Assistant/Associate/Senior Engineer - Transportation & Mobility

The Assistant/Associate/Senior Engineer series within the Transportation and Mobility Division of the Community Development Department will support a variety of transportation engineering, traffic operations, and multimodal planning activities related to the Citys transportation network and capital improvement program. This position may be filled at any level depending upon qualifications and experience. The ideal candidate will possess strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills and be capable of managing multiple assignments and projects simultaneously. The position will work closely with department staff, developers, consultants, regional agencies, and members of the public to support transportation planning, traffic engineering, and mobility initiatives throughout the City.

Primary responsibilities include performing traffic engineering studies and analyses; reviewing traffic impact studies and development applications; assisting with the design and review of traffic signals, signing, striping, and traffic control devices; supporting multimodal transportation planning efforts related to pedestrian, bicycle, transit, and roadway facilities; preparing technical reports, staff reports, and presentations; assisting with grant applications and grant-funded projects; coordinating with regional transportation agencies and Caltrans; responding to public inquiries and concerns related to traffic and transportation issues; and supporting transportation safety and traffic operations programs. The position will also assist with transportation-related capital improvement projects, data collection and analysis, transportation modeling and database maintenance, and the review of traffic control plans and engineering documents for compliance with applicable standards and regulations. This position requires the ability to communicate effectively, exercise sound professional judgment, and maintain productive working relationships with City staff, outside agencies, consultants, and the public.

Preference will be given to candidates with experience in transportation or traffic engineering, transportation planning, traffic operations, and/or multimodal transportation projects within a public agency or consulting environment. Experience performing traffic studies, reviewing development projects, preparing technical reports, and coordinating transportation-related capital improvement projects is highly desirable. The ideal candidate will be a proactive, detail-oriented professional with strong analytical and communication skills who works well both independently and collaboratively. Candidates should possess the ability to manage multiple assignments and deadlines while maintaining a high level of customer service and professionalism when interacting with City staff, consultants, outside agencies, developers, and the public.

Highly desirable qualifications include:

• Experience assisting with or conducting traffic engineering studies including traffic counts, speed studies, signal warrant analyses, traffic impact analyses, and traffic safety evaluations
• Familiarity with transportation planning principles related to bicycle, pedestrian, transit, and roadway facilities
• Experience reviewing traffic control plans, development applications, and transportation improvement projects
• Knowledge of applicable transportation engineering standards and regulations including the MUTCD, Highway Capacity Manual (HCM), Caltrans standards, and California Vehicle Code Experience assisting with transportation modeling, GIS applications, traffic signal operations, or traffic analysis software
• Experience preparing staff reports, grant applications, presentations, and technical memoranda
• Possession of an Engineer-in-Training (EIT) certificate for entry-level candidates; Professional Engineer (PE) or Traffic Engineer (TE) registration in the State of California is highly desirable for Associate or Senior-level candidates
• Strong organizational skills and proficiency with Microsoft Office and engineering-related software applications

Full Job Descriptions:

Assistant Engineer:

