Principal Engineer; Traffic

Principal Engineer (Traffic)

The Principal Engineer will be assigned to the Traffic Engineering Division within the Public Works and Engineering Department. This key supervisory role oversees planning, design, and delivery of traffic and transportation infrastructure projects, including roadway improvements, traffic signals, intersection safety, and mobility enhancements. The engineer maintains a strong partnership with developers, contractors, city departments, and external agencies to ensure safe, efficient, and cost‑effective execution of the City’s traffic engineering programs and capital improvement projects.

• Develop, prioritize, assign, supervise, and review work of staff delivering traffic engineering services.
• Establish schedules, methods, and resource needs for traffic operations, roadway improvements, and signal systems; allocate resources with management approval.
• Develop and implement goals, objectives, policies, and procedures; recommend improvements and ensure compliance with standards and regulations.
• Participate in staff selection, training, performance evaluation, and discipline to maintain a high‑performing team.
• Prepare and administer budgets; submit recommendations, monitor expenditures, and manage capital improvement program funding for traffic projects.
• Serve as project manager for complex traffic engineering initiatives, overseeing planning, design, public meetings, bidding, and construction; develop scope of work, timelines, and priorities.
• Review and approve traffic engineering plans, permits, maps, and construction changes; make technical decisions and establish criteria and standards.
• Review and approve traffic scoping agreements, studies, conceptual entitlement plans, and final engineering plans for land development projects; participate in writing traffic‑related conditions of approval during entitlement.
• Respond to inquiries from the public, contractors, developers, and agencies; investigate complaints and recommend corrective actions.
• Prepare reports, studies, and cost estimates for current and future traffic and capital improvement projects.
• Oversee inspections of roadway and traffic infrastructure projects to ensure quality control and compliance with codes and safety standards.
• Coordinate activities with city departments, developers, consultants, and external agencies; represent the City in meetings, workshops, and conferences.
• Maintain records, prepare technical documentation, and ensure accurate data management.
• Build and sustain positive working relationships with community organizations, agencies, and stakeholders.

Five (5) years of civil engineering experience in a municipal or similar setting, including one (1) year of supervisory experience. Bachelor’s degree or higher in civil engineering or a closely related field.

• Valid driver’s license to be maintained throughout employment.
• Registered Professional Civil Engineer license in the State of California.

Foreign degrees require an evaluation of U.S. equivalency by an agency that is a member of the National Association of Credential Services (N.A.C.E.S.).