Associate Traffic Engineer (Field)

City of Sammamish; Sammamish (WA); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Impactful Work

Professional Growth

Comprehensive Benefits

Collaborative Environment

Work-Life Balance

Job summary

The City of Sammamish seeks an Associate Traffic Engineer (Field) to lead hands-on management of the City’s traffic signals, ITS, and street lighting while coordinating with crews and partners. This field‑oriented role includes on‑site inspections and frequent collaboration with contractors to maintain safe and efficient traffic operations.

You will analyze traffic operations, respond to safety concerns, review design plans, and assist in TIP projects within a supportive, hybrid work

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in civil engineering or closely related field; 2 years in traffic operations engineering or planning.
• Experience with traffic signal controllers and intersection timing.
• Familiarity with MUTCD, traffic safety practices, and transportation planning.

Responsibilities

• Oversee design, construction, operation, and maintenance of traffic assets.
• Coordinate traffic projects with crews, contractors, and schools/police for safety.
• Review plans, perform field inspections, and support TIP projects.

Skills

Traffic engineering knowledge

Team collaboration

Problem solving

English communication

Education

Bachelors in civil engineering

2 years traffic operations experience

Tools

ArcGIS Pro

Synchro

SIDRA

PTV Vistro/Vissim

Econolite/Q-Free/Yunex controllers

Job description

Do you enjoy solving real-world traffic challenges and seeing the results of your work on the street? Join City of Sammamish as our Associate Traffic Engineer (Field) and help keep our community moving safely and efficiently, from signals and signs to the systems that tie them together. This is a great opportunity to grow your traffic engineering career with hands‑on experience you can’t get behind a desk.

• Impactful Work: Make a visible impact on your community through meaningful public infrastructure projects.
• Professional Growth: Access to continuous learning opportunities and career advancement.
• Comprehensive Benefits: Health, dental, and vision insurance, FSA, retirement plans, and generous paid time off (vacation and sick).
• Collaborative Environment: Work with a dedicated and supportive team passionate about public service.
• Work-Life Balance: Hybrid work schedule, with a minimum of three days per week on‑site and a commitment to your well‑being; 14 paid holidays plus floating holiday.

Associate Traffic Engineer (Field) performs professional and technical engineering work overseeing the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of the City’s traffic assets. Work involves managing the operation and maintenance of traffic systems, evaluating resident traffic safety concerns and traffic control plans, reviewing transportation elements of new design plans, and coordinating traffic projects. This is a field-oriented position with regular on‑site inspection, troubleshooting, and coordination with crews and contractors. This position is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement, with a minimum requirement of three days per week working on‑site. Additional in‑person attendance may be required based on operational needs, field activities, meetings, and other job‑related responsibilities.

Traffic Control Systems

• Manages the City’s traffic signal system, including new installations and planned and ongoing maintenance of all traffic signals and intelligent transportation system (ITS) components. Monitors and reports on signal system performance; reviews, develops, and optimizes signal timing plans.
• Oversees the streetlight program; coordinates with the public, outside agencies, utility providers, and contractors on the installation, removal, and maintenance of streetlights.
• Oversees the maintenance and operation of traffic control devices and systems, including school speed zone flashers, rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFBs), radar speed feedback signs, , static flashing beacons, and LED‑enhanced signs.
• Maintains and monitors the Traffic Management Center and responds to traffic issues as they arise.
• Maintains accurate records of traffic system assets, inspections, testing, maintenance activities, equipment failures, repairs, and configuration changes.

Operations, safety, and analysis

• Monitors transportation systems, identifies operational deficiencies and maintenance needs, investigates problems, and develops recommended solutions.
• Conducts research and analysis on transportation, traffic operations, and traffic safety.
• Tracks, evaluates, and responds to public inquiries and service requests related to transportation, traffic safety, and traffic operations.
• Coordinates with schools, school districts, and police on school zone safety, traffic operations, and traffic improvement projects.
• Assists in coordinating routine and non‑routine transportation program activities, including annual traffic data collection, pavement markings, the concurrency program, and other assigned operational programs.

