CITY TRAFFIC ENGINEER

City of Long Beach, CA; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 185,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Long Beach, CA seeks a City Traffic Engineer to lead the Traffic Engineering Division, guiding citywide mobility, safety, and operations through engineering solutions and technology deployments.

Ideal candidate will manage ITS, oversee the Traffic Management Center, and develop policies to meet federal, state, and local requirements while ensuring accountability and public transparency.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering or Transportation Engineering required.
• Three years of progressively responsible experience in traffic engineering/transportation planning.
• One year of lead or supervisory experience required.
• Valid California Class C driver’s license required.
• Current registration as a Professional Traffic Engineer in California desired.

Responsibilities

• Serve as City Traffic Engineer and lead traffic engineering initiatives across division.
• Direct planning, design, and operation of ITS and traffic management systems.
• Oversee Traffic Management Center operations and regional coordination.
• Develop and enforce citywide traffic engineering policies and standards.

Skills

Traffic Engineering

Engineering Leadership

Project Management

Communication

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering or Transportation Engineering

Tools

Traffic ITS/Signals knowledge

ITS Operations

Job description

The department of Public Works currently has one (1) opening available for City Traffic Engineer in the Transportation Services Bureau - Traffic Engineering Division.

Appointment to this position is expected to be at or below the midpoint $165,766.107 of the salary range, however, the final amount will be carefully determined based on the candidate's knowledge, skills, qualifications, and an evaluation of internal equity within the organization.

THE COMMUNITY

The City of Long Beach is located south of Los Angeles and adjacent to Orange County, making it an idyllic location with oceanside activities, diverse culture, and a unique economy. Long Beach is home to approximately 470,000 residents living across the area’s 51 square miles, including 169 parks with 26 community centers and many public spaces. This community is one of the most diverse in the United States, making it an excellent place to learn about and immerse yourself in various cultures. When you live in Long Beach, you get to enjoy the Southern California climate all year long, making surfing, hiking, golfing, and other outdoor activities popular in this area. Biking is a favorite pastime among residents, as this area is bike friendly. Walking around town is also easy, considering the City was rated the 10th “Most Walkable City” of over 100 cities globally. Long Beach features six miles of beaches and many parks and public spaces, as well as the Long Beach Convention Center, Aquarium of the Pacific, Queen Mary, and the annual IndyCar Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach.

CITY GOVERNMENT

Long Beach is a full-service Charter City formed in 1897, governed by nine City Council members who are elected by district and a mayor that is elected at‑large. Elected officials also include the City Attorney, City Auditor, and City Prosecutor. The Council Members and the Mayor are subject to a three‑term limit, which allows them to serve for a maximum of 12 years. The City Council appoints a City Manager and a City Clerk. The City Manager is responsible for the efficient administration of all City departments, excluding those under the direction of a separately elected official, Board, or Commission. The City Council appoints the City Manager, City Clerk, and Director of Police Oversight. The City Manager is responsible for the efficient administration of all City departments, excluding those under direction of a separately elected official, Board, or Commission. Long Beach is one of only three cities in California with its own Health Department and one of the very few municipalities with its own Utilities (Water and Gas) and Energy Resources Departments. The City is supported by a FY 2025 total budget of $3.6 billion with a General Fund budget of $752 million. More than 6,000 full‑and part‑time employees support municipal operations with the majority being represented by eleven recognized employee associations. To learn more about the City of Long Beach, go to: www.longbeach.gov.

THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS

The mission of the Department of Public Works is “to maintain and enhance the City’s infrastructure and environment for the benefit of the public.” The Department’s core services are focused on providing for and maintaining safe and efficient infrastructure for the community, providing for sustainable environmental protection including water quality and waste collection and diversion, and safely and efficiently designing, constructing, delivering, protecting, and maintaining services for public facilities and public rights‑of‑way. The Department has six bureaus: Business Operations, Engineering, Environmental Services, Project Management, Public Service, and Transportation Project Management. The Department has over 690 budgeted positions with an annual operating budget of $250 million and an annual capital improvement program budget of $190 million. Additional information on the Department can be found at www.longbeach.gov/pw.

