Engineering Trainee

Position Summary

Engineering Trainees assist others within PBOT in designing and operating streets within Portland. This is a great opportunity for students of a Civil/Transportation Engineering or Planning program to learn how to apply transportation engineering principles to improve the safety of the City of Portland’s transportation system. Trainees will apply technical engineering knowledge to solve design, maintenance, improvement, and construction problems pertaining to the City’s infrastructure and private development.

They will work under the supervision of professional engineers and engineering technicians who review work for accuracy and quality. The Engineering Trainees work with a broad range of customers, deliver a high level of customer service, and carry out their responsibilities with initiative, independence, and creativity while exercising sound professional problem‑solving skills. This position will actively participate in supporting PBOT’s Strategic Plan goals.

• Conduct field and office review of traffic safety concerns and crashes and make recommendations for potential improvements, such as evaluating the need for stop signs, compliance with signing standards, or parking removal for visibility at intersections.
• Learn and apply federal and local codes and standards for evaluating traffic safety requests.
• Review and make traffic safety recommendations as part of Safe Routes to School projects.
• Participate in the evaluation and design of Vision Zero projects.
• Develop plans/work orders for the implementation of signs, pavement marking, and traffic calming features.
• Represent PBOT in interactions with the community.

• Assist with upgrading PBOT’s traffic signal controllers by converting signal timing, testing, and field deployment.
• Create traffic signal intersection diagrams for intersections configured in PBOT’s new central traffic signal system.
• Update traffic signals and ITS roadside devices on GIS Map and Microsoft Visio Diagram.
• Help evaluate the accuracy of various bicycle, pedestrian, and vehicle detection systems.
• Assist with evaluation of new emerging traffic sensor technologies.
• Assist with evaluation of street lighting needs with night drives.
• Use Bluebeam and Micro Station CAD and other software for design, edits, and measurement calculations.
• Assist with review of construction submittals.
• Assist with field evaluation of pole conditions on aerial fiber optic communication projects.

• Current student in a Civil/Transportation Engineering or Planning program (proof of student status required).
• Excellent communicator—strong written and verbal communication skills with both technical and non‑technical audiences.
• Problem solver who enjoys developing solutions to complex problems.
• Professional, effective in a diverse, multicultural environment, and treats customers and coworkers with respect and accountability.
• Results‑driven, asking good questions and finishing tasks in a timely, accurate, and professional manner.
• Dedicated and customer‑service focused, with a passion for public service and pride in efficiently completing projects and tasks.

• $25–$26/hr for 0–1 years of engineering work experience.
• $27–$28/hr for 1–2 years of experience or in a graduate education program.

• Taken coursework in engineering, engineering technology or related field.
• At least one year of traffic engineering work experience or in public works, engineering or civil engineering.
• Interest in traffic engineering and multi‑modal transportation safety.
• Experience working with Computer‑Aided Design software such as AutoCAD, Micro Station, InRoads/Open Roads, and/or Arc Map.
• Strong analytical skill set using Excel and other geo‑spatial tools.
• General productivity suite (Microsoft Office, Google Workspace).
• Ability to work fulltime during the summer and part time during the school year.

We are an Equal Opportunity / Affimative Action Employer.