DistrictEngineer,EngineeringManager,ProfessorDirector,ProgramManager,CityEngineer,CountyEngineer,DivisionEngineer,DepartmentHead,VicePresident

BureauEngineer,DirectorofPublicWorks,Dean,President

Experience 10+years 15+years 20+years

Education 

Licensure and Certification

Professional ActivitiesMemberofprofessionalpracticeorganization,nationalboardmemberorofficer,recognizedexpertonstatewideactivity,resourcefornationalactivitiesandorganization.

Memberofprofessionalpracticeorganization,recognizedexpertonnationalactivityorspokespersonfortheprofession.

Community Activities Servesonstateornationalboards.

Equivalent Federal General Schedule 

GS-13 GS-14 GS-15,SeniorExecutiveService(SES)

ProfessionalEngineer,advancedcredentialssuchasspecialtycertification.

Servesonlocalplanningorpolicyboards.

Engineering Grades

ASCE Guidelines for

A Helpful Tool for Human Resource Professionals, Engineering Managers, and Engineers

ProfessionalEngineer.

Organizesandleadscommunityserviceprograms.

Created to help engineers and their employers recognize an engineer’s level of professional development and career advancement.

For information on how to best use this guide, visit www.asce.org/engineergrades

Bachelor’sdegreeinengineeringfromanABET/EACaccreditedprogram,master’sdegreeorequivalent,engagedinlife-longlearningtomaintainknowledgeofcontemporaryissues,doctorateforfaculty

Memberofprofessionalpracticeorganization,nationalboardmemberorofficer,nationaltechnicalorpolicycommitteemember.

  Grade I  Grade II  Grade III  Grade IV  Grade V 

General Characteristics

• Acquireslimitedknowledgeanddevelopsbasicskills.• Appliesprescribedtechniquesandproceduresin

accordancewithestablishedcriteriatoperformassignedtasks.

• Performsroutinetechnicalworkwhichdoesnotrequirepreviousexperience.

• Acquiresanunderstandingofprofessionalandethicalresponsibilities.

• Acquiresbasicknowledgeanddevelopsskillsinaspecificpracticearea.

• Appliesstandardtechniques,procedures,andcriteriatoperformassignedtasksaspartofabroaderassignment.

• Exerciseslimitedjudgmentondetailsofworkandinapplicationofstandardmethodsforconventionalwork.

• Developsbroadknowledgeandskillsinaspecificpracticearea.

• Evaluates,selects,andappliesstandardtechniques,procedures,andcriteriatoperformataskorsequenceoftasksforconventionalprojectswithfewcomplexfeatures.

• Collaborativelyusesjudgmenttodetermineadaptationsinmethodsfornonroutineaspectsofassignments.

• Worksonsmallprojectsorportionsoflargerprojects.

• Appliesbroadknowledgeofprinciplesandpracticesinaspecificpracticearea.

• Independentlyevaluates,selects,andadaptsstandardtechniques,procedures,andcriteria.

• Acquiresgeneralknowledgeofprinciplesandpracticesofrelatedfields,andabilitytofunctiononmultidisciplinaryteams.

• Worksonmultipleprojectsofmoderatesizeorportionsofmajorprojects.

• Independentlyappliesextensiveanddiversifiedknowledgeofprinciplesandpracticesinbroadareasofassignmentsandrelatedfields.

• Usesadvancedtechniquesinthemodificationorextensionoftheoriesandpracticesofsciencesanddisciplinestocompleteassignments.

• Worksonamajorprojectorseveralprojectsofmoderatescopewithcomplexfeatures.

Technical  Responsibilities

• Collectsdataandgathersinformationordocuments.• Performsstandardcomputationsoranalysis.• Preparesdrawingsandvisualaids.• Observesconstructionactivities.• Performsbasicsurveywork.

• Performsbasicdesigntasks.• Assistsonothertaskssuchas:

preparationofpermitapplications,materialtesting,drawings,andcomputer-aideddesign(CAD)work.

• Performsmoderatedesigntasks.• Preparesportionsofprojectdocuments.• Editsspecifications.• Performsresearchandinvestigations.

