Principal Traffic Engineer – Transportation Planning & Traffic Engineering Manager

Principal Traffic Engineer

Location:

San Diego, CA

Employment Type:

Full-Time Salary Range: $130,000 – $165,000 per year ($62.50/hr – $79.25/hr)

Our organization is a leading engineering consulting firm providing innovative solutions in transportation, civil engineering, and infrastructure development. With a strong reputation for delivering complex engineering projects, the company partners with public agencies, municipalities, and private-sector clients to improve mobility, safety, and infrastructure performance.

The organization fosters a collaborative and technically driven environment where engineering professionals have opportunities to lead impactful projects, develop innovative solutions, and grow their careers while working alongside experienced industry professionals.

We are seeking an experienced Principal Traffic Engineer to join our Traffic Division in San Diego, CA. This role is designed for a highly skilled transportation professional who can provide technical leadership, manage complex traffic engineering projects, and mentor engineering teams.

The successful candidate will lead traffic engineering initiatives, oversee project execution, manage client and public agency relationships, and support the delivery of transportation solutions throughout Southern California.

• Lead and manage traffic engineering design teams and transportation projects.
• Provide technical leadership for traffic engineering and planning initiatives.
• Manage project schedules, budgets, scopes of work, and deliverables.
• Prepare and review contracts, fee proposals, and project scopes.
• Coordinate directly with clients, public agencies, and internal stakeholders.
• Supervise traffic designers, planners, CAD drafters, and technical staff.
• Develop and maintain strong client relationships.
• Provide guidance and mentorship to engineering team members.
• Support business development activities and project pursuits.
• Ensure projects meet technical standards, quality expectations, and regulatory requirements.

• Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering (BSCE) required.
• Active California Professional Engineer (PE) Registration in Civil or Traffic Engineering required.
• Minimum 7 years of experience in traffic engineering/planning or equivalent 12 years of industry experience.
• Minimum 5 years of management experience supervising traffic engineering teams.
• Strong leadership, decision-making, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to independently manage complex engineering projects.
• Experience building relationships with:
• Clients
• Public agency representatives
• Internal project teams
• Recent Southern California experience required, preferably within the San Diego County region.

The ideal candidate will have experience with:

• Managing traffic engineering design teams.
• Supervising traffic designers, planners, CAD drafters, and technicians.
• Managing project schedules, budgets, and resources.
• Preparing contracts, fee proposals, and scopes of work.
• Leading client communications and public agency coordination.
• Overseeing project deliverables and quality standards.

Candidates should have experience with:

• Municipal traffic engineering services.
• In-house traffic engineering support for public agencies.
• Traffic engineering plans.
• Traffic signal plans.
• Traffic control plans.
• Signing and striping plans.
• Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA).
• Traffic studies and engineering reports.
• Transportation planning and design projects.

Experience with:

• HCS
• Vistro
• Synchro
• Other traffic engineering software platforms

Knowledge of:

• California Vehicle Code (CVC)
• Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD)
• Highway Capacity Manual (HCM)

• Experience managing large-scale transportation projects.
• Transit planning and design experience.
• Strong understanding of traffic engineering principles and transportation planning.
• Experience working directly with government agencies and municipalities.
• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams.

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Profit Sharing
• 401(k) Plan
• Life and Disability Insurance
• Personal Leave
• Alternative Work Schedule
• Holiday Parties
• Team Building Activities and Events

Candidates with experience as:

• Principal Traffic Engineer
• Senior Traffic Engineer
• Traffic Engineering Manager
• Transportation Engineering Manager
• Traffic Project Manager
• Transportation Project Manager

Candidates with a California PE License, San Diego/Southern California experience, and a strong traffic engineering leadership background are highly encouraged to apply.