POSITION

The City Traffic Engineer provides strategic leadership for the City’s Traffic Engineering Division and serves as the designated professional authority responsible for ensuring the safe and efficient movement of people and goods throughout Long Beach. The role advances citywide mobility, safety, and operational objectives through the development, oversight, and implementation of engineering solutions, transportation technologies, and policies that guide the City’s transportation network. This position also ensures the integrity and compliance of traffic control systems and oversees major investments that enhance reliability and safety across the City.

The City Traffic Engineer directs complex citywide systems and programs, monitors transportation performance, and evaluates the effectiveness of operational strategies and capital improvements. It also leads public‑facing engagement, provides technical guidance to City leadership, and supports transparent and responsive communication with community stakeholders. Overall, the City Traffic Engineer exists to provide the high‑level technical expertise, leadership, and accountability necessary to maintain a safe and well‑managed transportation system that aligns with City priorities and regulatory requirements.

DUTIES FOR THIS POSITION INCLUDE:

• Serve as the City's designated Traffic Engineer pursuant to the Municipal Code and California Vehicle Code, responsible for oversight on various items, such as traffic control devices, traffic regulations, signing, striping, speed limits, parking restrictions, and other traffic engineering determinations.
• Direct the planning, design, implementation, operation, and maintenance of the City's Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), including traffic signals, communications infrastructure, advanced traffic management technologies, connected infrastructure, and emerging transportation technologies.
• Provide executive oversight of the City's Traffic Management Center (TMC), including traffic signal operations, system monitoring, incident response coordination, special event traffic management, and regional transportation system coordination.
• Lead the development and implementation of citywide traffic engineering policies, standards, procedures, and design guidelines to ensure consistency with federal, state, and local requirements and engineering best practices.
• Establish division priorities, performance metrics, and operational standards to ensure timely delivery of traffic engineering services and continuous improvement of customer service and operational efficiency.
• Lead the development of the Division's operating and capital budgets, including prioritizing capital investments, forecasting resource needs, and ensuring effective stewardship of public funds.
• Review proposed legislation, engineering standards, and regulatory changes affecting transportation systems, and recommend policy, operational, and capital improvements to maintain compliance and advance City objectives.
• Develop and maintain effective partnerships with neighboring jurisdictions, regional transportation agencies, utilities, developers, emergency responders, and other stakeholders to coordinate transportation improvements and regional mobility initiatives.
• Serve as the Department's principal technical authority on traffic engineering matters, providing recommendations to executive leadership, elected officials, boards, commissions, and community stakeholders regarding transportation policy, operational issues, and capital investment decisions.
• Responsible for the overall operation and performance of the Traffic Engineering Division, leading the City's efforts in bicyclist and pedestrian safety, traffic safety, traffic engineering design, traffic control and management, Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), pavement striping, parking restrictions, preferential parking districts, disabled parking on public streets, and healthy living in accordance with the City's Municipal Code.
• Staff the Pedestrian Safety Advisory Committee, Metro Technical Advisory Committee, Long Beach Transit Board, and Gateway Cities Council of Governments (COG) advisory committees.
• Coordinate activities with the Port of Long Beach, Caltrans, Long Beach Transit, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro), Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), and other external agencies to ensure the City's interests are effectively represented.
• Serve as the City's subject matter expert in legal depositions and court appearances related to traffic engineering, traffic incidents, and traffic safety matters, as required.
• Present traffic engineering and traffic safety matters before the City Council, boards and commissions, and stakeholder and public meetings.
• Review and approve signing and striping plans, traffic control plans, and traffic impact analyses prepared by City staff, Capital Improvement Projects, and private development applicants.
• Coordinate with other Public Works Bureaus, City departments, traffic engineering consultants, and vendors to support the delivery of traffic engineering services.
• Serve as the contract manager for as‑needed on‑call traffic engineering consultant contracts.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

