Senior Traffic Engineer

The Senior Forensic Traffic Engineer provides expert‑level traffic engineering and forensic consulting related to roadway design, traffic operations, and traffic safety. This role evaluates highways, streets, and intersections—including traffic signals, signs, and traffic control devices to determine compliance with engineering standards and to identify contributing factors in vehicle, pedestrian, and bicycle accidents. The position supports forensic investigations, litigation consulting, and expert witness services and works directly with clients, attorneys, and public agencies.

• Review and analyze roadway and traffic design plans for highways, streets, and intersections.
• Analyze as-built drawings, construction plans, and traffic control plans for compliance with contracts and engineering standards.
• Research and evaluate traffic conditions using traffic counts, speed studies, accident history data, and roadway characteristics.
• Determine safe and efficient traffic volumes based on roadway geometry and operating conditions.
• Assess sight distance, roadway alignment, pavement conditions, hazards, and work zone traffic control.
• Analyze traffic signal timing, phasing, maintenance, and intersection layout for operational performance and safety impacts.
• Determine whether roadway features or traffic control elements contributed to vehicle, pedestrian, or bicycle accidents.
• Review existing and proposed roadway signs, markings, and traffic control devices for compliance with standards.
• Analyze traffic signal timing, phasing, maintenance, and intersection layout for operational performance and safety impacts.
• Apply DOT standards, MUTCD guidelines, Engineering Policy Guides, and local design criteria in all analyses.
• Prepare clear technical reports and engineering opinions for forensic and litigation purposes.
• Serve as a consulting and testifying expert witness, including depositions and trial testimony.
• Manage multiple projects, meet budgets and schedules, and support client relationships.
• Provide technical guidance to junior engineers as needed.
• Support business growth through ongoing client engagement and repeat work.

• Degree in Civil Engineering or related field
• 8+ years in traffic engineering with at least 4 years of forensic experience
• Active PE & TE licenses (TE license only required for work in CA & OR)
• Significant experience in traffic engineering, transportation engineering, or forensic traffic investigations
• Strong knowledge of highways, roadways, intersections, traffic signals, signs, and traffic control systems
• Experience completing traffic engineering projects with DOTs and public agencies
• Proficiency with traffic analysis or simulation software (e.g. Traffic Sim)
• Demonstrated expertise with DOT’s Engineering Policy Guide (EPG)
• Strong technical report writing and verbal communication skills

YA Group is an international professional services organization providing forensic consulting, engineering, risk mitigation, and related services. Founded over 25 years ago as a property damage consulting firm, YA has expanded through organic growth and strategic acquisitions. Today, YA has over 800 professionals dedicated to excellence, partnership, and driving innovation.

YA Group’s Accident Reconstruction & Biomechanics team applies scientific investigation, engineering principles, and advanced technology to determine how collisions occur and why. Our experts use tools such as 3D modeling, vehicle and site inspections, Event Data Recorder downloads, and forensic animations to deliver clear, analytically grounded findings. Our multidisciplinary professionals support clients across insurance, legal, corporate, and transportation sectors and are experienced,…