• Develops, administers, and enforces mobility goals, policies, and procedures related to traffic engineering and transportation planning in coordination and cooperation with City staff.
• Reviews City codes and ordinances and recommends appropriate modifications, additions, or deletions concerning traffic engineering issues and
• Develops and implements strategies for improving the efficiency and performance of the existing city transportation system including signalization and signal timing improvements, congestion management, traffic calming, installation of traffic signs and pavement markings, traffic islands, roundabouts, and related traffic control devices and features as specified under the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD).
• Conducts and oversees the preparation of speed surveys, travel time, and delay surveys; performs site distance studies, stop and signal warrants, accident analysis, transportation safety studies, reviews and make recommendations pertaining to the geometric design of streets and interchanges, street lighting systems, and other related transportation studies; Conducts field surveys and supervises and participates in the work of collecting, tabulating, and analyzing transportation-related data including vehicle miles traveled (VMT), trip generation, traffic congestion, intersection flow and service levels, and analysis of street network and traffic improvements to improve mobility and equity.
• Directs and/or participates in the preparation of complex statistical and narrative reports; reviews and approves all traffic investigation reports, and recommends mitigation measures; supervises, trains, directs, mentors and evaluates assigned staff; serves as staff to the City Transportation, Mobility and Infrastructure Commission, and/or Traffic Committee, and staff to various boards, commissions, and committees relative to assigned area of responsibility; responds to traffic and transportation related citizen inquiries and complaints; identifies and illustrates traffic problems to City officials, community groups, and individuals and offers appropriate solutions as necessary.
• Researches, plans, develops, and implements innovative or Smart mobility solutions in coordination with Division staff to improve transportation information systems, road safety strategies including Vision Zero implementation, traffic monitoring and congestion regulating technologies, and intersection technology improvements; and oversees the development and implementation of the City Traffic Operations and Management Plan and development and management of the Traffic Operations Center.
• Prepares contract specifications, estimates and reports pertaining to the construction, maintenance, and operation of traffic engineering facilities; prepares requests for proposals and contracts for consulting services; writes agenda reports for bidding and award of contracts and other related transportation planning and engineering activities.
• Reviews and checks plans of consulting engineers and private contractors; coordinates and performs the construction inspection of assigned projects; ensures conformance with contract plans, specifications, and applicable codes; and coordinates with both staff-level and on-call consulting traffic signal maintenance staff.
• Monitors legislation and assures City compliance with traffic-related laws, regulations, statutes and codes; monitors grant programs and manages pursuit of federal, State and regional funding sources.
• Independently plans, studies, analyzes, interprets, and solves complex traffic conditions; evaluates statistical and physical data, such as that pertaining to traffic flow and volume, circulation patterns, roadway capacity, feasibility of improvements, projected traffic loads, parking facilities, and traffic aspects of land use plans.
• Uses involved traffic engineering principles, devises new techniques and approaches and applies existing criteria, and draws conclusions from comparative data in developing new and innovative solutions to traffic safety and congestion.
• Directs and performs investigations of complaints and analyses of traffic accident reports and hazards; conducts experiments with alternative plans including modifications in signal or control devices and traffic direction and speed; evaluates results and makes appropriate recommendations.
• Involved in frequent intra-organizational, inter-organizational, and citizen group contacts.
• May represent the City and provide consultative expertise in traffic matters such as accident prevention, speed control, transit routes and stops, equipment alternatives, and public information.
• Participates in the development of solutions to multiple jurisdiction traffic problems in boundary regions.
• Works closely with various City Divisions and Departments including Transportation and Mobility, Planning, Capital Projects Department, City Attorneys Office, City Managers Office, and members of the Transportation, Mobility and Infrastructure Commission, Planning Commission and City Council in special studies which involve transportation and traffic issues.
• Assists in developing recommendations for changes to City ordinances and regulations pertaining to traffic issues.
• Prepares plans and specifications for traffic channelization and the placement of traffic signs, signals, or other control devices; reviews bids for contractor installation of traffic control devices; acts as project leader supervising work performed by outside contractors.
• Reviews plans and reports submitted by outside consultants related to traffic system design issues.
• Reviews traffic signal system design including communications, timing plans, controller functions and interconnect system design; and performs signal operations analysis using signal optimization software such as SYNCHRO, SIMTRAFFIC, VISSIM, HCS, for the analysis of traffic operations,
• Plans and performs transportation activities, such as preparing and reviewing plan lines; grant applications; street improvement programs; freeway access studies; environmental impact reports; general plans for streets, pedestrians, and bicycles; Traffic Impact Mitigation Fee Study; and transportation system management programs.
• Performs other related administrative duties such as preparing work requests, initiating purchase orders, and processing and maintaining records.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE : Any combination of training and experience which would provide the required knowledge and skill. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and skill would be:

Education: A Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from an accredited university or college.

Experience: Assistant Engineer: Prior experience is not required. Associate Engineer: At least four (4) years of increasingly responsible professional civil engineering experience. Public works/municipal engineering experience is highly desirable. Senior Engineer: At least six (6) years of increasingly responsible professional engineering experience to area of assignment. Experience must include four (4) years in the municipal engineering or related field.

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATES : Assistant Engineer: Valid certificate as an Engineer-In-Training (E.I.T.) preferred. Associate Engineer: Possession of a valid certificate of registration as a professional civil engineer or traffic engineer. Possession of a valid certificate of registration as a professional Civil Engineer (PE) or professional Traffic Engineer (TE) in the State of California within one (1) year of appointment. If assigned duties require driving, possession and maintenance of a valid California driver's license. Senior Engineer: Possession of a valid California drivers license. Possession and maintenance of a valid certificate of registration as a Professional Civil Engineer (PE) or Professional Traffic Engineer (TE) is required. Possession and maintenance of a valid certificate of registration as a Professional Civil Engineer in the State of California within one (1) year of appointment. WORKING CONDITIONS : Work in an office, field and construction site environments; travel from site to site; walking, standing, or sitting for periods of time; exposure to dust and noise; some climbing, stooping, light lifting and inspecting in confined areas; travel to attend a variety of meetings. May be required to attend off-hour meetings.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS : Mobility to work in a standard office or construction environment, use standard office equipment and attend off-site meetings. On an intermittent basis, sit at a desk for long periods of time; intermittently walk, stand, bend, squat, twist, and reach while performing office duties; mobility to occasionally traverse uneven terrain, periodically standing, stooping, bending, climbing and kneeling to perform inspections; on occasion may be required to work in exposure to weather. Manual dexterity to use standard office equipment and supplies and small tools and to manipulate both single sheets of paper and large document holders (manuals, binders, etc.); vision to read handwritten and printed material and a computer screen; hearing and speech to communicate in person and by telephone; ability to lift and carry items weighing up to 25 pounds such as files, manuals, or small tools and equipment for distances up to 50 feet.

ENVIRONMENTAL ELEMENTS: Employees work in an office environment with moderate noise levels, controlled temperature conditions and no direct exposure to hazardous physical substances. Employees may interact with upset staff and/or public and private representatives in interpreting and enforcing department guidelines, policies and procedures.