The ideal candidate will embody the attributes of principled leadership: trusteeship, values, ethics, commitment, honesty, involvement, and vision. The City Traffic Engineer will possess a demonstrated ability to provide committed leadership in a changing government environment. The ideal candidate will demonstrate the following knowledge, skills and abilities:

• Knowledge of project management technical skills and best industry practices.
• Uses a high level of tact, diplomacy, and discretion in dealing with sensitive confidential and political situations.
• Assesses and organizes work and set priorities.
• Communicate expectations effectively and holds staff accountable.
• Take initiatives and exercise sound independent judgement.
• Able to handle frequent interruptions while completing multiple assignments with competing deadlines.
• Manages a wide range of projects simultaneously.
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with stakeholders at all levels including City and department management, public officials, contractors, vendors, employees, and the public.
• Creative problem‑solving skills.
• Strong organizational and interpersonal skills.
• Exceptional customer service skills and dedication to continuous improvement.
• Excellent oral and written communications skills including the ability to serve as a department spokesperson in small or large group settings.

Core Competencies

Technical Expertise: The manager must have strong knowledge of traffic engineering practices and regulatory requirements. This includes making sound engineering decisions and overseeing traffic control, signing and striping, Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) operations, and the City’s Traffic Management Center.

Communication and Data Reporting Skills:

The role requires the ability to communicate clearly in high‑pressure situations and to present technical information in a way that is easy to understand. This includes interpreting operational data, preparing clear reports and presentations, and explaining technical issues to leadership and the public.

Strategic and Analytical Skills: The candidate must be able to evaluate data, interpret regulations, and propose policies that support compliance and advance City goals. This includes planning for future needs and recommending improvements that support safe and efficient mobility.

Leadership Skills: Strong leadership is essential to direct staff, manage division performance, and ensure effective oversight of an operation that supports critical mobility and safety functions.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

EDUCATION

• A Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering or Transportation Engineering from an accredited college or university (proof required)*
• Candidates may substitute experience offering specific and substantial preparation for the duties of the position for the required education on a year‑for‑year basis.

EXPERIENCE

• Three (3) years of progressively responsible experience working in an environment that administers the operation of a traffic engineering or transportation planning function.
• One (1) year of the required experience must have been at a lead or supervisory level.

LICENSE

• Possession of a valid California Class C driver's license.
• Possession of a current registration as a Professional Traffic Engineer in California.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

• Professional degrees / certifications in Traffic Engineering, or a closely related field. (Copy of degree or transcripts denoting degree conferment required).
• Experience in organizations of similar size and complexity.
• Experience within the City of Long Beach, non‑profit, or equivalent local government.
• Willingness to work evenings to represent the Bureau and City at public input meetings and external agency hearings.

This recruitment will close at 11:59 PM Pacific Time on Monday, August 31, 2026.

Applications will be reviewed for depth and breadth of experience, and for level and relatedness of education. The most qualified candidates will be invited to participate in further selection procedures. The selected candidate may be required to go through a background check and a physical examination prior to appointment. Applicants who do not meet the minimum requirements, including submission of all required attachments, will not be considered. For questions regarding this recruitment, please contact 562-570-6035.

The City of Long Beach is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

We value and encourage diversity in our workforce. The City of Long Beach is committed to creating a workplace where every employee is valued for who they are. Having our workforce reflect the diversity of our community at various levels of the organization is a continuous goal embraced by our departments, management staff, and policymakers. To support efforts of fairness and diversity, City Leadership is committed to incorporating equity and inclusion into our work by supporting staff and community partners. We are committed to promoting transparency by publishing updated demographic information for employees, including workforce diversity data and pay by race and gender.

Find out more about the Fair Chance Act by visiting https://calcivilrights.ca.gov/fair-chance-act

Find out more about the Unclassified Applicant Appeal Process by visiting Applicant Appeal Process (longbeach.gov).

In support of the City’s Language Access Policy, bilingual skills (Spanish, Khmer and/or Tagalog) are desirable for positions interacting with the public.

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