• Designsacompleteproject,system,component,orprocess.• Preparescompleteprojectdocuments.• Designsandconductsexperiments,andanalyzesandinterprets

data.• Formulatesandsolvesproblems.

• Reviewscompleteprojectdocumentsforconformityandqualityassurance.

• Developsnewtechniquesand/orimprovedprocesses,materials,orproducts.

• Assistsupperlevelmanagementandstaffasatechnicalspecialistoradvisor.

Managerial Responsibilities

• Nomanagerialresponsibilitiesatthislevel.• Assignstaskstoandcoordinateswith

techniciansoradministrativestaff.

• Assignstaskstoandcoordinatesworkwithentry-levelengineers,technicians,oradministrativestaff.

• Assistsindeterminingscheduleandbudgetrequirements.

• Assignstaskstoanddirectsengineers,technicians,andadministrativestaff.

• Plansandcoordinatesdetailedaspectsoftheengineeringwork.• Preparesscopes,budgets,andschedulesforassignments.• Assistswithproposalstoprovideprofessionalservicesorobtain

fundingforengineeringprojectsorprograms.

• Supervisesallstaffnecessarytocompleteassignments.• Reviewsandapprovesscopes,budgets,andschedulesfor

assignments.• Preparesproposalstoprovideprofessionalservicesorobtainfunding

forengineeringprojectsorprograms.

Direction Received• Receivesclosesupervisiononallaspectsof

assignments.

• Receivesclosesupervisiononunusualordifficultproblems,andgeneralreviewofallaspectsofwork.

• Receivesinstructiononspecificobjectives.• Receivesdirectiononunconventionaland/orcomplex

problems,andpossiblesolutions.• Receivesathoroughreviewofcompletedworkfor

applicationofsoundprofessionaljudgment.

• Receivesgeneraldirectiononkeyobjectives.• Receivesguidancewhennecessaryonunconventionalorcomplex

problems,directiononmodifiedtechniques,andnewapproachesonassignmentswithconflictingcriteria.

• Receivessupervisionandguidancerelatingtooverallobjectives,criticalissues,newconcepts,andpolicymatters.

• Receivesdirectiononunusualconditionsanddevelopments.

Communication Skills• Possessesbasicoralandwrittencommunication

skills.• Interactswithotherstaff.

• Interactswithstaff,generalpublic,officials,andcontractors.

• Possesseseffectiveoralandwrittencommunicationskills.• Assistswithclient,customer,orofficialcontactsand

communicationpertainingtospecificassignmentsormeetings.

• Interactswithclients,customers,officials,contractors,andothers.• Attendsprojectmeetingsandpresentsspecificaspectsof

engineeringassignments.

• Possessesadvancedoralandwrittencommunicationskills.• Representstheorganizationincommunicationsandconferences

pertainingtobroad-aspectsofengineeringassignments.

Typical Titles EngineerinTraining,EngineeringIntern,AssistantEngineer,JuniorEngineer,StaffEngineer,EngineeringInstructorCivilEngineer,AssociateEngineer,ProjectEngineer,ResidentEngineer,AssistantProfessor

SeniorEngineer,ProjectManager,AssociateProfessor

Experience 0+years 1+years 3+years 4+years 8+years

Education  Bachelor’sdegreeinengineeringfromanABET/EACaccreditedprogramBachelor’sdegreeinengineeringfromanABET/EACaccreditedprogram,master’sdegreeorequivalent,engagedinlife-longlearningtomaintainknowledgeofcontemporaryissues,doctorateforfaculty

Licensure and Certification EngineerinTraining,EngineeringIntern. ProfessionalEngineer.

Professional Activities Memberofprofessionalpracticeorganization.Memberofprofessionalpracticeorganization,memberoflocalprogramorcommittee.

Memberofprofessionalpracticeorganization,chairoflocalprogramorcommittee.

Memberofprofessionalpracticeorganization,nationalboardmemberorofficer,nationaltechnicalorpolicycommitteemember.

Community Activities Involvedinoutreachactivitieswithcommunityserviceorganizations. Organizesandleadscommunityserviceprograms.

Equivalent Federal General Schedule 

GS-5 GS-7 GS-9 GS-11 GS-12