Projects, plan review, and construction

• Assists in planning upgrades and expansion of the City’s traffic systems, including evaluating operational needs, developing project scopes, reviewing designs and technical specifications, and overseeing the implementation and integration of new equipment, technologies, and software.
• Reviews engineering studies, design plans, specifications, cost estimates, and other engineering documents for roads, bridges, and development projects for technical adequacy and compliance with applicable requirements; coordinates with other divisions on transportation‑related elements.
• Reviews developer and City capital project submittals related to transportation, traffic control systems, devices, and equipment.
• Conducts inspections of work in progress to ensure projects are constructed in compliance with applicable codes, regulations, standards, and permit conditions.
• Participates in the planning, design, and implementation of assigned Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) projects; supports consultant oversight for capital transportation and concurrency projects.
• Supports project delivery in accordance with applicable local, state, and federal laws, codes, specifications, and engineering standards.
• Participates in developing short‑, intermediate‑, and long‑range transportation plans for roadway, transit, and non‑motorized projects, programs, and services.
• Assists in preparing grant applications and coordinates with grant agencies, including responding to questions, providing technical information, and supporting grant administration.

General

• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with all those contacted in the course of work, regardless of race, color, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, genetic information, disability, political affiliation, military service, or cultural and linguistic background.
• May be required to attend evening and/or weekend meetings and events, and to respond to after‑hours signal or device failures.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

• This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering or a closely related field, and two (2) years of experience in traffic operations engineering, transportation design and construction, or traffic engineering and planning, including at least one (1) year programming traffic signal controllers; or an equivalent combination of education, certification, training, and experience.

Employees must be residents of Washington State.

CERTIFICATIONS AND LICENSE

SEngineer‑In‑Training (E.I.T.) and ability to obtain a Washington State Professional Engineer (P.E.) license within five (5) years of employment.May be required to possess and maintain a valid Washington State Driver License and the ability to drive a city owned vehicle per established policies, procedures, and safety guidelines.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Municipal traffic and transportation engineering experience.
• International Municipal Signal Association (IMSA) Traffic Signal certification.

KNOWLEDGE OF

• Principles, practices, terminology, methods, and techniques of traffic engineering, traffic operations, and transportation planning.
• Applicable local, state, and federal laws, codes, and regulations, including traffic law, the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) and Washington State amendments, roadway design standards, and motorized and non‑motorized safety.
• Working knowledge of NEMA TS1 and TS2 traffic signal cabinets, and other traffic control systems.
• Current technological and engineering advances in civil and traffic engineering, including ITS and signal system technologies.
• Principles and practices of project and construction management.
• Traffic modeling and analysis software for level‑of‑service analysis and signal timing, such as Synchro, SIDRA, and PTV Vistro/Vissim.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Ability to interpret signal cabinet wiring diagrams, configure and program traffic signal controllers using a variety of platforms, such as Econolite, Q‑Free (Intelight), and Yunex Traffic (formerly Siemens) products, perform basic troubleshooting, and coordinate with signal technicians to diagnose and resolve equipment and operational issues.
• Ability to use Synchro to analyze intersection delay and optimize signal timing plans.
• Ability to inspect engineering and construction work for completeness and proper methods, and to oversee capital improvement projects.
• Ability to review and modify traffic engineering plans, designs, and specifications.
• Ability to analyze and map spatial traffic data using GIS software (ArcGIS Pro).
• Ability to prepare and maintain technical traffic engineering records and reports.
• Ability to interpret and apply local, state, and federal policies, procedures, laws, and regulations.
• Skill in Microsoft Office and department‑specific software, and ability to learn other specialized software and online meeting platforms as required.
• Skill in communicating clearly in English, orally and in writing, with correct composition, spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
• Ability to handle assignments responsively and flexibly, and to prioritize work to complete it accurately and on time.
• Ability to maintain a courteous, professional, customer‑service approach with the public and to uphold confidentiality requirements.
• Ability to attend work regularly and punctually per the designated schedule, including approved hybrid or remote schedules.